Whistleblower chides vote-buying culture in Bohol

Boholano whistleblower Ronie Orillosa has criticized the culture of vote-buying in the country as the 2025 election season approaches.

During the October 14, 2024 episode of “Open Forum” with Ardy Araneta-Batoy and Gloria Leodivica Araneta, Orillosa shared his thoughts on the issue.

Orillosa stated that the right to suffrage has been compromised, effectively favoring rogue politicians who engage in vote-buying.

He said that this practice distorts the true voice of the people, as politicians buy the sympathies of voters.

He noted that the religious sector has also spoken out against vote-buying, citing the efforts of prelates in Tagbilaran and Talibon to combat the practice.

Orillosa likened the culture of vote-buying to a cancer that affects the collective psyche of the people.

He pointed out that vote-buying has become rampant in Bohol, which has been identified as one of the top provinces with widespread vote-buying.

PDRRMO stresses disaster preparedness as Bohol commemorated earthquake anniversary

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) has stressed the need for people to be prepared for disasters in order to avert mass casualties.

This comes as Bohol commemorated the 11th year of the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that hit Bohol on Oct. 15, 2024.

PDRRMO chief Anthony Damalerio emphasized readiness by conducting trainings for various stakeholders and the larger community with the aim of making people ready in times of calamities or disasters.

One of the ways to make people more prepared in times of disasters is the conduct of earthquake drills.

Earthquakes may come at a moment’s notice and becoming prepared is the only best way to lower mass

casualties.

Drills educate people on how to protect themselves or to keep themselves alive in a critical situation such as during an earthquake.

On Oct. 25, 2024, an earthquake drill will be held at the Capitol where majority of the employees are expected to participate in the said drill.

The Tagbilaran City Government will also be invited to join the said drill.

Other entities that will participate are various hospitals, Bureau of Fire Protection and other first response units.

This is on top of the fire drill that will be held by November.

City SP eyes solutions for traffic, floods

The Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP) has proposed several solutions to address the issues of traffic and floods in Tagbilaran City.

In an interview with ArdyAraneta-Batoy and Gloria Leodivica Araneta over Open Forum on Oct. 16, 2024, Coun. Nerio Zamora II graced a brief explanation on the interventions planned to address the said issues.

Zamora said the SP is aware about a list of roads to be developed and converted into diversion roads with the goal of easing traffic on major thoroughfares.

Zamora said the city has been negotiating with property owners to gain control of lots that will be converted to roads in order to decongest traffic in major areas of the city.

He specifically mentioned the plan for a diversion road in barangay Dampas.

As for the flood problem, the SP is looking for areas, especially in the interior barangays, where water would be contained instead of releasing flood waters out to the sea.

The idea is to use sinkholes to contain the water from the floods, Zamora said.

The city government is now working on gaining ownership of lots that willl be used as containment areas, he added.

Muslim public cemetery ordinance gets ok from SP

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) passed a proposed ordinance calling for the establishment of a Muslim public cemetery in Bohol.

The proposed ordinance author, Board Member AldnerDamalerio, told ArdyAraneta-Batoy during the Oct. 16, 2024 episode of Newsmakers ug Uban Pa that the measure has been passed during a recent SP session.

Damalerio said that the provincial government has identified 15,000 square meters of lot that will host the Muslim public cemetery.

However, negotiations to purchase the lot is ongoing, as the Capitol already earmarked funds for the lot purchase.

The said cemetery will be hosted by the town of Pilar, Damalerio added.

He said once everything is in place, the lot will be used as a burial site for Boholanos who adhere to the Muslim faith.

Currently, Tagbilaran City’s Muslim cemetery is filled to the brim, Damalerio reported as the facility is located at barangay Tiptip,

Under Muslim custom, cadavers should be buried underground within 24 hours.

San Miguel Mayor Ian Gil Mendez fires back at Vice Mayor Lito Bulaga’s claims

In a recent turn of events, San Miguel Mayor Ian Gil Mendez has responded to Vice Mayor Lito Bulaga’s allegations that the Mendez family reneged on their promise, leading to Bulaga’s decision to run for mayor.

Bulaga had claimed that the Mendezes had agreed to step down after one term, with ex-Mayor Virgilio Mendez initially set to stay until 2022. However, the younger Mendez took over in 2022, allegedly going back on the family’s promise.

Mendez has now come forward to set the record straight, stating that a convention was held among San Miguel’s political leaders prior to the 2022 elections. During this convention, the majority of the group chose Mendez to succeed his father, who had decided to run as a partylist nominee for Ako Bisdak.

Mendez claimed that he was not present at the convention and only learned of the group’s decision later. Despite initial reservations, he ultimately agreed to run for mayor.

According to Mendez, it was actually Bulaga who broke away from the group with the intention of becoming mayor. Mendez alleged that Bulaga’s actions in 2022, including depriving some council bets of support under the unified ticket, led to the loss of some of these candidates.

Mendez emphasized that his father and Bulaga had a pact that he would stay for only one term, but it was Bulaga who ultimately decided to pursue his own ambitions. The younger Mendez is now seeking to clear his name and set the record straight in the lead-up to the mayoral election.