Negosyo bago serbisyo?

By Gonzalo Duque

THE not very fraternal attitude of  some  Sangguniang Bayan members to  our parents’  complaints  on  violent  incidents  caused by   school fraternities in Dagupan City shows the quality of  their concern – or lack of  it –  for  their constituents.

My informant at the Sanggunian told me that the more loquacious SP members (on the fraternity issue) who look like Jose Netu Tamayo and lately Vlad Mata had one thing clear  in their minds: to blame the universities for the destructive and violent behavior of unruly hooligans  who have  terrorized  some faculty  members, students and parents.

As to some councilors’ insistence that uproar on the burning frat issue is a failure of the universities to maintain safety and security and should not concern the city council is the height of irresponsibility and smacks of a Pontius Pilate-like “don’t look at me” attitude.

Are these the public servants to whom we entrust our welfare and lives?

They must be reading another kind of public service primer. Or are they ( some of them )  shamelessly wearing the label “public servants” but are better known as “negosyo muna bago serbisyo” officials?

A knowledgeable media colleague, when briefed about the councilors’  lack of concern for students and instructors  victimized by  fraternity violence shrugged of  the subject  with a smirk, saying  “ganyan lang yan, pare  kasi walang pagkakaperahan dyan..” 

Two days ago, I read a news item in a Manila daily in which Western Police District Chief   Supt. Pedro Bulaong urged the putting up of a police-school anti crime unit in every school to ensure the safety of students and faculty.

After reading it, I called up Dagupan City Police Chief Colonel Edgar Basbas to possibly adopt the same scheme for our local schools.

The Bulaong project came to mind, as I was turned off by Councilor Vlad Mata’s remark during the sanggunian session that at the University of the Philippines where he studied, the Quezon City Council’s attention was never called when there were brawls in the university. Vlad was lying through his teeth. I will show him many past issues of the Philippine Collegian, the UP student publication, that government troopers and cops were called to enforce law and order when there were uncontrollable troubles. Not only the Quezon City Council but Camp Crame itself was instantly called to restore peace and order.

It must be clear to  all of us  by now therefore including some I-don’t see, I-don’t hear, I don’t know clowncilors that Vlad Mata was talking like a parrot. If we pursue Vlad Mata’s line of thinking to its logical end, it will show our government as remiss of its primordial duty to look after the welfare, safety and peace of the constituency.

Maybe, our clown-cilors busy somewhere when a professor was dragged out of his class and mauled, when the son of Bugallon Mayor Orduña was mauled in full view of students, whether inside or outside, yes, just outside, but within the area, when my own security officer, a former city police chief, had to face members of a notorious fraternity ala Tombstone Showdown, and many, many more cases of school violence.

Ponder this: we are not banning fraternities on the campus, that’s for sure; but we are banning violence and the misrule of thugs and hooligans masquerading as fraternity members on the campus. Fair, isn’t it?

 Was wondering why my partner, Councilor Chito Samson, was deafeningly silent on the frat controversy. Magsalita ka naman!  Chito used to belong to the old council which had a reputation for “practicality.” Meaning, they make money but they render some public service. Today? You know better who these people are. Daming storya dian! Nakakadiyahe?

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What happened to the city’s plan to convert the Tondaligan People’s Park into a tourist haven?

After an initial effort to spruce up the area, the city government just left at that. In the Bonuan Gueset area, the presence of drug addicts and pushers within the Muslim zone is well known.  It seems only God doesn’t know where these ungodly creatures abound. This is the reason many people applauded when the city government unwrapped a beautiful plan to make it a world-class tourist attraction.

Mayor Benjie, what is the score? It seems to me this idea should have beaten the Kalutan because it would be more meaningful and last for a lifetime. Benjie would have left a legacy had he pursued his Tondaligan Park dream.

As it is, wala! Mayor Benjie, first things first muna ha? Fix and put the house in order. And what’s this disturbing report that the national government in line with preserving the national park that is the Tondaligan has started conducting a survey of the Bonuan National Park. I could feel some well-placed persons shaking in their legs. Many heads including those of well-known local officials will fall. I was told many have titled prime lots along the Tondaligan Park to their names! How did they do that without the collusion of the DENR, barangay and city officials?

Abangan!

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