By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

THE findings so far of irregularities in the implementation of the Dagupan City Scholarship Program are enough indicators that the program became a source for corruption during the 2019-2022 Brian Lim administration at the expense of children of poor Dagupeños deserving of government support.

But why Mayor Belen, in her capacity as chairman of her administration’s scholarship committee, is allowing herself to be led by the nose with the scant information provided her and her committee by her predecessor, is beyond me.

If there are names on the list without the necessary data references, i.e., ages, addresses, phone numbers, year and name of high school graduated from, and colleges enrolled in, etc., it can only mean these data were deliberately and conveniently deleted to cover up the racketeering that went on. It means there are responsible officials that must be made to account.

The PUNCH already spelled out the names, responsibilities and positions of the committee members that managed the funds during Mayor Brian’s administration, but the city government is holding back. They ought to be charged summarily as accountable city officials for the many discovered irregularities!

The committee members that must be made to account are: Lenny de Venecia, James Arzadon, Leila Natividad, Linda Ventenilla. Until they get the chance to clear their names, their public service records will forever be tainted as the accountable officials who refused to fully account for the misuse of and the missing public funds.

Mayor Belen can simplify her life at the city hall by exposing responsible officials on the block to account to the city taxpayers.

*          *          *          *

INCONTROVERTIBLE PROOF.  If the Lim scholarship committee cannot produce the data that should accompany the applications, that is the first incontrovertible proof of corruption. The only way they can escape accountability is to show that the documents are in order.  Failing that, it is ground for malversation of public funds.

It’d really be to the best interests of the four officials, therefore, if they volunteer to refute the claims of the Fernandez Scholarship committee at the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Aaah… but, of course, I sincerely doubt if those in the majority who know how the scholarship funds were misused, would join a call to invite the four for a chance to redeem themselves. Would epaLiFe Councilor Red Erfe Mejia, he who vainly tried to project himself two weeks ago as the hero of the “exploited and deprived” scholars, dare file the resolution? Nah, not on your life because the ultimate responsible and accountable city official in that scandalous mess would be his best friend, Brian.

*          *          *          *

WHAT A HAPPY BUNCH! The epaLiFe councilors in Dagupan City must be given full credit for making themselves the most juvenile set of councilors the city ever had.

They delight in projecting themselves as the barkada in the city council that holds power at the city government, who dare to be cocky, talking nonsense.

The epaLiFes’ latest “adventure” was to boycott the special session that sought funding for the Dagupan PNP, urgent repairs of classrooms needed for the face-to-face classes and scholarship grants to the city’s qualified scholars.

I’m not at all surprised that they did what they did, because it was in their character as epaLiFes. Little do these irresponsible bunch of peabrain in the city government know that they just gave Mayor Belen the opportunity to expose their childish politics at the expense of the city’s communities.

Who do they think will be blamed for the inability of the police to operate efficiently when Mayor Belen goes to the police station with her personal funds? Who will the qualified scholars turn their ire on when Mayor Belen gives them the bad news that their allowances will be delayed for weeks and months? Who will the students and learners blame for not having enough classrooms for their face-to-face classes when Mayor Belen apologizes for the lack of classroom facilities for them?

Here’s what’s going to happen on ground zero. Mayor Belen only needs to shrug her shoulders when she faces the policemen, the scholar, teachers and students to say the epaLiFes refused to give the money that the city government owes them.

I think the epaLiFes should really do more of this in the weeks ahead. In fact, why not boycott at least one regular session a month? They will surely be long remembered as the barkada in Dagupan to be reckoned with.  Go go go epaLiFes!

*          *          *          *

NOT FAIR. Now that the pet project of Guv Mon-mon, the Provincial Economic Development and Promotions Office (PEDPO) has been fully funded, who will head it? What are the office’s strategic objectives? How big is its manpower? What industries are being targeted for the six districts?

Perhaps, it’s not fair to ask these questions since it’s only been a week since the first 100 days passed. And local media must wait for a public information officer to be appointed before details can be dished out. Report has it that a candidate for the post is still being screened and trained not to speak when asked because that’s how it was in Binalonan through the decades.

That’s fair enough!

*          *          *          *

WHOSE JUSTICE? Here’s a twin cry for justice.

There’s the cry for justice of over the murder of broadcast journalist Percy Mabasa aka. Lapid being pursued by the family and fellow journalists. Then there’s a cry for justice by Rappler’s CEO Maria Ressa seeking the dismissal of her cyber-libel conviction before the Supreme Court.

The difference lies in the motives. While Percy was clearly a victim of lawlessness, Ressa claims to be a victim of political harassment. While Percy never asked for special privileges, Ressa is insisting that she be exempted from the coverage of libel.

True blue journalists face the hazards of the practice including being harassed incessantly by politicians and businessmen, but never dare ask to be exempted from the coverage of libel and cyber-libel.

Percy must be squirming in his coffin knowing that Ressa is competing for public support for herself, and not for the press freedom for which he was killed for.

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments