The campaign promise to be transparent By Ermin Garcia Jr.   THE PDU30 – Freedom of Information (FOI) was issued recently as an executive order covering activities only of the executive branch of government, meaning only national agencies under the supervision of the Office of the President are covered. Its…

The bleeding hearts By Ermin Garcia Jr.   THE nation is agog over the daily series of killings of drug personalities in either legitimate police operations or by vigilante groups or by armed drug syndicates, whichever the case, we are seeing people feeling relieved, feeling safer at last. But the…

Who’s not afraid of the police? By Ermin Garcia Jr.   LATELY, the local media have been swamped with daily reports of hundreds of drug pushers and users surrendering to the police and barangay officials. Here’s a quick latest update I received Dagupan Police Chief P/Supt. Christopher Abrahano on the…

Our good cops, bad cops By Ermin Garcia Jr.   “SO far so good!” That I believe is the nervous sentiment of police officers and barangay officials protecting drug operations in their areas, and moonlighting as drug pushers. Indeed, in spite of Pangasinan, particularly cities of Dagupan and Urdaneta being…

Another five years, perhaps? By Ermin Garcia Jr.   IT is with a deep sense of a pride and joy that we celebrate another milestone this month – The PUNCH’s 60 years of service to Pangasinan – with you, our loyal readers, advertisers and friends. I never imagined nor believed…

Molina keeps mayor guessing By Ermin Garcia Jr.   THANK God, Dagupan Mayor Belen Fernandez left New York before some naughty elements caught up with her to buttonhole her on her pronouncements about the illegal fish pens in the city. No doubt, anyone who heard her would have been easily…

Who’s protecting the illegal fish pens? By Ermin Garcia Jr.   FROM the looks of it, the Fernandez administration in Dagupan will continue to be plagued with rampant violation of the ordinance banning fish pens. Why? For the past three years, after all the blatant and repeated violations by the…

The “righteous” Judas 9 By Ermin Garcia Jr.   THE proposed Comprehensive Land Use Plan of Dagupan City was finally approved for third reading but not without an attempt by Vice Mayor Brian Lim and his gang to sabotage it. In a manner of speaking, the shoe is now on…

The Duterte Doctrine By Ermin Garcia Jr.   THIS early, President-elect Rody Duterte already gave mayors, police chiefs and barangay kapitans the ‘heads-up’ on what he wants them to be accountable for, or ship out! And in extreme cases, he warns that they could be killed if found involved in…

Prayers, not vigilant collaboration By Ermin Garcia Jr.   THE recent tirade of President-elect Rody Duterte against Catholic clergy, specifically the bishops, did not really come as a surprise to many. After all, Mayor Rody, the candidate, then, was always at the receiving end of incessant name-calling for his “unprecedented”…