By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

THE 7 epaLiFes are getting away with a series of plagiarism, a criminal activity in the country’s penal code committed at a rate never seen in the country’s history of legislature.

If Minority Leader Michael Fernandez is to be believed, the latest (See headline story) is the fourth recorded plagiarism in the Sangguniang Panlungsod. It’s a blatant “in your face” act directed not only at the minority bloc but to the electorate.

Councilors Red Erfe-Mejia, Alfie Fernandez, Dada Reyna-Macalanda, Celia Chua-Lim, Alvin Coquia, Irene Lim-Acosta and Marilou Fernandez, criminally misrepresented themselves agai, this time  as authors of the draft resolution R-6410  titled: “Authorizing her Honor City Mayor Belen T. Fernandez to enter into a term of partnership with the Department of Health-Center for Health Development 1… for the management and implementation of the 2023-2025 Local Investment Health Plan/ Annual Operational Plan of the City Health Officer consistent with the Universal Health  Plan.”

It has become obvious that the 7epaLiFes decided to adopt plagiarizing as their new strategy to turn the table on the minority that complains of their obstructionist mindset. They want to be seen as supportive of the city government by approving the drafts submitted by the minority with one big difference – replacing names of the minority with theirs as authors.

This deceitful tact employed by the 7epaLiFes smacks of blackmail and plagiarism. The barkada’s interpretation of their hypocritical slogan “Shared Responsibility” is to claim credit for the work of the minority who will be forced not to object to its passage because it was their original draft after all.

If the 7 epaLiFes, in their worsening state of arrogance and naivety, think they are not committing plagiarism simply because the original authors allowed the passage of the plagiarized document, they are wrong! The fact that they did not obtain permission from the original authors to have their names replaced, is proof of plagiarism. No permission given. That was on record!

Passage of the measure does not erase the crime committed. But, of, course, the 7 epaLiFes will maintain that until the court says plagiarism was committed, their dirty political gambit will continue.

So far, Councilors Michael Fernandez, Jigs Seen, Dennis Canto, Lino  Fernandez, and  SK chairman Bradley Benavides apparently have not indicated plans of filing criminal cases.

I hope the minority realizes that merely complaining and not doing anything makes them lose the moral high ground, no matter how often they complain. People will get tired of them as well because  “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

If the 7 epaLiFes will long be remembered as the arrogant bunch that plagiarized ordinances in the city council, so will the minority be remembered, too, the bloc that tolerated it for refusing to file cases about it.

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AN ORDINANCE FOR THE 7EPALIFES. Here comes another big joke being played on the Dagupan’s business sector.

After failing miserably to demolish the political will of Mayor Belen Fernandez on the implementation of the national government-funded project for the elevation of major streets and drainage systems, they now want to use the completed successful infrastructure program as the alibi to bring down the city government. They want business permits cut by 50%!  

 It is a desperate move on their part to redeem themselves after their failed attempt to have Mayor Belen blamed for continuing the misery and suffering of the business sector due to the expected constant flooding if she succumbed to their endless harassment on social media. She didn’t.

 This time, they crafted an ordinance that would make them heroes if the mayor approves it and she, as the villain, if she vetoes it. It’s a “win-win” for them, so they thought.

 What the juvenile 7 epaLiFes again fail to see is the renewed confidence of the business sector in the Fernandez administration. After experiencing the promised benefits from the elevation of A.B. Fernandez junction leading to Bonuan and towards Quintos Bridge, after months of inconvenience, they know it can’t get any worse but better.

The business sector knows and understands that it will enjoy some brief relief if its business permits are cut in half. At the same time, they know, too, that the ordinance will further complicate their situation in the short and medium term. With no funds to support the city government’s peace and order, health, sanitation, environment, and education concerns, their business will suffer. 

 This ordinance is a ploy to serve the deflated egos and failed political agenda of the7 epaLiFes. It’s not about the plight of the business sector and the city.

 The business sector can see through that.

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ANOTHER UNENFORCEABLE RULE – Now comes a problematic situation created by the provincial board headed by Vice Guv Mark Lambino.

The provincial board members recently passed Ordinance No. 325-2024 requiring drivers and riders of two-and three-wheeled vehicles — including motorcycles, tricycles, bicycles, pedicabs, e-bikes, and e-trikes —to wear high visibility reflective vests or luminous shirts – in Pangasinan whose enforcement started on August 1.

Did the board members honestly believe their ordinance will bear fruit, that the ordinance will be enforced at all?  And what can they do about an ordinance that cannot be enforced?

Our police in Pangasinan cannot even think of strictly enforcing the national helmet law, much less, costly reflectorized vests! The regular violators of the helmet law in all barangays (except in Dagupan City) can even be seen riding past uniformed police personnel without being accosted.

It’s just hopeless to expect police chiefs in Pangasinan to perform this task. The reason for its non-enforcement is there is no direct order from P/Col. Jeff Fanged, Pangasinan PNP chief, to do it. Vice Guv Lambino can verify this from the PNP personnel in his hometown Mangaldan.

If the board members are keen on seeing both rules enforced, they should consider adopting an ordinance directing all barangays to pass an ordinance strictly enforcing the wearing of helmet and reflective vests/ shirt. An empowered barangay with accountabilities will add muscle to the enforcement of the two rules for riders and tricycle drivers.

If the police can’t do it, the barangay officials and tanod can show the way if given the authority.

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Tune in to 104.7 IFM Dagupan‘s live streaming of PUNCHLINE every Monday at 6.30 a.m. with replay in the afternoon.  IFM station manager ‘Idol’ Mark Espinosa and I are the regular panelists to discuss issues raised in the week’s edition of The Sunday PUNCH! Join us!

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