FOR the past 8 months, the Dagupan City government, with Mayor Belen Fernandez at the helm, found itself mired in no-win controversial debates weeks after weeks over its rejected 2023 annual budget. She could not win over the seven councilors who belong to the ‘LiFe’ political team that took control of the city’s agenda as members of the majority bloc in the city’s Sangguniang Panlungsod, no matter how hard she tried.

The seven councilors dictated the terms and processes, some of which were outright illegal from the very beginning and baited Mayor Belen to humiliate herself and her office. To their delight and amusement, and they succeeded. She was literally brought down to her knees to beg for what they knew she wanted so desperately yet was never assured she would be rewarded. She was never rewarded. Instead, they saw a malleable politician who loves to play the victim card, and they were just more than happy to oblige.

When the Department of Budget and Management declared the seven councilors’ version of the 2023 annual budget as “inoperative in its entirety,” most everyone thought the decision finally gave Mayor Belen the upper hand. It should have but she continued to play the victim card but this time with a difference – she threatened the seven councilors with administrative and criminal charges for plotting to sabotage the city government.

But when the seven balked at her threats, she still did nothing.  She didn’t make good on her threats that was meant to show herself as the courageous leader who’ll fight for her programs that will benefit her constituents.

The situation has made her allies begin to doubt her touted political will. Why isn’t she filing the cases as she declared to finally put an end to the series of plotting against her programs by the seven councilors using the 2023 annual budget as their weapon?

Her repeated refusal to file the cases after four weeks already roused suspicions that she is either afraid of a retaliation from the seven councilors or she is protecting a major ally from being implicated in a corruption issue. Or worse, is she afraid of a countercharge of corruption by the seven?

However, Mayor Belen tries to cite excuses for the delay in the filing of cases, her continued refusal only serves to confirm growing suspicions that she has lost the political will to fight for her constituents, yet she challenges them – Iyalagey su baley (Stand up for the city).

Can Mayor Belen still lead by example in fighting for what is right for Dagupan without political will?

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