Think about it
Suspicious movements
By Jun Velasco
COMELEC’S listing of San Carlos City as a potential election hot spot was confirmed by congressional re-electionist Rachel J. Arenas during the turnover of a P500,00 saro for the purchase of equipment for the Binalatongan Community College in San Carlos City last Tuesday.
Rachel told her audience that included Mayor Julier Resuello, BCC President Cathy Velasco, a group of councilors led by Bido Fermin, BCC faculty and students that this columnist inadvertently pushed her political career in 2004 when we introduced her in a Rotary Club meeting in Dagupan as we described her a future political leader.
Turning serious after her speech, she told us she had no bill of particulars yet to back her fear that suspicious persons aboard rival vehicles were following her convoy in many occasions in the third district.
Our casual reaction was that being the favorite candidate of a master military guru in former President Fidel V. Ramos, there was nothing to fear.
In spite of FVR’s protective shield, Rachel cited suspicious movements from rival groups, requiring her supporters to be vigilant and extra careful in roaming the countryside. Being a lady — a beauteous one at that — Rachel should call the attention of the police and law enforcers to tighten the gun ban order and protective measures. You know the bloody history of the place especially during the election season.
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Manila Bulletin’s Jun Icban is the country’s new press secretary. Although he is the undisputed czar of the printed word, Jun’s job to deodorize the image of the most vilified President the country has ever produced is a tough one.
But Jun has a boundless goodwill and excellent human relations with Philippine journalists and government officials, which are expected to see him through Malacañang’s snakepit with flying colors.
Wish him luck.
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Dagupeños are jubilant at the appointment of local boy Eleazar P. Quinto to the environment and national resources portfolio. A city high school alumnus, Ely is a tried and tested organizer. A workhorse of the Liberal Party — Atienza wing — Ely inspires critics with his known sympathy for victims of environmental degradation.
He is aware of local environmental issues such as the mushrooming of illegal fish pens, encroachments on our public river systems, the grand robbery of prime property at the Lingayen Gulf coastline and others. He is expected to balance his ideological vision with pragmatism in dealing with politicians especially the illegal loggers.
Good luck, Ely.
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We had a chance to chat with Marrit, the widow of the late Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, who died last Tuesday. Viewing his remains at the casket, we saw an overworked human machine. Memories galloped back — our first encounter in l979 at the Philippine Jaycess convention in Cebu, our long interviews at his Cebu radio station and several meetings in Manila.
Our youngest son Youssef would regale us with stories about Cerge’s fondness of him being his former staff at the Presidential Management Staff.
We always warned him about his smoking habits in the same vein as we did our Mayor Al Fernandez.
He was a compleat government service devotee, a reason, we told Marrit, that he forgot to take care of his health. He was only 5l. That Philippine flag at half-mast is a tribute to his heroic role as a defender of an unpopular President.
May Cerge rest in peace.
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