Expose. Investigate. Account By Ermin Garcia Jr.   FOR a while, what I feared would happen to our call to the Dagupan city council to help make accountability in public office the norm happened when the draft resolution of Councilor Atty. Joey Netu Tamayo was not included in last week’s…

The long 75 days By Ermin Garcia Jr.   FINALLY after 75 days, a resolution was filed seeking to create a special committee that would investigate in aid of legislation reported irregularities in the city hall to the extent of establishing accountabilities of local officials. After 75 days of incessant…

The bakes are in the house By Ermin Garcia Jr.   WE have confirmation. We have wise monkeys – bakes- – sitting idly at the Dagupan sanggunian –  they who refuse to see evil, hear evil and speak evil. Wonder no more why the city council has not initiated anything…

People’s money for the “poor” rich By Ermin Garcia Jr.   OUR headline story on the monies received but failed to be liquidated by barangay kapitan civic/business/ professional groups should give everyone an indication why the city almost went bankrupt, knowing now how the people’s money were disposed by the…

The Quinto Report By Ermin Garcia Jr.   NOW that Dagupan’s COA resident auditor Virgilio Quinto has submitted his initial report on the transactions of the city government for the year 2012-2103, what were deemed speculations by cynics from the Lim camp are now irrefutable facts. The report revealed how…

Rey Villar started it THERE was something that was pointed out at the Senate Blue Ribbon hearing on the P10 billion pork barrel fund last Thursday that should make every Pangasinense proud but I’m sure went largely unnoticed by those who monitored it. When Sen. Alan Cayetano addressed the resource…

Cayetano and Lacson By Ermin Garcia Jr.   WHAT does one make of the Filipinos generally as a people in times of crisis or when times get rough? Selfless and caring. Resilient and buoyant. Spiritual and prayerful. Tireless and dedicated. Generous and amicable.  Self-sacrificing and humble. Courageous and spirited. Easily traits…

Mambabatas or Mamba-bakes (monkeys)? By Ermin Garcia Jr.   NOT a few are wondering what is happening at the Dagupan City sanggunian. Why is it surprisingly quiet? Have the 12 councilors chosen to be like the proverbial “three wise monkeys (bakes ed Pangasinan)”? Have they chosen to become so blind…

They will be sued By Ermin Garcia Jr.   NOT a few have asked me these questions in reaction to the series of news reports about discovered anomalies in the Dagupan City government under the Lim administration that The PUNCH published: “So what now? Why isn’t anyone being sued?” “Why still…

What’s next? By Ermin Garcia Jr.   “HE did that?” This is the common reaction of former Mayor Benjie Lim’s close friends who feigned knowing him well to be upright and honest in his governance. They are incredulous over The PUNCH’s weekly reports of uncovered anomalies in the city hall…