JDV and BSL are still friends

By Gonzalo Duque

BY THE TIME you are reading this I should be in the United States – no, not to effect the arrest of a libelous writer in the Punch’s One-Line section, a certain Pontaoe who is based in Chicago (that will come soon because of his utter and irresponsible abuse of press freedom), but to coordinate with several groups in different parts of the Mainland for important activities back home.

The grand alumni reunion on  Jan. 4 next year, a big medical mission by surgeons in Georgia  early  February, to observe modern trends in education possibly in DC, speak before Fil-Am, communities and hold  dialogues with them, etcetera etcetera. Re that libelous writing punk, my lawyers can so easily handle the case.  Let them handle it, I’m just too busy to be bothered by a non-entity.

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 The unfinished regional drug rehabilitation center which I started in Burgos, Pangasinan when I was vice governor should be completed by my successor, Vice Gov. Oca Lambino.  It should be easy now because my brother, Health Secretary Pingkoy Duque is chairman of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. Drug rehab concerns are part of his job.

 During our last encounter, Vice Gov. Oscar told me that the Pangasinan Provincial Board has drafted a letter to Pingkoy seeking help to finally implement the project. I know my brother, and it should be easy for Vice Gov. Oscar and Gov. Victor Agbayani to get things moving so that this vital project will be realized.

Do not forget that one drug addict kept in a rehab center means society is freed from one prospective molester. Our society is such that led by the government, we should  keep it clean and safe all the time, yes, from the locos most of whom  are  not in control of their sanity yes, due to certain factors like the influence of prohibited drugs.

During our watch, some P5 million worth of   outlay and donations including that from then Vice President Erap Estrada have been used for the rise of that proposed drug rehab center. Let’s go for it, gentlemen! We are doing this for the young and the emotionally and mentally infirm. If we love our countrymen, let’ start with those near us.

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President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s appointment of Congressman Jesli Lapus to the education portfolio is a brilliant decision.

I know this cabalen who has served the country well as a congressman and chairman of the powerful ways and means committee. The last time we met was during a meeting of the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities of which I was, modesty aside, elected with the highest number of votes in the election for PACU directors.

No, I was not elected president, but executive vice president, which is a no-mean feat if you consider the fact that it’s only now that a Pangasinense has been elevated to that lofty post. Ah, yes, the late University of Luzon president Luis Samson was elected director during his hey days.

Back to my fellow cabalen. I said in my introduction of him as PACU guest speaker that his vast experience in business, politics – especially the workings of congress, its budget-making process, and etcetera – and education should signal a golden age for the department.

Jesli knows where to get the money and to use it for the upgrading of the department. I used to say that in the past secretaries came, saw and left. I say now, Jesli came, saw and will conquer.

Congrats, cabalen, may your tribe increase! And may the nation, particularly the Dep-Ed profit much from your leadership. We are praying for your success.  

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When President GMA came to lead in the groundbreaking rites of the P903 million Pantal bridge, the alalays of Speaker JDV and Mayor Benjie Lim were giggling over how the two would treat each other on the stage. Well, they (was it Gov. Victor who acted as go-between?) were back to where they were close friends a few months ago.

Now, this is good because walang kabutihang ibibigay yang barong barong o away away na yan!  Ang umpisa nyan kasi, the orig plan for the Dawel-Pantal Lucao road was to end at the De Venecia road. Suddenly, it was prolonged up to Lucao where BSL’s business rival Belen Fernandez has her CSI located.

Of course, if I were Benjie I would have felt the same. Ama pa naman ng Dagu!  But JDV is the bigger ama who had worked for the project’s funding. DPWH justified the new length saying Lucao is still Dagupan City and must be included in the new road.

Tama naman. Although Benjie was also correct in insisting that the orig plan was only up to the JDV road and should have been followed to the letter. JDV was also correct in saying let’s be inclusive, not exclusive!  So ano pa ba? Both are correct, better kiss and make up. Yes, in the name of public service.    

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