The bakes are in the house

By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

WE have confirmation.

We have wise monkeys – bakes- – sitting idly at the Dagupan sanggunian –  they who refuse to see evil, hear evil and speak evil.

Wonder no more why the city council has not initiated anything to investigate past anomalies in the city hall, similar to what’s happening at the Senate today probing involvement of lawmakers in the Napoles scam.  The newly elected and reelected honorable councilors are conveniently hiding behind a technicality that prevents them kuno from investigating anything. The councilors are invoking the adopted rule in the council that no investigation can be pursued or conducted without receipt of a formal complaint!

Yes, they will not investigate anything even if they and the public are well aware of the anomalies. Isn’t that nice? They are all law-abiding citizens to a stupid rule that goes against the principle of transparency and accountability!

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OBNOXIOUS RULE. The bakes councilors must think of all Dagupeños as stupid to accept their alibi hook, line and sinker.  The lawyers and the pretentious (non-lawyers) among them are forgetting that there are basic parliamentary rules that override such rules that run contrary to basic democratic principles.

There is the “Questions of Privilege” that can be invoked when the body’s members are affected. Certainly, those named in the reported anomalies could very well stand up to defend their individual and collective integrity, but no one has done that, and nobody is urging anyone to do it.

Then there is the rule on “Special Order” that suspends all rules that interfere with the consideration of a resolution.

Aren’t lawmakers allowed to make privilege speeches on any matter of public interest, including discussion of their stolen vehicles? Why hasn’t anyone stood up to denounce a single anomaly that would necessitate an investigation by the body? Handicapped lay utek da la amo kanyan ag lara makaalagey!

What is to stop a councilor from filing resolutions asking for the investigation of anomalies reported in the media? That’s how the senate hearing on the Napoles P10-B scam senate started. Why hasn’t anyone cared to file a resolution asking for the investigation of the well-publicized anomalies? Akin et masyado so takot da?

But as the saying goes in Pilipino – Kung gusto, maraming paraan, kung ayaw, maraming dahilan!

I challenge councilor- lawyers Alfie Fernandez, Jose Netu Tamayo, still lawyer wannabe Vice Mayor Brian, majority floor leader Maybelyn Fernandez (constantly on OB) and minority floor leader Red Erfe-Mejia Lim to explain why these rules cannot apply in their case. (By the way, it was Mr. Lim who crafted the house rules aimed at preventing then Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez from initiating investigations of discovered anomalies in the city hall, and today’s bunch adopted it as well).   

(On the tendency of Councilor Tamayo to trivialize my call for reforms by describing me as “parating high blood”, I say to him: Tell me that once you have found the courage to denounce the corrupt in your midst. Right now, you are still a big disappointment to those who voted for you). 

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FORMAL COMPLAINT. Anyway, if none of the councilors believe he or she has no moral standing to denounce corruption and they will still insist on a formal complaint to comply with their obnoxious rule, below is my formal open letter complaint as a tax-paying citizen in Dagupan.

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September 21, 2013

 

Sanggunian Panlungsod

Dagupan City

 

Attention: Vice Mayor Brian Lim, Presiding Officer

 

I wish to file a complaint against:

 

1. Vice Mayor Brian Lim, Councilors Red Erfe-Mejia, Guillermo Vallejos and Alvin Coquia for refusing to account for the funds they received from the Dagupan City government for the management of past City Fiestas and Bangus Festivals; further, for failing to account for monies received from rentals and fees collected from “baratilyos, tiangge and food street” during the festivals.
2. Former Mayor Benjamin Lim, former City Administrator Vlad Mata for allowing the illegal occupation of beach fronts at the Tondaligan Beach.
3. Jose Mariano Cuña for refusing to refund the P16 million he received for the 30-hectare farm land San Jacinto after failing to transfer the title to the city.
4. The members of the Bid and Awards committee for not observing the law on public bidding when it conducted the bidding for the MC Adore properties.
5. City Treasurer Romelita Alcantara for her false reports to the sanggunian about the state of finances of the city for the years 2011-2012 in her attempt to cover up anomalies.
6. Market Administrator Aguedo Sta. Maria for failing to collect and remit actual fees and taxes due the city government in 2012.
7. Magic Group of Companies for illegally towing away the two boats that led to the suspension of operations of River Cruise.
8. Councilor Guillermo Vallejos for failing to liquidate and properly account to the people of Dagupan the monies he received from 2010 to 2012 as head of the Liga ng Barangay in the city.
9. City Agriculturist Emma Molina for dereliction of duty, having failed to enforce the city’s ordinance in regard to the construction and operation of fish pens in city’s rivers last March 2013.

 

I earnestly pray that you will immediately conduct a fair and impartial investigation in aid of legislation and make the necessary recommendation on who should be made accountable.  Your prompt action will expectedly protect the city against corrupt officials.

 

I remain.

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

ERMIN F. GARCIA, JR.

CTC 03515248, Issued Jan. 10, 2013

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If for any reason that some bakes councilors will still require 5 formal complaints, I urge our PUNCH readers who may have the time to simply copy this complaint and submit them to the city council with their signatures.

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NEW MOA. Here we go again. The Dagupan City police again signed a MOA with the Muslim community for the nth time in the city for the campaign vs. illegal drugs.

Has anyone heard of the Muslim leaders who signed the MOAs in the past turning in a single pusher or financier? So forget this template! It’s a waste of time even for photo op.

What can likely work instead is a reward program that will lead to the arrest and prosecution of drug pushers and financiers. Surely, civic clubs and schools can help build that fund. That’s the kind of MOA the city needs. 

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