The ‘Duh’ and the ‘Aha’ chorus By Ermin Garcia Jr. Here’s an interesting item that went largely unnoticed in local media circles. The chairman of the National Union of Journalists was ousted as officer and member three months ago for breaching the union’s by-laws and the Journalist’s Code of Ethics!…

The archbishop’s “marked” money By Ermin Garcia Jr. It was not about the classic case of “putting money where your mouth is” but rather putting it in someone else’s to help prove a point. And I must say, What Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz did for his diocese is quite a…

Relocation a logical solution By Ermin Garcia Jr. The Dagupan City council, led by Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, has the right response to the environmental crisis waiting to happen at the Tondaligan Beach. The relocation of the district jail out of the beach scene must be seriously considered, and urgently….

DENR vs. the mayors By Ermin Garcia Jr. Last week, I thought DENR Sec. Lito Atienza said a mouthful. He declared his strategic policy this year to intensify the protection of the country’s environment and natural resources. The strategy — to ensure that the full force of the law is…

Using technicality to serve the wrong By Ermin Garcia Jr. The suspension order of the provincial board meted to Anda Mayor Nestor Pulido reminds us of the way the Department of Justice prosecutors sought the dismissal of the case vs. the “Alabang Boys” – the use of a seeming lapse…

Dagupenos deserve the inmates’ s_ _t By Ermin Garcia Jr. The degradation of the beach and environment at the Tondaligan Park in Dagupan City continues with impunity. The human wastes of the detainees at the Dagupan District Jail continue to be dumped into the beach water daily like nobody’s business….

The arrogance of agrarian officers By Ermin Garcia Jr. The comprehensive agrarian reform law was almost thrown into oblivion when both chambers in Congress didn’t act to extend it until vigilant farmers, supported by the clergy, vehemently protested. The compromise reached was a six-month extension.

The longest Christmas holiday By Ermin Garcia Jr. The unprecedented 11-day straight No-Work Christmas holiday was definitely both good news and bad news to a lot of people! It was good news for salaried regular employees! They got their extra vacation-paid leaves without lifting their fingers. It was good news…

Take a bow! By Ermin Garcia Jr. As we end the year, allow me to take a leave from my “watchdog” duties this one time and indulge in some “feel good” developments in the province for a change. There is no doubt in anybody’s mind that, indeed, Guv Spines is…