Think about it
A wake up call on Dagupan’s Finest
By Jun Velasco
LOCAL broadcaster Harold Barcelona complains that Dagupan City’s law enforcers “are sleeping on the job.”
His heart was bruised by a heart-wrenching event last Monday. His l9-year old son, Erwin, was inside a Bonuan-bound jeep when attacked by four thugs from notorious Sitio Aling just across the imposing University of Pangasinan-PHINMA complex.
Erwin Barcelona sustained deep stab wounds, and although has gone home to recuperate, is still hurting. “It was plain kursunada,” says heartbroken Harold whose thoughts immediately riveted to the so-called Dagupan’s Finest under the leadership of his best friend, Colonel Sonny Verzosa.
We told him Sonny couldn’t be everywhere, as he had to mind tougher peace and order issues such as a gambling enclave in the Mayombo area deplored by Punchline lately.
Erwin’s stabbing is only one of the innumerable sores told about Sitio Aling, tagged as the new Tondo of yesteryears. It is an affront to the image of Bangus City as ideal abode, as presented by Mayor Al Fernandez to foreign visitors and Fil-Ams at biec taew he is enticing to come home.
Not too long ago, Environment and Natural Resources regional officer Edgar Fabia, a native Dagupeño, was strolling along Arellano street when, reaching that spot between UPANG and Aling, a drug-craze toughie blocked his path and asked money for pang-mamam. The ugly punk didn’t know the karate black belter. Edgar pretended to be shoving his pocket for cash and invited the punk to a vacant space. There Edgar did a Manny Pacquiao and made the Aling boy black and blue look like Miguel Cotto.
Sitio Aling is only one of the eyesores in Dagupan’s ballyhoed image as ideal residential city. The same ugly tag goes to Purok Muslim in Bonuan where drug pushing is rampant.
The mysterious disappearance of Himmil Lagao, 28, son of columnist Ani Lagao, three years ago is linked with the illegal drug trade, which is giving our city bad name. The local police as far back as the stint of sacked chief, Col. Borromeo, know the details of Himmil’s case. It’s a cause for wonder why they can’t bag its mastermind up to now.
Is living in Dagupan still safe? The Barcelona family, for sure, doesn’t think so anymore. Ditto with the Lagao family. And so the many others who have had encounters with inept law enforcers.
Will our friend and fellow Rotarian Regional Directior Jumboy Asares come forward and make a difference? We might as well call the attention of national PNP chief General Jess Verzosa, a fellow Pangasinense from Dasol, and cousin of embattled Sonny Verzosa, to take a direct hand.
* * * *
The upsurge of Manny Villar’s ratings in the presidential survey simply shows that media bombardment works.
From this corner, we see an evolution of sorts in the way the public responds to the “medium is the message” syndrome. The public bites what it gets. Never mind if the message is good or bad. What boosted Manny Villar’s ratings is the frequency of his appearance in the media. It’s not the message anymore, because the medium itself regardless of what it says is the message.
Like what they say, it’s not whether you are good or bad, so longs as you are in the news, you are a celebrity, and more often than not, the media-bombarded, materialistic and uncritical public will hug and embrace you.
This is why known public scoundrels like Romy Jalosjos, Jocjoc Bolante, oh, yes, believe it or not, the Ampatuans and other bad guys still enjoy public acceptability. You are right. We have lost our moorings.
* * * *
A chat with newly confirmed Civil Service Commission chairman Dr. Pingkoy Duque is one of a lifetime. The guy, younger brod of pareng Gons has an exemplary work ethic. Even if he is a GMA favorite, the public supports him. He works like hell and gets a heaven of applause. Inggit si pare Gons. But he loves his younger brother. Idol pa yata e. Gons told us Pingkoy is the only doctor appointed to the CSC chair. Under his watch, the department of health got the highest public acceptability ratings through all his years at its helm.
A word of congratulations is not enough. He should be installed as a Philippine hero.
* * * *
RAMDOM NOTES– We missed Benjie Lim at our impromptu T.Y. party last Sunday. Our friend of 40 years, Mayor Al Fernandez, accompanied by Alfie and Alex de Venecia, was outnumbered by the likes of Pacoy Torio, Allan Sison, Leu Paragas, Alvin Coquia, Red Erfe Mejia and Tonton, nephew of Dr. Al Llamas. Ashok Vassandani and re-electionist Board Member Ming Rosario were judges to a songfest won by Jess Garcia, Jun Servito, Delia Estebler and Amy Barrozo. Kapitan Angel Gumarang missed the powwow but sent the “Alisto” tables and chairs and the video oke. Vegetarian Ashok’s beauteous wife Nanchan wondered how she could partake of the food prepared by wifey Cathy, which was enjoyed by Marlene Ocampo. Trixie Sison, Cristine Resultay, Cecil Damaso and Dra. Juliet de Venecia.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
