Punchline
Jai-teng rides on
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
THE provincial board was obviously so impressed with the presentation of the P/Sr. Supt. Reynado Biay, provincial police OIC, that the members were profuse in expressing their support for the police, which should be the case.
But there was something amiss about the reported provincial board’s response. Nobody appeared to have asked what the police was doing about illegal gambling in the province when Mr. Biay failed to mention anything about it. The board members know too well that jai-teng (jueteng via jai-alai frontons in all the towns and cities) are well and alive, and pockets of local execs are filled weekly! Or is there already a modus vivendi between the board members and provincial police to be silent about it?
This is a very dangerous situation. The continued and unabated operation of Illegal gambling (jueteng , drop ball, video karera, etc) in the communities can only mean that corruption continues to thrive, no matter how small. For illegal activities to thrive, it can only mean someone is giving and someone is receiving!
Consider what the weekly-monthly “take home” for local officials and police can do… from financing 5/6 loans for teachers to keeping a stable of guns-for-hire, that’s what! Fortunately for the enterprising among them, these activities are not visible to serve a lifestyle check.
The more dangerous proposition we are seeing is the emerging partnership between the financiers of jai-teng and illegal drugs. The partnership involves networking for bribing local officials and police! If you think one-stop-shop works for governance, watch how it works for the lords of illegal drugs and jai-teng!
So pray tell, Mr. Biay, what have you and the rest of the police chiefs in the province done about illegal gambling? Can you tell the provincial board what your intelligence network say about the going rate for the “take-home” of police chiefs and local officials? That info will be most interesting to PNoy’s bosses!
* * * * *
THE FIGHT TO THE FINISH. The results of the recent Pulse Asia survey on ‘presidentiables’ for 2016 elections are very telling.
Firstly, Veep Jojo Binay remains the top pick for president but that’s not what the story is about because that appears to be given at least for the next few months. From a high 50% four months ago, his numbers dropped to 31%! Obviously, he has failed to convince the populace that there was no overpricing in the construction of the Makati Parking Building by as much as P100 million, and that he did not profit from it.
So what’s in it for us in Pangasinan?
Veep Binay considers Pangasinan a major bailiwick having forged at least eight sisterhood cities here. He won handily here over then veep-wannabe Mar Roxas in the last elections. The latest survey, however, showed that his approval rating here also dipped equally as in other provinces. Are Pangasinenses already beginning to be wary of him?
I’m afraid Veep Binay will have to do more than to impress upon his followers that the ongoing senate hearing is nothing but a political hatchet job. His former close allies in Makati are spilling all the beans on him with specific descriptions of situations that involved him. He must prove his detractors are lying with records and unbiased claims from other sectors. Sure he can dodge them today, but not for long, not until 2016.
Then there’s Sen. Alan Cayetano whom Veep Binay perceives to be one of his consistent nemesis. His numbers dropped to an unbelievable and unprecedented 1%! Some interpret this as an indicator that the populace does not favor politicians that appear too aggressive in politics. That impression, however, doesn’t seem to be consistent with today’s fervor to fight and curb corruption in high places. Nonetheless, the numbers are there for him to interpret himself. I was therefore struck by his recent statement that immediately erased whatever notion one might have about his supposed political agenda in pursuing the corruption charge vs.Veep Binay.
Mr. Cayetano assured groups actively pursuing the fight vs. corruption that he will not be deterred nor distracted by approval ratings. He said he is willing to accept 0% approval rating anytime if that’s the price he has to pay for going after corrupt officials.
So between Veep Binay and Sen. Cayetano, the issue of corruption is not likely to end soon. Mr. Binay is frantically trying to evade the corruption issue to shore more support for his presidential bid while the young Cayetano is out to expose the corrupt and eliminate corruption, period.
Now, that’s what I call a fight to the finish for politics and good governance.
* * * * *
THE JAYCEES ELECTION AND VM BRIAN. When I got wind of Dagupan Vice Mayor Brian Lim’s election as national president of the National Jaycees, I sincerely thought that his feat, duplicating his father’s ascent in the Jaycee world, should at least make up for his numerous absences during weekly sessions of the sanggunian.
But it didn’t take long for me to change my mind about him. The unsavory talk in the Jaycee org today was how President-elect Brian won the election. Apparently, a number of the inactive or “dead” chapters whom Mr. Lim “sponsored“ started bragging about how privileged they were for having Mr. Lim pay for their dues in order to be able to vote for him. Tsk-tsk.
The Jaycees who expressed their dismay conceded that corruption has made its inroad into their organization. This certainly does not augur well for the integrity of Jaycees even before Mr. Lim can start his term. I guess it’s not fair to say to the Jaycees that “you get what you deserve” having allowed their system to be corrupted unless I say the same thing about the Dagupeños who elected him vice mayor. But whatever, that’s Mr. Lim’s lookout now.
But what of Dagupan City? The Dagupan sanggunian? Will the city again see less of him until 2016 when he makes a bid for his touted dream to become mayor? Will Dagupan again get what it deserves should he win the mayoralty in 2016? His allies are already talking about his alliance with the Cabangon Chua empire. Tsk-tsk.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
