By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

THE members of the LiFe team in Dagupan politics, they who managed to form the majority at the Sanggunian Panlungsod, are showing both their fangs and immaturity already at this early stage of their political stint.

By absenting themselves in the last week’s session achieved nothing but to show their total lack of understanding of what’s expected of them as public servants. At best, they publicly embarrassed the INC for its endorsement of their candidacies in the last elections.

The old majority tried the same trick to block the early passage of the 2022 budget but it had a sound alibi – it was an election-campaign period! To campaign for reelection was a logical priority.

In this case, I would not be surprised if the INC today feels it was gypped by the LiFe members into believing that their group represents the learned and dedicated public service citing the old majority’s “irresponsible” public service.  Little did the INC realize that it has been played into the LiFe councilors’ petty politics.

It is much too obvious that the objective of the new majority, once the minority that already lost its credibility, is to further delay the implementation of the 2022 budget that lapsed into and to suspend the confirmation of Mayor Belen Fernandez’s appointees.

The most irresponsible act yet was done by Councilor Dada Reyna-Mapalanda, as majority leader. She absented herself without submitting an agenda for the regular session.

What she did was a serious disservice to Dagupeños, especially to the INC members who voted for her and helped made her win. Even a belated public apology from her had her allies, will not diminish the damage they had done to the institution and to the trust reposed in them as public servants.

It’s plain to see that the LiFe councilors see their being in the majority today as an opportunity to exact for payback on their colleagues after they were sidelined  for failing to defend the massive corruption of the Lim administration. At the rate they are going, expect them to play this kids’ “payback” game whenever opportunities present themselves.

But being a totally immature bunch, they forget one factor that will make them regret playing this game.

Unlike their boss Brian, Mayor Belen is out with the barangay folks every single day! She doesn’t even need the media to tell her constituents what’s preventing her from accomplishing programs beneficial to them. She can say it with a straight face because she walks the talk where public service is concerned.

It’s what then Mayor Brian could have done to belie the claims of the old majority, but he didn’t.  He merely relied on social media and some talking heads to speak for him.  In sharp contrast, Mayor Belen is doing all the talking herself. There lies the difference. So, this payback strategy of the new majority led by Councilor Dada can expect their thrust to boomerang just as fast because Belen is not like Brian.

To Councilors Celia Lim, Irene Lim-Acosta, Redford Erfe-Mejia, Alfie Fernandez, Alvin Coquia, Marilou Fernandez and Majority Leader Dada, I suggest you rethink your “payback strategy.” It will blow up in your faces before you can even think of your next move.

Time to grow up… and show your constituents that your pack is better than the old majority. Above all, do justice to the endorsement of the INC!

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NO KAMAY NA BAKAL? Speaking of Mayor Belen, I’m beginning to worry about her credibility when she keeps on issuing warnings but does little else to those who abused their positions then and now, and continue with their illegal activities. 

To date, I have not heard her back up her “stern” warnings with a single suspension, termination, arrests or filing of charges especially against those who continue their racketeering t today that will ultimately give her administration a bad name.  

For as long as there are groups that believe they can continue their racket, it simply means they don’t think she has it to be the no-nonsense tough leader that she projects herself to be. “Hanggang salita lang yan” is already what’s being bruited about in the racketeers’ circle.

Take the case of the parking fee racketeering. She didn’t need to warn them. They just have to be rounded up for their criminal activities: illegal collection and  usurping government authority, then charged in court outright. (But a report says the members of the syndicate were simply collared and allowed to walk out free). Tsk-tsk. 

Then take the continued operation of the illegal fish pens right under her nose. Sure, it’d take a lot more to demolish all the thousands of illegal fish pens that have sprouted since. But she can still cause these fish pens difficulties to operate for violating the city ordinance until she’s ready for the full demolition. She can prevent the daily unloading of truckloads of commercial feeds along the city’s roads  intended for the fish pens in the island barangays.

Without the feeds, the fish pens operations can only continue to violate the law till their supply of feeds last. All it needs is to post a team of policemen along the De Venecia Highway and the Bonuan road where the feeds are being unloaded daily to start with. Put up a sign: “No parking for cargo trucks“.

Then there’s the continued delivery of oversupply of alien bangus at the city plaza. Again, a team of policemen checking the daily cargo will go a long way towards checking the abuses.

Aren’t there many ways to skin a cat? 

The bottom line here is: for as long as these illegal activities continue to operate, the mafia of the Lim administration will continue to get their millions in pay-offs monthly under her “protection” (by not arresting them, not charging them in court)! Guess who are  laughing all the way to the bank, every day at her expense!

Worse, soon nobody will take her warnings seriously. That will be tragic for the city if should that happen soon.

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