Punchline
Drugs and the city
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
THE submission of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) of its list of narco-politicos in the country to Congress must be giving some local officials the shivers.
Pangasinan, particularly Dagupan City, has long been tagged as a major transshipment point for illegal drug peddling in the region, and it’s no secret that PDEA has been operating clandestinely in the province with little involvement of the provincial PNP station to the chagrin of the latter.
It is heartening to note, however, that the Dagupan City police is making some progress finally even as signs of “business as usual” for shabu-trading remain hanging on the doors leading to the city’s streets and schools. Nonetheless, Supt. Romeo Caramat deserves a pat on the back.
The recent arrest of an 18-year old girl in a buy-bust operation is a welcome development after a long while, yet that successful operation tells a lot about what is happening in the city. The pushers (again from Bonuan Binloc) are now young obviously with the intent to expand their market in the campuses, luring students when they can. Curiously, no one has been collared inside the campuses. Looks like the “do-nothing” hush money for some city hall officials and police continues to do its magic.
Yet another thought comes to mind. Has Dagupan Mayor Benjie Lim ever ordered the demolition of any house of known drug dealers in Bonuan Binloc? What happened to his mighty threat to residents of Bonuan Binloc?
The city is far from being drug-free, and someone at the city hall and the barangay continue to protect the thriving illegal drug trade. The narco-politicos in Dagupan should be unmasked!
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HIGH RISK TAG. PNP provincial OIC Sonny Verzosa, another distant relative by affinity I am told, is right to pooh-pooh the revelation of the list of “areas of concern” released by the DILG.! That is the S.O.P.
However, he, more than anyone else, knows the kind of migraine that will soon hit him. He will have his hands full because the private armies in the identified cities and towns have not been disbanded, this on top of the fact that guns-for-hire continue to knock on doors offering their services for the permanent elimination of opponents as a better alternative to the circuitous process of Comelec for the same desired result.
Understandably “High-Risk” tag will be like a high-grade paracetamol for Mr. Verzosa since he would be given more resources to work with. But such a tag will be a PR nightmare for the provincial government, a potential campaign issue against Guv Spines. So I have no doubt the Guv will not accept the bright red tag but this will certainly mean a strain in his relations with Mr. Verzosa unless they both find a compromise to enable the latter to effectively lead his station with a kamay na bakal without additional resources.
Meanwhile, I wonder what Mr. Verzosa is doing about the thriving jueteng, jai-teng and drop-ball operations under his very nose. The politicos protecting them are raking it in!
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BSL’S KENNEL. The series of documented PUNCH exposes on the unmitigated corruption at the Dagupan City hall must already be gaining thousands of adherents. It’s the only reason I can think of why the Lim administration, I am told, has bought block-airtime in some radio stations for members of the BSL Kennel Press Club to use to discredit anyone who is not a Lim fan, meaning us and others who hate corruption. Tsk-tsk, a literally a case of lapdogs barking up the wrong tree.
As one amused reader who chanced upon one such program narrated to us how the unsolicited promo activities go, he said “Apagas-pagas (no pun intended kuno) la ra ed kaka-tila tan kaka-cover-up !”
However, I take no offense when they concoct lies, attributing ill motives to our reports on every turn. It is as par for the course. That’s for the public to discern. In fact, I am thankful to them for unwittingly promoting and endorsing The PUNCH as the only independent paper in town, the only one that dares to expose the venalities in the city hall. What I find distressing is the fact that they use city funds to do their comic stunts.
I can imagine them frothing at the mouth, demonstrating their canine loyalty and appreciation to the max for the little morsels of meat tossed in their direction by their owner. They already tried recently to stage a coup against our columnist Gonz Duque at the Pangasinan Press Club but they were rebuffed by the all the directors of the club.
Frankly, I don’t recall The PUNCH having been given as much compliment in the past as it is being given today by Mr. Lim’s stooges, unwittingly giving us a lot of credit for exposing the unprecedented levels of corruption at the office of city mayor. I am told they call it a “demolition job” (of course!). Our readers call it investigative reporting.
In fairness, Mr. Lim ought to give his unimaginative attack dogs a hefty bonus. But I don’t think it’s fair for them to dream of a P1.5-M bonus, ano sila sinuswerte? It takes a lot more to be part of the elite Judas 9. P150 should do for what they do best!
But I do have one suggestion to these former journalists: Why not start refuting the reports and documents that The PUNCH published instead of simply ranting like jilted juveniles? Start with the city’s loss of Awai land, the failed garbage disposition, in the city, illegal distribution of calamity funds to favored kapitans, overpricing of noodles, rice and milk for children’s feeding program, overpricing of streetlights, construction of Malimgas Market, dredging machine; illegal construction of Daongan ed Dawel, illegal special session, the manipulated MC Adore appraisal report and AIP report, registration of Belen Tamondong Fernandez as mayoralty candidate, illegal business interests of Mr. Lim in Metro Plaza, etc. This way, the interests of their owner will be best served!
Nonetheless, let me reciprocate their generous endorsements. I sincerely invite our readers, if they have some precious time to waste, to listen to the pseudo journalists and possibly get a kick out of listening to them. For quick directions to the radio frequency, time of program and names of assigned attack dogs, call the city hall. Ask for Mr. Vlad Mata. (You might as well ask him, too, how much the city is spending for the airtime used by their attack dogs, 5 days a week for an hour!).
Again, our sincerest thanks to the Mad Dog Whisperer and his pack of badly trained attack dogs for their undeserved expression of admiration! Happy woof-woofing!
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