Punchline
Thank God for the new alibi
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
Thank God for the assignment of new regional director in Region 1, P/Chief Supt. Constante Azares Jr. and evidently a hushed new directive from Guv Spines, Smiley PD Barba was rebuffed and finally compelled to take back his word on the continued possession of the shotguns by the kapitans.
With the ‘graceful’ alibi, the Comelec’s rule on gun ban, Smiley PD Barba goes back on his word, fortunately, for the benefit of all!
I was just simply pleasantly amused how Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Geraldine Baniqued pulled the rabbit out of her hat with so much ease at a presscon declaring that the recall of the shotguns during the election period was part of the MOA signed between the PNP and the kapitans. Gosh, that bandied provision was unheard of until legal magician Geraldine took center stage. O, sige na sirin…pwede na yan!
But it’s just as well because communities were worried that even until after a kapitan assaulted a fiscal with his province-issued shotgun at the Lingayen’s Justice Hall, some 10 days ago, Mr. Barba was incorrigible and remained adamant about the shotguns being kept by the kapitans…he did not even raise a possible recall during the campaign period.
Then the town police chiefs were beginning to be wary of being subjected to numerous administrative cases should they fail to control the kapitans under their supervision, who’ve become rambos at the behest of their political patrons. Under the MOA covering the use of the shotguns, it is the city/town police chief who is ultimately responsible for the safekeeping and use of the shotguns.
So all’s well that ends well with the provincial police, still with Smiley PD Barba at the helm.
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VIOLENT & BLOODY ELECTIONS. I am not particularly optimistic that this year’s campaign and election period will be peaceful, particularly in Pangasinan.
The poverty level in the country remains at its highest level and this precarious situation translates to sheer survival for thousands of families among political supporters. Monies are promised in return for loyalty, and where expected monies could make the difference for countless families’ survival, many will not hesitate to kill or maim political enemies if only to prove that they deserve more and beyond for their rabid loyalty.
Worse, there are now guns-for-hire syndicates operating in many provinces (including Pangasinan) who can kill targets for a measly P20,000!
Then monies in the millions will flow out to supporters by the millions, and jueteng operators will expectedly not be far behind.
So, unless and until the PNP reports the arrests of suspected members of rings of assassins, and regular disarming of known private armies of politicians, nobody is safe even with the gun ban in place.
To date, media have not been informed of the arrest of any known gun-owner with unlicensed firearms in spite of earlier threats aired by the PNP.
But if there is anyone who can guarantee a peaceful election period with a modicum of certainty, that would be Guv Spines. He is in the best position to know which politician (ally or enemy) who maintains a private army, or who keeps a collection of lethal (licensed and unlicensed) weapons.
They must be disarmed today but will our political leaders have the political will to remove these firearms from the hands of their allies and foes?
Next question, please.
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PERILS OF GLOBAL TRADE. The sudden appearance of the imported frozen meat in the city market is the closest lesson that traders must now contend with the realities of global trade.
Sooner or later, imported basic commodities, from rice to milk and fruits, soaps to clothes, meats to fish (including bangus) will flood our local markets and will have no bearing whatsoever on the number of typhoons that hit us seasonally.
The good news is the end-consumers will benefit from the lower prices that these imports promise. Why lower? Because these come from countries where there are marked over-supply of the goods. Cartels will be dismantled, fierce competition for the local market will bring out the best quality at more reasonable prices.
Easily, the downside of it is, many of our entrepreneurs and producers will initially be displaced – bluntly, put out of business. Consequently, we can expect workers to be laid off and the rate of unemployment will worsen. The pressure to seek overseas employment will be more intense, creating more social domestic problems at home.
It’s time our producers start applying technology that can deliver goods that can help make their pricing competitive in the global trade. The golden years of domestic trade will soon be extinct, if we still don’t know it yet, the days of the small town producer are numbered in 2010, not in 10 years.
Dagupan bangus may soon take the back seat to Taiwan’s Dagupan-cloned bangus, selling at P70 per kilo. Pangasinan mangoes may be marketed soon as Cebu mangoes to be able to compete in the world market.
The towns that focus on their single agricultural product, i.e, eggplant, malunggay, pandan, etc. should begin to look into their quality and quantity for world marketing purposes. Failing that, promises of productive farming will vanish right before their eyes in no time. Imported eggplants, tomatoes, etc, will soon flood our markets too.
In brief, good times are in store for those who have long prepared for this trade phenomenon and bad times are ahead for those who ignored the signs for too long and have remained in their denial stage to this day.
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