What’s the lowdown, Raffy?

By Gonzalo Duque

THOUGH  late, I wish to greet and congratulate the new Region I police director Leopoldo Bataoil who was a member of our Rotary Club of Uptown Dagupan (until he was recruited by  Jun Velasco for his Rotary Club of Metro Cubao, together with Pol’s former boss in Camp Crame, now NIA Administrator Art Lomibao.)

I have seen how Pol works and does his duty to country and the police organization. He is quick on the draw, parang koboy, but amiable, good natured and cut out for the job. I know he will go a long way just like his former bosses, DPWH Sec. Jun Ebdane, Generals Ed Aglipay and Art Lomibao.

The national papers say Jun Ebdane is being groomed for Defense secretary, and Lomibao will replace him.

Sikat iray Pangasinan a! I sincerely wish to see Pol Bataoil rise also, as he is now fast rising because he is a good man. Why is it that some of my friends call him “Shiny?”  Ah, maybe because his thinning hair is well-pomaded ala Leopoldo Salcedo.

Congrats, Pol, I know you will make it to the top, too soon.

*          *           *

City Hall insiders, including the sabitsos, the hangers-on, told me that the culprits behind the robbery of choice government real estate at the Tondaligan beach area were necessarily local employees of city hall.

Maybe, a few of them are, but most of the guilty parties are employees of national government agencies which are housed at city hall.

Makapabaing iraya. Miaayam lalara lanti ed munisipyo, sikara ni matatakew.

I still blame the local DENR people for being remiss in their job if they were not in fact in collusion with the robbers.

Reliable sources told me the racket is a juicy business of certain Bonuan barangay officials.

It is a shocking revelation that the titling of those lots has been going on for several years now, and I can only shake my head over the deafening silence of  certain local officials over this  silent but deadly (economy-wise) crime. How come, the local offices of the DENR did not know it?

DENR Sec. Anggie Reyes, a friend of mine, is reportedly and embarrassingly angry at his boys in Dagupan for sleeping on the job. Correction, pare Angie, they were not sleeping. They were wide awake and making lucrative business . . .  if the expose’ of a former Tondaligan administrator is true, based on his research and investigations, close, to a million bucks have gone to corrupt hands on the Tondaligan real estate deal.

City Administrator Raffy Baraan told me he will look into the robbery, but it’s been decades now and no report seems forthcoming.

I hope his report will reach him soon because I have vowed not to relax on this irregularity until it is satisfactorily solved. I am doing this for my friend, Speaker Joe de Venecia, who was also very mad when it was brought to his attention. Panon to met ey, tetekmelan da met lay lote nen Speaker right in front of his Binloc house!             

*           *           *

Aglapiga, may I solicit the help of Pol Bataoil in the completion of the still unfinished drug rehab center building in Burgos, Pangasinan? As I always said, addicts pose danger to society. An addict kept in a center or rehabilitated is one danger free to our society. Pol, I hope you can help here.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/playing-with-fire/)

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