By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

THE clarification made by Dagupan City Legal Officer Atty. Aurora Valle on the use of subjudice as a rule and invoked by the 7epaLiFes as a reason for junking the proposed Supplemental Budget for the Special Recognition Incentive (SRI) and gratuity pay of Dagupan City employees, is correct.

But whether she was correct in her clarification, is meaningless if that’s all she could say about it. What matters is what she and Mayor Belen Fernandez will do about it. Just talking about it in a press conference or in a SP special session doesn’t help the city government and city hall employees at all.

After clarifying what subjudice means, she dared not indicate what her office will do to stop the shenanigans of the 7epaLiFes.  Will she as city legal officer file a case vs. the 7epaLiFes for their administrative violations of established process of governance? Apparently NO. So what’s the point for that clarification except to educate and expose the 7epaLiFes’ deceitful ways that don’t matter to the latter at all?

She even merely cited options that don’t even count in the face of the 7epaLiFes series of defiance against the mayor’s authority provided by law

She asked rhetorically :

1. Is there a need for us to call the attention of  President Marcos that you disregarded his executive order directing the payment of SRI and Gratuity Pay of employees despite the availability of funds to pay?
2. “Is there a need for us to resort to harsher means in order to inform the national government of what is going on in Dagupan—that we have funds for the SRI and Gratuity Pay for employees  but you are hot giving it to them?

Is she for real?? Yet, she can answer both with YES! So, what now?

She and Mayor Belen were already insulted to their faces when they were not allowed to speak during the special session? Bakit tinatanong pa mga yan, inetsepwera na nga sila ng 7 epaLiFes ng harapaharapan?

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WHY DIDN’T SHE DO WHAT SHE HAD TO DO.  This is not the first time that the 7epaLiFes dared foist principles violative of established rules meant to tighten their grip on their political power as the majority bloc. The set of internal house rules, alone, crafted by the 7epaLiFes is full of illegal provisions that pushed back the city mayor and minority bloc to nothing but powerless entities in the city’s governance. This could never happen in any town or city in the country.

But not a pipsqueak was heard from CLO Atty. Valle. She kept to herself even knowing the rules were unconstitutional and violative of Local Government Code. Worse, she never recommended to the minority bloc to file a case, not even with the DILG for the recall of the highly controversial terms. It is these uncontested set of obnoxious house rules that have since created havoc in the city government. Why didn’t she point out the violations of the Local Government Code of the internal house rules like she did now for the subjudice issue? But on hindsight, it wouldn’t have still made a difference because she had no intention of filing the cases for the city government. Why??

The height of her incompetence was when she even allowed the office of the city mayor to be demeaned when she didn’t stop Mayor Belen from complying with the 7 epaLiFes’ arrogant demand that she should be present in committee hearings, so they can reject her pleas in her face. How could she as CLO even allowed such a situation making the executive subservient to the legislative branch? Why??

As a lawyer, she also knew of the precedent ruling set by the Ombudsman when the latter suspended the board members of Quezon province for failing to pass the province’s annual budget on deadline. Why didn’t she file a similar case against Councilors Red Erfe-Mejia, Dada Reyna-Macalanda, Alfie Fernandez, Celia Chua-Lim, Alvin Coquia, Irene Lim-Acosta and Marilou Fernandez? That would have stopped them from toying with the annual budget then and now the 2024 budget, and everything else, but she didn’t! Why??

She could have saved the city government from operating with a reenacted budget, if she initiated the filing of a case, but she didn’t. Worse, when she finally echoed the threats of Mayor Belen to sue the 7 epaLiFes, she became muted herself days after her surprise “brave” conduct. Why??

Even as she clarified the application of the subjudice rule, she still didn’t dare say that she will file cases vs the 7 epaLiFes for deceiving the city government to further sabotage the Belen administration. Ano yun? Pa-epal lang? Why??

It’s time Mayor Belen realizes that playing the victim card that her CLO supports is not helping her cause, her Unlibsersiyo, and those of the city hall employees.  Her decision not to file cases against accountable officers for corruption during the Lim administration after her series of threats to file was a give-away for the 7 epaLiFes. They knew then that she didn’t have the political will to go against them.  Was her decision not to file the cases influenced by a confession from Atty. Valle that she cannot make the corruption charges stand in court? Tsk tsk.

It does make me wonder on whose side is CLO Atty. Valle.  Mayor Belen or the 7epaLiFes??

Given all the things she didn’t do for the city, I say, she’s with the 7 epaLifes! So, if the city hall employees wish to go up against those who deprived them of their benefits, look no further.

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FIRECREACKERS’ BAN, A LEGACY. The city governments of Dagupan, San Carlos, Urdaneta and Alaminos will likely continue to ignore calls for the total ban on firecrackers in their cities.  Perhaps, it’s because families of the victims of firecracker-related injuries themselves have not called for it themselves.

But our city elected officials cannot close their eyes to the “traditional” post-revelry reports of accidents hurting even bystanders, particularly children.

Failing this, our provincial board members must initiate the move. And calling for public hearings on it should be a good beginning.

This is one legacy that the 2022-2025 provincial board can leave Pangasinan.

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E-JEEPNEY, THE BETTER OPTION. The jeepney operators that have not consolidated are a lucky bunch.

They have been allowed to operate Until January 31, enough time to consider another alternative brought forward by Francisco Motors.

It is an e-vehicle that maintains the ionic (circa 50s) jeepney design, so it can never have problems with emission and difficulty coping with endless spiking of diesel prices. It’s a 22-seater jeepney equipped unheard of features, i.e., a ramp for persons with disability, air conditioning, a CCTV for security, a dashcam, and an automated fare collection system. Instead of the usual entrance at the back, this unit has its entrance at the front right side.

And jeepney operators can have it for only P985,000 with flexible payment terms!

This is a alternative no jeepney operator is his right mind would reject. This is a modernized jeepney for the next generation and a great attraction for locals and tourists.

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