By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

AT the rate the both camps of Mayor Belen Fernandez, on one hand, and the Sanggunian’s 7 epaLiFe majority members (Councilors Red Erfe-Mejia, Alfie Fernandez, Celia Lim, Irene Lim-Acosta, Dada Reyna-Macalanda, Alvin Coquia and Marilou Fernandez,) on the other hand, are threatening, badgering and bullying each other while fighting over control over the 2023 annual budget, the passage of the resubmitted budget is already anti-climactic.

The objectives and how these will be achieved are what matter to both, whether the budget will be passed or passage will still be delayed .

The 7 epaLiFes are all riled up and their adrenalin rushing just to see Mayor Belen capitulate, humiliated and be made to eat humble pie! Mayor Belen, on the other hand, appears to be walking on a tight rope – wanting to fight back with all the aces on her handand yet she’s clearly pulling her punches for reasons only known to her and close advisers, Consultant Luz de Guzman and City Legal Officer Aurora Valle.

As the dispute rages on, the latest antics of both were becoming incredibly incredulous if not totally childish and incomprehensible.

First, the 7 epaLiFes’ antics: Councilors Red and Alfie recently decided to play tag team or the good cop-bad cop game among themselves. Alfie said Red erred when he committed to support the budget without clearing the decision with him as chairman of the civil service committee. Wow! Only the stupid will buy that but both couldn’t care less because they are the majority and they can claim anything without fear of favor, and the minority will simply  swallow whatever trash is fed them.

Then Alfie challenges the muted minority to file a case against them (epaLifes) if the latter  thinks the majority violated a law when it removed the scheduled second reading of the resubmitted annual budget from the day’s (July 3) agenda. It was a calculated challenge on the internal rules because there is, indeed, violation.

Did he score big for his cabal? Not a chance. In fact, he gave the Belen Fernandez administration an opening for a fatal coup de grace: incontrovertible proof of the conspiracy to continue sabotaging the government service after the long overdue annual budget was eventually declared “inoperative in its entirety.”  Smart move? I say, really dumb!

Then, of course, there is Red, the old reliable robot of ex-Mayor Brian Lim who’s been springing up new rules for the SP yet he can’t recall what his last move or statement was when confronted, a situation that makes others believe that he’s merely taking instructions from an “authority” through his cellphone. His swaggering antics as the epaLiFes’ conspiracy “focal person” makes him one of a kind.

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CARROT-AND-STICK TACT.  Mayor Belen has adopted the carrot-and-stick approach to counter the bluster of the 7epaLiFes.

The “stick” she employs is her new habit of threatening to file criminal and administrative cases against the 7 epaLiFes while the “carrot” is her constant appeal to the point of humiliating her office. But to the disappointment of her constituents and allies, her strategy has not earned her any brownie points in the face of the endless assault citing inexplicable rules, putting her on the defensive. (It truly baffles me that she meekly allows them to push her back).

Remember the day she came out with her guns blazing, threatening those who squandered scholarship funds, schemed payments for undelivered equipment during Brian Lim’s term etc.? Many cheered!  Then people waited anxiously to see if Mayor Belen will do as she threatened – to file corruption charges against local politicos. Six months of waiting, to this day, no corruption charges came out of her office. Even her City Legal officer Aurora Valle was mum about it the whole time.  Why?

She’s now applying the same tact on the 7 epaLiFes, she accepted the challenge hurled by Councilor Alfie and vowed to  file cases against them for another reason – refusing to pass the resubmitted budget.  But methinks, it’s also not going to happen. The giveaway is her statement that followed the threat – “I’m now consulting with my lawyers.” Translation: If she doesn’t file the cases, it’s because her “lawyers”, not the city legal officer, advised against it. (Note, she’s careful not to incriminate Atty. Valle at any time. What does she need other lawyers for when the city has a legal officer?).

But perhaps her last threat may mean something more this time after Atty. Valle finally opened her mouth, as should be expected from a city legal officer. She backed Mayor Belen’s charges i.e., “dereliction of duty, etc.” as basis for the filing.  But Mayor Belen still used “I’m now consulting with my lawyers.”

Then came her next ultimatum  -– “You pass the budget first, then we talk!” Then, that sounded more like – “I won’t press charges… just pass the budget and… and we will talk.” 

This is one time when I really wish I’d be proven wrong in my face and see Mayor Belen filing the cases against the 7 epaLiFes while pressing for the passage of the annual budget first… then have the talk with the 7.

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MBTC VS. RICH SQUATTERS. There’s another major legal problem activity facing the Belen Fernandez administration – the proliferation of illegal permanent structures owned by affluent families along the Bonuan forshore land.

How will Mayor Belen force the demolition of ALL the ritzy illegal settlers with “powerful connections”? Will she have the political will to go that far to force the rich squatters to yield “ownership” to the city government?

Given what City Legal Officer Valle cannot do for the city – NOT FILING CASES against the hundreds of rich and/or influential illegal fish pen owners that sprouted during Brian Lim’s term, and continues to operate under Mayor Belen’s term, I seriously doubt if she will even dare recommend the filing of the cases vs the rich squatters.

But why is Mayor Belen keeping her?? Perhaps Luz de Guzman, the mayor’s favorite consultant can explain.

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BETTER THAN GOVERNOR. Vice Guv Mark Lambino is doing a yeoman’s job picturing his boss, Guv Mon-mon Guico as the greatest governor the province ever had. At the rate he’s going, he will have PIO Dhobie de Guzman out of job who has nothing to say so far about the first year accomplishments of his employer.

Except for the interview granted by the articulate and candid VG Lambino, I note that the PIO is extremely quiet about “first year accomplishments”. Is it possible Mr. De Guzman is in the dark on what to share to local media??

Mr. Lambino maintains Mr. Guico’s planning stage for the Pangasinan Link Expressway, the Polytechnic College and implementation of a management system as “great major strides” in the province’s governance. OK! But I seriously doubt if he will get a wild applause for the Boss-Guv in a forum of barangay chairmen. Why?

The major strides cited by Mr. Lambino only show that the Guv seriously lacks ‘people-EQ’. Mr. Lambino would have served Mr. Guico’s cause better if he articulated the Guv’s policy and vision for farmers, senior citizens, youth, healthcare.  Is there?  (Appearing in photo ops whenever the DA distributes tractors and fertilizers don’t count. In fact, Mr. Lambino knows it’d be embarrassing to mention that each time the national or provincial government has fund benefits to distribute, the first beneficiaries to receive these are from Binalonan. (Of course, that’s to be expected from him, isn’t it?).

I’m sure Mr. Lambino understands where I’m coming from.  In fact, I believe he’s more qualified, and will certainly make a better governor!

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