Think about it
Tragedy grips Lagao family
By Jun Velasco
“PEOPLE don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” — John Maxwell
CONGRATULATIONS to a childhood friend and kin, newly appointed DENR Usec Eleazar Quinto from Barangay Lucao, Dagupan City.
Ely is the scholarly son of the late former Councilor and LTO Pangasinan chief Emil Quinto and the late former Councilor Elmer Quinto.
The city, saddled as it is with environmental problems such as the corrupted national park that is the 72-hectare Tondaligan People’s Park, mushrooming fishpens all over its rivers, and others, receives Ely’s appointment with unbridled gladness. He is expected to zero in on environmental degradation in a city his family has served well.
Before his DENR appointment, Ely was secretary general of the revitalized Liberal Party. He is a political authority in his own right.
When is the blowout, Ely?
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Many kibitzers are all over the place, trying to dip their noses into Arroyo and Speaker Joe de Venecia as a result of young Joey de Venecia III’s shaking the political gunwales of the political establishment.
Is the GMA-JDV unity about to blast into smithereens. Will JdV’s allies in the House impeach the President amid the souring of relations? Will Malacañang sponsor the ouster of De Venecia from the speakership?
Will Kampi muster the numbers to unseat Joe de V?
These questions and other intriguing speculations are up in the air, and to our mind, there are still more lightning events we can’t foresee worsening the uneasy and revolving chairs in the centers of power.
People in Pangasinan, of course, have the edge over those in the other provinces because the big names in the political spectrum are Pangasinenses, Include former President Fidel V. Ramos who is still very much in the limelight.
Whatever direction the political typhoon blows, trust Joe de V’s instincts. He is several steps ahead in the power imbroglio and don’t believe that the young Venecia’s thrust into the vortex of Philippine politics has even surprised Joe de V.
Some people say the relations between father and son have strained because of the political hubbub. Far from it, it has even strengthened their closeness more.
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It’s almost 8 months now when Ani Lagao’s 28-year old son, Himmil, was reported missing. We all have an idea of the torture and sleepless nights the incident has brought to his family.
Ani, consultant at the Speaker’s office, has mobilized his network of friends and connections, prayerfully appealing to the police — from General Dante Ferrer to Region I Director Pol Bataoil, Pangasinan Director Gani Neris, new Dagupan chief Dionisio Borromeo and Task Force Lagao head, Sgt. Ric Ubando — to do their best and utmost to solve the impasse.
We presume, Ani, our friends are doing their best to help. They know your anguish, your pain and torment. They are moving not only for your family but also other would-be victims of this devilish group that’s responsible for your boy’s disappearance or liquidation, as most everyone following up the case believes so. God forbid!
About three weeks back, we thought the local police were about to make a breakthrough following an overwhelming assessment by the Task Force which was corroborated by two “mediums” that the boy has been liquidated by drug-hooked and drug peddling group.
Sorry, nothing concrete, nothing clear has been achieved yet.
We are therefore still hoping (against hope) especially now that city police chief “Borro” who is praised by Rotarians and the community for his devotion to duty and excellent public relations has taken the lead in solving the case.
In deference to the police, Ani hasn’t tapped the Manila-based media-police investigators known for their expert work in order not humiliate the police. Let’s hope Ani’s decision relying fully on the police is a correct one. We know that our local police know the troubled, harrowing and sleepless nights and days the family has been going through for eight months now.
This is an appeal to our well-meaning cops to produce results. Our friends have suffered enough.
Flash! Task Force Lagao is now headed by an NBI Pangasinan sleuth designated by our friend Atty. Dave Alunan to move heaven and earth literally to write finish to the case. Col. Borro says the Criminal Investigation Detection Group (CIDG) of Supt. Joniel Estomo is also in the task force. Great! But we need results. Now!
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Memo for Spines: An interesting gubernatorial situationer shows giant killer Guvnor Amado Espino suddenly becoming a kingpin, why, because he beat an Agbayani in the last elections. He is no longer a pushover in 20l0 when Congressman Victor Agbayani will try to stage a comeback.
What whets political interest more is that Congressman Mark Cojuangco has also his eyes on the governorship even if he denies it as of now.
Espino’s handlers have been advised to sink their idol’s name deeper into the Pangasinenses’ psyche with more popular programs for and time with the masses.
And to edge out the financially entrenched Mark, Spines is advised to fortify his resources to match the billionaire’s war chest.
Three months is too close for comfort, so Spines is best advised to stop being inaccessible, be more visible to the media and the hoi poloi and beef up and spread the sunshine.
(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/think-about-it/)
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