"You can lead a man to Congress, but you can't make him think." MILTON BERLE
By Alex P. Vidal
While some guilty characters in government squirm in shame and embarrassment, city council majority floorleader Joshua Alim doesn't hide his excitement each time the "pork barrel" scandal is tackled in media. Everywhere he goes, Alim's face glitters with joy and excitement as if he just won a duchess' heart.
"Now that it (the pork anomaly investigation) is happening, the playing field will now be leveled in 2016," Alim intoned.
What was in the mind of the alderman from Cotabato City who now resides in Jaro, Iloilo City, is that once "pork barrel" fund has been expurgated or bleeped out from the national budget, most reelectionists in the congressional contest will be crippled financially.
The discovery of scandalous "pork" insertions in the budget of legislators has spawned suspicions that corrupt congressmen and senators set aside a big chunk of their kickbacks from ghost projects through bogus NGOs run by the likes of Janet Napoles in preparation for reelection, aside from their insatiable greed for money and predilection for instant wealth.
Those who pocket their "pork" allocations are usually assured of reelection as their rich war chest will give them overwhelming edge to make a mincemeat of their rivals--unless these challengers are billionaires like Lucio Tan and Henry Sy.
Without the backup of "pork barrel" fund otherwise known as Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or Countrywide Development Fund (CDF) during the time of the late Pres. Cory Aquino and Pres. Fidel V. Ramos, a congressional or senatorial candidate doesn't have a morsel of chance to win unless he comes from a super rich clan.
Going back to Alim, the guy's definitely salivating for a congresssional showdown against reelectionist Rep. Jerry P. Trenas, his partymate and conqueror in the 2007 mayoral election. It's too early to talk about politics, but among the present crop of congressional wanna-bes in the city council, Alim is the one ripe for the 2016 battle royal, aside from fellow lawyer Eduardo Penaredondo.
MOVEMENT
The Youth for A. L. I. M. Movement (Y4A), Inc. has been given the certificate of incorporation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and appears all-set to help buttress Alim's bid for higher office in the future.
"I am sharing my life story to inspire the young people that even an ordinary and average poor young man can become a leader..and that poverty is not a hindrance to success if we only Dream, and Strive hard with faith and strong determination in ourselves and strong faith to God...keep up the good works guys and just keep the spirit alive...i am always hre as ur big brother..God bless our dreams for the young people..God bless Y4A...Aim high Less-privileged Ilonggo Masses (A.L.I.M.)," Alim wrote in his Facebook account as response to the SEC recognition.
If Trenas seeks reelection and stays with Liberal Party, Alim will have no choice but leave the ruling party and seek refuge in the company of Vice President Jojo Binay and Manila Mayor Erap. After all, Alim was once an ally of the deposed President under the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).
In his recent trip to Baltimore, USA to represent Iloilo City in a water summit, Alim posted a Facebook photo of him together with fellow members of RP contingent with a caption that screams "future members of Congress."
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