A ‘QuadCom’ play in Urdaneta
AFTER the three successive attempts to suspend Urdaneta City Mayor Julio Parayno over the flimsiest complaint on governance, it has become much too obvious to Urdanetans that both Governor Ramon Guico III and Vice Governor Mark Lambino are conspiring to serve the city’s mayoralty post to the governor’s wife, Maan Tuazon-Guico, on a silver platter.
As it appears today, the serving of the first 90-day suspension was timed to serve the purpose of the two suspension orders of 50-days each that followed – to effectively knock out incumbent and reelectionist Mayor Parayno even before the votes are cast in May 2025.
Nothing can be more insidious than to plot, file and order the suspension of Mr. Parayno based on three separate administrative complaints filed consecutively without due course, not giving the mayor, as respondent, a chance to defend himself against the charges.
Just when the country was already seeing the worst in the activities of the Quad Committee at the House of Representatives that assumed the roles of investigator, prosecutor and judge rolled into one in conducting the hearings “in aid of legislation”, here comes a similar play.
Prodded perhaps by the undeterred, unprecedented process of manipulation exemplified by the QuadCom, the provincial governor, vice governor, and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) believed they, too, could get away with the suspension of Mr. Parayno as their sanction is equivalent to declaring people in contempt without recourse.
Fortunately, Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Crisma Vismanos-Nabua saw the misapplication of the administrative hearings on Mr. Parayno’s case – that it was not for the SP to act on the complaints, but a task reserved for the Ombudsman.
That decision may have blunted the ala ‘QuadCom’ ploy for now.
Unfortunately for the elected provincial officials, the plot not only failed to push Mrs. Guico’s bid but raised questions about their collective integrity as public officials. To what extent are they prepared to use their positions, powers, and influence as a group to interfere and manipulate politics in local governments?
They have already shown what and how infrastructure projects can be negotiated and approved without transparency. What’s next?
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