By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

TWO issues (January 22) ago, our headline read: MBTF: Charge ex-city officials involved in scholarship fund mess.   

After that particular news hit the city, many cheered Mayor Belen Fernandez for having the political will to fight corruption wherever it may be, whoever may be involved. The news was a breath of fresh air amid efforts of the 7epaLifes (Councilors Red Erfe-Mejia, Celia Lim, Alvin Coquia, Alfie Fernandez, Irene Lim-Acosta, Dada Reyna-Macalanda and Marilou Fernandez – members of the majority bloc at the Sangguniang Panlungsod) to paralyze operations of the city government by holding the passage of the 2023 annual budget in limbo.

People have since waited with bated breath for the news on the actual filing of the case by the city legal officer against the members of the scholarship committee under the Brian Lim administration.  After all, it’s going to be a precedent on how to deal with corruption in the city government.

Unfortunately, as of 5p.m. Friday, February 3 (our newsroom deadline), we received no update, no word from City Legal Officer Atty. Aurora Valle whom we expected to reply to our text message asking specifically for an update. I thought she was the best source (besides Mayor Belen), being the city legal officer who was given the order to file the cases.  But she didn’t even have the courtesy to acknowledge my text message.

No update perhaps means ‘No action-No cases filed’? Perhaps.

I’m still hoping to be proven wrong and both Mayor Belen and Atty Valle will send an update for our next week.

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ANOTHER BLUFF? The failure of the city legal officer to act promptly is, of course, good (boring?) news for the 7 epaLiFes, allies of the Lim administration, and members of the scholarship committee. Perhaps, after seeing Mayor Belen failing to make good on several threats in the past, they are not surprised to see Mayor Belen’s  latest threat turning out to be another bluff.

For Mayor Belen’s supporters, the ‘No action-No cases filed’ speculation adds to their growing disappointment on seeing and hearing her bluster but with no seeming intention on her part to make good on her word – to go all out against corruption in the city. After all, the scams discovered in the implementation of the scholarship program of the Lim administration illustrated the height of insatiable greed and hypocrisy that public servants could possibly commit at the expense of the city’s youth.

It would be tragic for the Belen administration if, indeed, she and Atty. Valle had made a 90 degree turnaround and decided to allow the accountable persons in the managing of the scholarship fund go scot-free.

The mere filing of the cases presents one rare opportunity for a great legacy for the Belen administration if it makes good on its threat to sue everyone involved. I do hope their inability to update Dagupeños this time is not already pointing to a lost legacy.

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LET HISTORY RECALL THEM. I am personally amused no end how the 7 epaLiFes  could endlessly dare to demonstrate their ignorance about rules for good governance.  Or is it plain chutzpah on their part to thumb their noses at those who invoke rules and laws because apparently all that matter to them are: 1. They have the numbers in the chamber and, 2. The only rules that matter to them are the internal rules they promulgated at the SP.

At any rate, most Dagupeños already know that the 7 epaLiFes have no respect for either collegial relations or established protocols. None of these matter to them as much as their demand to be paid P100k each monthly with public funds. (They’re not happy with their P30k today).

I have no doubt they know they are risking suspension (and possibly jail sentence) for plotting to block the passage of the 2023 city annual budget for political purposes. But that realization won’t deter them from continuously plotting against the city, because what they ultimately want to see is for Dagupeños to blame Mayor Belen for their miseries. Believe it!

So, for the city’s political history, I’d like to see them block the 2023 budget beyond March 31 and continue to mock those who dare call out their audacity, effrontery, and impertinence. Let the public records show the next two generations how a bunch of incorrigible self-centered public servants worked against their constituents’ welfare and how they later met their comeuppance.  A good lesson in bad governance.

Let history recall their names, they who dared to be different – they who couldn’t care less about their untainted family lineage as long as the situations feed their egos and insatiable greed. Will they ever find the need to redeem themselves? I seriously doubt that.

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A FRIEND’S BUSINESS. Being on Facebook and having worthy friends certainly enables one to know more about life that’s totally unexpected.

Let me share what I gathered from a FB friend whom I never met personally but gratefully found what business activity he’s into. Little did I know and suspect that my God-fearing FB friend, Henry Go, is into production and marketing of disposable diapers – Assure® Premium Disposable Diapers! Wow!

As far as I can recall when my kids still had to use disposable diapers, most branded baby disposable diapers have the same features for comfort, protection and convenience. The only difference among them really is on brand recall. So I wondered what would make his product different? Well, I noted one feature of his product that should matter to mothers. 

Henry said his Assure diapers are not only designed to provide maximum comfort and protection for the baby, but are made with “high-quality materials that are gentle on babies’ delicate skin.” There it is!

Hmm…young mothers out there should try this.

Henry says his Assure® Premium Disposable Diapers are available at Robinsons Supermarkets, Shopwise superstores, Royal Duty-free shops in Subic Free port and online at Lazada, Shopee, Edamama….. Check out FB Page: Assure Diapers or contact hisyng@gmail.com

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THANK YOU KABALEYAN! I’d like to thank Art Barberan, a loyal PUNCH supporter in the US who never fails to keep his membership in our Kabaleyan Club active. Salamat. Art!!

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