My favorite characters in action

By Ermin Garcia Jr.

What appeared to be a simple confusion over a seemingly normal business transaction inside the city hall now appears to be the tip of an iceberg that’s about to thaw and flood the city officials’ rooms. I am talking about the “magic” contract of JLD Motor Works and Towing Service. 

Now that it is confirmed that a “magic” contract was “signed” by the office of the city mayor (my mole says the “contract” was “inked” by ever-reliable City Administrator Raffy Baraan), I am baffled by the tame reaction of my fighting councilors in the Sanggunian.

But I was not the least surprised to hear that Chief Onor-onor  Teofilo Guadiz again rushed on cue to the rescue of his bossman, my favorite mayor Benjie Lim. To deflect a possible incriminating situation, he meekly suggested to his suspecting colleagues and Mr. Benjie to stop JLD from continuing its towing around the city, after JLD offered to stop its services in the city!

Mr. Guadiz now simply wants to make it appear that the whole thing was just a simple administrative booboo! And we can expect JLD to issue a public apology for the “inconvenience” it caused Dagupeños. Wow, how nice!

Niloloko na naman nila ang mga Dagupeño!

The missing “magic” contract smacks of graft and the situation at hand is a clear violation of the anti-graft and corruption law. Someone is criminally liable and should go to jail for it!

***

For some reason, My naughty mole played coy about this particular “bulsahan-zarzuela” this time. To answer my questions about how much she knew, she chided me for being clueless this time, then rattled off her own questions to lead me to her own conclusions:

“Who alone was privy to the “sharing” of the fees collected?” (Not wanting to be embarrassed further, I answered her questions in my mind). The city treasurer, naturally and it was reported that she admitted it.

“Who does the city treasurer report to in city hall?” Hmmm that should be my favorite mayor or his alter ego, the resourceful and efficient city administrator, Mr. Raffy B.!

“How did she know about the ’20-80′ sharing that nobody else knew?”  Hmmm ok, so that must have been a hush-hush instruction.

“Didn’t she know that she cannot accept monies reported from unaccountable forms like a private company’s official receipt?”  Of course she did but the instructions in the “magic” contract must have been very clear. I wonder how these revenues were reflected in the books. Donations?

“Does anyone know how much was really collected all these years since the “20%” share were never reflected in the city’s OR’s?”  Nobody but.

“If the arrangement has no legal basis, will the city mayor sign a contract?” I guess not.

“Who’s coming to the rescue of the mayor?” Why, that’s Chief Onor-onor Guadiz!

“Don’t you see a pattern here? Who were the characters involved in past “magic” deals like the Malimgas Market, streetlights, etc?”  Ok ok!

She confessed though that she didn’t know how the “80% share” was divided over the years. Hmmm perhaps my other efficient mole knows more. 

***

THE   COLLATERAL DAMAGES. It looks like so much was already invested in pay-offs in the Magsaysay project that the plight of the members of the bidding and awards committee who were used to “approve” the winning bid of Metrostate Realty Corporation no longer matters to him.

My favorite mayor Mr. Benjie is now applying full pressure on the city council, particularly Vice Mayor Alvin and the councilors (De Venecia-Decano-Tamayo-Fernandez) in the conscience bloc to sign the resolution authorizing him to enter into a contract with the Siapno cousins, even knowing fully well that the committee members will he hauled to the Ombudsman as conspirators in a complaint that will be filed on the planned project. 

I guess my favorite mayor, indeed, has what it takes to be the biggest millionaire in the city soon – to be shrewd and cold-blooded.

But if it’s any consolation to the committee members (Arch. Maximo Tan Jr., Mr. Louie Guiterrez, Ms. Romelita Alcantara, Arch. Emmanuel Palaganas, Engr. Rodolfo Carolino, Ms. Luz de Guzman, Atty. Roy Laforteza and Engr. Marcelo Prado) who will be sued will be in the company of illustrious characters — the eight city councilors who did all to fast track the approval of the resolution, Mr. Raffy B., the Siapno cousins Mark and Alex, and Atty. Geraldine Baniqued.

But there might be a hitch in the case of my favorite mayor. He might get off the hook because his signature doesn’t seem to appear in the questioned basic documents.

So, there’s still the possibility that the others will likely go to jail for Mr. Benjie’s sake who, in turn, will have the sole privilege of laughing and dancing all the way to the bank.

Now, isn’t that sweet?

***

 TAKE NO PRISONERS. Over the past weeks, Mayor Benjie has been raising the ante for a winner-take-all race for the fourth district. He has already styled himself as the man who will beat the country’s foremost House Speaker of all times in his turf. But veteran player Speaker Joe de V is not about to be rattled by an amateur. He kept to his ebullient, self-assured demeanor just smiling at every suggestion that a serious threat was coming his way.

Well, it looks like the loquacious Speaker decided to finally call my favorite mayor’s bluff.  By publishing his litany of accomplishments and contributions to the development and welfare of his constituents in the fourth district, he is sending one blunt and unmistakably pointed message to his loyal supporters – “Take no prisoners!”

Now, let’s see what my favorite mayor has to show for his 6-year reign that can perhaps come close to the Speaker’s performance. Could the JLD’s towing “magic” contract be one of them? Just asking po!

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/punchline/)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments