By Gonzalo Duque

 

HAPPY Easter to all!

The developments in the national political scene are not looking good for the senatorial candidates of the present administration.

We can see Imee Marcos, Camille Villar, and maybe Pia Cayetano abandoning ship and getting endorsement from no less than Vice President Sara Duterte.

The sorties of the administration candidates in the different parts of Visayas and Mindanao are not encouraging and inspiring.

As I’ve asked before, given these latest developments, will this make the candidates of the PDP Laban and some from other opposition groups win in the 2025 national and local elections?

If the elections are relatively clean, there is no doubt that there’s a big chance for the PDP Laban candidates to win.

But questions are now being raised on the electoral process as several OFWs have already raised objections over the ongoing overseas voting. They are one in saying  that although they voted for straight PDP Laban, to their consternation, other names appeared in their ballots.

It is not far-fetched that the fears of Atty. Harold Respicio, also a CPA and an IT expert, is becoming a reality.

If the cheating becomes apparent, will our people accept the result of the election?

Let’s wait and see!

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I am amused by the exposé of former Councilor Luis ‘Chito’ Samson contradicting the mantra of the majority councilors and former City Mayor Brian Lim, “Kung walang sagabal, madali ang magnakaw” or something like that. 

 Chito just returned the compliment to them, citing among others the different cases where Brian and company were involved in instances of corruption. Chito asked: “Sino ba ang magnanakaw? Di ba sila?”

One of these is the ‘ghost’ motorboats, which were not delivered at all by the supplier, but were made to appear as if these were already provided; ‘ghost’ scholars, some of whom are non-existent, and the others were not residents of Dagupan.

 If I remember it right, he has a case filed before the Ombudsman for closing both Galvan and Zamora Streets for the purpose of holding baratillo and Food Strip during Bangus Festivals and fiestas without an ordinance passed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

 Then there is that unaccounted P23 million food aid from the national government for people of Dagupan affected by the pandemic, which was made to appear that it was spent by the Lim administration in only 18 days, or more than P1 million per day, contracted solely to a food caterer in Bonuan. 

There were several others.

 Before I close my column for the Holy Week, let me quote a passage from the Bible, which says: “Let him who has no sin cast the first stone.” 

 Congratulations, Chito. We hope that we can interview you in our podcast next week to give us more details about your exposé.

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I read that the Court of Appeals denied the petition of the seven majority  councilors  for a Temporary Restraining Order questioning the validity of the 2025  budget.

This is another win for Mayor Belen Fernandez, Vice Mayor Bryan Kua and the five minority councilors, Michael Fernandez, Jeslito Seen, Dennis Canto, Marcelino Fernandez and Bradley Benavides.

Naku, sa alam ko  hindi pa sila nananalo maski saang korte sila pumunta! Kawawa naman sila!

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