March 10, 2025 in Punchline

Brian Lim as vice mayor?

By Ermin Garcia Jr.   FORMER Dagupan Mayor Brian Lim, also a former vice mayor, filed his candidacy for vice mayor and as presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod in this year’s local elections. Admittedly, I have no recollection of his performance as vice mayor and SP presiding officer of…
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March 2, 2025 in Punchline

Obstructionism is still alive

By Ermin Garcia Jr.   AFTER failing to block the passage of Dagupan City’s 2025 annual budget and the supplemental budgets that went it, now comes the opposition’s ploy to stall action on any activities that will boost the Belen administration’s unliserbisyo. In fact, the life of obstructionism continues to…
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February 24, 2025 in Punchline

Unsolicited advice to Comelec

By Ermin Garcia Jr.   THE PUNCH feels it is its duty to support Comelec’s call to candidates to comply with its rules on vote-buying and mounting of legal-sized posters even knowing that its scare tactics no longer work on the candidates and their supporters. Not only do the candidates…
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February 17, 2025 in Punchline

Party-List, the biggest joke on the electorate

By Ermin Garcia Jr.   WHAT started as a political move to give a voice to marginalized sectors has turned out to be not only the country’s biggest highway robbery but also the biggest joke on the electorate. The system uses marginalized sectors as a front, disguised with motherhood statements,…
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February 11, 2025 in Punchline

Pro, contra endorsement of VP Sara impeachment

By Ermin Garcia Jr.   NOW that the question of whether Vice President Sara Duterte will be impeached or not has been resolved with the submission of the fourth impeachment complaint to the Senate, the table is now turned on the congressmen on how they voted. First, it should be…
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