Think about it
Art Lomibao’s elusive LTO post
By Jun Velasco
IT would probably take a miracle to restore peace in the war-torn Gaza strip in Israel in the same vein that hate is almost impossible to expunge from the face of humankind.
It is ironic that the seat of discord between brothers (Israelites and Palestinians) lies in God’s chosen land itself — Israel. The war on Gaza, therefore, is a story of life itself.
We need prayers and more prayers for the all-loving God descend in the hearts of hateful men before the Middle East showdown reach our shores.
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The public seems weary over a report that President Arroyo – for the second time – announced recently that she was appointing anti terrorist czar, Gen. Arturo Lomibao, to the Land Transportation Office chair.
We’ve heard that one before and even caused its back page banner publication in the Bulletin only to be sidelined just like that by Transportation boss Larry Mendoza who had advised his classmate Ernie Berroya not to leave post.
It was our pal, Pangasinan LTO chief Pat Urmaza, who broke GMA’s “second” LTO appointment for Art Lomibao on December 26 (JdV’s birthday”) during lunch at the Matutina Restaurant in Bonuan.
When told about it, the national counter terrorism action group chief took it nonchalantly probably so as not to suffer the same bobo in the past.
Art Lomibao, who took the role of Rep. Joe de Venecia as main guest at the Dagupan fiesta coronation night (the former speaker opted to celebrate his birthday at his home in Forbes) could only mumble “trabaho lang muna” while packing up for a Singapore anti terrorism confab Friday.
Let’s hope the President clears the air on Art Lomibao’s LTO appointment. Doing it for the second time in vain leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
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Another super cop who shares his precious time with fellow Rotarians in Metro Cubao is General Pol Bataoil who we earlier thought was eyeing, or being eyed for, the second district congress post. The winds of political destiny have begun to shift in favor of Jonas Castañeda’s post.
We forsee a battle royale in case a Bataoil-Castañeda would take place in 20l0, knowing each one’s leadership credentials and public service record.
In case you’ve been following Pol’s performance as National Capital Region chief, even his critics grudgingly agree that he works like a national PNP chief, a post he fits perfectly but is now out of reach due to age requirement. He is retiring soon.
Our partner, Mindanao Gazette publisher Ben Diansay, president of the Mindanao Integrated Journalists, has advised Pol Bataoil to take a crash course on politics from Davao City’s legendary mayor Rody Duterte, who like Al Fernandez, remains unbeatable in political jousts. Police work and politics are oceans apart, Ben said.
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Our friend “balik balik” Dagupeño Alfredo Dawana called from San Francisco, California to complain against the one responsible for printing a souvenir program of the Dagupan Charitable Foundation International during its gala on Jan. 3 without the picture and message of Congressman de Venecia.
“I saw only the photos and messages of Mayor Al Fernandez and Milpitas Mayor Jose Esteves,” a fuming Dawana, chair of the association’s handicapped committee, said.
Alfred, known nemesis of illegal fishpens in Dagupan, reports that more than 300 San Francisco-based Dagupeños attended the affair whose queen Rochelle E. Sarzhane, whose mother is a Dagupeña. Judge Vic Llamas’ brother Rene is association president.
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