No longer a thankless job THE nationwide furor over the pork barrel was once foretold by former Senator Ping Lacson. He warned of dire consequences of the pork barrel as it began to develop at the time continued. He was referring to the 10-15% kickbacks that many legislators demanded for…

How fragile we are UNLIKE 23 years ago, when an even stronger earthquake at a magnitude of 7.7. struck Luzon and devastated most the cities of Dagupan and Baguio, last week’s tragedy in the Visayas islands — worst in Bohol and Cebu — was almost instantaneously reported through the multitude…

Acid test for good governance   NOW that the country has finally stirred and been angered by the culture of corruption in politics, no section of government should be spared from scrutiny, which means all the way to the barangay level, officials must be subject to accountability and transparency.

Nothing personal   JUDGING from the last barangay poll in 2010, Pangasinan’s election supervisor, Atty. Marino Salas, said election-related violence is not a major concern in the province. But he did say the barangay election could prove delicate because it involves politics at the grassroots level and rivalry more often…

School of corruption   AMIDST the hullaballoo in the continuing saga of the corrupted pork barrel, it was refreshing news that the congressional bicameral committee approved last week a measure postponing the Sangguniang Kabataan election set on October 28 alongside the barangay election. It was a good and timely move…