By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

LET’S talk about the ongoing committee hearings on POGO in both Senate and the House of Reps.

First, what’s common about them:

1. They’re asking the same questions. (What a waste of time and resources)
2. There is no prior approved motion of any recommended amendment or proposed law in both chambers but are adamant that it’s an “inquiry in aid of legislation. (Liars)
3. There is focus on the personal background of Alice Guo, being the Bamban mayor during the raid on the POGO hub in the town, instead of determining how and illegal POGO activities went undetected. (It’s about the drama)
4. Both are witch-hunting for the involvement of former officials of the Duterte administration, i.e. Atty Harry Roque. (The political motive for power-trippers)
5. Some rude members believe that intimidating resource persons makes them appear like protectors of people’s interests. Loud and intimidating voices accusing their resource persons as “liars” as their way of impressing the public of their patriotism. (Bullies)
6.  Both have weaponized the “contempt” charge in their internal rules. Any resource person who refutes the mindset that he or she is not guilty is promptly cited for contempt, for indefinite suspension until the hearing is terminated. (Acting as investigator, prosecutor and judge)
7. Both have not shown interest in probing the rumored “official” protection that the illegal POGO operators have been enjoying from national and local elected and police officials. (It’s a cover-up)
8. Both did not discuss Pagcor’s “Internet Gaming License” to replace POGOG without a law. (Tuloy ang ligaya)
9. Both have members who ask resource persons inane questions to keep the public glued to YouTube and Facebook, entertained, i.e., Alice Guo’s family background and love life. (Mga marites)
10. Both refused to hold executive sessions as requested by Alice Guo and Cassandra Li Ong. (No publicity opportunity there)

Now the difference between members of the two chambers:

1. One congresswoman, Rep. Jinky Luistro who is always over-dressed for the hearings appears to be just dropping by for the hearing before proceeding to a wedding party. Sen. Risa Hontiveros is always in regular business attire.
2. The QuadCom chairmen address their resource persons by their first names while the senators address their resource persons by their titles, i.e.,  “Atty”…Major” or  “Mr. – Ms.”
3. QuadCom cited 5 persons in contempt. Senate cited only 1.

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QUESTIONS IN AID OF REELECTION. Reviewing the proceedings of the POGO hearings, below are some of the classic questions (original in Tagalog, translated and paraphrased in English) in aid of their reelection:

1. Directed at Alice Guo:

–  Why did you escape?

– What’s the name of your teacher?

– Do you have a boyfriend?

– Where did you go to school?

– What’s the real first name of Mayor Calugay?

– How much did you sell your land?

-Do you have a child with Mayor Calugay?

–  Why did you want to become a mayor?

2. Directed at Mayor Calugay:

• What’s your relationship with Alice Guo?
• Why are you wearing Alice Guo’s campaign t-shirt? Why is she wearing yours?
• Why do you choose to invite Alice Guo when there are other lady mayors?
• Why are you together at your victory parades?
• Are you close with Mayor Alice Guo?
• Wy did you join drinking party?

3. Directed at Cassandra Li Ong:

–  Where did you study?
– Do you remember your teacher in high school?

– Who is your boyfriend?

– Where was the embroidery factory of your father?

Note: These questions were meant to help craft a law that would prevent the recurrence of criminal activities of online gambling.

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PANIC MODE. It looks like Dagupan Sanggunian’s obstructionist 7 epaLifes are finally in a panic mode.

With the filing of candidacies just less than a month away, and they have nothing to show for their possible reelection, they thought that requesting for a special session to discuss and act on two pending resolutions that seriously impact on their reelection bids can give them a boost.

It appeared to be a knee-jerk reaction because they decided not to do it after all.

I surmise that the 7 councilors who recently resorted to plagiarizing and hijacking draft ordinances of their counterparts in the minority, finally could not arrive at a barkada consensus on whether they should forego their demand for more than P1-M  in return for their support or not.

At the same time, it must have finally dawned on them that they cannot dig themselves out of the deep rut they dug themselves in.  How can they ever justify and explain that rejecting the P150-M Mother and Child Hospital and the Supplementary Budget No.2 was for the city’s good?

Then, someone must have told them that Mayor Belen Fernandez would rather wait for the 2025 elections than give in to their blackmail.

Here’s a suggestion for them- Just design a new campaign t-shirt that will give them a new image and hope that Dagupeños are forever gullible.

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BAMBOO RAFTS FOR FLOODED BARANGAYS. There’s no more denying that the worst flood is yet to happen in Dagupan City when high tide occurs in the middle of a super typhoon, and there is very little that city government can do for the affected barangay residents.

Today, flooding in a number of barangays are already knee-high deep during high tide alone.   So, the same residents regularly affected must already realize what the worst can look like – basically, it means no access to food and evacuation centers.

So, when the worst happens, the city government can only attempt to rescue families suddenly caught trapped in the middle of waist-deep flood, one at a time.

I suggest that to prepare for this in months ahead and beyond, families must have a ready 4-5 meter bamboo raft tied to their gates or garage that they can deploy for evacuation or for a quick “run” to secure food.      

Or the city government should consider building these bamboo rafts to be distributed and sold at subsidized prices in often flooded barangays.

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