Manny Villar exonerated

What had been an unnecessary thorn in the political career of Sen. Manny Villar was the C-5 issue. Finally, Manny’s peers in the Senate came out with their collective position to dismiss the complaint against him for alleged disorderly behavior. This position was contained in Senate Resolution No. 1472. The signatories were not only opposition senators, but also those allied with the administration. In short the exoneration of Senator Villar was a bipartisan move.

A few members of the Senate insisted that the report of the Committee on the Whole about the C-5 issue should precede any Senate Resolution dismissing the complaint against Senator Villar. This, they claimed, was “a matter of procedure.” Precisely, if the Committee on the Whole would decide to delay the resolution of the complaint, the resolution of exoneration would be delayed too, and here was where a procedural matter would frustrate a question of substance, an observer told me.

This observer said, “The real question was – what was the real sentiment of those who signed the Senate resolution clearing Senator Villar? Was there a very logical and convincing basis for their stand? Was there fairness in their action? Would the nation benefit from their move?”

To insinuate that “money changed hands,” said this observer, “is to assail the integrity of the likes of Senators Nene Pimentel, Joker Arroyo, Miriam Defensor Santiago and Gregorio Honasan, among others who are noted for standing by their principles.”

And what about Senator Villar’s affixing his signature on the Senate Resolution exonerating him of the complaint filed by Senators Ping Lacson and Jamby Madrigal? Said my observer: “Senator Villar’s signature was nothing more than his affirmation of his own innocence. If Lacson and Madrigal can sign their complaint, why can’t Villar affirm his innocence?”

This columnist is glad the charge against Villar for unethical behavior has been settled. Now the senator from Las Pinas can embark on his campaign without having to explain his innocence.

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Another bright column item is the Metro Manila Development Authority’s Out-of-School Youth Serving Towards Economic Recovery (OYSTER) Program. The program gives hope to a segment of the population by giving them decent jobs and — out of the path of crime. OYSTER is one of the programs under the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program (AHMP) of President Arroyo, which is being implemented by MMDA, Department of Public Works and Highways, and the Philippine National Police.

MMDA’s OYSTER project targets out-of-work, out-of-school youths and underprivileged family members to work in some of MMDA’s operations. The beneficiaries are given training in carpentry, masonry, gardening, electronics, landscaping, and plumbing and office and technical works. Last year, a total of 3,541 kamineros were hired by the authority, their jobs ranging from doing landscaping, administrative work, to sidewalk cleaning. For the second half of this year, the agency has over 1,000 jobs needed to be filled up.

Christopher Salinas, 33, is one of these kamineros. He was jobless when a friend told him about the MMDA project. Now, as a payroll officer in MMDA, he is able to pay for the expenses of his four children. He earns P274.50 a day, and he says he is quite happy that his job gives him the opportunity to practice what he learned as an undergraduate business management student.

National Nutrition Council Chairman and Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III says the MMDA project helps not only the persons employed, but their respective families as well.

MMDA is one of the 29 agency members of the Anti-Hunger Task Force directed by President Arroyo to implement the AHMP.

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The Muslim community will miss the honorable Madki Alonto, governor for nine years of Lanao del Sur, who passed away on the evening of November 15, at the residence of his only daughter, Bai Anissa Biruar and her husband Datu Abdul Ganni Biruar in Cotabato City. He was 90 years old.

The governor was the first Muslim appointed as a commissioner of the Commission on National Integration; the first governor of Lanao del Sur; president of the Jamiatul Philippine A-Islamia (JPI – the first Islamic university in the Philippines); former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Libya, and chairman of the Jamieo’Al-Islamic (the first and biggest Islamic foundation in the Philippines).

His daughter-in-law Bai Norhata Demarunsing Macatbar relates an incident that took place after the death of her mother-in-law, Bai Rasmia Indol Damgcal Alonto, who joined her Creator in 1990 while her husband was posted as ambassador to Libya. After the wake held in Marawi City, the governor spoke to then Foreign affairs Secretary Raul Manglapus and requested that he be relieved of his posting because he no longer wanted to live in Tripoli without his beloved wife. The secretary denied the request, saying he was amazed that while other diplomats were asking for extensions of their terms, Ambassador Alonto displayed “unparalleled humility” as well as love for his wife.

Before he died, the ambassador requested that he be buried beside his wife’s grave, and the wake was held at Kasr’el Mhumina, residence of his late brother, Sen. Ahmad Damocao Alonto.

Bai Norhata says that when her father-in-law was governor, her cousin-in-law Engr. Baliamen Mamainte, who was working with Provincial Engineer Avila, said that there was a savings of P50,000 from the construction of the Masiu-Lumbatan Road. The governor convened mayors of his province that the savings will be used for barrio roads (not to his own pocket), and they were able to construct 10 barrio roads. Mamainte and Avila were amazed at his honesty and concern for his people.”

Norhata continues: “He did not amass wealth in this world. He was an exemplary Muslim who anchored his life on Islam to the letter. At one time when he was a member of the President’s Cabinet and Compania Maritima was chosen as the vessel for that year’s pilgrimage, the company offered him a P50 — that was a big amount then — commission per pilgrim. The governor announced that those who had already paid the passage fee would be refunded P50, and those who were still going to pay, would pay P50 less than the stipulated amount. That was my father-in-law’s help for them in their spiritual journey.”

Ambassador Alonto is survived by his five sons and one daughter. His sons and their spouses are: Datu Alauya, a law graduate/professor and resident of South Carolina, USA, and his wife, is Bai Farida Sinsuat of Maguindanao; Datu Abul Khayr, first interim head of the ARMM, first speaker of the ARMM Regional Assembly, former Marawi City vice mayor and a founding leader of the Moro National Liberation Front, and his wife, Bai Norhata Demarunsing Macatbar of Lanao and Sulu; MSU Vice President/Engr. Abdullah and his wife Bai Famidah Pandao Masorong of Marawi City and Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur; Consul Datu Amir Hussein of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and his wife, Bai Rasmia Limug of Marawi City, and Datu Ansri, an entrepreneur and regent of Marawi State University and his wife Shirley Campos. His daughter is Bai Anissa, and her husband is Datu Abdul Ganni Biruar is from Maguindanao.

Prof. Ibrahim Mamao says of the late ambassador: “He left behind God-fearing children who I believe have internalized their father’s values and ideals.”

My email: [email protected]