Playing with Fire
Bravo, Leo Angeles!
By Gonzalo Duque
GEORGIA, U.S.A—In case you think Fil-Ams are not in step with goings-on in the islands, think again.
Baka niparokan kayo, mas maraming alam na tsimis ang mga kabaro natin dito sa Land of the Green Apple, kesa mga taga diyan.
Yang mga ma-tsiks at mga nangangaliwa dyan ay very hot topic dito.
But we won’t dignify them, although we sometimes encourage the tsismis, just there, nothing more. Hindi na journalism yon…ah, yes, pang-tabloid—but strictly, the Punch is not like that!
Di ba Ermin?
* * * *
Nice, great, perfect move!
We’re referring to civic leader Leo Angeles’ filing a civil case to annul the sale of MC Adore Hotel by the city government under then Mayor Benjie Lim to the Amb. ALC Holdings and Management Corporation.
Angeles, the man who filed a case against Lim before the Ombudsman last year, over the purchase of a 30-hectare farmland in San Jacinto, sought the reconveyance of the subject properties to the City Government.
We could see Mayor Belen smiling, because since day 1, since she was still vice mayor, she has made her opposition to the sale of the hotel at that too low a price crystal clear.
Of course, you all know what happened. Minaney-obra nila Benjie ang paglako ng MC Adore in collusion with the old Sanggunian, hence, the ugly moniker ng mga dating kasamahan ni BTF as “Judas 9.” Nabili sila for 30 pieces of silver.
The truth—and this is the mantra of the Punch (“No man is to be reverenced more than the truth”)—will out! No amount of “money-vering” will distort or conceal the truth.
Talaga kasing pi-nastracked ang MCAdore sale e…in violation of normal, legal procedure.
Palakpakan natin, mga kaparehas nating taxpayers, si Leo Angeles. Talagang nag-anghel si Pareng Leo, huh!
* * * *
This is a sad San Beda story.
Nag-lalaban ang mga kapareho nating Bedan—na sina DOJ Sec. Leila de Lima at Usec Toti Baraan on the one hand, and—Santos, on the other.
Why are they fighting?
Well, you are seeing the spectacle on TV DoJ Usec. Baraan and other government prosecutors being accused by Nena Santos, also a Bedan, of pocketing bribe money to free the Ampatuans from being jailed.
We sincerely pray and hope Baraan will be able to acquit himself from the charges.
Let’s not forget that most of the victims of the Maguindanao massacre were journalists. The whole world is watching.
* * * *
In our last meeting over there, Vice President Jojo Binay told us that in the event he’d become president, he would be guided by the rule of the law, never to be vindictive “unlike some people.”
You know the records, he said.
Pinahirapan ako ni Pangulong Gloria….pero, wala sa isip ko ang bumawi. I would be a broadminded president, he said in effect.
* * * *
We heard from Los Angeles—based Dan Nino, a native of Mangatarem that on August 16, 2014 at 7 p.m., Elvis’ impersonators in Pangasinan in singing lang sans the ducktail sideburns and their ornate attire—will show off their vocal skills at the President Hotel of Atchi Mita.
The event is being planned by never-say-die fans to mark the Memphis, Tennessee’s rock’n roll legend’s 37th death anniversary and to also recall the summer days of a well-known Elvis fan, Atty. Johnny Primicias who died recently.
It’s a nice idea. Hope to see and hear the local Elvises there, when we get home…. on that day.
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