By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

WHAT was initially believed would be early home run on for the EpaLiFes, thanks to the grandstanding of Councilor Red Erfe-Mejia, bolstered by presence of “deprived” scholars of Dagupan City’s scholarship program during a regular session, is fast becoming a political nightmare that refuses to go away.

It was one faux pas after another by the EpaLiFe barkada that makes one wonder if any of them bothered to study the implications of their would-be actions aimed at boosting their political agenda. Consider these:

Round 1: It started when Mr. Erfe-Mejia sought to discredit and embarrass the Fernandez administration in front of “deserving” scholars who were being “denied” their right and privilege to be assisted by the city government. (EpaLiFes won)

Round 2: The “deserving” students turned out to be non-residents of Dagupan City. (EpaLiFes lost)

Round 3: Mayor Fernandez’s scholarship committee discovered 246 unqualified and undeserving scholars who were awarded P32K each! (EpaLiFes lost)

Round 4: The Lim scholarship committee composed of Lenny de Venecia, James Arzadon, Leila Natividad, Linda Ventenilla deleted data on the scholarship program from 2020 to 2022. (EpaLiFes lost)

Round 5: Councilor Erfe-Mejia asked Mayor Fernandez to submit the Implementing Rules and Guidelines (IRR) per city ordinance as approved. (No points)

Round 6: No one from among the Brian Lim Scholarship Committee can produce a copy of the IRR that the committee used to implement the scholarship program. (EpaLiFes lost)

Round 7:  Supplemental budget remains shelved. No funds left by Mr. Brian Lim to help operate the city government. (EpaLiFes lost ).

Will the EpaLiFes finally decide to back off by approving the supplemental budget?

Perhaps not! At the rate the EpaLiFes are proceeding with their lost cause, Mr. Erfe-Mejia can still be expected to dig his and his epaLife barkada’s  political graves deeper.

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WHO ARE THE ACCOUNTABLE CITY OFFICIALS? We have to hand it to Dagupan Mayor Belen Fernandez, she who didn’t mince words to deplore the wanton and widespread cover-up of corruption perpetrated by her predecessor, then Mayor Brian Lim.   

PUNCH readers were aghast at the temerity and boldness with which the barkada of Mr. Lim carried out the cover-up, i.e., deleting files, including backup files of transactions entered into by his administration.

But her bold posture also led to more questions. “Sino mga yan??” Many readers asked.

Perhaps her legal advisers persuaded her not to name names for fear of being embroiled in a series of libel suits. In that regard, I find that legal advice shortsighted and without basis.  The issue is about accountability and transparency. No one was ever cited and convicted  for libel by invoking good governance.

In fact, Mayor Belen can and should ask the city officials concerned to clear themselves in the discovered anomalies being heads  of the accountable department or committee.  But who are they, indeed?

If her legal advisers think she shouldn’t name names, I then say her legal officer should perform that duty for her and identify the accountable officers during the period in question.

How difficult can it be to say that the chiefs of the departments then were the following:

• A Mr. Melchor Guiang was the head of the General Services Office.
• A Ms. Laila Natividad was the chief of the City Social Welfare and Development.
• A certain Atty. Estrada was the head of the One Stop Shop Business Center.
• A Mr. Rob Erfe-Mejia was the POSO chief.
• A Ms. Jessa Rayupa was the city budget officer.
• A Ms. Lenny de Venecia was the chairman of the Scholarship Committee.
• An Atty. Michael Datario was chief of staff.
• A Mr. Redford Erfe-Mejia was a city hall consultant of the mayor.
• A Ms. Tess Pascua was the acting city agriculturist.
• A Ms. Romelita Alcantara was the city treasurer.
• A Michael Basa was the city auditor.

Did I miss other VIPs of the Lim barkada? If my information is wrong, I stand to be corrected otherwise, these are the city officials who I believe should be invited by the NBI to explain how and when the files of operations were deleted, who did these on whose orders. These city officials must be confronted and be made to account. If enough evidence warrants their prosecution, then let the axe fall where it should.

But wait, will Mayor Belen pursue the cause and file the criminal cases as the city’s leading light in the fight vs. corruption in the campaign for good governance? A city hall observer close to the epaLiFe camp dared tell me –“She won’t!” Oooops.

I hope to see him proven wrong in the weeks ahead. So, let’s see.

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STILL REFUSING TO BE ACCOUNTABLE. It’s been 126 days (as of November 4) since Guv Mon-Mon Guico assumed his post as governor of Pangasinan. And still, he refuses to be accountable and transparent to his constituents.

He still refuses to call for a press conference to field questions from local media representing interests of his constituents. He continues to opt to make his presence felt only via photo ops posted on his #PangasinanAng Galing, #LipadAgila Facebook accounts and videotaped statements like his First 100 Days Report.

And the province has a Sangguniang Panlalawigan that sees nothing wrong with it. Grabe!

The only latest proof of his governance was the issuance of twin executive orders banning entry of pork and fowl products to Pangasinan, via the office of the Provincial Veterinarian.  Is it possible he didn’t announce it in a press conference because he didn’t know enough background about it? And fears being asked questions that were not cleared prior?

An even more embarrassing situation for Mr. Guico is for his constituents to get an assurance of ample stock of hog and poultry products in the province during the December-January holidays despite the twin ban, from the private sector,- Sinag president Mr. Rosendo So! Not from him!

Then there is pangasinan.gov.ph FB account that reported that the governor attended the provincial board’s hearing on the 2023 budget. As expected, he had no statement about it. Was he was there only for another photo-op? Worse, nothing has been heard from his office about how the 2023 annual budget looks like. It wass being treated like a secret business transaction between him and Vice Guv Mark Lambino. They consider their constituents irrelevant!

In sharp contrast, the country has a new president, FM Jr., who doesn’t hesitate to speak his mind through the mainstream media in formal press conferences and ambush interviews.

Will Guv Mon-Mon ever look at his constituents straight in the eye, talk to them? After all, didn’t he promise them transparency, accountability for good governance?

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