By Gonzalo Duque

 

THE elections are just around the corner. And the Alyansa senatorial candidates, to my mind, are still finding it hard to beat the candidates of the PDP Laban.

More so with the investigation initiated by Senator Imee Marcos recommending the prosecution of Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla, Interior and Local Government Secretary JunVic Remulla, Ambassador Markus Lacanilao, PNP Chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil, and CIDG Chief General Nicolas Torre, who appear to have caused the illegal arrest and detention of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,

My classmate, Salvador ‘Bingbong’ Medialdea, Duterte’s former executive secretary, will not take the behavior  of General Torre during the arrest of FPPRD on March 11 just sitting down.

Imee, for her part, has gained a lot of DDS followers because she had the guts to put her brother’s ilk in place.

Mabuhay ka, Imee!

As to the senatorial derby, I am endorsing the “Duter10,” especially Rodante Marcoleta, Bong Go and Raul Lambino.

When I was running for different posts in our district, and the province, I never experienced the support of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, but during my stint as vice governor and as private citizen, I have respected their decision.

This should be enough reason not to support Marcoleta. But, I am looking at a bigger picture or standard in supporting Marcoleta, who has proven to be a worthy public servant. I am sure he will be an added asset to the Senate, sana minus Lito Lapid, and some nincompoops in the chamber.

As for Senator Bong Go, I can see that he is a true friend. As a senator and before that, as chief of staff of PRRD, he started programs on Malasakit Center that to date has catered to 12 million indigents nationwide.

He is now popularly known as Mr. Malasakit  and has become a staunch defender of the PhilHealth fund.

As for Raul Lambino, despite the fact that he never supported me in my political battles against Joe de Venecia, I am throwing my support behind him because of his intelligence and experience in the daily grind of politics.

Added to that is, he is the only candidate who hails from Pangasinan.

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Our political pundits have told me that Mayor Belen Fernandez, Vice Mayor Bryan Kua and the rest of her Team UnliSerbisyo will have a walk in the park come May 12.

I will not be surprised if Belen gets more than the majority in the Sanggunian this time with my compadre Chito Samson landing as one of the topnotchers.

Team Celia and Brian, to me, has exhausted the patience of our people.

In the last three years of the Belen administration, they had painted themselves as the obstructionist majority in the Sangguniang Panlungsod, fond of walking out of sessions.

During the recent Gilon-Gilon ed Dalan  in the 2025 Baley Festival, they wanted to throw their weight around by holding a caravan at the end of the parade. Of course, they were not allowed because they were not in the order of the parade.

When they were advised not to proceed, their social media influencer went wild as if they were being denied of their right to join the parade. Ano ba ito? From a “walk-out” stand in the sessions, biglang nagkahilig sila sa “walk-in”! Nakakatawa!

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The road elevation projects pushed by Mayor Belen and company, with the DPWH, is going on smoothly.

All that the opposition members can do is throw all kinds of mud on the project.

I find it laughable that one of the main contentions of the Brian Lim-led councilors is that the road elevation project would discourage investors from pouring their money into Dagupan.

They contend that McDonald’s and Jollibee had been closed because of the elevated roads.

However, both fast food chains have said they just needed a bigger space so that they can set up their drive-through service, which is better than having only a sit-in restaurant.

Those who would invest in Dagupan can adjust by elevating their own lots. This was worked out by other existing businesses like UPang, Universidad de Dagupan, Nepo Mall and lately, the Region 1 Medical Center.

We need to live with progress — not retrogress by doing nothing about it.

So, let’s go for the UnliSerbisyo team in the May 12 elections.

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