Lessons from Randy Halasan, 2014 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee

Randy Halasan, this year’s lone Filipino recipient to the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, is a Dabawenyo. Halasan worked his way up until his noble deeds were recognized. Who would have thought that his sacrifices would pay off and have him hailed as the only Filipino who ranked number one in the score cards of jurors under Emergent Leadership category? Ramon Magsaysay Award is considered as the Nobel Prize of Asia. It was established in 1957 the same year when the Philippines lost a good President due to plane crash.

Many lessons can be derived from Halasan’s unconventional teaching experience in a very remote area in Pegalongan, some kilometers away from the highway. While many graduates consider going abroad to look for greener pasture, it is so surprising others stayed in their native land with one thing in mind: to help their fellowmen. This too paves an inference that Halasan did not escape himself from his critics upon the thought that it is close to suicide working in such poor condition. Remember, he has to travel close to eight hours just to reach the impoverished village of the Matigsalugs.

Our awardee ignored his detractors as his ways may be against all odds. He brushed aside the idea of lavish lifestyle. At first look, teaching was his stimulus to ambition. His zeal and dedication is the power that wields such major decision but making him to be in his best form to connect with the lumads. Why is he not anxious to adjust to his newfound environment? Think of the remoteness to city life and the deafening silence in the night with a seemingly total darkness around due to lack of electricity in the area. It is simplicity and humility rolled into one to the life of Halasan. It is a saintly gesture worthy of emulation, especially to this generation.

If our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal were alive today, he must have praised this young teacher from Davao the way we did. For Rizal taught us in this wise: “It is a useless life that is not consecrated to a great ideal. It is like a stone wasted on the field without becoming a part of a great edifice”. Halasan is now a part of that great edifice mentioned by Rizal and what he emulates as part of the sacrifices for his fellows would resonate to those who desire for greatness. There is truism too that if the condition does not permit, then by all means create that condition. Halasan chose that kind of life and his transformative leadership has gained surprising results. He nailed hard to the lumads’ head the importance of education by pushing hard to acquire more facilities for the school. He introduced life skills and implemented community projects for the lumad to veer away from being subservient as this caused them to be wanting in many ways.

Halasan is now enjoying same prestige as those previous Ramon Magsaysay Awardees. Past awardees include former  Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo (2000); former Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr. (2002); politician Haydee Yorac (2004); and former President Corazon Aquino (1998). On top of all these observations and lessons from our young mentor, it is not too late to show who we are in the face of adversity for as long as we do it right. Thus, we can all be heroes in our own ways, even without having to think about awards. For our good deeds if not recognized in this temporal world will surely be given credit by the One who made us. May we have a hall or gallery in the city purposely showcasing the lives of those who made great contributions to our city so that children will always be reminded of their duty to their city.

 

Banned jokes

        Crack a “bomb joke” and you will certainly be in serious trouble. Just for the sake of giving it a nod, the Filipino race is one of the world’s happiest. Filipinos are fond of making jokes, even at calamities, tragedies, or funerals. It is in our nerve that even at misfortunes, we can still afford to smile because we have been born with a twin: a funny bone. We certainly like people with a great sense of humor; Great, because it must be coupled with some elements of good taste. This will not surprise us that deaths came too unexpectedly in many instances because of bad and crazy jokes inside videoke bars, to say the least.

       Ours is a culture which deals more on the positive outlook rather than about the “doing of harm”. We admit to have the most admirable traits. Hospitality is our capital in tourism. It is not difficult for Filipinos to get along with foreigners. Filipinos are generally branded friendly people. “It’s more fun in the Philippines”, isn’t it right? We wonder if there is a concealed advantage for being funny. But it is always fun and satire that are bolting in our senses. Some jokes are seriously not funny anymore. Life is a laughing matter and when one ended in prison because of a joke, that is certainly a brimful of fun and then we know to whom the joke ultimately fell.

      Take the case of a bank employee who secured a health card with our City Health Office a year ago. She refused to get a priority number and instead murmured: “Lami-a bombahan diri oy kay dugay kaayo!” . This woman was arrested by police authorities from San Pedro Police Station. These illegal jokes oftentimes were committed at points of entry or terminals. When luggages are inspected, it is also at this time when impulses in the brain will dictate the mouth to say: Hinay lang sir kay naay bomba diha (take it easy sir because of a bomb inside the bag). This joke by a woman at the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal has prevented her from boarding the bus. Instead, she was turned over to the police authorities. I wonder if one has indeed brought a “bomba” but it is a “bomba sa bisekleta” or “bomba sa tubig” but again if asked: what is bomba in English? There would be at least two possible answers: a bomb or a pump. If said in English: Sir, it’s a water bomb, then go to prison.

      Those who have committed such offense came from all walks of life. From teachers to students, actors to taxi drivers, all of them have realized the joke fell on them at the end. What they may have uttered were words of full regrets and might thought, they rather sealed their lips during inspections. At the latest blasts in two movie theaters in Davao, one has still a nerve to make jokes out of it. Unlike in years past, “bomba” inside a movie theater was tainted with lewdness for exposing the most essential parts of women. Bomba was used to be a pornographic film. Today, pornography is no longer shown in cinemas and there is no reason for one to go to cinemas to watch bomba. Thus, when such word is uttered, it necessarily points to the taboo owing to the omnipresence of terror threats.

    
As early as 1980, deposed President Ferdinand Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 1727 which penalizes pranksters. This “bomb joke” can be committed by word of mouth or any means of communication. When one disseminates false information or make threats regarding the presence of bombs, explosives or incendiary device, one can be arrested for violation of PD 1727. I believe, it is not the joke itself that makes one liable for such crime but it is the effect it creates to the minds of others.  Terrorism is always the works of evil. We knew how terrorism works even in first world countries. It cares for no life. I have recalled, City Mayor Rody Duterte expressed his primal fear upon taking the seat again as Mayor. He feared terrorism. Then, we know, it is no longer a joke. It is not a joke to have lives of thousand senselessly lost due to a bomb ticking somewhere. If terrorism is one sowing fear and a bomb joke can still create fear, then how do you call a bomb joker?

Fireproofing Mindanao

      Call it a turbulent time for the presidency of Benigno S. Aquino III. During the midterm of his seat as president, a whirlwind of formidable problem, that is, of catastrophic proportion will not escape from him for now. He has to deal squarely with the issues from pork to gun barrel. With the nation’s billions of pesos amassed by the few taken from the very clear and convincing litany of evidence, people salivate in excitement to see what’s next. But another co-equal issue left cold at the table of P-Noy is the highly questionable peace process going on in Mindanao.

Personally, it gave me a contemptuous sneer when conflict in Mindanao can be readily branded to the entire island, including the peaceful Davao City and neighboring regions. Who would not be sick about comments like: “Sawang-sawa napo kami sa bad news sa Mindanao” elicited in an editorial after a poll question by the now famous Anthony Taberna of Punto por punto. But what is really more compelling than billions of pesos lost from the coffers of the government and where did the transaction transpire? You, people in Manila or outside Mindanao should be sensitive about the feelings of the Mindanaoans. Poor Mindanao, it is not a beneficiary of government’s lavish spending to the point of victimizing the poorest of the poor. I hope media will also be responsible in bridging not only fair and accurate stories but also the history of our moro brothers that help shape our history and culture.

P-Noy’s style in the peace agenda for Mindanao was noted to be uniquely underlined after he gave a marching order for “all-out justice”, rather than all-out war with the Moro rebels. The president reaped a hell of criticism as he released the order after an ambush in Basilan which cost the lives of at least 19 government soldiers at the height of the peace negotiation process. Those soldiers were pitted to the hostile terrain and when bullets were fired towards them, the government, through its chief negotiator Marvic Leonen, was quick to respond “it was only an isolated incident”. Which side had first clicked the trigger was neither important nor relevant in peace talks. The soldiers’ families repulsed the horror in anguish knowing that this peace accord would naturally kill the issue on that much-publicized ambush and probably replace it with a campaign to rather trust the tie that now binds between the Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) with the creation of Bangsamoro entity.

       As I have written this in my previous column, may I reiterate thus: Mindanao’s history has carried the stigma and death’s stare of deprecating horror due to the reported too much bloodshed in the past. Its people were pictured with fear and terror, with criminals responsible for mass killings off the hook. Its economy was reported to be backward and for so many decades today, the government has not been successful in penetrating to the hearts of the moros. There was mass migration of the poor to other peaceful provinces while the warlords enjoyed the benefits of their seemingly ghost town territories. The rich and powerful have lorded it over, investing to their guns as capitals and successfully created chaos to the point of wielding an idea of having established an empire within an empire. The moros were perceived to knock off the legitimate government to its knees.

      But this conflict should be taken into its proper context. The moros’ presence in Mindanao has pre-dated our government, that is, they were here even before the establishment of our republic. In fact, they should even be credited for having successfully defended the Philippine territory (or at least their territory) from foreign invasion. Historically, the war between Filipino Muslims and the Spaniards lasted for more than 300 years! When Nur Misuari of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) cautiously pronounced the trust of government with the moro rebels should not slipped into the wrong hands, he meant it. Misuari should have known better. For when muslim secessionist movement in Mindanao was gaining ground in the 1970s, Misuari was among the first group of several trainees who worked for the independence of the Moro nation (Bangsa Moro). At the helm of his flock, Misuari cannot be treated as a cog in the wheel, to say the least, for the GPH-MILF framework agreement to run.

Peace was illusive in Mindanao. To recap, many presidents dared to traverse this lonely and hostile road in the pursuit of peace. Starting from the Ramos Administration, the government was able to forge peace pact with MNLF by initiating dialogues and agreements. This has earned for the country a peace prize award given in 1997 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). On September 15, 1993, President Ramos signed Executive Order No. 125, Defining the Approach and Administrative Structure for the Government's Comprehensive Peace Efforts. In this EO, Ramos introduced the Six Paths to Peace as recommended by the National Unification Commission (NUC) it was at this time that the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) was created.

      In 1996, the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) finally reached a peaceful settlement with the MNLF.  MNLF was reported during that time to be one of the largest rebel groups in the country. It paved the way for the signing of the GRP-MNLF Peace Agreement on September 2, 1996 in Malacañang Palace. It was reported to have formally ended the armed conflict in Mindanao. The Final Peace Agreement was signed in the presence of the leaders of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). Its offspring were Special Zone of Peace and Development in Southern Philippines (SZOPAD) which consisted of 14 provinces; the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD); and a Consultative Assembly. What is important, it accordingly called for the integration of MNLF forces into the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), aside from the agreed economic assistance to the region.

      It was in the Estrada Administration that a rebel group that opposed the previous administrations wanted to return to the negotiating table. Negotiations were aborted in the past due to the outbreaks of hostilities in Mindanao. A manifesto from said Muslim group was submitted to Estrada which sought for the declaration of cease-fire in Mindanao and that, criminal charges against the then MILF Chair Ustadz Salamat Hashim, vice-chairman for Military Affairs, Al Haj Murad and MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu were also asked to be dropped. It can be recalled that Hashim Salamat was among those MILF officials who were charged of multiple frustrated murder by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in connection with the December 30 bombings in Metro Manila and the May 17 and 21, 2000 bombings of malls in Metro Manila.

     When MILF Chair Murad Ibrahim rallies behind P-Noy until the closure of the agreement through GPH-MILF peace accord, some sectors have treated it with distaste. But what defines now the reality is that people wanted to go back to their homeland safe and bring this goodwill to their children. It is not enough that we be told that over forty years of fighting for the birth of a Bangsamoro entity, Murad will just close the deal with insincerity and suspicion. He and his men have to live by it and prove hope is still there. As our very respected Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said: “It’s better to talk for a thousand years than fight a days-war and lose lives unnecessarily”. I wonder, too that days after our mayor said such nugget of wisdom, many political experts subscribed to same idea. But P-Noy is even more bent on delivering additional forces to parry the moro rebels under the flock of Nur Misuari. What about the lives of the civilians in the crossfire? What about the collateral damage of such wasteful exercise? Let us make Mindanao fireproof. One way to achieve such goal is to appoint key people to deal on the political and economic issues head on. Let there be ceasefire now and give Misuari a seat in the negotiating table.

Financial literacy…also in government

It’s adding insult to injury for public school teachers to have been exacted with much higher tax rates even before their demand of salary increase could be approved. This has gained ground all the more when the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) compared the net revenue collected from the poor teachers vis-à-vis those declared for taxation purposes by self-employed professionals who have become a bunch of tax evaders in this country. The Bureau in its latest count has raked for the record more than 50% taxpayers who come from the ranks of doctors, lawyers, and accountants who have underdeclared their tax returns to evade their tax obligations. BIR may have used for reference a teacher’s honest and faithful compliance to pay tax dues. How ridiculous is it for a doctor to pay as his annual dues the amount of only P 10.00? This doctor-fellow may have laughed off his way to the bank after a consultation fee paid by a teacher who suffered a heart attack due to this tax evasion reality.

With the basic facts presented by BIR, it can be claimed however that the law profession is still the highest paid profession. Note, a lawyer paid an annual tax due of P200.00 a little higher than that paid by an accountant which was pegged at P150.00. Such could be a disgrace in the profession. A teacher who earns more than P21 Thousand a month was able to remit almost P36 Thousand of all the tax dues for the previous year, while according to BIR, self-employed professionals were able to remit only around P35 Thousand. How about other government employees who cling to the rule helplessly for the simple reason that mandatory tax deductions await in evey payday? Discussions are ripe that those whose salaries are fixed by law should enjoy social justice more than anybody else for paying an honest tax. They were left here with no choice, no ifs and buts, no over the counter, but let withholding of tax due be the rule. We can safely say then, government owes to such extent due to this forced honesty by state workers whose withholding tax were culled out basically from the present salary rate of employees.

Taking a serious look at the plight of government employees, it would take a dose of idealism to consider educating them about FINANCIAL LITERACY. What I believe as next to a sound moral force for the rank-and-file is giving appropriate “friendly instructions” in seeking priorities in budgeting. It is common knowledge that lending companies knock at each office to lure employees for some bright financial schemes whether in times of need or not. At the very least however, money paid to a worker loses its character of a public fund when it is already in the government employee’s hands. However, when one secured a loan without putting up a collateral, it is the job itself which poses as a guarantee. It is akin to withdraw the money in advance only that there is a financing body other than the government which responds to the need. Again, what is there to expect in a meager takehome pay? In this financial literacy crash course, state workers will be empowered because they will probably be re-directed to another budgeting option that is within the takehome pay bracket, to constantly flash before their eyes…until they will be able to sleep without something to bother them, like debts.

As it is said: “One cannot squeeze blood out of stone”. One cannot give further what cannot be found in his or her possession, as a rule. In this tax scheme by the government, it would take a hell of a chaos when state workers pay the tax over the counter. Let literacy be a tool to help state employees experience freedom. This may be wild, if not revolutionary, but somehow, it could help the entire bureaucracy when the people under its employ are morally (not necessarily financially) and spiritually sound to live within the realistic budget within the family and not to long for more, but instead, to lead modest lives. 

When threat is imminent

With the spate of bombing incidents in Mindanao for the past three weeks, we come to draw a conclusion: Terrorism threat is imminent. We didn’t fail to see these events as they unfold. Is it not that Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has sensed the danger under his nose that he has to call it off for this year’s Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival? However, it is the mayor’s forte beyond question to see what’s fit. Anyway, this is not the first time our mayor is facing the threats of these demons in terrorism. To forego the merriment of a festival would rather be acceptable than putting in harms way hundreds of innocent lives on the streets. Nobody would want the festival’s vibrance and color be replaced with anguish and mourning; with the cheers and rapid beats of drums, for a dirge.

Just as the recent Cotabato blast that killed scores of people days after the big explosions that rocked Cagayan de Oro, big cities in Mindanao were shortly alerted. Roving security forces of our government did the rounds 24/7 to ensure the supression of criminal designs not to push through. But again, terrorists were just so stubborn and clever to sneak a powerful explosive device that wrecked Lintukan Bridge at the border of Datu Piang and Datu Salibo in Maguindanao which marked as the fifth bombing incident in Mindanao in just a matter of 12 days. The President during the 2nd Mindanao Business Conference was clearly unfazed about these bombings. In fact, it’s as if he was ready to verbalize his satisfaction ratings over Davao’s security measures. In an interview, the President was confident Kadayawan will push through referring to the style and experience of Mayor Duterte about security matters. But wait, P-Noy might have forgotten the too worn-out cliché under our Fundamental law about “protecting” our people, checklisted to be his first duty.

To protect the people does not necessarily mean sending in more troops. Fighting fire with fire may not always be the style and craft that could frighten the bandits. One just have to add more senses to the horrifying stories and how terrorists were so successful in their objectives. They might have hurdled the first base of their plan and succeed in toppling down vital utilities or killed innocent lives to send their message. Their treacherous acts were like ten or twenty steps ahead from those of our law enforcers. Part of their creed is to keep their entry and presence unnoticed. They are not afraid to die. They must be well-financed and their network goes beyond borders. Let alone the influences these terrorists gave to the youth, like pangs ready to sow terror anytime. Who would have thought that the Boston Marathon perpetrators were only motivated by extremist Islamic belief, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq? And that, based from various news sources, they were “self-radicalized and unconnected to any outside terrorist groups”?

When Davao City was included in the watchlists for these more organized terror attacks, neither from the government nor from the private sector can afford to be complacent about security. But it does not mean our government is lowering our flag. It is putting to right perspective how people can be truly secured while the terrorists cannot carry out their plan. There lies a great danger when our authorities are facing against a blank wall, with no definite target. But even if terrorists get our enforcers flat-footed for lack of significant info, ordinary citizens can help our government. This is now the time to show our nationalism and patriotism to honor our flag and the authorities. We can somehow create a band of brothers, based from a purely citizen’s action to provide significant information to our authorities of any suspicious persons and activities in our respective communities. Through this noble act, we will no longer be facing an unknown target. Let’s end terrorism, right here in our city.

Tubig and the “too vague” law

Early this year, Roan Abasalo and I were tasked to translate the Davao City Watershed Code into Bisaya. I gave half of the chapters to him. Roan as a government broadcast media worker for many years had a penchant for the job. Like my neighbor here in the pages of Mindanao Journal, Sir King Quimpan, Roan is also “bagtik” in the mother tongue. One should take extra pre-caution to give an accurate translation of the proviso to save the trouble of being scolded by framers of the law.

In good faith, such self-proclaimed version was hoped to pass all strict scrutiny, with the evil being avoided. But more often, we can be “lost in translation”, like a toddler lost in the offing. A translation job is seriously funny at times as you are not only stretching thin the law, you could also lose its real meaning when written in another language. Such could pop up many dialog balloons of jokes at the end of each line when you read your work, but not for the experts.

Registering in our radar screen are those who play a Smart Aleck in Congress with Senate Bill 2997, proposed by Senator Angara and House Bill No. 5497, proposed by Reps Romero Federico Quimbo and Karlo Nograles, which seek to privatize all of the country’s water districts. This proposed law that is tripping us up gets in the way of naming Davao’s icon of abstract logic. This is staining the reputation of Davao to have the best potable water in the world. With this judgment of Nograles, he has also to live with all the consequences because not less than our national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal said, “True shame encounters eyes everywhere”.

How many wells do we have in the first district that Nograles has been so keen on privatizing our water resource? The Davao City Water District (DCWD) must have a point of influence and point of reference, so to speak on this matter. Being a consistent Most Outstanding Water Utility in Asia (which was awarded in Singapore), privatizing is much like reinventing the wheel. He may have invalidly classified our water district with that of Manila’s MWSS. Poor Davao. By and large these lawmakers, including the young Nograles continue to champion this idea on privatization to the strong opposition of their constituents.

It is the death of commonsense and people will feel being suffocated by all these proposed laws. Is our government ridiculously oversold? In that M-Power forum held in Grand Men Seng Hotel recently, one cracked up: Is P-Noy also wants to privatize the police and military? In response to the arbitrary quality, on how many looked at the agenda of the government gearing towards Public-Private-Partnership (PPP), which also sounds like from protector to protection racket. The government is our protector, the surrogate of the rights-bearer from the ruling class. That is only a punch to the moon (suntok sa buwan).

True, DCWD must have known its potential water customers: the residential, commercial, industrial, government, institutional and other users. But the government must draw the line between service and profit. For water is a utility indispensable to our existence. It is even supposed to be free for the households. So when water rates go up, people will dig their own well and let government worry on the sanitation problem. Big corporations stand to benefit the move on privatizing our water districts.

Every generation has the Smart Alecks who think they can figure everything out, once and for all. We happen to be in the generation that fell for it. But as Justice Cardozo once said: “We must spread the gospel; that there is no gospel to spare us the pain of choosing at every step”. Where do taxes of people go if the most basic service that our government can offer, such as the provision of water will slip from its hands? Ergo, Nograles is scaling the mountain in his proposed law.

Team Buhay, Team Patay, Team Bura

Part of our Supreme Court’s resolve on the issue about the oversized ads printed in tarpaulins inside the premises of the Catholic church was to employ the metaphor on “Jesus” to install order in all of our electoral processes. Just before the election season kicks-off, the church in an obvious state of frustration bannered its retaliation against law-makers who were responsible for the passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) law. Even before the exercise of the most sacred rights on suffrage by the people, the church has already rendered that grim judgment of conviction against those who did not heed the Catholic Church teachings. The anguish of the church has favored only a few it considered as pro-life, naming them consequently as their senate bets and stalwarts for the Team Buhay. Some members under Team Patay never considered it a big deal as they will be elected in office anyway.

Now we know, the church joins the circus in Philippine politics. In such funfare, we long to see its flock to last that journey of faith. When the church with promptitude and dispatch hailed pro-RH politicians as heretics it cannot hide from the fact too of some accusations on bigotry when in its totality it refused to open it’s door to other’s opinions. Worse, the war has just began under the helm of Pope Francis I when beans have already been spilled like lightning bolt, striking hard to the moral issues the church is facing today. It should thus be “Suum quique” or to each his own. There will be social justice when the church will mind its own business and at least refrains from meddling in the affairs of the state. Why not start by cleaning its own house first? That would be a great idea to start with. I was born and raised as a Catholic and will stand by my belief but facing political issues should always be personal to me and I think, I should not be deprived of that freedom.

Although this deserves a lampoon consideration, there is a third force coming: the Team Bura. This Team is crunchy-crazy and sometimes a display of “way paki” type for its dormancy in off-election season. However this team transforms into what people regard now as the Commission on Elections. The Comelec has for its part waded through the challenges by thwarting off both religious and political issues as water under the bridge to pave way for orderly elections. People have to support Oplan Langkat to dismantle illegally placed or huge sizes of billboards supporting a candidate. Like the cardinals praying in the conclave to elect a new pope, the Filipino people unveil their new set of leaders for 2013. But we hope in the manner and style of a conclave, the proclamation of candidates will not belching in protests like a billowing a too heavy black smoke from the chimney of the Comelec.

***

Comelec Lawyer Danilo Cullo of Davao made the rounds to explain some provisions embodied in some Comelec resolutions and shy away from responding to questions which the Commission still considered as gray areas pending the resolution of the matter with the Supreme Court. He made it clear, as in the previous elections, that every candidate shall submit a sworn statement of expenditures within 30 days after the elections. No candidate is spared from this mandate, which includes the declaration of expenses during rallies, rekoridas, printing of posters and the donations received from supporters. The deadline it set for the submission of the name and specimen signature for the authorized signatory for the watchers is fixed on or before April 28, 2013.

                Extreme caveat for candidates is the requirements set under Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Memo Circ. No. 15-2013, which looks at the assets as well as the statement of expenditures of each candidate after the election. Candidates were reminded that it must be backed up by documents like receipts and vouchers in effect making themas withholding agents. Under this circular, the candidate should issue a receipt to his supporter-donor and later declare it in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Networth (SALN). The excess in the donation can be considered as income which is already taxable. A candidate’s limit in election spending is only fixed at P3 pesos multiplied by all the voters in his congressional district. Another important consideration, the filing fee of disqualification case against a candidate is already waived (previously it was P 10,000). Accordingly, the only way to stop a proclamation by the Board of Canvassers of a particular candidate is a pending motion to suspend proclamation filed with the Comelec, by reason of a disqualification case. Filing fee is no longer required in the filing of disqualification case which was previously pegged at P 10 Thousand.