Punchline
Is ‘palakasan’ the new buzzword?
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
Something is amiss in the Tayug gunslaying involving the town mayor’s bodyguards.
Initial reports described an on-the-scene and hot pursuit operation by the town’s police. The suspects were clearly identified, and the getaway vehicle that figured in a car chase was later seen parked inside Mayor Carlos Trece Mapili’s compound.
The wonder of all wonders is, why haven’t the suspects been collared and put behind bars to this day? There are eyewitnesses! (Is it possible that the police and the mayor are actually waiting for the witnesses to be intimidated and quickly retract their statements to fully absolve the suspects of the crime?).
Another wonderment. Why is Mayor Mapili, a former assistant provincial prosecutor, not charged for obstructing justice even after the police professed to know that the town executive is protecting and harboring the suspects?
Senior Inspector Michael Daskeo, officer-in-charge of the Tayug Police, has reasons to be apprehensive. From any angle, he has failed in his mission to enforce law and order.
Then, Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Isagani Nerez has even a lot more to explain. How he can allow such an embarrassing situation happen under his watch? I would have expected him to send heavily armed reinforcements to Tayug to effect the arrests. But he didn’t.
But curiously, Regional Director Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil also has been unusually mum about the apparent display of arrogance of political power and breakdown of law and order in that town. He has not been heard nor seen to have given his concerned officers a dressing down for giving the police a lame and helpless image in the community.
At the rate the case is being pursued (?), Mayor Mapili appears to be untouchable by the police in the region.
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In our book, the Tayug incident smacks of terrorism because terrorizing the community with armed bodyguards is no different from what the Abu Sayyaf is known to do. The only difference is, the latter operates covertly in Basilan while the suspects among the mayor’s bodyguards roam freely in Tayug.
But more disturbing is the silence at the capitol. It’s a police matter all right but isn’t Guv Spines, a former police officer, not a bit alarmed by the display of arrogance by a town executive and failure of his police to enforce the law in Tayug, a major municipality in the province?
And didn’t Guv Spines promise us a peaceful place to live in? Or was that a mere campaign rhetoric and gimmick to serve his police background?
By his continued silence, is he condoning illegal and criminal activities of bodyguards of town and provincial officials during his stewardship? Doesn’t he feel compelled to step in to restore law and order in that part of his province?
Is palakasan the new buzzword under the Spines’ admin? I pray not. I sincerely hope that he shall have the suspects thrown in jail by the time we see print next week! A day longer is long enough to bear when anyone’s life is at risk.
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THE SLEEPY CITY. Thirty days have passed since he assumed office, but my new favorite mayor, Dagupan City Mayor Al Fernandez, has been pretty quiet in the frontline. No news is good news?
I have not heard of any clear initiative on his part to put forth a vision or any initiative that might provide the impetus for a semblance of added order, nay prosperity, in the city. Except for his order to stop the illegal construction by MetroState Realty Corporation at the former Magsaysay Park, nothing appears to be happening for the majority of the city’s populace.
This was exactly what many feared would happen if the old Mayor Al returns as mayor. I hope we are not in for another lackadaisical Fernandez governance.
At the Sanggunian, it would appear that only Councilor Jess Canto wants to make a difference with his advocacy for better health at this stage. The city council has not seen any major direction or vision in legislation for the city.
Naugip niran amin!
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THE OPPOSITION. Is the opposition to the Arroyo Administration in the Senate in complete disarray? Yes and no.
Yes, because Senate President Manny Villar appears to be waiting for the issue of chairmanship of the Blue Ribbon Committee to resolve itself. It is his indecisiveness that’s taking its toll, not those in the opposition.
Yes, because the election of Villar has somewhat muddled the lines within the opposition. There is now reference to “the opposition in the majority”, referring to Jinggoy Estrada, Chiz Escudero, Alan Cayetano and Kiko Pangilinan. (It should also include Villar having ran and won with the Genuine Opposition). Then, there is reference to the Opposition 8: Ping Lacson, Loren Legarda, Nene Pimentel, Mar Roxas, Jamby Madrigal, Noynoy Aquino, Rodolfo Biazon and Sonny Trillanes.
No, because everyone in the opposition, including those who aligned with the administration in the majority who elected Villar as senate president, are one with the claim that the committee should be headed by one of them, having won the majority seats in the last elections. To a man, the opposition, including Estrada, Escudero, Cayetano, Pangilinan will not take a “No” from Villar.
No, because both the ‘Opposition 8’ and the ‘Opposition in the Majority’ know fully well that they have been mandated to achieve one mission: to stop rampant graft and corruption in the Arroyo government!
What is at least clear for now is the fact that Sen. Ed Angara was never with the opposition, and independent Sen. Gringo Honasan is already openly pro-GMA. And what is largely unknown to the public is that Sen. Pia Cayetano was elected independent and is neither a member of Lakas nor Kampi, and, therefore, resents being tagged as ‘administration senator’.
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RICHA IS GONE. Another friend and a beautiful lady of Dagupan passed away.
Richa Fernandez, once the gregarious and the life-of -the-party wife of Dr. Lu Fernandez finally succumbed to her illness that had her bedridden for almost 3 months.
One who would not turn her back on any civic project as an active Lioness in those days, Richa always found reasons to make people laugh and smile even when chips were down. She laughed and helped a lot and was well-loved by her family and community in return.
The city will never be the same without her. We’ll miss her infectious laughter and naughty smiles!
Our deepest sympathies to Dr. Lu, Dr. Winnie and Alice, and Malu and Kevin and to Richa’s bereaved friends.
(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/punchline/)
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