By Gonzalo Duque

 

THE ongoing investigations by the Senate and the House of Representatives relative to POGO, EJK, and illegal drugs seem to be going nowhere. Our people are beginning to see the zarzuela or circus in these probes.

If they continue with the way they have been treating their resource persons and witnesses, they might end up nowhere since the midterm elections for national as well as local officials have begun with the filing of candidacies from October 1-8.

The problem with all these brouhaha investigations is that the present administration of President BBM could even be guilty of the same issues they are investigating.

Note that even those activist politicians in Congress are confused whether they should join the administration party or the other group. Methinks, there are no more clear divisions on ideological leanings of these pols.

We can clearly see that all these investigations are in aid of reelection, and not in aid of legislation as what these legislators want to make us believe.

The problem, my friends, is even when they tried to blacken the persona of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, the administration party did not succeed because they had their own issues, too, to defend graft and corruption and their own drug war.

Nauumay o nagsasawa na ang mga  mamamayang Pilipino sa kanilang mga  antics.

One thing is clear though, our masses still miss the leadership of President Digong Duterte because of his relatively successful drug war.

When I asked some people in the barangays, they told me that the drug problem has spread again, and we know that the concern is there.

Put It simply, noong si Duterte ang President, marami sa mga drug pushers and users ang natakot. Marami sa kanila ang tumahimik. 

Compare the situation today. Mukhang bumabalik na naman ang mga tulak-droga at sugapa.

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The May 2025 national and local elections have already started with the filing of certificates of candidacy.

 For the top post, it will be a return bout between the Espino group and the Guico group. VG Mark Lambino will mix it up with Espino’s teammate, Noel Nacar, former mayor of Dasol.

 Here in Dagupan, Mayor Belen and her group already filed their respective CoCs before the Dagupan City elections office, while Brian Lim and his group are still pondering on who they will field for mayor to run against incumbent Belen. 

 There is a report that Brian will run for Congress against come-backing Gina de Venecia, whose son Toff, is no longer eligible to run for another term. With Brian gunning for the post to be vacated by Toff, his mother Celia might run for mayor and his sister Irene might be her running mate. Or it could be the reverse—the daughter for mayor and mama for vice mayor. 

 If they can finalize their lineup, win or lose, they have a clear way of adopting Sara and the opposition candidates in the 2028 Presidential election. 

 This also goes for former Gov. Pogi Espino. Win or lose, they will have to adopt Sara and her choice candidates.

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The declaration of Senator Imee Marcos, elder sister or manang to PBBM, as an independent candidate for senator, is quite intriguing.

On the surface, she contends that being an independent candidate allows her to be a bridge between Sara Duterte and her ading (younger brother) Bongbong Marcos.

I think there is a deeper reason why she declared herself as an independent candidate. Does she know something that we do not know?

Tignan natin ang susunod na kabanata.

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I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family of Catherine Bernardo Velasco, the wife of our dear departed friend, Mr. Jun Velasco.

 I am surprised no end by the sudden demise of Cathy, because she was still young, vibrant and relatively active. 

 I am sure she is now happily reunited with Jun in God’s grace in the afterlife.  

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