Mandaue City~ Comments and Complaints

[gpcortes07]

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Apil ko ani nga thread ha kay taga Mandaue man sad ko CORTES pud ako family name. Maayo ning naay topic about sa Mandaue para updated ang tanan. Maayo unta transparent ang administration ni Jonas para walay corruption nga mahitabo. Suggestion lang tingali if naay issue ang syudad, will just try to suggest unsay maayo nga solution. Dili enough nga ato lang dauton.

[mexicanlady]

any update and development about mandaue city?lingaw sad ta diri da labi na mag tinubagay ang mga supporters ni CORTES ug mga supporters ni OUANO.pero lupig gyud ang supporters ni OUANO kay murag gamay na lang maningog nila kay dili man OUANO na mayor.ambot asa na ron ang mga ouano,labi na sila CHERYL(corrupt) OUANO. Di na ka RAMPA ug ka GARA GARA sa city hall.MAM ra ba gyud na siya sa city hall sa una, karon MAMSA na lang.

[INFRACTION]

ngano man diay gub-an... besides... naka obstruct man sad na sa agianan oi..... congested na kaau labi nas atubangan sa st. joseph church.... maau ra nas panindot og park c ouano sa una nya wala gyud ka huna huna og restore sa mga idle traffic post sa intersection sa super metro - butuanon bridge, highway seno, og intersection padung second mactan bridge....

well anyways we are free to express our opinions....

[rey04]

i dont live in mandaue but i work in mandaue therefore that makes me also a mandauehanon for 12 years. much more of my time is spent in mandaue. i support the moves of Cortez recently and problema lang kay oppositionist kaayo ang council and their using their political differences to block the executives moves. bata2x pa man unta na sila they should not have been affected sa mga Quano's. they still have ample time to make a change in the political system of mandaue. if that's the way then that another chapter of mandaue history na pud, PAITA!

[mexicanlady]

Ang nagpa sikat ug maayo sa majority sa city council kay si BIANO man.Kaning tawhana i believe maayo man unta ni siya pero ambot nganong karon na DEVIL na man ni siya.Mayra unta ipa disbar na si BIANO sa iyang naanakan ug TWINS oi.Nabag-ohan siguro ni siya sa iyang position karon kay sige lang lansar sa una way daug-daug.Karon pa gyud tawn nakadaug mao nagpa sikat pag-ayo karon sa council.Ang mga majority sa council nga mga ROBOT sa OUANO, unsa man ilang role karon, sige lang blocking unsay kaayohan unta sa mayor nga buhaton.Kung ila pa ang mayor aw sige lang YES maski NO.KAPOI baya dinhi sa mandaue oi nalipay gani ang uban tawo nailisan na unta ang mayor unya naa pud nang mga OUANO's robots ang mga smart but stupid councilors ni OUANO.HAAAAYYYYYY!

[Canned]

Living in Gangstah's Paradise (unedited)

By Dale Israel


One night, he heard a loud shout, followed by a gunshot, then a few minute of silence. Later, murmurs were heard from outside and the people started to come out in the open while an ambulance is closing in with its red and blue bright lights.

The resident, in his early 30s, said he saw from afar the victim being carried by their neighbors into the government vehicle. As he took a closer look at the victim, he saw a familiar face from the bloody and seemingly lifeless victim--It was his close relative.

For most residents in barangay Alang-Alang in Mandaue City, their village is no longer safe especially during the night. In fact, when fiestas come, they fear street discos as well as other nightly activities thinking their might by “rumbles” of fraternity members or worse, a shooting spree by some drunk.

The same resident, who wished for anonymity, compares living in barangay Mantuyong just like his favorite horror/action film. At least during the night, this film comes into reality.

During daytime barangay Alang-Alang is like other villages in the city. People freely go about their daily routines while corner shops carry on business as usual.

But when night falls, an invisible fear envoloped sitio sudlon in barangay Alang-Alang. This feeling is especially felt with those not affiliated with gangs .

They saw policemen deployed at several corners during the night especially when there is a benefit dance or disco. Still, the feeling of safety is still far fetched.

The residents fear was even a factor why the police investigation is slowing down, admitted Mandaue City Police Office Station 1 chief, Abraham Ocampo, on several occassions when interviewed for certain shooting incidents.

None of the residents come up front to become a witness to the shooting or at least identify the suspect. One resident said that their neighbor was even shot by a hitman when he became a witness to a fraternity-related shooting.

Just like the rest of the fearful eyewitnesses, everynight seems like “a sad experience” for him as he compared his experiences to a movie.

“The atmosphere is like you are watching and at the same time you are a player in a horror film,” he said. “When dark comes, automatically you become like an inmate in (our) your home.”

It is ironic, he said that the police headquarters are just nearby where police “are also just watching how the film goes from afar.”

“In a (few distance) lies the bastion of power, the City Hall, may have sleeped when the cold air fans, caused by blood spilling out of helpless victims,” said the sudlon resident.

At a nearby corner in P. Burgos, a female nursing student also shared the same. She even said that the shooting incidents all have witnesses but are not willing to cooperate with the police because of fear for their lives.

“People know who they are (hitman). We even know where they live, but, its better to be quiet and stay away from it,” said that female nursing student from Alang-Alang whose boyfriend is a member of one of the warring fraternities in Mandaue City.

Both residents urge the government to do something about their situation. According to the sudlon resident, the show, just like in any other movie should have an ending.

“Please bail this inmates in Sudlon Alang-Alang, and please don't wait for the entire city to experience the same as what we experience here in Sudlon Alang-Alang,” the resident added.

There were dialogues conducted both by police and the City Hall previously last April, but, after a few months the number of reported skirmishes climb up again. Conflict between fraternities continue to highlight the lives of residents especially in the highly populated central portions of Mandaue City.

“It all started when our brod's girlfriend was courted by an Akhro,” was the quickest answer a 17-year-old alleged member of Beta Phi Sigma (Betans) gave when asked about the conflict with a rival fraternity.

But an Akhro member, 19-year-old Michael, traced skirmishes between Alpha Kappa Rho (Akhro) and Betans in Mandaue City to an old conflict at a downtown university in Cebu City a few years ago. He said that the members of Betan destroyed Akhro's seal at the group's usual hangout place in the school.

On the other hand, another Betans said that their Mandaue City Chapter President was allegedly gunned down by an Akhro member at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Mandaue City. “After that, several skirmishes happened,” said the source who was once a president of a Betans chapter in Cebu.

For the Akhro and Tau Gamma Phi conflict, stories have it that Akhro was actually a break-away of Tau Gamma. The conflict started when the Akhro founder was gunned down placing the blame on the Tau Gamma members.

For Mandaue City cops who have been facing these groups' conflicts every now and then, these were just stories that have become urban legends because no one really knows how the conflict started.

“Suya-suya ra gyud ang rason ana (It was all about envy and rivalry),” said Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) station 1 chief, Inspector Abraham Ocampo dismissing explanations from members.

The station 1 handles barangays in Mandaue City with the highly publicized fraternity-related violence that mostly victimizes innocent residents.

Police however said that whatever the group's cause for conflict are, the fraternities' members have become "uncontrollable."

“Na'ay rivalry between sa grupo tungod kay they are not acting as fraternity anymore, they are now working as a gang,” Ocampo told Cebu Daily News.

This idea was also echoed by MCPO director Sr. Supt. Alaexander Abadinas who faced the City Council last week to appraise legislators of the worsening conflict of the groups.

Police have specifically pointed out that fraternity violence became a problem when these groups started to recruit minors and individuals that do not attend universities. The out-of-school youth are the ones usually involve in the skirmishes.

“Atong masulti, based on my opinion as a station 1 commander, nasagulan na gyud ni sila ug bad elements kay in the schools these fraternities are doing well, nag conduct ug fruitful activities like free-clinics ug uban pa,” Ocampo said.

Aside from recruiting minors, the station chief further said that these groups have even affiliated with each other against a common enemy. For example, he said that Akhro have somehow affiliated themselves with Bloods Gang while Tau Gamma has befriended rival gang Crips.

Even Betans, said that station chief, have affiliated with Tau Gamma against their common enemy, the Akhro fraternity.

And just like in any other gang-like associations, Ocampo said the groups have become territorial. “Once they see a member of their rival, balikan dayun ka nila para pusilon kung dili gani dunggabon without any provocation.”

Based on police intelligence reports, the Akhro members, Ocampo said consider barangays Alang-alang, Opao, Cambaro and Looc as their strongholds.

Betans and Tau Gamma on the other hand consider barangays Mantuyong, Centro and Guizo as their territories, said the station chief Ocampo. Although, a few incidents of shooting are reported in Guizo.

The central portion of Mandaue City has become a favorite place of confrontation, said Ocampo because the place is crowded by a young population who oftentimes are not in school.

As of August 2007, there are about 22 unresolved cases involving fraternities in Mandaue City since January this year, police records revealed. The latest incident involved the shooting of a non-fraternity member and businessman Benjamin Barquero in barangay Alang-Alang.

None of the suspects in the various fraternity related violence have been apprehended yet by the police mostly because of the lack of witnesses. Residents said that they are afraid to become a witness because of fears that they will be shot by the fraternities alleged hitman.

Barangay Mantuyong located in the central portion of Mandaue City or about a block away from the City Hall, remains the bloodiest village when it comes to fraternity related violence. It has 8 out of the 22 incidents excluding skirmishes which are not reported and are not recorded in the police blotter. (see table).

Incidents usually happen during crowded occasions such as fiesta and discos which usually happens on weekends. But, some incidents however occur during broad daylight.

There were suspected “hitmans” of both Akhro and Betans that have been arrested by MCPO police officers from station 5 under Inspector Paz Pada-on last May. Although, the suspects could not specifically tied to a certain incident yet.

The detained suspects include “Obet” Flores who was described by police as the Akhro hitman. His counterpart, Betans' hitman alyas “A-Ah” was also captured during an operation in April and May.

Despite efforts, the police's progress in the investigation of the cases involving fraternity violence is still minimal. None of the suspects of specific cases this year have been apprehended yet prompting residents to question the safety of their villages in Mandaue City. (to be continued)

*the edited version of the two-part special report was published at Cebu Daily News on August 27, 2007. Its online version is read at www.inquirer.net

[Canned]

Living in Gangstah's Paradise (part2 unedited)
By Dale G. Israel
Cebu Daily News

At the rate how the city is handling the rising fraternity related violence in the central portions of Mandaue City will force residents to hang on a little bit longer before a resolution can be achieved.

Admittedly, the new city officials consider the warring gangs and fraternities a big headache for them.

Just like a person from Sudlon barangay Alang-Alang, it remains a big question in the mind of Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes on how to deal with the warring groups. No definite plans have been announced as how to curb the problem with the warring groups.

He told reporters last week that he will hold dialogues with identified leaders of the various fraternities operating in Mandaue City. He however admitted that it is not a solution to the problem.

Cortes also ruled out signing of peace covenant between the groups because this proved to be ineffective in solving the problem based on the observations in other cities that hold such peace-pact ceremonies.

His City Administrator Briccio Joseph Boholst said that the mayor is still studying ways to effectively come up with a solution over the problem.

“He do not want to undertake moves which have not solve a problem,” Boholst told Cebu Daily News. “As of now. we are consulting with various experts, with our counterparts in Cebu City, as well as with the police.”

There was no particular timeframe as to when the city government will come up with a specific idea to solve the spate of killings in Mandaue City due to fraternity skirmishes.

While the city government is thinking of its plans, Boholst said that “all we can do is to increase saturation drives from the police.”

“It will still go back to increase in police visibility, mobility, and other police operations because there has no definite solution to the problem yet,” Boholst pointed out. “We are doing the best we can.”

Cortes assumed office last June 30 taking over the reigns from the former Mayor Thadeo Ouano whose administration usually left the police to handle fraternity related violence before.

For another Alang-Alang resident, Jim (not his real name), the problem seemed so easy to solve. He told Cebu Daily News of his “random” ideas on how to go about the problem plaguing their community.

Jim felt hesitant at first to talk about his thoughts because he is a friend to many fraternity members in their neighborhood. But he later agreed to talk considering the fate of their neighborhood.

Although he was a friend to members of various fraternities, he was close to being a victim himself of a shooting incident this year. He was walking at a road with a cousin and some friends after a drinking session one late night when two men armed with a gun approached them. His cousin died of several gunshot wounds.

“I feel the need to also express my points of view regarding these fraternity,” he courageously said. “How come that members of these fraternities can carry firearms without any license at all? I think the government has to check on this.”

In addition to that, Jim said that it would be a good plan to allow barangay tanods and policemen to conduct regular roving patrols in the area especially at night.

“It seems they rarely do that,” he said in Cebuano. “In such way, gatherings of these fraternities will be neutralized.”

For Mandaue City Police Chief Sr. Supt. Alexander Abadinas, the police could not solve the problem alone by just deploying officers, he told the City Council last Wednesday.

“We need everybody's help. The community, the government, and especially the parents,” Abadinas said during his appearance in plenary sessions at the City Council. “We also need to talk with the leaders of this fraternity so that they can police their own ranks.”

The police chief also said that several activities should be given to the youth especially those that are not in school. “We need diversion of their attention into productive activities like sports,” the city police commander said.

While the police work is secondary to the resolution of the problem with warring fraternities and gangs, Abadinas however pointed out that logistical problems of the city police during the interview with legislators.

In order for the city government to better serve the Mandaue residents, the MCPO need at least 20 four wheel wagon type gasoline police cars with enough fuel and a 24 hour civilian driver maintained and equipped by the city government.

Abadinas also said that there is a need to organize, train, and mobilize a “Police Auxiliary Force” of at least 200 individuals deployed in various locations of the city, Abadinas' report suggested.

He also suggested to the city government an enactment of a city ordinance for a curfew from 10PM to 5AM for minors aging 15 years old and below. The police added that for ages 16 and above, a curfew should be imposed from 12MN to 4AM.

Abadinas also asked for a stiffer penalty for a possible curfew ordinance while exemptions must be secured from the City Hall authorities with proper verification. (Reporter Dale G. Israel)

[Canned]

papicture ra diay to ang holding hands ni jonas ug carlo? hehehe

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Disagreements still reign in Mandaue


Cebu Daily News
Last updated 11:31am (Mla time) 09/07/2007

CEBU CITY, Philippines - They opened lines of communication last week, but Mandaue City's top officials continue to disagree over several issues.

Mayor Jonas Cortes and the City Council continue to have differences on the hiring of employees, purchase of police cars, naming of offices, and confirmation of appointees.

For instance, Mayor Jonas Cortes said that the non-confirmation of the City Council on his appointees means that the legislature “says something but does something else.”

“Nalibog ko. Willing sila mo-cooperate pero contradictory kaayo ang ilang action,” Cortes said of the council's move not to confirm the appointment of City Administrator Briccio Joseph Boholst Wednesday.

Opposition Councilor Victor Biaño, in his resolution, said that Boholst lacks the required five years of management experience. He said he will leave it to the Civil Service Commission to reconsider the decision if his finding is meritorious.

Cortes, meanwhile, said he will disapprove the ordinance of another opposition councilor, Emiliano Rosal, to create new staff positions for the 12 councilors.

Rosal's ordinance allows legislative staff to be hired without the mayor's approval but will have to be approved by Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna, the City Council's presiding officer.

“We've exceeded the 45 percent ceiling for personnel services,” Cortes said. “We want to streamline and we want a lean and mean workforce.”

The mayor said he will provide each councilor with five non-regular employees to skirt around the personnel services ceiling imposed by law.

Biaño said that if the mayor disapproves Rosal's ordinance, the council will override the veto which points out that their block in the city council can muster more than two-thirds vote or nine out of 12 councilors.

For his part, Rosal said that the ordinance merely implements the powers of the Vice Mayor under the Local Government Code to hire his own staff at the legislative department.

The city government has about 2,000 program or non-regular employees from the previous administration. The Cortes administration aims to lower this to cut costs.

One of the affected offices is the Traffic Efficiency Development and Management (Tedman) which lost more than half of its staff.

Most of the enforcers were replaced by volunteers under a new name, Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team).

Rosal said that the official name of the city's traffic agency is still Tedman and not Team because any change requires an amendment in the ordinance which created the body.

Cortes said he intends to change the name because the agency promotes a person's name instead of the city. Tedman is coined from the name of former Mayor Thadeo “Teddy” Ouano. /Reporter Dale G. Israe

[SamuraiArcher]

as a Mayor, pwede ra man siguro nya derechohon ug abolish ang TEDMAn ug ilisan lang dayon ug lain nga name....nahimu mna lagi ni Mayor Alfredo Lim sa Manila...iyang mga gipangbuhat kay derecho na..wala mi-agi sa iyang councilors....nagnu dili man pwede mahimu ni Mayor Cortes?

[mexicanlady]

Aw ingon ana man gyud mahitabo kay saon majority sa councilors kay dili man allies ni Jonas.Di pareho sa una TEDDY bear's administration kay iya man ang majority sa mga councilors so every time naay project, APPROVED lang dayon wala gyud supak.sige lang pila ra man 3 years ba basin next election di na na kadaug uban mga councilors nga sigeg supak supak karon.And I don't think so CARLO will win if mo run siya as MAYOR of MANDAUE.I'm one of those nga di mo vote niya.