A CASUAL road trip to neighboring province La Union, through the main highway from Pangasinan via Damortis in La Union will quickly make Pangasinan traveler wonder -what is it that makes La Union strictly implement and enforce campaign rules that Pangasinan can’t seem to do at all?

Traveling from any point in Pangasinan shows how the poster rule is flouted openly in all towns and cities. One can see all types of posters, particularly oversized posters and banned billboards installed along the highways, many nailed to the trees, strung on electric posts, bridges, installed atop buildings. Worse, these are seen in areas close to election supervisors’ offices and police stations, and in the middle of business districts.

In stark contrast, the travelers know they have exited Pangasinan because there are no unsightly scenes that remind them about Pangasinan.  In La Union, communities are visibly complying with the campaign rule, their surroundings are clean and environment-friendly. No posters are seen nailed to the trees, or hanging on electric posts. The only campaign posters one sees are those attached to walls, fences and frontages of private homes, sari-sari stores, restaurants. No oversized posters!

Why is Pangasinan miserably failing in this regard? Is it because Pangasinan’s election supervisors in both the provincial and local levels are incompetent and lazy, and those in La Union are competent and dedicated? Is it because the police deputized here by Comelec have not been called out to assist in enforcing the law? Is it because the provincial and local government officials in Pangasinan don’t see it their duty to enforce the campaign rules and the LU officials are deeply conscious of their duties as public servants?

Make a quick trip to LU and see how badly Pangasinan fares.

 

Sotto bold move

SENATE President Tito Sotto made a bold move when he backed up Sen. Koko Pimentel’s bid to sponsor a resolution seeking an inquiry into the Marcos estate tax debts to the tune of a staggering P203 billion.  “The investigation can start anytime as there are still 12 [senators] who are not running in the elections,” Sotto, who is running for vice president, said.  Sotto said Senate Resolution No. 998 seeks to probe the alleged failure of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to collect the Marcos estate taxes. The probe, Sotto said, might “cut both ways” for Palace pretender Bongbong Marcos, who may get bashed during the hearings or, as Sotto sees it, “it may be to his favor because of the media mileage.”  The BIR had earlier confirmed sending a written demand letter for the Marcoses to pay their taxes. “Their uncollected taxes was of national interest,” said presidential bet Ping Lacson.  Let the probe begin.

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