Punchline
Wanted: the “first” to howl on landgrabbing
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
In his “open letter” to me (which I know has already seen print in other publications and discussed in some radio stations) in reaction to my column item two weeks ago, Mr. Nicanor O. Melecio, who styles himself as “MBM, Professor, Environment and Land Use Planning /Business Policy, Graduate School, University of Luzon,” asked: “Why single me out to howl first?” (referring to my wonderment why he has not said a word about the land-racket involving accreted lands in Tondaligan Park).
I sense that he is adamant about not being the first meaning he’d gladly talk only if others talk first. Well, at least am glad he confirmed our information about the on-going racketeering inside DENR in collusion with city hall brass and “friends of the boss”, he just refuses to be the first! So, OK, let’s respect Mr. Melecio’s request – to be the second or third, and not the first. Puede na! I only regret he wasted space (and airtime) attributing ill motives to my comments instead of delivering what was expected of him. Or was I wrong to think that as the “professor” cum “environment expert” on environment and land use he would contribute the most in digging deeper into the beachfront sale racket? I was certain he would be the first to smell the stench being the city’s P20,000 a month consultant on environment affairs but from the way he reacted, it appears that his services are being retained precisely so he wont ever be the first to speak out on the racketeering inside city hall.
Anyway, midway in his letter, he gave me a free lecture on the specific functions of the city government bodies that have something to do with land claims. That was certainly educational, but now that he has even impressed me more by his adroit knowledge of how government operates, I wonder even more why he didn’t use his familiarity with these offices’ functions to track the irregularities in order to stop the landgrabbing that put our environment at risk by these land claims. Instead he asked, “why me?”
Then he delivered his “coup de grace” by making me responsible for the establishment of the Bliss Housing in Dagupan by the defunct Ministry of Human Settlements, which he described as a land-grab. Duh? And, I can almost imagine him frothing in the mouth as he wrote his own “expose” — my supposedly “special” relationship with Mrs. Imelda Marcos, being a principal sponsor in my wedding in the 70s – at the end of the letter! Duh-duh?
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The truth of the matter is, Mr. MBM knows-and he knows a lot. And as some of his acquaintances swear, Mr. MBM has even expressed his own frustrations over the ongoing racket! But he told off this corner: “Why me?” to feign ignorance.
Unfortunately for him, there is no one in the city government today who has the credentials to speak credibly and with authority on the issue, that is if his claim to his expertise is true. So I say to him – yes, why not you!
However, at the rate Mr. Melecio, my distant relative, is reacting, he is becoming an even bigger disappointment for our people. But, let’s give him time and space. Hopefully, he will come around and be our hero in time. Or will he decide to just remain a heel all his life?
My personal disappointment in him this very minute is he has clearly consented and allowed himself, with all his respectable credentials, to be used and abused by his bossman. Sayang!
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MAYOR BENJIE FOR REELECTION. Well, well it looks like my fire-player friend Gonz D is going to lose our bet after all.
The recent attempt of Mr. Benjie to deny his earlier but oft-repeated announcement that he would announce his decision by the end of January says a lot about what to expect. His disclaimer that he was not specific about the month was as lame as the sitting duck. In street lingo, it was a pathetic “palusot”!
Of course, he meant the end of January. Of course, he was hoping that the survey results would clearly indicate that he is heavily favored to win against Speaker Joe de V. Of course, he was hoping that JDV would have already negotiated by then.
But Joe de V didn’t bite. The indications are he is going to call Mr. Benjie’s bluff. Why so? Because, the survey shows Mr. Benjie is trailing the Speaker in awareness and in preference – at least that’s what my innocent-looking mole inside my favorite mayor’s camp tells me. And I have reason to believe him because Mr. Mayor backed down on his gutsy forecast that he would announce his decision at the end of January.
So, here’s my own gutsy forecast – he is now looking for a “graceful exit” to save himself the embarrassment of having talked big and bigtime when he thumbed his nose at the Speaker.
Quoting my favorite mayor let me echo his “Abangan”!
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But frankly, this is one bet I’d be happy to lose to Gonz.
I secretly want Mr. Benjie to go up against Joe de V. I want Mr. Benjie to see him field his son Brian against Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez.
Yes, I want him to dig deep into his pocket and trigger a massive vote-buying aimed at Dagupenos! This way, the latter can claim and enjoy their share of the money piled from projects tainted with graft – sanitary landfill (that never was), the streetlights, garbage collection contract, city plaza beautification, dredging machine, Malimgas market, McAdore Hotel, and soon the Magsaysay project. My fellow Dagupeños also deserve a share of the millions regularly extracted from the amusement taxes collected from movie houses, cockpits, etc.
Yes, Gonz I’d be happy to lose this one. But it looks like I’m going to win. Mr. Benjie will want to remain mayor with more money in his pocket, like a true businessman.
***
THE SENATE RACE. Here are some interesting thoughts now pre-occupying minds of “kingmakers”:
1. Sen. Ed Angara is at a loss. Nobody in the opposition wants him included in the ticket because he has been proven to be the “Trojan horse” that led to the opposition’s debacle in 2004 presidential elections. But he can’t join the Unity ticket because that would simply confirm what the UNO thinks of him. The popular bet is – he will finally choose not to run. Any takers?
2. Sen. Manny Villar is not merely looking at a win in this year’s election but a big win to better position himself for the 2010 presidential election. Landing in top three will give him a big boost for the presidency.
3. The Unity ticket will finally include Rep. Prospero Pichay, no matter how hard the GMA administration tries to get him off its back.
4. There are prayers in Malacañang that Mayor Benjie Lim will win over Speaker Joe de V so a less ambitious but a more loyal congressman can be anointed.
5. Sen. Lito Lapid will be marginalized in his home province to complete the take-over and control over cash-cows in Pampanga – quarrying and jueteng. This will likely lead to more revelations about the Arroyos’ indiscretions in governance.
(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/punchline/)
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