Punchline
Mambabatas or Mamba-bakes (monkeys)?
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
NOT a few are wondering what is happening at the Dagupan City sanggunian. Why is it surprisingly quiet? Have the 12 councilors chosen to be like the proverbial “three wise monkeys (bakes ed Pangasinan)”? Have they chosen to become so blind so they can see no evil, so deaf so they can hear no evil and so mute so they can speak no evil?
While Mayor Belen Fernandez and her core team have been busy reorganizing and putting its agenda for Balon Dagupan in place, the councilors appear to be focused on anything but the principle of accountability in government. They are coolly proceeding with “safe” and non-controversial issues in the city, i.e., studying budget appropriations and passing hardly notable resolutions, etc. At the rate they are proceeding, one would think Dagupan is not on fire but everyone in the city hall knows there is widespread conflagration, as evidenced by the series of irregularities being unearthed practically on a daily basis, that needs to be put out urgently.
Have Dagupan’s councilors turned from onor-onor to bakes-bakes – the indifferent “wise” monkeys?
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I find it incredible that not a single member of the sanggunian has suggested that the discovered irregularities in the various departments be looked into in aid of legislation. Not even one from among the members of the majority seems to care to know how a department spent its budget (and performed) in the last 12 months amid revelations that the city is practically bankrupt?
They cried foul when Mayor Mayor Benjie Lim refused to allow any department head to appear before them to answer questions about their budget and operations. Now that Mayor Belen wants her administration transparent to the max, they appear to be indifferent to it all. Surprisingly, the same bunch doesn’t seem to be concerned enough to determine and recommend ways on how they can help the executive perform better for the city under the difficult circumstances.
I thought the city had seen the worst with the onor-onors in the sanggunian during the three Lim administrations in the past. Is the city about to see a worse kind, as bakes-bakes, refusing to do anything that can make a difference for the people under the Belen Fernandez administration?
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SWEPT UNDER THE RUG. There are reported plans to file suits and counter threats by both the city hall and the ALC Holdings and Management Co. on the anomalous sale of the MC Adore. There is even the reported illegal tapping of electricity of the CityState Savings Bank. Why is there not a single attempt on the part of the sanggunian to reconcile differences and recommend a win-win compromise?
Then there are the statements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency that Dagupan is a major shabu hub in Luzon. Don’t they care to know how these all came about from official sources? Why hasn’t anyone asked the city police chief Supt. Christopher Abrahano to explain and describe how much has the station done in the war vs. illegal drugs in the city? Haven’t they heard that barangay Bonuan Binloc is considered the no. 1 hotbed in Pangasinan? Are they afraid of the barangay officials of Binloc led by Kap Pedro Gonzales?
Don’t they care to know more than what The PUNCH has reported on why the city could not pay salaries of emergency workers, or why the city hall is projecting a shortfall in its revenues? Doesn’t anyone care to understand how and why the city ended up paying millions in overtime to some selected city hall employees? And shouldn’t they be concerned about the discovery of payroll padding in the city? What about the missing funds for the feeding program for the city’s indigent children? Why hasn’t any of the department heads been called to explain and account for the irregularities committed under their watch? Why haven’t they called the market administrator, the officials at the One-Stop-shop, the City Agriculturist, City Treasurer, City Assessor to explain their deficiencies if not their incompetence?
Not even the revelation that the seed monies for the annual fiestas and Bangus Festivals in the past three years have not been liquidated seem to be enough to light a fire under their seats. The accountable officials are in their midst! Councilors Red Erfe-Mejia, Guillermo Vallejos and Alvin Coquia (and yes, Vice Mayor Brian Lim himself) have been called on the carpet but they have not even attempted to rise even on a matter of personal privilege to explain or acquit themselves of the charge that they pocketed the money! Worse, no one in the majority appears inclined to make it the city’s business to know where all the millions entrusted to them went!
Why haven’t they asked the city administrator to explain the status of city projects? What projects have been bidded out and which are pending? More importantly, don’t they care to know which contractors won rigged biddings of city projects?
Don’t they care to know how the touted Dagupan River Cruise was funded and how (and why) it came to an end with the exit of Mayor Lim?
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MAMBABATAS OR BKS? Traditionally, minority members in a legislature are always the first to ask questions but perhaps it’d be asking too much of the minority to do just that. After all they were known to have been part of the series of cover-up in the last administration. But here is now an opportunity for them to remake themselves, at least on documented anomalies that they had nothing to do with. They could shed off their Judas 9 stigma if they want to, but that perhaps would be wishful thinking. Being in the minority, they may also choose to remain bakes-bakes and play safe. (Their absence in last week’s special session says they are going to be BKS – bakes-bakes).
The members of the majority today, led by Councilor Maybelyn Fernandez, who also started out as majority members in the last administration led a creditable campaign for good governance until they were marginalized by Mayor Lim and ended up in the minority in the last three quarters of 2012. Recall that Ms. Maybelyn and her team lost their credibility and clout (as members of the original majority) when they backed down on their much publicized threat and promise to file criminal and administrative complaints against Mayor Lim. It was this weakness of Ms. Maybelyn’s group that Mr. Lim exploited. With reportedly measly cash incentives, BSL quickly lured four of her “allies” to betray the city to form the Judas 9. The rest is in The PUNCH’s history.
The lackadaisical performance of Ms. Maybelyn and her allies in the majority today is utterly disappointing to say the least. So far they have shown that they would rather sweep the dirt they dug up earlier and move on with seemingly important but innocuous initiatives. Why have they turned bakes-bakes at this critical stage? What are they suddenly afraid of? Who are they afraid of?
The cheating, lying and stealing of the Lim administration is finally over. The Judas 9 were betrayed and left hanging with pittance in their pockets. The days of cover-up in the city hall are over. There is a breath of fresh air in the city hall because of the avowed transparent leadership in the city hall. But Councilors Maybelyn, Alfie Fernandez, Jigs Seen, Karlos Reyna, Jose Netu Tamayo, Marvin Fabia and Joaquin Reyes are nowhere near where the people expect them to be. Are they happy to be bakes-bakes finally? To be worse than the onor-onors of the past?
The likes of Veem Brian, Councilors Red Erfe-Mejia, Guillermo Vallejos, Alvin Coquia and Chester Gonzales owe the city a lot of explanation. If they think being bakes-bakes will make Dagupeños forget their betrayal, they are grossly mistaken. This time, the people will have a long memory and The PUNCH will make certain of that.
So let’s hear it from all the city councilors: what role can your constituents expect to play in this term? True Mambabatas or Genuine Mamba-bakes?
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