By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

THE item below is for the eyes of the once mighty 7 epaLiFes … so don’t bother reading on. He-he.

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Hi there, 7 epaLiFes! The sense of invincibility that you made yourselves believe to have is already fast crumbling.  But because I know you are constantly in a state of denial, you will just wake up anytime soon with your worst nightmare staring back at you.

Let’s consider what’s before you. Never mind what happened during your “glory days” as epaLiFes… these are moot and inconsequential.   

First of all, your Councilor Red Erfe-Mejia will be investigated by the DILG for violating the freedom on information and freedom of the press by discriminating against The PUNCH, barring it from covering their committee meetings.

Then, your allies that squandered the scholarship fund will soon be facing the court.

Then, like it or not, there is the inevitable passage of the city government’s 2023 annual budget obviously to your chagrin. You guys can try to doodle the whole time during your committee meetings and have your way at wasting the time of the department heads making them respond to your nonsensical questions.  But I know this!  You will pass the budget! Why?  Because your own battery of lawyers will tell you it’s the only way all of you can escape certain suspension from your posts and possible jail sentence.

Then, your agenda to glorify the days of your bosses, ex-Mayors BSL and Brian have just been blown sky high by your nemesis, Mayor Belen. The two ordinances about Bangus Festival, the touted legacy of the Lims, were thrashed into oblivion, and there’s nothing you could do about it. First of all, you can’t continue to pursue a debate on it because SP cannot discuss other matters but the 2023 budget until it is approved or rejected. Assuming the budget is finally approved and you wish to pursue the debate, your majority of 7 is not enough to overrule the mayor’s veto.  Tsk-tsk. Yup, there’s nothing left on your once blue drawing board.

Aaah… then there’s the long, sharp and glistening Damocles sword hanging over your heads, already practically scraping your foreheads. The teachers’ annoyance with you is simmering hot, ready to help junk your political careers for life as the Dagupeños’ worst enemies, you, who are making their lives difficult today by suspending action on the 2023 budget. The continuous delay in the budget’s approval prevents the teachers from preparing fulltime for the 2023 R1AA, they who want nothing but to make their representation in that annual athletic meet successful and meaningful. So, thanks to you, 7 epaLiFes, who don’t give a hoot about the plight of the teachers… and yes, the students who could not train, the needless stress they feel gets worse by the day. Translate that into votes you will never get in the next decade. Imagine the teachers and students actively campaigning against your reelection bids. Will the INC still dare support you? I seriously doubt that.

Given these circumstances today, your 7 epaLiFes stint is nearing its end. You cannot but realize that after all the bullying and intimidation over the past 7 months, you have completely lost control of the situation. The worst thing that’s about to happen to you is you will not succeed with your main agenda -– to force the hand of Mayor Belen to fork over P70k monthly from city funds to each of you for simply being the 7 epaLiFes. You are not going to have it. It’s LOST! GONE! Kaput!  It is even doubtful that you will ever get your chance to satiate your greed, not under Mayor Belen. But then again, it is almost certain you will never see your candidate for mayor win in the next two local elections. 

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YOU’RE COOKED! So, what’s the worst thing that can happen if you decide not to approve the 2023 budget.  What gives?

Can you escape culpability? No. The jurisprudence from the Ombudsman is: public officials who deliberately refuse to pass an annual budget don’t deserve to stay in office even for a day. Anyone can file graft cases and dereliction of duties against them or the Ombudsman can merely adjudicate motu propio that the 7epaLiFes violated their oaths of office.

Worse, your jubilation over the rejection of the 2022 supplemental budget No.1 submitted by the Belen Fernandez administration provided the aggravating evidence against you. You’re cooked, and there’s no other way to look at it.

By the time you realize that all your plots had come to naught, that after all your bluster and sense of self-importance for the past 7 months, you have to contend with the shame, humiliation and public disgrace as the worst enemies of the Dagupeños that ever lived. You will likely feel remorse for tainting the integrity of your forefathers and parents and  there’s very little you can do to redeem yourselves in the next 10 years. After all, you top all allegations of corruption levelled against the Lim father-and-son.

Ok, change topic.

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NO WORD FROM GUV, AS USUAL. While national news reported regularly for days about the reactions of Senator Imee Marcos, DILG Sec. Benhur Abalos, Chief PNP Rodolfo Azurin Jr, Regional PNP Director P/Brig. Gen.  John Chua and Pangasinan PNP Director P/Col. Jeff Fanged, NOTHING is again heard about and from Gov. Mon-Mon Guico III!

By his continued silence in any and all controversies in Pangasinan since he assumed office, one would think that he is always out of the country and very sick. But the fact is, he’s well and has always been at home in his hometown!

Pangasinan’s new governor, whom we’ve come to learn is simply one who prefers to just watch from the sidelines unless a photo op presents itself in occasions that guarantee no ambush interviews by local media.

Indeed, what governor would not say anything about the discovery of P2.3-B worth of shabu distribution operations 14 kilometers from his hometown, about claimed five suicides in the province, about importation of rice, onion and salt that Pangasinan produces, etc.? That can only be Governor Ramon Guico III, a former congressman and mayor in his district.

His muted mind is a surprise character about him to all! His mantra – “No talk, no mistake” is a shock to many politicians who are out there trying to make a difference in their constituents’ lives.  

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