Deretsahan
The height of hypocrisy
By Bebot Villar
I was set to be the godfather to Urbiztondo Mayor Jun and Councilor Mirla Balolong on the occasion of their silver wedding anniversary on June 8. Katuwang ko sana si Asec Grace Rosario ng National Irrigation Administration.
As planned, their anniversary was to coincide with the wedding of their son Councilor Volter Balolong at si Angela Arce sa St. Pius Church at ang reception ay sa convention center na privately-owned by the mayor. (Maraming pares ng ninong at ninang sina Volter at Angela pero, one pair lang kami para kay Mayor Jun at Councilor Mirla).
Around 7:15 a.m. of June 7, Mayor Jun talked to my trusted ally kung saan nagbilin si mayor na excited na siya at sana huwag ko daw kalilimutan umattend. Sabi nya maski hindi ako naka-coat and tie dahil mainit ang panahon, na syang attire sa wedding, ay okay lang basta dumating daw ako.
He was inspecting the reception area, talking to some people there around 9:00 a.m. Saturday, when suddenly – Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! In an instant, wala na si mayor, pati yong bodyguard and an employee of CSI. Three others were wounded. What was supposed to be a happy momentous occasion turned into extreme grief. Pinatay si mayor. Words are not enough to describe how I feel. Walang puso at kaluluwa ang mga gumawa nito!
Nag-usap kami nang masinsinan ni Mirla during the vigil last Sunday even as I saw the outpouring of sympathies and grief of the townsfolk that loved him.
Hindi rin nagpahuli ang Sangguniang Panlalawigan whose members entertained four administrative cases laban kay mayor by one complainant na si Loida Cancino, former municipal treasurer ng Urbiztondo. It passed a resolution expressing their “sincerest condolences and deepest sympathy to the bereaved family” of the mayor.
An excerpt of that resolution reads: “Mayor Balolong, who is serving his 2nd term for 2013-2016, has remarkably done his role as Chief Executive of the Municipality of Urbiztondo as proven by his outstanding performance in initiating programs and projects that benefited his constituents until his untimely demise.”
Sabi pa sa resolution, “Mayor Balolong has left a precious legacy of love to his family, dedication and professionalism to his colleagues, kindness to his friends and relatives and admiration and respect to his kabaleyan.”
Ganun pala eh, pero bakit hindi nila siya tinigilan? Some of them even had the nerve to boast that the moves to suspend him will not stop because there are four administrative cases against him.
In fact, if he wasn’t killed, the board was set to approve a resolution titled: Affirming the resolution of the Committee on Good Government and Accountability of Public Officers denying the motion to dismiss filed by respondent Mayor Ernesto Balolong Jr in SP Administrative Case No. 03-2013 for grave misconduct in office, abuse of authority, dereliction of duty and violation of the Local Government Code of 1991 and related laws”.
They were not willing to heed the mayor’s appeal but were suddenly quick to dismiss and praise him to high heavens when he died. Isn’t that the height of hypocrisy”? I can surmise what they truly feel since it is public knowledge na merong isang provincial official na very eager to have the mayor ousted sa kanyang pwesto. C’mon, let’s be real!
Public knowledge din na yong simultaneous raids ng NBI sa house, piggery at poultry farms ni mayor last year ay kagagawan din ng isang provincial official na ayon sa ating mga bubuwit, is well connected with the DOJ, under whose jurisdiction is the NBI!
Hindi nila na tinantanan si mayor. Sobrang hirap at kahihiyan na ang inabot niya at ang kanyang pamilya. Fortunately, Malacaňang saw through the harassment and promptly lifted the two orders of suspension.
Now that he is dead, they talk as if they never acted against him! The board even dismissed all the pending cases last Monday against the mayor kasi moot and academic na daw.
Akala ninyo tapos na ang laban? Hindi pa! Nag-uumpisa pa lang! Look what happened in San Carlos. Mas minahal ng taong-bayan ang pamilya Resuello after Mayor Jolly was killed. The same thing happened in Balungao nung patayin nila si Mayor Jose Peralta.
Kailanman ay hindi magtatagumpay ang kasamaan!
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