By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

SOMETHING unusual and very out of the ordinary run of events happened at the Dagupan Sanggunian last week.

The surprise unanimous approval of the 2024 Annual Investment Plan as submitted by Mayor Belen Fernandez last week was surreal. It was certainly out of sync with the normal almost criminal mindset of the 7epaLiFes, especially if one considers how the group even sought the court’s rejection of the approval of the 2023 annual budget.

What made the 7epaLiFes change tact and made a 180 degrees turnaround?

Could it be because they had prior knowledge that their outspoken, irreverent friends – Councilor Red Erfe-Mejia, Alfie Fernandez and Irene Lim-Acosta – were indicted for their unparliamentary and childish behavior and malevolent conduct??

Recall that the first time the 7epaLiFes approved the 2023 AIP, they slashed the P2M allotment to P1M, then passed their version of the 2023 budget P864M, not the P3B budget proposed by the city hall.

For a while, I figured that the passage of the 2024 AIP could either be a leverage to restart the renegotiation for their demand for millions in monthly “pay” for their “J.O. workers”. Or, a step to minimize the impact of the continued rejection of the 2024 annual budget in court.

Mayor Belen is not known to give in to demands for “reparations” using public funds. She probably does with her private funds, but who are we to know, and object?

So, it has to be the real fear and realization that the Damocles sword is hanging over their heads, knowing they can, henceforth, be charged and suspended over and over if they keep up with their petty political agenda at the expense of the city’s populace.

On the other hand, the 7epaLiFes might still consider giving Mayor Belen her due when she appears before the 7epaLiFes committee hearing a second time. They have been arrogant then, they will likely remain arrogant and still insist on delivering the planned public humiliation to Mayor Belen by continuing to reject her administration’s 2024 annual budget despite her unprecedented second personal appearance as mayor.

This is a week to watch activities, statements and body language at the city hall and the sanggunian.

So, watch the 7epaLiFes next move. They might just swallow their pride, shelve their arrogance and approve the 2024 budget and surely not because of her appearance at the committee hearing but because they realize they are vulnerable after all.

Note that the indictment of the three is an indication there are strong arguments for another indictment and suspension of all seven – Councilors Red Erfe-Mejia, Dada Reyna-Macalanda, Alfie Fernandez, Celia Chua-Lim, Alvin Coquia and Marilou Fernandez. Case? For holding the 2023 and 2024 annual budgets hostage!

Will Mayor Belen and/or VM Kua file a second case against all seven of them for the sake of the city? I still pray they will. They should.

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WATCH SEN. IMEE. Senator Imee Marcos is really the politician to watch, not VP Sara Duterte.

Both women are known to be in disagreement often and publicly with their macho relatives: Sister Imee with brother PBBM, and daughter Sara with father PRRD!  But their disagreements in public being relatives can be taken merely as a sidebar to entertainment in national politics.

But here’s where and how they differ today.

Senator Imee is out to redeem the Marcos name by going all out against those who seek more power and money behind her brother’s back.

VP Sara is focused on keeping her image as a supportive vice president and member of the cabinet. The only time she crossed swords with congressmen was when they cut off her confidential funds.

Note Imee’s firm stand on the discovered anomalous insertion of ‘Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita’ Program (AKAP). She is winning the hearts of retired military and uniformed personnel, as well as retired government workers as she fights for the major cuts on their budget allocation for their retirement and separation benefits.

She showed the discrepancy with a comparison between the National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted to Congress and the General Appropriations Act for 2024 shows that the Pension and Gratuity Fund suffered a Php110.25-billion cut, from P253,205,826,000 to P142,956,826,000.

To her, it’s clear that this year’s national budget defunded billions of pesos in pensions for retired military and uniformed personnel, as well as retirement and separation benefits for government workers while giving way to the controversial AKAP.

Imee, who chairs the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare, and Rural Development, reiterated that the P26.7-billion AKAP, which also has more than P33 billion in unprogrammed funds, was a Lower House insertion in the 2024 budget’s final version, to which the e-signatures of senators were attached after the fact.

“The President did not mention AKAP in the NEP, nor was it in the bicameral version of the GAA, yet it appeared in the final, printed version,” she pointed out..

“Labu-labong 60 billion ang inilaan. Di natin alam kung para sa bigas, o sa trabaho, o sa outright ayuda,” she was quoted as saying.

Imee is reportedly consulting with the DBM and DSWD ahead of a possible Senate investigation of AKAP, apart from the ongoing probe by the Senate electoral reforms committee to verify the authenticity of a so-called People’s Initiative to revise the Constitution.

“Hindi ko kinokontra ang AKAP kundi ang tiwaling paggamit nito para sa pulitika. Alam naman natin ang national budget ngayong taon ay election budget,” Imee said, referring to the national and local elections in 2025.

And Sara? She’s simply waiting in the wings, raring  to go to war against those who accused her of sustaining operations of the Davao death squad as mayor of Davao City; and those out to have her father prosecuted, indicted and tried by ICC. (No comment on the stand of Imee on the ‘insertion’ by the House of Representatives  2025 General Appropriations Act).

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DAGUPEÑO ARIEL QUERUBIN – There’s already lot of political talk on ‘who’s who’ in the 2025 senatorial elections.  And one of them is a Dagupeño!

Bemedaled retired Col. Ariel Querubin, unknown to many Pangasinenses, is a Dagupeño.

Recall that he was prompted to run for the senate in 2010 while under detention but lost. A Medal of Valor recipient for courage and achievements as a marine officer, he is again being prodded to make another run in 2025.

Initially schooled in PMA and in other prestigious schools on management, he is now with SMC’s Ramon S. Ang as internal security officer.  Definitely a much better public official in the senate than having unlettered actors and social celebrities occupying seats in the senate.

He’s the guy who can prudently use his military experience who can enlighten the senate on military affairs vis-a-vis issues with China and USA, West Philippine Sea, Middle East conflicts, etc.

I do hope he files his candidacy!

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