The “LP patriots” dilemma By Ermin Garcia Jr. WE are midway into the term of the Duterte administration and we have not seen a cooling period between the President and his detractors since he took his oath for a 6-year term. Destabilization efforts to unseat the President have been unceasing…

Duterte’s order to mayors, COPs, CENROs By Ermin Garcia Jr. I note with admiration President Duterte’s first order to newly re-elected and elected mayors under his watch for the next three years. “Clean your cities or I will force the government’s mindset on you,” he said pointing out that he…

Restore Oplan Tokhang here By Ermin Garcia Jr.  IT is encouraging to see P/Colonel Redrico Maranan, acting PNP provincial director, moving deliberately and surely on the war on drugs in Pangasinan. His surprise order for PNP personnel from the town to the provincial level to take drug tests was in…

Bikoy vs. Fr. Soc By Ermin Garcia Jr. THE surprise turnaround of Peter Joemel Advincula, alias Bikoy certainly has most if not all the outspoken detractors of President Duterte on the defensive mode. Who wouldn’t? After all they were being linked to an illegal activity that can end up in…

The personal challenge to new PNP–PD By Ermin Garcia Jr. THE interception of the 88 kilos of shabu worth P124 million in the streets is an indication that the war on drugs in Pangasinan is proceeding well…and bad. Well because the interception was successful and the undocumented Chinese nationals involved…

A House Speaker for Pangasinan By Ermin Garcia Jr. THE speakership in the House of Representatives is now up for grabs. It is the only post in the national political hierarchy where the province can help itself introduce laws for its benefit, including fresh funds for passed laws. We have…

Vote-buying or Voter-calamity-fund? By Ermin Garcia Jr. THE Comelec was swamped with reports of vote-buying in the country. The situation in Pangasinan was certainly no different. As thousands will attest, they who were programmed to receive both cash and grocery goodies, local candidates here must have spent millions to carry…

IBP Pangasinan to the rescue? By Ermin Garcia Jr. LAST week, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ national office committed a big booboo, sorely tainting its image and integrity as an organization that upholds professionalism and ethical practice among practitioners. In fact, I wonder how my lawyer friends in Pangasinan…

Performance vs. lies By Ermin Garcia Jr. THE black propaganda against Mayor Belen Fernandez launched by Dagupan Vice Mayor Brian Lim has been vicious, mainly full of concocted lies. In politics, black propaganda has become a necessity to politicians who are bankrupt of ideas and accomplishments. The sad thing about…

White paper worth reading By Ermin Garcia Jr. I received a white paper that took issues with the campaign of Dagupan Vice Mayor Brian Lim for the mayoralty. (It’s not about Li-Fe per se). I was pleasantly surprised that the material took careful note of sequence of events and facts…