By Eva C. Visperas

DAGUPAN City Mayor Benjamin Lim is mad and furious at The Sunday Punch.

Last Tuesday, the mayor called and berated a senior writer of the PUNCH on the latter’s mobile phone to make known his displeasure over two of PUNCH’s  stories published last issue. 

He branded the stories “Only small party set for Bangus Fest” (in connection with this year’s Kalutan ed Dagupan) and “High coliform found in city’s river system” with the kicker “Bangus industry threatened” as malicious.

Lim said he and his fellow officials behind the committee working on the Bangus Festival believe that the PUNCH was “belittling our efforts” despite an array of activities prepared for this year’s celebration that even expanded to towns in Pangasinan fourth district.

Then, Lim said the story on the presence of coliform in the city’s rivers “will not affect him but the whole bangus industry which makes this city famous worldwide”.

      But at one point during the call, Lim was quoted by local newsmen who overheard him talking to the PUNCH writer to have told off the latter “Kung masalubong kaya kita sa daan, gusto mo bang sampalin kita?”

The PUNCH senior writer, however, said that while he missed hearing the statement in full, he heard the mayor say: “This is a warning to all of you,..  you tell that to the others.”

When this writer asked him if he, indeed, made such a statement against PUNCH staffers, he admitted having made the statement but quickly added “but I will not do that because you are a friend and I am giving you the chance to correct that mistake”.

Lim complained that his comments were not sought prior to the publication of the story. He rejected the PUNCH’s claim that it went to city hall for a reaction before deadline but that no one, not even the city’s information officer, was around to issue a statement.

He also maintained that he never received a report that the PUNCH used as a basis for the story on the presence of coliform in the city’s rivers and described the timing and the manner The PUNCH reported the story as “malicious”.

“This is a very sensitive report that needs proper handling,” Lim said. He added he is alarmed because the PUNCH pictured the bangus industry as “being threatened by coliform when only an expert can make such a conclusion.”

He said they are trying their best to promote Dagupan and the bangus industry and he could accept personal criticisms but he will not just keep quiet if it affects the bangus industry and the farmers dependent on it.

“You owe our people an explanation,” Lim said referring to The PUNCH and added he will confront The PUNCH staff after the festival.

Lim also assailed the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for making such reports without furnishing him the results.

He said BFAR people should analyze where the coliform is coming from and they should call their attention as well as those neighboring towns whose rivers are connected to the city’s river system.

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