Mayor Balolong’s dream: Lasting peace

By Bebot Villar

 

THE people of Urbiztondo, from all walks of life, expressed their devotion to and grief over the death of their beloved mayor, Ernesto “Jun” Balolong Jr.

Young and old from different barangays came in droves from June 7 up to June 18, hanggang sa hinatid siya sa kanyang final resting place. Students lined up the streets waving their yellow flaglets as the funeral cortege ni Mayor Jun passed. Police estimated that more than 25,000 condoled with the bereaved family. That’s how much he was loved.

Nagkakaisang tinig ng kalungkutan at sigaw para sa katarungan ang damdamin ng mga tao. Sa kanyang libing, they had their placards and t-shirts that showed their real sentiments.

“We cry for justice for Mayor Ernesto “Jun” Balolong Jr.”  “People of Urbiztondo cry for justice. Hustiya Para kay Mayor Balolong.”  Hustisya ang kanilang hiling.

Yan din ang malinaw na bilin ni President Aquino sa PNP when he went to Urbiztondo last June 13 to condole with the mayor’s family.

Gaano man ka-influential or ka-powerful ang mga mastermind, dapat managot. The police should not stop with the arrest of the two alleged triggermen. Yan din ang order ni President! Other innocent people were killed and hurt last June 7, the day before Mayor Jun and his wife, Councilor Mirla, were to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary. Nakatakda sana akong maging ninong nila. Sana darating din ang araw, pagbabayaran nila ng mahal ang ginawa nila!

Meanwhile, there is a need to heed Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas’s timely appeal – to end the violence dahil walang mabuting naidudulot ito. He prayed that the violent death of Mayor Jun should instead pave the way to lasting peace in the province. Sinangayunan ni Konsehal Mirla ang bilin ni Archbishop. Dapat no revenge, no to violence even as they cry for justice.

For the past decades, Urbiztondo earned notoriety for the series of violence in the town, and whether his detractors admit it or not, it was during the administration of Mayor Jun ng gumanda na ang peace and order in the town. One clear proof ay ang pag-usbong ng negosyo sa bayan na yan.

But, it will take some time again before the community begins to feel secure. Makikiramdam uli ang mga businessmen which is why malaking challenge ito sa kapulisan kung papaano maiparamdam sa taong-bayan that they are safe.

Let not Mayor Jun’s death be in vain. Panatilihin natin sa ating puso’t isipan ang mga leksyong idinulot nito. Ilang beses niyang sinabi noong buhay pa siya na ayaw niya  gantihan ang mga harassment sa kanya at ang hangad niya ay katahimikan.

I urge everyone who loved their Mayor Jun to unite for his dream – to have a truly peaceful and progressive Urbiztondo.

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Magaling ang PNP Pangasinan! Walang puknat ang kanilang paghuli ng drug dealers! But wonder of all wonders, huli sila ng huli pero hindi maubos-ubos ang supply! Meaning, sobra-sobra ang supply dito sa atin ngayon!

Based on the evident abundance of supply, impossible na smuggled into the country lahat ang mga iyan. Matindi na ang Bureau of Customs! I am convinced na may domestic sources dito sa loob ng Pilipinas na hindi mahuli-huli dahil napakadulas! ln short, 80% of the supply is from clandestine laboratories in the country.

The country’s no-death penalty policy has obviously emboldened foreign drug syndicates – Sinaloan, Mexican, African, Chinese,  etc. – to freely operate here that will make our country the drug capital in the region! The problem is mukhang nahihirapan ang mga operatives because of the absence of intel info on the whereabouts of these secret labs operated by these syndicates.

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