Playing with Fire
A Christmas spoiler
By Gonzalo Duque
WE sincerely wish one and all Merry Christmas… yes, even if we received very recently a letter from a fictitious writer who was peeved by our call on Mayor Benjie Lim and Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez to bury the hatchet even just for a while in the spirit of the season.
The writer who gave his name as Francisco Mejia belittled, in fact, denounced us for calling for reconciliation of the two highest elective officials of the city on a specific issue — addressing the pesky garbage issue — to put an end to their damaging.
Our call however was praised by numerous texters and e-mails saying “it’s about time” because, they said, “kaming mga taga-Dagupan ay nahihiya na sa walang humpay na atakehan ng dalawang dapat ngang masilbing ejemplo ng tamang public behavior.”
We are surprised, to say the least, how this certain concerned citizen could so claim any moral ascendancy by attacking a very noble, selfless, compassionate call for reconciliation. Taliwas ang isip talaga ng letter writer na yan, ano, Orly Navarro?
Very unChristian, out of step, abnormal, spoiler and full of ill will.
For all this writer should know, most Dagupenos are already nauseated by the two leaders’ antics. Everyone in the know is frowning on their business and personal agendas. Kitang-kita naman e.
But still, like our friend Ashok, who went further ahead by literally taking the first step to promote reconciliation and scoring a modest success, we plodded on in deference to own faith in both mayor and vice mayor’s good side.
Sa totoo lang ha, there are political brokers who have gone as far as asking political personalities to take a crack at the mayorship because they are disenchanted with the way the two leaders were overdoing their political rivalry.
But, as we said, we still believe in the the capacity of Benjie and Belen to subordinate personal interest for the public good, who can still fight without being non-sport and malicious because after all, we are all Dagupenos who adhere to the spirit of fair play and the public welfare uppermost in our minds.
So, to the letter writer who is hiding behind the cloak of cowardice and malice, we say, “Alis Dyan!
* * * *
Okay, let’s give it to the spoiler. Let’s go fight mode.
We note that on specific issues, Mayor Benjie could hardly get out of his ego.
Belen, on the other, hand would stick to her “all for one, one for all” posturing.
Just posturing. To this date, no one from her council — or “clowncil?” — has taken up the challenge of Councilor Brian Lim to file a complaint against the mayor on their charges of unwarranted corruption.
Papaano, yong motto nilang one for all, all for one ay naging “one for you, one for me…” Wala talaga silang sinabi. Angat angat, walang tunay na fighter.. kayang-kaya kayo lahat ni Benjie.
Now, allow us to inform you that as far as this columnist is concerned, we just filed with a Regional; Trial Court in Dagupan a declaration of illegality against the city government especially the city treasurer with a prayer for injunction and a TRO. Yan ang tunay!
This lady treasurer (is she Romelita Alcantara?) deserves to be slapped with a court case for arrogantly warning us at Lyceum Northwestern University allegedly for our non-payment of P88, 000 during the quarter period.
We shall see to it that the case will prosper, as we had earlier cited that the city’s imposition of business taxes on our university has no legal basis to stand on.
So, let this be a lesson in legal debate with the so-called Sanggunian legislators who, actually are onor-onors in the real sense of the word (antoyay bangat mo met, Belen?) that in the arena of public service, we have to conduct ourselves in such a way as to deserve the public trust.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
