Punchline
Guv proved jueteng can be licked
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
GUV Spines ordered. The police director complied. And the jueteng lords scampered. It was as easy as 1-2-3 and the seemingly indestructible jueteng, like the New York’s Twin Towers, came tumbling down in the province.
The governor’s quick response was obviously meant to dispel insinuations by Archbishop Oscar Cruz and allegations by Alaminos City Mayor Nani Braganza that jueteng thrives in Pangasinan with his blessings.
His detractors now say that by issuing the order, Guv Spines unwittingly admitted that, indeed, jueteng was operating in the province. If it didn’t, no order was necessary. Furthermore, the combined swift action and response of the governor and the provincial police director lent strong credence to Archbishop Oscar Cruz’s and (Acting) Secretary Jesse Robredo’s position that jueteng can be stopped with the mere say-so of the local government executive and the police.
On the other hand, Guv Spines’ order quickly doused cold water over any prospective debate and accusations whether jueteng still flourishes in the province. So no matter how one looks at it, it’s the end that justified the means for Guv Spines who clearly got off squeaky clean on the issue before it could get nasty, at least for as long as jueteng is kept under the rug.
Now that the ugly tentacles of jueteng have been tied in scout’s knots over its head, Guv Spines should take a step back to look at another opportunity for legacy and greatness that the situation presents to him.
Sec. Robredo was chosen a Ramon Magsaysay awardee because of the innovations and significant development projects that he introduced as mayor of Naga City. One of which was he succeeded in stopping jueteng in the city while providing alternative livelihood to jobless kubradores!
If Guv Spines would consider putting the lid on jueteng permanently as Robredo did, he definitely will have a legacy that would certainly make Guv Spines the best governor Pangasinan ever had and will ever have for a long time.
The only persons who will be extremely unhappy over such a prospect would be a big number of mayors and their councilors and barangay kapitans, the police chiefs, and the ‘Attack and Collect-Defend and Collect’ media practitioners whose number doubled over the years. The end of jueteng means the end of their glorious payola days for doing nothing.
Yes, going by Guv Spines ’s recent action, jueteng, contrary to what we are made to believe, can be licked for good.
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WHEN ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL. I have no doubt that both Mayor Benjie Lim and the city councilors had trouble sleeping for nights last week over the fate of the two vetoed ordinances on tricycle franchises.
They played hardball brinksmanship that either one was already hard put to withdraw from. It was championship political poker that neither played in the past. At stake was not millions worth of chips but political respect and integrity.
The city council led by Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez knew that it could provoke further worsening of ties with the city hall should it decide to override the two executive vetoes. No one was certain about the outcome of an override since there was no known precedent, not for two successive vetoes anyway!
On the other hand, it was clear to Mr. Lim that he had to risk his own political clout and standing by vetoing the two ordinances. To a large extent, he was confident that the city council would not dare override his vetoes except for one concern, the majority clearly has the number to easily vote to override his vetoes. It was a calculated risk just to show who’s boss at this early crucial stage of his stewardship.
Thank heavens, the majority in the council tarried no longer and bit the bullet to keep their collective political integrity. By an easy majority, they threw out the vetoes. Great show of political maturity on the councilors’ part. If they had done otherwise, that is to allow the veto to take effect, I doubt if they can ever recover from the humiliation dealt on them by Mr. Lim – losing to a bluff. It was a bluff because there is nothing in the local government code that says granting and regulation of franchises rests with the mayor yet Mr. Lim had the audacity to insist on his own faulty legal premises.
Now that the game is over, everyone can breathe and sleep more comfortably. From the city hall’s press statement, Mr. Lim harbors no ill feelings and has graciously accepted the override. That’s one classic act of statesmanship on his part and beyond that I actually would credit him for helping shape a mature, stronger and independent city council made possible by his vetoes.
Ms. Fernandez, on the other hand, demonstrated exemplified leadership by her attempt to reach out to the mayor just to avoid a possible crisis that could be caused by an override, and failing to convince Mr. Lim, she did not hesitate to flex the city council’s political muscle knowing it stood firmly on a legal, not whimsical, view.
The councilors who dared to vote for the override should take a bow for making their constituents proud. They forged ahead despite risks to their political standing by doing what should be in the interest of law and to reinforce the check and balance system in governance.
I only have regrets for Councilor Brian Lim, the lone dissenter. He had the opportunity to show his independence by standing up for what is right notwithstanding blood ties but he chose simply to be the father’s son and an extension of the elder. He probably felt he had no choice, but he did have a choice. The young Brian lost his own identity again. Sayang.
Now that all’s well, we can now expect a modicum of mutual respect and hopefully closer collaboration between the two branches of government… at least until amor propio sneaks in again.
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THE ‘BALL’ WAS NOT DROPPED. I spoke too soon when I wrote that the illegal ‘Drop-Ball’ operations in Dagupan City were finally terminated by the police. My mole failed me this time. Other sources have told me that ‘Drop-Ball’ tables are being laid out in other barangays in the city. The latest invasion is in Malued.
And the word in the street is it’s now a lady barangay official who’s heading the syndicate in the city. According to some peeved barangay officials, the lady brags about her being untouchable since she has the “full authority” from a top city official to operate wherever.
Looks like she’s not a bit intimidated by City Councilor Chito Samson’s warning to would-be operators of illegal gambling in the city. That makes many wonder whether Mr. Samson is one not to be believed or she was assured that the councilor, he who stood up and delivered a stinging privilege speech contra illegal gambling in Dagupan, wont give her any trouble.
Let’s see what Mr. Samson will do about this.
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