The fighting ‘Usec’

By Ermin F. Garcia Jr.

Two Saturdays ago, while monitoring news events via radio as I drove through the streets of Makati, I chanced upon a radio public affairs program on ABS-CBN’s DZMM discussing the unabated smuggling in the country. Listening to it for a few minutes, I thought it was another of those ho-hum discussions on smuggling where customs officials predictably pay lip service to the cause of battling smuggling. Boy, was I wrong.

My interest and curiosity peaked when one of the guest panelists (on a phone patch), someone who was addressed as ‘Usec’, sounded belligerent, frustrated, exasperated and irreverent towards customs officials who were obviously seated inside the radio booth. Who could this be, I thought? This ‘Usec’ was adamantly refuting what he thought were preposterous claims of ranking customs officials so he certainly didn’t sound like he was your typical team-player for the Malacañang-directed customs operations.

“How can you not know about these smuggling activities?” ‘Usec’ bellowed on air. I could only imagine how those bureaucrats at the Bureau of Customs squirmed in their seats inside the radio booth as they took the direct jabs from this ‘Usec’.

For the next minutes leading to the end of the program, the “Usec” did not mince words berating the customs officials for the unabated smuggling that he insisted continue under the very noses of these officials.

Wow, some nerve this “Usec” has to talk like that, I thought. I figured he was either someone with an “Arroyo” surname or a former customs official now aligned with the opposition.

Well, it turned out he wasn’t either. It was Usec. Bebot Villar, former mayor of Sto. Tomas and now the head of the presidential anti-smuggling task force created by President Arroyo no less, who was singly fighting for good governance that very moment. It was an exhilarating experience listening in until the last minutes because he never relented jabbing the bureaucrats who in turn could only afford to feebly respond with a lame “we are trying our best” stock reply.

After that, I knew that Pangasinan found another son serving national governance that it can truly be proud of.  It’s guys like him and Health Sec. Francisco Duque III who lend credence and some respectability for the scandal-ridden Arroyo administration.

***

FINALLY, AN ADMISSION. Provincial Administrator Raffy Baraan, former city administrator of Dagupan City, stirred the hornet’s nest when he denied he had anything to do with the controversial Barangay Awai (San Jacinto) land deal!

But in denying, he unwittingly admitted to the true facts that surrounded the deal. Even his own friends and former colleagues at the city hall were incredulous over his denial. “He was in the middle of it all,” was the common reaction. Raffy, they said, can’t think even for a moment that he can do a Pontius Pilate in this issue because his hands were covered with blood.

However, they were unanimous in validating the former city administrator’s retort – “Ask the city councilors!” By inference, he was accusing the councilors as the primary conspirators in the plot to rob the city of millions!

And if  I may add, this was precisely what the PUNCHLINE exposed then. Our information at that time pointed to each councilor (the onor-onors of the Lim administration) who openly supported the ordinance and various resolutions that led to the consummation of the deal being rewarded with a princely sum of P250,000 cash up front! (The chief operator among them laughed all the way to the bank with P500,000 in his pocket).

So, let’s hear it from the councilors of the previous administration.

***

THE SPEAKER’S THOUGHTS. Last week, I finally had a chance to catch up with Speaker Joe de V. Realizing I didn’t have the luxury of time to pursue a lengthy discussion with him about his current political stand on various issues since his son Joey came out with guns blazing on the aborted ZTE-national broadband network project, I went head on with questions in my mind:

1. What legacy did you have in mind for Joe de Venecia Jr.?

JdV: I am still hoping I will see the parliament system installed because I have been working for it for the past 15 years. Am not giving up on it.

2. Are you preparing your son Joey to enter politics, as congressman and your successor in the 4th district?

JdV: I am all for it but he (Joey) does not appear inclined even when people say he can even stand for election as a senator given the goodwill he generated.

3. What will you do when Malacanang finally moves to have you replaced as Speaker?

JdV: I will fight back and they know I can.    

4. Has the opposition been in touch with you?

JdV: Yes, and I particularly liked my discussion with Ping (Lacson). I like his vibes.

5. What’s the score on your proposed moral revolution?

JdV: The endorsement for the moral revolution by the bishops should be heeded by Malacañang. I am inspired to continue to pursue it with the President.  

On the local scene, I asked him why he is pursuing the bangus processing plant when the city government, or any government agency for that matter, cannot operate a business operation viably? He said, with the Korean grant, he expects the infrastructure simply to be installed then he will seek a bid from interested business groups to operate it. 

Bitin ba?  Sure, those responses certainly needed further and more elaboration, alas it was mission impossible to keep him to myself longer than 10 minutes since we were in the middle of a party attended by politicians of various colors.

Let’s just see how he backs his words these days. Maybe we’ll soon see a real changed man worthy of the moral revolution that he speaks of. 

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/punchline/
Readers may reach columnist at punch.sunday@gmail.com . For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

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