By Gonzalo Duque

 

WITH the recently concluded Iglesia Ni Cristo Peace Rally at the Rizal Park (formerly Luneta), the pressure of the religious group was strongly felt by those asking for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.

With this, VP Sara’s impeachment has been held in abeyance, but perhaps only in the meantime.

The Quad Com of Congress is still continuing its investigation on the OVP’s and DepEd’s confidential fund when Sara was education secretary, with the sole purpose of eroding public confidence on the VP’s ability to lead the nation in the future.

If you recall, this is similar to the Senate investigation against the family of then Vice President Jejomar Binay who at that time was the leading presidential candidate to replace Benigno Aquino III.

I think the same formula is being applied now in the case of VP Sara.

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As I am writing this column, Lyceum Northwestern University prides itself in having Sagip Partylist Rep. Rodante Marcoleta as guest of honor and speaker during the commencement exercises of its Graduate School.

Looking at his bio data and comparing him with the other senatorial candidates, I would dare say that he will be a very excellent senator for our country.

Let us consider his qualifications: a distinguished lawyer, a veteran legislator, and a holder of various master’s degrees in education, business and public administration, which he obtained not only in the Philippines, but also in the United States.

A debater, he fears no one in Congress. Marcoleta is, on top of all, an adherent to the rule of law. 

As I’ve said before, and I will repeat it Congressman Rodante Marcoleta will land in the Top 5 in the senatorial race in the forthcoming election, but with a caveat that the administration will not cheat! 

Ingat ka dyan Chairman George Garcia of Comelec!

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It’s really funny that our Sangguniang Panlungsod in Dagupan has been reduced to a mere debating class between the old majority and the minority.

With the old majority continuously filibustering the acts of the five-man minority when three of their members were preventively suspended by the Office of the President, Mayor Belen Fernandez must be laughing at them because she has already been able to have the new majority enact various important legislations.

Some of these were the 2025 annual budget in the amount of P1.6 billion; supplemental budget No. 2-2004 totaling P557.2 million; and six other supplemental budgets — all of these would have been difficult to pass given the obstructionist mindset of the seven opposition councilors.

As of this time, Michael Fernandez remains the SP floor leader because the majority group refuses to file a resolution reinstating the old house rules as well as another resolution reinstating Dada Reyna as the majority floor leader.

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I learned from the coordinator of our podcast, the Punching Duo, with Punch Publisher Ermin Garcia as my co-host, that Mrs. Celia Lim has been invited to our show. 

However, up to this time, the camp of Celia has not yet responded. 

It will be good for her to accept our invitation to lay down her programs before the public as she aims to become mayor of Dagupan City.

Her camp is well aware of the invitation and as of this time, they are still adjusting her schedule to be with us. 

Mind you, our podcast with Ermin last week registered more or less 19,200 viewers. 

Our episode with Mayor Belen Fernandez as our guest two Saturdays ago registered a total viewership of some 100,000.

So, it will be good for Celia to come and join us because she will be able provide the public her vision and objectives for Dagupan City in case she becomes the mayor.

Anyway, it will not be the last one!

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