BARBARIC ACTS. The heat is on. The political pot in Pangasinan is already nearing boiling point which is why methinks it is only right that the province be included in the election watch-list by the Philippine National Police because of anticipated intense political rivalry, especially for the gubernatorial post.

I heard over the radio on Wednesday about the spray painting of the face and burning of some tarpaulins of former Congressman Mark Cojuangco, a gubernatorial aspirant, hung across Bugallon town.

The destruction reportedly happened at dawn last week after Cojuangco’s staunch supporter, former mayor and now incumbent Vice Mayor Ric Orduna, who is staging a comeback to his old post, in the May poll, held a caucus.

Many barangay officials came, a proof that Orduna still enjoys a clout in his hometown.

But why burn or destroy the tarpaulins of Cojuangco? Who ordered it? Who is afraid of him?

It is a sad thing this has to happen in Bugallon which is presently ruled by the brother of Cojuangco’s rival.

We’re not pointing an accuser finger at anyone but please, for the sake of our beloved provincemates who deserve peace and quiet, can we refrain from such barbaric acts?

Let this be a healthy and friendly electoral competition. May the better candidate in all positions win and let the electorate choose freely and wisely!

Chill lang, pulitika lang yan! –Tita Roces

 

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. After joining the half-a-day inspection tour of the rivers with members of Task Force Bantay Ilog last Wednesday, we can not help but compare the group to Don Quixote, the knight from La Mancha in Miguel Cervantes’ novel, who charged the giant windmills with only his spear.

In the case of the Task Force Bantay Ilog, they are armed with only a single bolo and there are over 300 illegal fish pens including a number of over-sized fish cages to dismantle or demolish.

Worse, the Task Force has only one demolition team composed of just four men, and goes about its task without a police escort for their security. It is simply impossible to think that the team of four can stop the proliferation of illegal fish pens notwithstanding the new city ordinance.

Ranged against 300 enemies, (the fish pens in this case) one can only wonder how long it will take them to accomplish their mission. Another mission impossible unless the city government adopts a new strategy.

But there is hope with the executive order issued by Mayor Belen Fernandez expanding the composition of the Task Force Bantay Ilog whose membership was previously limited only to officials and personnel of the City Agriculture Office.

Hopefully, this new tact will finally and completely rid the city’s rivers of illegal fish pens. The best strategy suggested so far is to use trawlers to ram all bamboo enclosures and pull out the bamboo poles. – Leonardo Micua

(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)

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