Think about it
Murder charges vs. Spines, Celeste surrealistic
By Jun Velasco
“Sigaw mulas sa hanay ng transportasyon, edukasyon ang solusyon, hindi korapsyon!”—1-UTAK (United Transport Koalisyon)-Pangasinan Chapter.
PDI’s recent editorial on “unqualified” Nancy Binay and her ilk as among the front-running senator-bets should be the last straw of our carabao patience vis-à-vis our flawed electoral system.
It’s shocking how her father, former human rights lawyer Vice President Jojo Binay, could unconscionably insert her name in the UNA senatorial ticket. This Jojo Binay act should dampen his presidential plan supporters. It’s a sure formula for revert to Philippine debacle.
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A redeeming feature of our Party-list political system is its capacity to correct itself.
Thank Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes for doing the right things to cleanse the electoral process from its built-in odium.
Yesterday, we witnessed a party-list 1-UTAK (1 United Transport Koalisyon)-Pangasinan chapter convention at the Stadia with Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez as guest speaker. The group zeroed in on transport issues.
We are familiar with the stamp of corruption at the Land Transportation Office and other DOTC agencies. All these, says UTAK Pangasinan coordinator Carmelo “Mel” Carreon, will be creatively and intelligently rationalized in cadence with President Aquino’s Daang Matuwid program.
For a start locally, 1-UTAK has tied up with Region 1 Medical Center under Director Roland Mejia to implement its health program, along with scholarship livelihood, neighborhood and justice programs.
With their known service record, the leaders of 1-UTAK like their chairman lawyer Rep. Visgr Mendoza II, inventor Orlando Marquez Jr., Homer Mercado, Alejo Sayasa, Mar Garvida, Efren de Luna, Loving Vidal, Felipe Reogo, Joseph Cruz and Rudy de Guzman won’t allow their vision and program to fail.
1-UTAK in Pangasinan is in good hands with Magda L. Valdez, president; Angel Gumarag vice president, Mon Santillan as secretary, PRO Teresita Espinoza treasurer, Beng Castillo, auditor-PRO, Linda Manuel and Celi Teves, staff.
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By dint of “dark luck,” Governor Amado Espino Jr., who was destined for re-election until a case was slapped against him by former Mayor Ric Orduna, was in the national headlines again due to, hold your breath, murder charges filed against him and Rep. Boying Celeste by the Dept. of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation.
The charges were based on a testimony of a minor, a 16-year old son of publisher Jaime Aquino. By a strange twist of fate a day later, Jaime Aquino joined Celeste in a hastily called press conference and belittled and ridiculed the kid’s testimony, with Aquino pleading to the authorities to release his son from their custody.
In a PDI report, the un-named son said he overheard Gov. Espino and Congressman Celeste plot the slay of the late Mayor Ruperto Martinez at a restaurant Western Pangasinan and even mentioned Gov. Jun Ebdane being present in the meeting.
It’s fast becoming surrealistic—ala master of suspense movie, Alfred Hitchcock.
When we texted Ebdane for his reaction, he sent the following text message: “I requested my lawyer to have a look at the alleged statement of supposed witness. If indeed that reference to Zambales (per PDI) is indeed part of the statement, forget about it—it’s what we call ‘Hallucination.’ Kawawa naman ang mga taong idinadamay.
1) Neither Gov. Espino nor Cong. Celeste went to Zambales to talk to me at anytime. 2) As regards loading operations at Port Cato in Infanta, I suggest that you have a personal visit thereat. Been informed that said port doesn’t load magnetite (black sand).
3) Let us all be professional in the handling of such sensitive cases—be it investigators, reporters, and their respective supervisors. Salamat po Gob. Jun Ebdane.”
We urge the NBI and the DOJ to be more circumspect in handling the case. Their report seems to show they’ve been had.
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NOTES: Sincerest sympathy and prayers to the family of the late Jose B. Perreras, 92, of Bogtong, Malasiqui town. Our friendship to the Perreras family dates back to the early days of Martial Law when, fresh from a month-long detention, we met the late Philip Landingin of the National Media Production Center. He married a beautiful Bogtong nurse, Judith Perreras, daughter of Jose. After his death, Judith went abroad, first, at The Middle East, and later in the U.S. Mr. Perreras is survived by his wife, school teacher Doray, children Judith, Cora, Oscar, Oliver, Purissa and Toti, and grandchildren.
Calasiao mayoral bet Wilson de Vera says the Calasiao National High School will hold its grand homecoming on March 1 to 3.
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