By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

THE resolution issued by Associate Provincial Prosecutor Maychelle Ablog-Sergio, acting City Prosecutor for Dagupan City in response to the motion for reconsideration (MR) filed by Dagupan City Councilor Irene Lim-Acosta is, indeed, refreshing.  It came across as a distinct call to all and sundry for respect and integrity.

Unlike some judges and lawyers, it took her respectable self to clearly see the arrogance of a petitioner. In the MR filed by Councilor Irene, it reeked of unmistakable disrespect and insult for the institutions and the constituents she serves. It exposed not only her ignorance on many basic truths but her feeling of sheer entitlement from her upbringing.

While her submitting of an egregious MR is regretable, I blame her barkada in the epaLiFe for egging her to be her atrocious self, then pushing her to file an MR that they themselves won’t think of  doing. They never did. I also blame her lawyers for making her believe that the legal arguments in her MR were topnotch and a winner, only to be turned back for ignorance of the law.

All that her MR achieved was exposing herself as a gullible, spoiled brat shamelessly discrediting how she was faithfully raised by her family as a responsible person, with no regard for her accountability as a responsible member of the respectable Lim-Chua clan.

*          *          *          *

NO RESPECT FOR FAMILY NAME. If there was one person she hurt the most with her worst unprofessional and  unethical conduct on that fateful October 2023 session, it could only be her mother, Councilor Celia.

Celia comes from a humble and quiet family. I know this because her late brother, Rollie, was a close friend and I’ve had many privileges of being welcomed to their home. He was softspoken and so was Celia. There was complete respect for everyone in the family.

So, I was not surprised at all when she grabbed Irene and covered her mouth to stop her from continuously shouting invectives at Vice Mayor Bryan Kua. Councilor Irene was suddenly acting like a bratty kid, who didn’t get her cone of ice cream.

Surely, father ex-Mayor Benjie must have turned in his grave upon seeing what his daughter made of herself.

Unknown to many, Benjie and I were good friends at one time and even did business together. We parted ways when he became mayor. I’ve been critical of his policies and projects, and he, of me and my commentaries. But there never was a time when we had an exchange in a fit of anger. We were respectful of each’s presence in all gatherings. Never did I ever hear him say “putang ina mo” like Irene did to others.

I don’t believe ex-Mayor Brian, Irene’s brother, was also ever heard shouting invectives at anyone. 

 Now Councilor Irene claiming there was nothing wrong in her shouting “Putang ina mo” at the vice mayor during a regular session… and even claims she’s protected by law for doing it. Tsk-tsk.

If there are things she must do to redeem her self-respect and integrity, she should apologize publicly to  Vice Mayor Kua, first; second to her parents, then third, to the thousands who voted for her.  Then she must show she’s ready to face the charges like a responsible citizen. Doing these should teach her irresponsible fellow epaLife members their much needed lessons in civil conduct, respect and integrity.

I’m certain Irene  would not have acted at despicably if only her idols Red and Alfie have been acting respectably. She obviously thought it was cool to be like them.

Well, I wonder if she still finds it cool to be indicted with the two, facing suspension and possible jail terms. (Note: Idol Erfe-Mejia is facing two indictments).

Is it possible Councilors Dada, Alvin and Marilou looking for a chance to be indicted, too? One for all, all for one? Sige, mag mura din kayo!

*          *          *          *

WHY IS MBTF NOT FIGHTING BACK? I was not a bit surprised by news of the boycott of the March 12 session of the Dagupan SP session by the opposition. It was actually predicted by many!

The 7 pitiful councilors: Red Erfe-Mejia, Alfie Fernandez, Dada Reyna-Macalanda, Celia Chua-Lim, Irene Lim Acosta, Alvin Coquia and Marilou Fernandez, did not actually do anything differently since they’ve been at in 2022.  They huffed and puffed with deceit with one purpose in mind –  to make Mayor Belen Fernandez pay for two things: 1) For refusing to consider including P700,000 in monthly salaries for their respective “job order employees” kuno. And, 2) To sabotage her programs as a payback for beating their boss Mayor Brian in 2022.

Mayor Belen was tricked a second time by presenting herself again before the committee composed of the 7 epaLiFes with hints of support for her submitted annual budget if she appeared. (Note: She was  insulted and humiliated the first time with the opposition’s passage of an annual budget meant for a third class municipality).

When she appeared on the 9th and final hearing two weeks ago, she was humiliated again, this time with a boycott! And I know the worst is not yet over for her and the city government.

Given how she reacted consistently in the past, I doubt if Mayor Belen finally learned her lesson after compromising the authority of a mayor with demeaning results.

When will she finally have the courage to lead the fight for Dagupan and her constituents instead of just asking people to do the fighting for her, and start fighting back with multiple charges against the 7 councilors before the Ombudsman?

A charge for refusing to pass the 2022 annual budget would have automatically resulted in the immediate suspension of the 7 epaLiFes for six months. She can have avoided all those insults and humiliation again if she files the case  against them for refusing to pass the 2024 budget in time as provided by law.

Why she always refused to fight for immediate results made many wonder.  Why?

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments