Contrary to what many knew, the relief of DPWH Catanduanes District Engineer Denis Cagomoc was already being cooked as early as the first week of May, before he left his office and did not return for more than two weeks.
A copy of the Special Order covering his reassignment “in the interest of the service” shows that the order was issued by DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan on May 6, 2024 and was served on the absentee DE only last May 20.
His replacement on the island, Engr. Simon Arias, initially resisted the transfer, a former DPWH official told this writer, until he was prevailed upon to accept the reassignment.
Whether a promise was made, the source refused to say, but it was clarified that he was given a marching order to set things right at the Catanduanes District Engineering Office.
Now, let us see if he can do his job even with heavy hand of political interference.
Good luck, DE Arias!
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Recent bar passer and former Mayor Honesto Tabligan II is the talk of the town in Pandan after some Manila-based residents allegedly filed a complaint before the Office of the Bar Confidant regarding his denying that he has been charged before any court in the past.
The denial was reportedly made in his application for oath taking and inclusion in the Roll of Attorneys, which he is supposed to sign after taking his oath.
Until the Supreme Court resolves the complaint against him, the former mayor-turned-lawyer cannot take the oath and practice law, a local lawyer said, pointing out that the offense is lying or being dishonest.
Just last May 20, 2024, Mayor Raul Tabirara, who unseated Tabligan in the 2022 elections, issued a “First Notice” to the former mayor’s wife regarding the operation of the RIT Resort, more popularly known as “Paraiso ni Honesto.”
The mayor informed that the provisional permit issued by the LGU, giving the resort six months to comply with the requirements for granting a business permit to operate, had already lapsed last March 2024.
“As provided under said provisional permit, non-compliance within 6 months from receipt, the provisional permit will be automatically revoked,” the chief executive stated, noting that records of the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) showed the resort has not complied with the requirements.
Still, the Paraiso was given another 30 days, or until June 20 or so, to comply, with a temporary closure order to be issued without further notice.
*****
THE TRAGEDY OF DONALD TRUM. During one of his campaign trips, Donald Trump visits an elementary school and enters one of the classrooms. They are in the middle of a discussion related to words and their meanings.
The teacher asks Mr. Trump if he would like to lead the discussion of the word “Tragedy.” So he asks the class for an example of a tragedy.
One little boy stands up and offers: “If my best friend who lives on a farm, is playing in the field and a runaway tractor comes along and knocks him dead, that would be a tragedy.”
“No,” says Mr. Trump, “that would be an accident.”
A little girl raises her hand: “If a school bus carrying 50 children drove over a cliff, killing everyone inside, that would be a tragedy.”
“I’m afraid not,” explains the exalted businessman. “That’s what we would call a great loss.”
The room goes silent. No other children volunteer. Mr. Trump searches the room.
“Isn’t there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?”
Finally at the back of the room, a boy raises his hand. In a quiet voice he says: “If a private jet carrying you was struck by a missile and blown to smithereens, that would be a tragedy.”
“Fantastic!” exclaims Mr. Trump, “That’s absolutely right. And can you tell me why that would be a tragedy?”
“Well,” says the boy, “because it wouldn’t be a great loss and it probably wouldn’t be an accident either.”