Questions for shotgun defenders By Ermin Garcia Jr. The defenders of the shotgun-for-barangay chiefs program of the provincial government sorely miss the point. There is no doubt that the program can stand legal scrutiny and, in fact, may, indeed, have legal basis. It’s both the motive and the alibi used…

Wanted: A prudent governor By Ermin Garcia Jr. No matter how hard the proponents of the indiscriminate issuance of the shotguns to all the barangay chiefs in the province try to defend the program, they cannot convince the peace-loving Pangasinenses that it’s OK to arm the kapitans. Never mind that…

The President’s men from Pangasinan By Ermin Garcia Jr. AFTER the DPWH, it’s the projects of the Department of Agriculture that are highly vulnerable to corruption. Like the substandard mix for asphalt and cement for road projects, anomalies almost always attend distribution of millions-worth of fertilizers, feeds and maintenance of…

A ‘horror’ shotgun story By Ermin Garcia Jr. Board Members Alfie Bince, Amadeo Espino Jr. and PNP provincial director P/Sr. Supt Isagani Nerez spoke too soon in their staunch defense of their shotgun project. They said that the illegal and violent use of the shotguns by the barangay kapitans for…

Is Pangasinan in serious trouble? By Ermin Garcia Jr. I’m really both shocked and disappointed that not a single member of the provincial board thinks that arming the barangay chairmen in the province with shotguns is wrong and unjustified. Even the self-proclaimed ‘independent’ mind, BM Alfie Bince went out of…

Casa Real, a ‘legacy’ job for Guv Spines By Ermin Garcia Jr. There is one major housekeeping job (in its literal sense) that was made to wait for the likes of Guv Spines, the rare kind who wants to keep working areas of government not only functional, spic and span,…

Sayang! By Ermin Garcia Jr. Last week, we announced the launch of the fertilizer subsidy fund for farmers by the Espino administration in a bid to boost rice production in the province. Well it seems the good intentions of Guv Spines may just come to naught with the very disturbing…

“GMA never goes back on her word” By Ermin Garcia Jr. IS it the height of arrogance or sheer insensitivity on their part? Or are they plain clueless? I’m incredulous on how President Arroyo and her spokespersons can continue to lie with a poker face and stare at everyone straight…

Transparency and Accountability By Ermin Garcia Jr. At a recent meeting between Senator Pia Cayetano and officers of the 4Ls (Local Lady Legislators League of the Philippines) led by Dagupan City Councilor Farah Decano, the senator was visibly impressed by the latter’s piece of legislation that was adopted as Ordinance…

Shortchanging excelling schools By Ermin Garcia Jr. Something is very wrong with a policy of the Professional Regulation Commission, particularly the Board of Nursing, in evaluating the quality of education offered by nursing schools across the country. For reasons known only to those who insist on the ridiculous policy of…