The political season is here By Ermin Garcia Jr. ‘Tis the time for political pundits to finally shine and sound important after two years of incubation. For too long, they have been chewing on their political scenarios that they now either have to swallow or choke on their fearless forecasts…

Why are the Siapno cousins ominously silent? By Ermin Garcia Jr. In the spirit of the New Year, I’d like to begin with the good news first. A conscience bloc has finally surfaced from within the Dagupan City Sanggunian. Manning the frontlines are Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez, Majority Floor Leader…

In the spirit of Christmas By Ermin Garcia Jr. I was about to start pounding on my laptop’s keyboard for this issue’s “Punchline” when I caught myself just in time. I remembered that this week is start of Christmas holiday and the fiesta proper of Dagupan City’s ridiculous 31-day long…

Getting high on Joe de V’s political misfortune By Ermin Garcia Jr. If there was one Dagupan City official who reportedly got a real high with news of the retreat by the Arroyo-de Venecia tandem for charter change, that could only be Dagupan City Mayor Benjie Lim. He lost no…

How ‘constructive graft’ operates By Ermin Garcia Jr. If you want to have an idea how “constructive graft” in the city government of Dagupan can be detected, then watch closely how the series of cover-up is being managed to protect the secret transaction between the office of the city mayor…

When idealism is lost By Ermin Garcia Jr. The move in the Dagupan City Council to refer the draft resolution authorizing Mayor Benjie Lim to enter into a contract with Metrostate Realty Corporation, for the lease of the commercial area fronting the city plaza, on an after-the-fact basis was a…

Personal appearances before the Ombudsman By Ermin Garcia Jr. Remember how Dagupan City Mayor Benjie Lim manipulated the process to have the overpriced street lights installed? He ordered the city council to approve in a special session a draft resolution authorizing him to plan and negotiate the installation of the…

Dagupan’s 31-day fiesta for world record? By Ermin Garcia Jr. WHAT’S the Dagupan City government up to this time, declaring December 1-31, 2006 as fiesta month? Is celebrating the city fiesta already like observing anti-TB, breastfeeding, fire prevention, and other causes that the city needs to do it for a…

The latest on Dagupan City’s “onor-onors” By Ermin Garcia Jr. UP FOR RENEWAL? Here’s a curious initiative of Dagupan’s chief onor-onor Teofilo Guadiz III. After 6 years in the city council, Mr. Guadiz comes forward to tell us that he just noticed the series of encroachments along the Pantal River….

Wanted: a new JDV legacy By Ermin Garcia Jr. Finally outflanked and out-maneuvered. And surprisingly, for someone politically astute, Speaker Joe de V did not see that coming.              Don’t look now but the plot to double-cross the Speaker in GMA-vintage fashion is beginning to surface. Note how Executive Sec….