Punchline
The onor-onors vs. 3 musketeers
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
THERE’S a nasty rumor being spread allegedly by the nine onor-onors in the Dagupan sanggunian and their allies in city hall, a vain effort to redeem whatever is left of their honor and integrity. The line being peddled is they are not the only ones who jumped the ship of decency, that everyone in the city council (except Vice Mayor Belen F) is already neck-deep into it. “Naayos na din yong mga hindi dumating na bumoto sa resolution!” referring to the 3 musketeers, Councilors Maybelyn Fernandez, Alfie Fernandez and Jigs Seen, the absentees in the scandalous special session. Huh?
Obviously “naayos” could only mean the absentees received their own share of P1.5 million like the rest of the onor-onors. What a laughable scenario. What made the onor-onors so bold to even attempt to paint such a picture? But could it be true?
I must admit that the 3 musketeers’ continued muted thoughts on their colleagues’ traitorous act is giving rise to serious doubts about their own integrity. Why have they not been vocal in denouncing the illegal conduct of the special session, they ask. Why has it been only VM Belen who appears to be taking the cudgels for the city? Finally, why haven’t Councilors Maybelyn, Alfie and Jigs filed a formal complaint with the DILG or a case for a court injunction to stop the effect of the anomalous resolution?
Or have they been co-opted to remain silent and remain true to the once Mighty 8’s pledge, actually a perverse interpretation of their “One for all, all for one”? To protect each other’s illegal activities?
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I have no doubt that Mayor Benjie Lim and his cohorts became more emboldened to pursue the special session unmindful of the required legal basis because they knew none of the Mighty 8 would dare stand up to them as they had proven in the past. But for insurance, Mr. Lim and company sweetened the pot this time with P1.5M incentive to better gag and render them fully inutile as do-gooders, a deal that Onor-onor Chito Samson reportedly volunteered to broker. (Frankly, I was shocked to learn that Councilor Chito led the conspiracy knowing he had just been given another lease on life and the opportunity to redeem himself in the presence of God).
And so far, Mayor Benjie has correctly predicted to date that all the absentees would not dare lift a finger to expose and embarrass their former Mighty 8 colleagues, no matter how obscene their acts were.
Sadly for the city, unless and until the 3 musketeers act to cite the mayor and his cabal of onor-onors for their illegal acts, the latter will not end their foray into the city’s coffers with the sale of the MC Adore and the Calasiao property. That’s for sure!
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NEW MINORITY. For all intents and purposes, Councilors Maybelyn, Alfie and Jigs now comprise the minority in the Dagupan sanggunian.
The Mighty 8 is gone, kaput; it’s now the Tyranny of 9 that’s in control! The senior Onor-onors Chito and Jess Canto should seek the reorganization in the council for the city’s sake. But If they refuse being hypocritical of the situation, the 3 musketeers should take the initiative to call for a reorganization. The people have the right to know who are accountable in the sanggunian. (Curiously, none of the Judas 5 Club has had the decency to explain their treachery personally to VM Belen. They can’t handle the truth about themselves?).
It behooves, therefore, upon the 3 musketeers now to fiscalize the Tyranny of 9 in their midst. And the first order of the day is for them to formally question the legality of the April 20 Special session. Failing that, they should already plan to establish a Tyranny of 11! (I think Councilor Jigs’s family affiliations with VM Belen will make him stay out of it).
Such a scenario will leave the employees of the city government fending for themselves. The employees are the intended beneficiaries of the Calasiao land. It was bought by the city to provide a housing settlement for them. With Mayor Lim and his onor-onors bent on selling the area at all costs, the city’s employees face the prospect of losing their future security to the city’s greedy and corrupt officials today.
But if the employees themselves are not prepared to fight for what it is legally due them, then they deserve to be left with crumbs, courtesy of the onor-onors!
(P.S.) Mayor Lim and his son Brian reportedly flew to Switzerland last week for a “business trip”. Hmmm… a secret Swiss account ploy to escape the reach of our anti-money laundering law? Just wondering.)
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GHOST DELIVERY. Here’s a text message to me by an anonymous sender last May 5: “If the city paid P16 million for Awai and did not get any Awai lot, is that considered a ghost delivery by COA? Is this a COA case or an ombudsman case? If this is a valid issue, why does COA or the ombudsman need a complaint? Why can’t COA or the ombudsman simply ask the city a question: Do you have the Awai lot or not?
Touché! Paging COA and the Ombudsman!
Note: I welcome similar questions and concerns of kabaleyans about governance and suspicions of irregularities in their towns or cities for discussion here. While requests for anonymity will be respected, and I guarantee that, I must say that reports by “PUNCH citizen reporters” who identify themselves will have more credence. But that is secondary to the validity of issues that need to be exposed and discussed. Email me at punch.sunday@gmail .com or text to 0928-661-4110.
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CAPABLE ORGANIZERS. The Espino government without a doubt delivered well on its commitment to establish new and higher standard in hosting of the Palarong Pambanasa. It did not have to apologize for the minor glitches that surfaced. I can only imagine worse faux pas if Guv Spines had not committed to a new and higher standard for hosting the PP.
Yes, he did right to commit itself to such a goal for that became a measurable objective for his team. With their latest experience, I am certain the provincial government is now far more capable than other provinces in hosting such a major event anytime soon.
Guv Spines and his team deserve gentle, soothing pats on their shoulders. Well done!
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THE ELUSIVE TRUTH. The country has finally reached that stage of the CJ Corona trial where only the truth will be the last man standing in this saga. The airing of denials and suspicions via media can now be deemed as the unwarranted noise that kept the nation from getting to the truth.
All speculations and results of surveys will now be either confirmed or debunked by the proceedings this week. We can all forget about what either side said and presented, or what political pundits had to say about it or whatever posturing or gimmickry was done to hype a position because everything now boils down to what CJ Corona’s accusers can back up or cannot prove and what CJ himself can prove to be true and false about the charges against him.
I personally felt gratified when the defense panel decided to push the envelope, take the bull by its horns and put an end to the nation’s agonies brought about by endless bickering from both sides, including that of PNoy. What a timing!
I strongly suspect the prosecution had not expected the merits of the case filed with the ombudsman vs. the CJ about his alleged P10 million deposit, to be discussed at the impeachment trial. The case at bar in the Ombudsman conveniently shields CJ’s accusers from public scrutiny since the law prohibits discussion and disclosure of proceedings conducted by the ombudsman but this surprise tactic by the defense removed that protection effectively. CJs accusers will now be made to account for their charges and I suspect the defense is out to expose CJ’s accusers as nothing but rumormongers and frontliners of PNoy’s demolition team.
Now, I am particularly curious about the threat of the prosecution to file a second impeachment case vs. CJ Corona if the latter is acquitted this time. Is the prosecution getting ready for an acquittal?
For CJ Corona, this last stage will justify his ouster or resignation or continued service fully vindicated by the impeachment court. I pray, therefore, the senator-judges will render a decision in favor of the truth, not of their political interests.
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