NO FOREVER — Two newsmen seated in a coffee shop exchanged observations about traits of some provincial government department heads. After all, the last elections really left bitter memories and department heads who should be apolitical were also bitten by the political bug.

After the elections, most of them gave the people, especially local newsmen, cold treatment especially if they were identified to have been supportive or sympathetic to a candidate who is opposing their patron.

They probably believed there is forever in their patron’s position and power. But they forget that elections in this beloved country happen every three years, which means in this short span of time, change could suddenly happen.

One official used to beso-beso newsmen before going to his seat during provincial board sessions. This is now a thing of the past. Hindi siguro maka-move on si Sir.

Another department head who used to be warm and cordial now makes local newsmen feel they are no longer welcome in the Capitol. Feeling niya bahay nya ang Kapitolyo.

Provincial Legal Officer Dindin Baniqued is a model in “how-to-deal-with-the-media” as she is admired (in coffee break talks among Pangasinan reporters) for being genial, even to ordinary newsman she meets or deals with. Madam, thank you and stay sweet to all.

Of course, Dr. Anna Ma. Teresa de Guzman, the provincial health officer, is, as always, very helpful to the media, regardless of political leaning and beliefs. She often apologizes if she fails to respond immediately to our queries, whenever she is in a meeting at the time we sent our requests for information.

But a phone call last Tuesday surprised me. It was a call from former provincial administrator Raffy Baraan, thanking me for my support especially in the lows of his life as a public servant. It’s public knowledge that Sir Raffy is experiencing “so much hugot” in his life the past years.

“That’s part of our job, Sir,” I replied.

Yet, he was appreciative that the reports we wrote, as much as possible, had his side in not-so-good-news stories involving him. Buti pa si Sir Raffy, naka-apak pa rin sa lupa ang mga paa.

The reason why we express these observations here is, some department heads think and act like they are the kings/queens of this universe. Nilagay sa utak ang pansamantalang kapangyarihan nila.

They seem to forget that “walang forever ” for the power they wield.—TITA ROCES

THE PRESIDENT WHO APOLOGIZES — As I’ve written before in this corner, Congressman Amado Espino Jr. will eventually be absolved of the malicious charge hurled that he is involved in the proliferation of illegal drugs in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

As you might have heard, President Duterte said he could not connect the dotted lines in the leaked out drug matrix that would pin down the former Governor and two others from Pangasinan–former Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan and Board Membed Raul Sison–to alleged drug trading inside NBP.

The President admitted in a televised speech he had the alleged drug matrix validated four times and found Espino, Baraan and Sison not part of the equation, which was why he did the unexpected – apologizing to the three in public, not only once or twice but thrice which was unprecedented.

That was the first time I know in the history of this country that a sitting President admitted his mistake in public.

We have a President in Mr. Duterte who knows how to own up to his mistakes, something we never saw in past chief executives, save for Gloria Arroyo whose “I am sorry” rhetoric relative to the “Hello Garci” tape nearly cost her presidency.

But the unresolved issue now is – who might have maliciously linked Espino to the mess at NBP? Is it true that a politician could be behind the scheme in a systematic move to put him down and discredit him and his family in the eyes of the whole nation?

This, Espino and his family may want to find out soon.

The people who plotted to put a good man down must be exposed sooner or later. – LEONARDO MICUA

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