Playing with Fire
In Argentina, citizens stone corrupt politicians!
By Gonzalo Duque
SAN FRANCISCO, California—Let’s thank the Internet we are able to exchange notes even while we are separated by thousands of miles.
Parang nandyan lang tayo sa Pangasinan!
Going through the Punch’s report on the money scandals in Dagupan City, we feel vindicated by what we have been writing about on the past administration.
Oopps! Baka na naman iiyak iyak kayong mga kaalyado ni ex-Mayor porke tapos na ang termino basta na lang kalimutan ang korapsyon niya? Andi met a!
We are in this to promote good governance, protect the people’s money.
Gusto nyo bang basta ibubulsa ng mga opisyales ang pera nyo? Ang pera ng bayan? Mag kolaps ang local government! Dapat lagi tayong vigilant sa pag gwardya ng kaban ng bayan!
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With City Auditor Virgilio Quinto’s COA Report out (BTW, he sustained and validated ALL our Punch reports!), we expect that those involved will now face the music.
Mr. Quinto has precisely recommended the filing of charges against the plunderers, and those who were part of it. Since some, if not many, of those to be charged are known to us personally we can only pray for them to repent and return what they stole from the public coffers.
Kumusta na kaya si Vlad Mata? Simpleng tao nang pumasok sa public service, but nagpayaman nang husto!
He was driving (ano, may driver?) or riding a Hammer!
Well, like boss like bata!
What, BSL can’t return the money anymore because he is sick?
No, the law says that even if you are sick, if you steal, the law will run after you.
How about ex-City Auditor Ofelia Celi? What has she done all those times while her bosses were stealing the people’s money?
Nabili? Kawawang nilalang. Kawawang Dagupan, our city did not deserve this ugly fate!
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In Manila, the Pork Barrel outrage invites our attention to the sad practice of our national officials in allocating only 2.5% from the Gross National Product for Education something like P250 B.
They are more education—oriented in Asian Countries which earmark 5% or P500B for education.
Reflecting on the Pork Barrel scam, we concluded that if only part of the stolen funds were used for education, we could easily come out with something like P 250 B more, so we can build more schools, hire more competent teachers and modernize the educational system!
We wonder why our Government appropriates more for the military than education!
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In past columns, we wrote about incidents in Argentina when plain citizens would stone government officials seen in public places like restaurants parks, social halls, etc.
After all, we are happy we are not a congressman! It’s an ugly company!
Inggit? Nope! We’re sincerely happy where we are. Mantakin nyo, in the U.S., pag nabalitaan na bisita tayo, people, Dagupenos, Pangasinenses surround us like a celebrity. Ganito pala ang dating ng mag-column sa Sunday Punch. Utang natin kay Ermin ang celebrity status na ito!
Kung pulitiko ka, pa-ismid ang ngiti ng mga tao.
That suggestion from a group headed by Atty. Romulo Macalintal has big following even in the U.S, the movement to abolish the congress and the senate!
We see it as a sign that our institutions are crumbling and should evolve into something that promotes accountability. Hindi na Matuwid na Daan, kasi parang nabaluktot, we’d rather say Tamang Daan!
We sport a thumbs down on politicians, but thumbs up on journalists! Ahem….ahem….
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We are elated by report that our LNU Dukes are winning in the UCAAP Games! Congrats to coach Angel Gumarang and the other members of his team for guiding the Dukes to victory! We hope Angel’s brilliant coaching will also shine in his bid in the Barangay Gueset council. Pray, Coach Gumarang, na magdilang-anghel tayo!
For the record, it was during BSL’s mayorship that the hated fish pens proliferated. For a while, he had them dismantled due to the pressure of the fishpond owners led by Alfred Dawana and Ed Maramba, but that was short lived. They resurged with vengeance, and till now it’s taking Mayor Belen tough and rough time to wipe them out for good. Let’s help Mayor Belen, kasi tunay la ya.
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