Punchline
BSL’s “pet project”
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
IS Dagupan’s Mayor Benjie Lim for real?
A PIA press release last June 4 quoted Mayor Benjie as having “expressed his desire to revive the landfill project in barangay Awai in San Jacinto town, which was his pet project in his first two terms.”
What landfill project in San Jacinto is he talking about? The city has already long defaulted in its claim over the 33-hectare land in Brgy Awai, thanks to his administration’s gross criminal negligence and shady deal over that land acquisition. Is his mind already mentally challenged to believe (and to make others believe) that his “pet project” is still in the works?
What’s happening to the city’s mayor? Is he that sick? Pray tell he’s not!
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But it’s just as well that he “expressed his desire to revive his pet project” for that provided the opening for an honest to goodness investigation on what, indeed, happened to that vaunted “pet project” of his.
If Mayor Benjie, for reasons of health, cannot withstand the stress from a possible grueling Q&A in the city council, I am certain a number of councilors would not object to his being excused for now.
But the likes of City Administrator Vlad Mata (then a major player in the Onor-onor cabal in 2001-2003), Provincial Legal Officer Geraldine Baniqued (then the city legal officer of the Lim administration that crafted the dubious sale document), former DOTC Director Jojo Guadiz (then the pointman of Mr. Lim’s Onor-onor gang in the city council as laws and ordinances committee chairman) must be compelled to appear at the sanggunian and explain: How and why the city lost a P9 million-worth of property then (but for which the Lim administration paid P16 million) after paying Mr. Lim’s business associate, Mr. Cuna?
Their responses should make a good beginning to revive Mr. Lim’s pet project!
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WANTED: TOUGH LAW VS BOTCHA TRADERS. The Dagupan ordinance finally penalizing botcha traders and vendors is long overdue but it’s never too late to put some teeth in the campaign against unscrupulous, greedy dealers. However, the city’s ordinance appears a bit patronizing since it only penalizes violators with ridiculous levels of fines that represent a drop in the bucket for businessmen who specialize in botcha trading. Even the clause for imprisonment is only one of two options, the other being community service.
In Metro Manila, a P1000 fine and imprisonment for not less than six days up to six months are imposed on violators, a situation that DENR Sec. Prospero Alcala already finds laughable. He said such penalties don’t make a dent on efforts of traders who make hundreds of thousand in profits per cargo delivery. Just one successful delivery more than makes up for the bribing in all areas along the way to escape any liability or culpability.
The provincial government should take the cue from Sec. Alcala. A provincial ordinance contra botcha should be tougher that will leave no doubt in the minds of the unscrupulous that Pangasinan is a dangerous place for racketeers. The fine should be not less than P5,000 for every 50 kilos of botcha meat or fish caught being delivered, plus a mandatory 15-day imprisonment to be imposed on both the source and the trader.
Poisoning a community is certainly akin to a terroristic act.
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ACCOUNTABILITY IS BEST ANTIDOTE. The twin decision of Guv Spines to offer cash rewards for the identity and arrest of river polluters and to close the Caquiputan Channel to any economic activity for at least 6 months speaks volume of his deep frustration over the inability of enforcement agencies to strictly enforce the national laws and local ordinances in the province.
Unfortunately, not even the cash rewards will help promote his advocacy for clean and habitable rivers. There is still no policy of accountability in his administration. The laggard and the corrupt in his government continue to lord it over with endless hush money while he loses sleep over the seemingly endless pollution of the rivers.
Here’s a suggestion for Guv Spines.
Adopt a one-strike policy in the enforcement of environmental laws. File administrative cases for criminal negligence and dereliction of duty against the community environment officer, the chief of police and the barangay chairman under whose jurisdiction a fishkill occurs, or where the sighting of uncontrolled dumping of garbage and wastes is reported.
Why the three? They are aware of the ordinances that affect their communities. They have the authority to stop or tolerate any shenanigan. It is they who are ordered by the mayor or the provincial police director, or the provincial environment officer to close their eyes to “special accommodations”. Ergo, it is they who can point to their immediate superiors in the provincial level as being responsible for the mess they are in if found culpable. Eventually, if proven, any or all or the 3 superior officers should be included in the charge list.
This policy alone will prompt these named officials to conduct regular patrols and monitoring of waste disposal along rivers and streams, and embolden them to refuse to obey a mayor’s illegal order.
Accountability is the proven antidote to corruption and incompetence. In brief, Guv Spines subordinates must live and breathe that warning: Beware of Guv Spines!
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A LEGACY FOR ALFIE? It’s eerily quiet in the jai-alai off fronton betting issue.
First of all, Vocal Alfie Bince who initially appeared piqued after being described as irresponsible by Guv Spines, never made good on his threat to deliver a privilege speech on it. He said he’s determined to pursue his plan to conduct an investigative hearing on jai-alai betting in the province in aid of legislation if only to prove that he’s not irresponsible as Guv Spines labeled him.
The unexpected heated exchange was feared to be the beginning of a crack in the close alliance between him and the Guv. That was then.
Today, it seems Vocal Alfie now wants the public to forget that he ever said he would deliver a privilege speech to vindicate his honor. Nothing has been heard of him on the issue since.
Does that mean Vocal Alfie has conceded he is indeed, irresponsible? Kasi kasama na rin siya sa “usapan”?
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I wish Vocal Alfie was made of different mettle and pursue the investigation at will.
His would be the legacy of stopping Charlie Ang at the province’s gates, preventing his illegal gambling in the province to take permanent roots against all odds, if he would dare.
Easily, the known facts on the operation of the jai-alai off fronton betting are at best legally dubious if not completely infirmed to justify its stoppage without much ado.
First of all, Guv Spines already categorically said that no permit was issued the Meridien Vista Gaming Corp. Secondly, the operation was allowed by a national agency to operate at the Cagayan Economic Zone. Nothing in its documents indicates that it can operate in Pangasinan. Thirdly, only the provincial board can issue a franchise for such an operation, similar to an STL operation, and no such franchise was ever issued unless it already did while we all slept soundly.
The legacy is for Mr. Bince’s picking. If he doesn’t take it, I can understand why. If he takes it, his peers won’t understand.
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