Treñas didn’t do a Tom Cruise

“Anybody can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way - that is not within everybody's power and is not easy.” —Aristotle

By Alex P. Vidal

 

UNLIKE Hollywood actor Tom Cruise who erupted at crew members on the set of Mission: Impossible 7 over a breach of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) protocols, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas didn’t berate city officials who neglected the physical distancing rule during the distribution of financial aid at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand on December 15.

Treñas actually couldn’t crack the whip on the erring city officials because he was also present when the supposed protocol violations happened.

Cruise’s outburst occurred in an apparent effort to prevent further disruptions to a film whose production has already been delayed by the pandemic.

“We are creating thousands of jobs,” Cruise, 58, the star of the film, can be heard saying in a leaked audio clip littered with expletives. “I don’t ever want to see it again! Ever! And if you don’t do it, you’re fired!”

Cruise, Thomas Cruise Mapother IV in real life, had been speaking to members of the Mission: Impossible 7 crew about a breach in COVID-19 protocols on the set in London.

 

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The actor, one of the highest-paid in the world, apparently became enraged after spotting two crew members standing together at a computer screen in violation of an on-set rule requiring people to stand about two meters apart, it was reported. 

Sources did not indicate when the recording of Cruise had been made. Reuters has reported that the film-makers for Mission: Impossible 7 the latest installment in the 24-year-old series – arrived in London this month.

Treñas reportedly admitted he was part of the city officials who may have violated the social distancing guidelines in the ceremony but insisted “it was unintentional.”

The violations were spotted after the photo was posted on Facebook showing Treñas and the aldermen disregarding the one-meter physical distancing measure.

The mayor reportedly claimed “they sometimes forgot” about the protocol but explained he has been consistently reminding the public about it. 

He agreed that physical distancing and other health protocols should always be properly observed “at all times” while there is a pandemic.

 

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Treñas and other city officials graced the distribution of financial assistance by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to 600 city residents.

He refused to call the event as mass gathering but vowed the incident won’t happen again.

If all of them were in the set of Cruise’ film, they would probably earn a mouthful of unprintable from the celebrated actor from Syracuse, New York.

The leaked audio was reportedly of Cruise addressing about 50 staff members at a Warner Bros film-production complex in Leavesden, north west of London. 

The actor wore a mask on the set and had been personally enforcing COVID-19 rules, an effort to prevent further delays in shooting, it was learned.

Cruise told the crew in the leaked clip that the production was the “gold standard” for Hollywood and that he had been speaking with studios, producers and insurance companies who were all “looking at us and using us to make their movies.” 

He said he would not accept any apologies for what had happened on the set, an apparent reference to the breach in COVID-19 protocol. “You can tell it to the people that are losing their homes because our industry is shut down,” Cruise said, adding an expletive. “It’s not going to put food on their table or pay for their college education.”

New York Times reported that the sixth film in the series, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, was released in 2018 and took in $791 million in global ticket sales. 

It was also filmed in Europe, among other places, and its production was delayed after Cruise reportedly broke his ankle while performing a stunt in which he slams into the side of a building.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

 

 

 

 

Treñas may be ready to become president

“A noble leader answers not to the trumpet calls of self promotion, but to the hushed whispers of necessity.” 

—Mollie Mart

By Alex P. Vidal

THE true test of a good leader is shown by how he handles a big crisis, how he leads his people, how he absorbs their pain, how he finds a solution to shield them from imminent danger, and how far can he go to lift them from despondency.  

In the ongoing struggle of the Ilonggos in Iloilo City against SARS-CoV-2 or novel COVID-19, Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas has, so far, proven his leadership. 

From day one until it became apparent that the coronavirus problem would blossom into a grotesque bedlam, Treñas was in the front seat steering the wheel and marshaling the city hall’s forces and might to ensure that the residents of Iloilo City wouldn’t be neglected and forsaken.

And when he felt that the national government, in spite of the much-ballyhooed P275 billion emergency funds in the 2020 General Appropriations Act to be used to deal with the calamity, appeared to be dilly-dallying its assistance to the Ilonggos, he lit the candle instead of cursing the darkness.

Treñas appears to be more effective, credible, reliable and trusted compared to the national leadership in many aspects.

If he were the one handling the crisis on a national level, things would probably be different. 

There would be less politicking, less muckraking, less red tape, and people wouldn’t be complaining of discrimination in the distribution of goods and screaming unprintable at the national government.

With his impressive performance in handling the difficult situation,  Treñas can be ready to become our next president.

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Let’s review what he has done. 

Most recently, the city mayor tapped three pandesal companies, the Uygongco Flour Mill, Carlos Uy Corporation, and Angelina Bakeshop, to produce the popular bread so no one would go hungry while the city is under an enhanced community quarantine.

He hailed the three home-grown companies for their “sense of bayanihan.” 

The city promised to deliver around 43,000 pieces of “Ilonggo pandesal” to the residents of Iloilo City daily.

Treñas had earlier imposed a preventive enhanced community quarantine, established a community kitchens around the city to feed the constituents of each barangay, and made a plea for mass testing in Iloilo now being backed with financial support from rich local traders.   

Without waiting for help from the national government, Treñas established Iloilo City College as a temporary dorm for health care workers and other health workers helping curb the spread of COVID-19. He made sure that shuttle services were made available to the Ilonggo frontliners to transport them to their work places. 

Treñas also earned praises from various sectors when he helped amend the existing “anti-discrimination ordinance” to include a provision that forbids businesses from ostracizing individuals due to their jobs with the help of the city council led by Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon.

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On March 20, Treñas imposed an enhanced community quarantine in Iloilo City through Executive Order 55-2020 as a preventive measure against the spread of the virus that has killed more than a million people around the world.

While there were chaos and confusion in other provinces and cities around the country, Treñas made these other accomplishments:

—collaboration with Iloilo Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. in calling on Cebu Pacific Airlines to suspend its direct flights from the Iloilo International Airport to Hong Kong, and vice versa, when the pandemic was killing more people in Wuhan and fast spreading China.

—tapping the scientists and medical professionals from the University of the Philippines Visayas alumni community to establish a local test center at the West Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Mandurriao district accredited by the Department of Health (DoH) which

Allotted 5,000 test kits together with The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

—receiving P15 million worth of donations in kind, from sacks of rice to canned goods and other food packs, all of which have been funneled to the city’s community kitchens and barangays for distribution. 

He may be doing more to help the Ilonggos even if the national government has extended the lockdown until April 30.  

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

Defensor, Treñas in rare show of teamwork

“Unity is strength when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.”

—Mattie Stepanek

By Alex P.  Vidal 

WESTERN Visayas lost another eminent pillar of journalism in the person of the maverick Sanny Rico, who succumbed to multiple stroke on March 13 in Iloilo City, according to his nephew, former PHHC 22 Mandurriao village chief Ray Rico.

Uncle Sanny was a famous anchor of the defunct DYPL of ABS-CBN in the 70s, and was already a household name way back in the 60s, according to his protégé, former Bombo Radyo Iloilo anchorman Jerome Varon.

“When the station was sequestered by the government during the Martial Law regime, he worked in the government and took the role as mentor of budding broadcasters, myself included,” recalled Varon, himself an icon in the broadcast industry in late 80’s and in the early 90’s and who has largely acknowledged Uncle Sanny’s contribution to his own success as a media personality. 

Uncle Sanny, who came from a family of leaders and public servants, was an active columnist of the Western Visayas Daily Times in the 80’s and in the 90’s. 

Incisive and witty, he loved to write about the Philippine National Police (PNP) and was the darling of the Regional Command 6 (now Police Regional Office 6).

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Because of his closeness with several past Western Visayas police directors, younger reporters would jokingly tease him as “SPO10 Sanny Rico” and he would react to the “compliment” with a smile.

When the PNP hierarchy in Western Visayas would come under severe  reproach from the media establishment, the cops would find a shimmering solace from Uncle Sanny.

Uncle Sanny wrote about politics with panache and some of his admirers were the late Iloilo City Mayor Rodolfo “Roding” Ganzon and the late Bacolod Assemblyman Wilson Gamboa, all towering political figures in the Martial Law era.

If you were an avid newspaper reader before the 1986 EDSA Revolution and the years that Tita Cory’s “Kamaganak, Inc.” burglarized the nation’s wealth with impunity, you would be familiar with Uncle Sanny and his razor-laced admonishment of the numbskulls.

His “retirement” from column-writing in the late 90’s and his death will leave a void in the cloister of local journalism where decency, professionalism, and integrity are prominently etched.

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WHEN two highest officials of the city and province of Iloilo decide to sit together in one table and talk to the people through the media, there must be something urgent and an eerily important message must  be imparted to the general public.

This became apparent when Iloilo Governor Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. and Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas issued executive orders (EO) on March 15, regulating the entry of people to the Iloilo borders.

It’s a rare show of unity and it has big impact in as far as the fight against coronavirus is concerned.

The EOs stated: “Returning residents of the province and city of Iloilo, provided that they shall have only until March 17, 2020 to enter the province.”

“Persons traveling into the province on common carriers and/or transport for the conduct of trade, delivery of social/humanitarian services, fishing/ marine activities, scientific and academic pursuit and such other essential purposes, other than the carriage of passengers, shall be dealt with pursuant to Republic Act. No. 1132 and Republic Act No. 9271, and such other applicable laws and regulations.”

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The EO added: "Persons who enter the province in violation of the above restriction shall be placed under quarantine for 14 days pursuant to the COVID-19 decision tool as of March 13, 2020."

“The essential entry of persons into the city shall be defined exclusively and shall include only health care workers, authorized government officials, those traveling for medical and humanitarian reasons, persons providing basic services and public utilities, and essential skeletal workforce.

“Appropriate administrative and/or criminal charges or both shall be filed against those person/s who shall break the protocol and violate the EO, thereby endangering the lives of inhabitants of Iloilo City,"

Under the EO, persons coming from the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, Aklan, and Guimaras and returning residents of Iloilo City "who have been tested, cleared, and declared by accredited health authorities as COVID-19 negative" will also be allowed to enter the city.

"Considering the seriousness of the developing COVID-19 public health event, there is a need to raise the level of quarantine procedures and disease prevention and control measures," said Defensor.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

Santa Claus' timely visit to City Hall

"No sane local official who has hung up an empty stocking over the municipal fireplace, is going to shoot Santa Claus just before a hard Christmas."
--Al Smith

By Alex P. Vidal

SANTA Claus came to Iloilo City Hall just in time.
The check worth P134,927,522.63 personally delivered by Panay Electric Company (PECO) Public Engagement and Government Affairs office boss Marcelo Cacho to Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas and City Treasurer Jinny Hermano for its real property tax arrears on December 9 can be best described as "Merry Christmas payment."
The gargantuan amount was timely as it could help cover up so many expenses to be incurred by the city government in the Yuletide season, including the Christmas bonuses of employees, among other year-end financial obligations.
If Santa Claus did not come to the City Hall on time, Santa Claus and his family would have lost some multi-million pesos worth of properties the city government had been preparing to auction off.
It was but a right move in the right circumstance at the right time.

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As a quid pro quo, the auction had been called off and everyone was happy, to say the least.
The decision to settle PECO's "long-overdue" (it reportedly accumulated since the past two administrations) real property tax arrears certainly wasn't made overnight.
The Cacho family and Mayor Treñas, a long-time family friend and once-upon-a-time PECO's legal counsel, probably had a "heart-to-heart" talk prior to Santa Claus' dramatic show up in the City Hall on Monday.
Thus I don't see any point why City Hall will continue to sustain its animosity with the controversial power firm now that the tax arrears have been settled.
Mayor Treñas, however, has to be fair to both the MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) and the PECO, and will never interfere in the ongoing legal battle between the two firms.
If Ilonggos know how to read between the lines and the city mayor's body language, they can't make any absolute conclusion yet that the city mayor is hell-bent to abscond from its past relationship with the PECO.

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ASIDE from the cash windfall Ilonggo athletes who won gold, silver, and bronze medals in the recent 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) hosted by the Philippines will get from the national government, the city and provincial government of Iloilo should also chip in and set aside special funds for these sports heroes in time for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
We suggest that a gold medalist be given P200,000; P100,000 for a silver medalist; and P50,000 for a bronze medalist.
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will reportedly give P600,000 for a gold medalist; P400,000 for a silver medalist; and P200,000 for a bronze medalist.
The athletes have sacrificed so much to give our country honor, thus it is but proper that the national and local governments acknowledge their efforts and heroic performances by showering them with financial incentives.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

Proud Ilonggos

"I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him."
--Abraham Lincoln

By Alex P. Vidal

ASIDE from the excellent performances of Iloilo athletes now competing in the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) hosted by the Philippines, there is another reason why Ilonggos are so proud and should be prouder nowadays.
Iloilo City has been adjudged as the Association of SouthEast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Clean Tourist City Awardee.
The announcement of Iloilo City's winning of the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Award came a week before Ilonggo athletes helped the host country amass gold, silver, and bronze medals in the biennial meet to lead in the medal tally.
There are more positive stories about Iloilo and the Ilonggos in sports, entertainment, art, cooking, economy, which make up for the toxic politics and bad weather condition that every now and then threaten to sabotage the happiness and peace of mind of Ilonggos who are mostly proud of their heritage, culture, talents, and achievements.

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It was reported that after being evaluated as one of the cleanest urban centers and top tourist destinations not just in the Philippines, but also in the Southeast Asian Region, the "City of Love" recently bagged the highly touted ASEAN Award.
Iloilo City has gone a long way from being slandered as "the most shabulized city in the Philippines" to being recognized for its initiative in the improvement and beautification of public areas and urban spaces, its conservation for the environment and natural attractions, and maintaining the cleanliness and sanitation.
The evaluating team reportedly gave Iloilo City a successful grade after having complied with the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard’s seven indicators namely: 1. Environmental management, 2. Cleanliness, 3. Waste Management, 4. Awareness-Building about Environmental Protection and Cleanliness, 5. Green Spaces, 6. Health Safety, Urban Safety, and Security; and 7. Tourism Infrastructure and Facilities.
Reports said the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Award is a recognition to encourage ASEAN nation-members to be competitive in their tourism and marketing sectors to create jobs and push economic growth, granted Iloilo City with a badge of excellence with a validity of three years, from 2020 to 2022.

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WHILE the Iloilo City Hall wallowed in the darkeness after the "switch-off" or power black out on November 28, the Iloilo Provincial Capitol glimmered after an official switch-on of colorful LED lights to officially kick off the Christmas season on December 2.
In any modern Christian world, Yuletide season is the season with the most demand for more lights used for Christmas trees, decorations, plazas, arks to welcome visitors and other public places.
If the City Hall doesn't have a problem with the Panay Electric Company (PECO), it may request the power firm for a special assistance to help them keep their steady or uninterrupted electric supply in this important season.
Setting aside a special fund to defray the expenses that may be incurred in maintaining colorful and state-of-the-art lights should be tolerated by any local government unit (LGU) at least only for the spirit of Christmas which will last only until first week of January.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

City Hall blackout

"In life, you can blame a lot of people and you can wallow in self-pity, or you can pick yourself up and say, 'Listen, I have to be responsible for myself.'"
--Howard Schultz

By Alex P. Vidal

ILONGGOS waited on tenterhooks whether City Hall would pin the blame of the blackout to the Panay Electric Company (PECO) noontime on Thursday (November 28) that rendered all services inutile in the seven-storey building.
'Tis the season for PECO bashing, thus even if the Christmas lights in a barangay hall will conk out, many critics will immediately cast a malicious look at the controversial power company.
The power outage, by the way, prompted Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo "Jerry" Treñas to call it a night for City Hall workers starting at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
Operations in the city government rested two hours before five o'clock in the afternoon,
In his Facebook page, the city mayor announced: “To all the employees, grab this opportunity to rest and be prepared for tomorrow. We have decided to dismiss you for today’s duty because you can’t work efficiently without electric access for your computers and air conditions."
It was the first major power interruption since Treñas regained the City Hall after the May 2019 elections.
And it jolted the city government.

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So far, PECO "wasn't the culprit" since there was no announcement or official explanation that followed when employees started to pack up and went home.
PECO's enemies are only waiting to see the power firm slip on the banana peel so it can pulverize PECO in another propaganda joust.
The blackout would have been nipped in the bud if the standby generators were in good condition.
The new City Hall, a state-of-art building, was only fully utilized during the time of former Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, but has been giving officials and employees nightmares.
If the blackout was caused by PECO, two things would have entered the people's imagination: either it was done to send a curt message to City Hall, which chided PECO for the obstructing poles and spaghetti wires in the streets and gave the power company until December 31 to remove them, or to remind City Hall of its purported unpaid bills.

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INSTEAD of blaming the media for the 30th SEA Games hosting catastrophe, the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) led by Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, should be thankful that many of PHISGOC's shortcomings and apparent mismanagement have been reported so that they will be able to identify the areas where they need to work double time and fast track other minor delays before the official opening ceremony on November 30, 2019.
With or without the media, the alleged anomalies and mismanagement will not be swept under the rug.
Sooner or later, there will be questions; and from these questions will surface the itch from interested parties to call for an inquiry or investigation.
Again, this is how democracy works. We can curtail the press; we can't hide things that demand public accountability especially how the taxpayers' funds were handled and spent.
Media did not create the scandal. Media is there only to report what is going on and bring the event to the people.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

Obey City Hall

"In city hall and in local government, you have to get things done without drama." 

-- Jim Gray

By Alex P. Vidal

WITH barely seven weeks to go before the Dinagyang Festival 2020 will unravel in Iloilo City, City Hall executive assistant for power Randy Pastolero is hard-pressed to help clear spaghetti wires and poles that obstruct major streets where the festival parade route will pass.
Obstructing poles and spaghetti wires are perhaps some of the worst elevated eye sores in the history of Iloilo City.
Pastolero was reportedly scheduled to take to task the Iloilo Utilities Group (IUG) composed of Panay Electric Company (PECO), telecommunication, and cable companies on November 26 to prioritize the removal of poles in the City Proper and La Paz even as Mayor Geronimo "Jerry" Treñas has given the PECO only until the end of the year 2019 to remove them all.
The time table given by the city mayor apparently was to ensure that everything will be in order and normal and Iloilo City's beauty won't be disfigured by the wires' ugly sight when the week-long annual religious and cultural festival unwraps in January 2020.

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PECO and the telcos have been at loggerheads; they have been pointing an accusing finger at each other for the 254 and other poles identified by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the city streets.
Treñas won't take sides.
All he wants is to fix the problem, to cut and cut clean.
Pastolero's job is to coax both parties and agree to show that they belong and are willing to listen, cooperate and help; and that they should be part of the solution, not the problem.
Instead of prolonging the blame game, PECO and the telcos will have to drop their guns and stop sharpening their knives; they will have to listen to the siren of cooperation.
With dispatch and alacrity, they should obey City Hall and start hitting the ground running.
If they are able to remove the obstructions together sans mudslinging, people will credit them for cooperating with the City Hall and for "showing concern" for the welfare and safety of the public.

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THERE'S nothing wrong if the press will criticize Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano for the mess in the ongoing 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) being hosted by the Philippines while the Games are in progress.
Cayetano's admirers and defenders decry that it's not good to wash our dirty linens in public while visitors, athletes, officials and other participants from other Southeast Asian nations are still here.
The visitors don't and won't give a damn how the host media make their reports.
This is how democracy works in the country. We don't curtail the press because the host country's top organizing official is the one being lambasted.
As chairman of the Philippines Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHILCOG), Cayetano, who loves to wear many hats, is accountable for all the lackluster preparations, including the alleged shenanigans in the construction of sports facilities.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

Duterte will never interfere in Iloilo City Hall row

"One of the reasons people hate politics is that truth is rarely a politician's objective. Election and power are."
--Cal Thomas

By Alex P. Vidal

WE sympathize with Iloilo City Hall regular employee Rosita Camacho and other alleged victims of persecution under the Treñas administration.
We don't agree that underlings should be zeroed in and severely punished for supporting a rival candidate who has been vanquished in the recent elections.
But we also don't agree that Camacho or any tormented city hall employees for that matter, should bring the hullabaloo to President Rodrigo R. Duterte, who is facing truckloads of domestic problems.
While it is Camacho, et al's right to seek the help of any official in the higher ups, including Mr. Duterte, the act of seeking a presidential interference for a local issue will only do more harm than good to their case.
If Camacho, et al have referred the matter to the court, or in any quasi judicial chamber like the Office of the Ombudsman, seeking solace in the executive branch or the Office of the President could be tantamount to a forum shopping.
Or political saber-rattling.

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Camacho had earlier sent a letter-complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman in Cebu City accusing Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo "Jerry" Treñas and four other City Hall officials--City Administrator Melchor Tan, Assistant Iloilo City Administrator Noel Panaguiton, Assistant Department Head II Josephine Agudo of allegedly conspiring, confederating, and aiding one another in the commission of grave coercion and violations of Section 3 (e) and (a) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) for grave misconduct, oppression, and/or conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
Camacho, et al are now asking President Duterte to join the fray.
If Treñas, et al, based on Camacho's recent appeal to President Duterte through the "Digong 8888 Hotline" TV show hosted by Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, will be rapped on the knuckles by the President through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), what will happen if the Office of the Ombudsman exonerates them based on evidence?
Or vice versa.
Malacañang and the DILG might not jump into action haphazardly while the case is being studied and reviewed by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Whether President Duterte will dip his fingers into the row, the Office of the Ombudsman will have to go on with its independent investigation without prejudice to what the President will do.

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We doubt, however, if President Duterte, a former city mayor of Davao City himself who is familiar with the local civil service intramural, will prioritize the Iloilo City Hall case on top of the tons of other urgent cases stockpiling in the Office of the President.
President Duterte is aware of local politics.
As a former long-time Davao City mayor, he is familiar with internal wrangling in the city government involving employees caught in the quagmire of warring political parties.
Meanwhile, Panelo reportedly asked Camacho and other affected City Hall employees to write him a letter regarding the brouhaha.
The spokesperson knows his script.
Panelo's gesture can be akin to an employer telling a job applicant after an interview to "just wait for our call (if we are ready to hire you)."
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

‘Juan Dela Cruz’ knows where the bodies are buried

“When I saw corruption, I was forced to find truth on my own. I couldn't swallow the hypocrisy.”
--Barry White

By Alex P. Vidal

NOW it can be told: “Juan Dela Cruz” isn’t just a suspected merchant of chaos and intrigues.
He is both a sniper and one who operates a remote-controlled land mine in the Iloilo City Hall.
“Juan Dela Cruz” is a city hall insider with a Google-like information about just any transaction the city government had undertaken, and about just any personality involved in the transaction.
And he still apparently holds a lot of keys that can help unlock more Pandora boxes.
As long as he remains anonymous and has unlimited access to the mainstream media, he can detonate a land mine that will make life miserable for many corrupt characters, including those who may be--and may have been--falsely accused of committing a wrongdoing.
But because “Juan Dela Cruz” is a fictitious name, many scoundrels zapped by his sniper won’t be formally charged in court, but will just merely be exposed to shame and embarrassment.

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But, look, he isn’t a pushover.
Many of the names and designations (including their mode of shenanigans) “Juan Dela Cruz” mentioned in the second wave of his terror attack really exist (we aren’t saying though the allegations against them were true).
His motive in sowing a massive bedlam is still unclear.
In his opening salvo, “Juan Dela Cruz” wobbled (but failed to bundle out) the Manikan couple-- Local Civil Registrar’s Office (LCRO) chief Romeo Caesar “Juncae” Manikan and wife, City tourism assistant chief Eireen Rita.
In his latest blitzkrieg, “Juan Dela Cruz” ripped through the territorial waters of mostly Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas’ own acolytes, accusing them of conflict of interest and other monkey business.
He showed to all and sundry he isn’t Treñas’ bogeyman, after all!
One thing we can be certain of is “Juan Dela Cruz”, being familiar with the terrain, must’ve hobnobbed with some of the characters he had mentioned in some other time and clime or even regularly.
He is apparently familiar with the extent of their participation in the crime, including the murder weapons.
“Juan Dela Cruz” knows where the bodies are buried.

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A recent video that circulated in the social media showed several armed young men and women walking in an identified place believed to be a mountainous area somewhere in the Visayas or Mindanao.
Most of them looked healthy and strong and were only in their 20s and 30s.
They were like ROTC cadets and appeared to be new recruits of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-New People’s Army (NPA).
In the 70’s and 80’s some of the NPA cadres who participated in gun battles versus the government forces looked skinny and malnourished.
Now they look like Olympic athletes and are brimming with pride and confidence as they march wearing Nike baseball caps and large backpacks.
So the CPP-NPA is still very much active and continues to attract young warriors?
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

But Joe III isn’t the one hurting

“Peace does not include a vendetta; there will be neither winners nor losers.”
--Ahmed Ben Bella

By Alex P. Vidal

IF the Treñas administration thinks persecuting city hall employees who may have supported former city mayor Jose “Joe III” Espinosa III in the recent elections is one way of getting back at Joe III, it’s dead wrong.
Joe III, now a private citizen, doesn’t give a hoot what will happen to his former employees now fighting for their lives after being orphaned by Joe III’s unfortunate defeat.
Joe III is not the type who will bend for his underlings.
The man does not understand the words empathy and sympathy.
Many observers think Joe III considers his employees to be his servants.
Thus he can’t recognize his former employees even if he bumps them in the coffee shops.
He can’t probably feel what they’re feeling today amid the avalanche of administrative raps and “investigations” launched against them.
There is a popular joke that when Joe III once went to a barangay in Jaro district, his driver, Mike, mixed himself with the crowd. Joe III, who shook hands with people in the crowd, didn’t notice he shook Mike’s hand.

-o0o-

It’s been weeks since news erupted that the Treñas administration has been savagely lowering the boom on city hall employees, including some department heads suspected of supporting Joe III, yet the former city mayor has not come out in the open to issue a statement or show his support for the embattled city hall workers now being bludgeoned by administrative raps from the vindictive Treñas administration.
A true leader, even if he had been vanquished, will always look back and rescue his fallen soldiers.
A good leader does not abandon his allies even if they have been captured and threatened with annihilation.
A public show of moral support from Joe III would have been enough to assuage the frazzled emotions of city hall workers whose only sin was to be tagged as Joe III’s political supporters.
Or, he can appeal straight to Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas, who is his brother-in-law, to “please leave the city hall employees alone; this is our rivalry, not you against them. They have nothing to do with our cold war. We can resolve this conflict without trampling on the small grasses and offending the wrong people. This feud is political and only temporary.”

-o0o-

I reiterate that it is not healthy, much less not good in the eyes of the world that the Treñas administration started on the wrong and unnecessary battle: the corrosive purging of “disloyal” employees, especially those who had purportedly committed an “electioneering” offense in the recent May elections.
It can’t help prop up the image of the Ilonggos in general if people in other regions and countries read in the Internet and major broadcast networks and newspapers the news about their local chief executive swapping charges in court against ordinary city hall employees.
Taxpayers’ money is wasted and used to run after members of the city hall family.
A city hall trying to create killing fields for its own flesh and blood.
The meat of the matter is too niggardly and counterproductive for a big metropolis that has already breached the threshold of economic boom.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

Juncae Manikan isn’t crook

“You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.”
– ERIC HOFFER

By Alex P. Vidal

MANY thieves have served in the Iloilo City Hall when I covered the beat in the late 80’s and in the 90’s.
These dishonest public servants made a pile either by directly stealing the tax payers’ money, or by using their power and influence to gain favors from private contractors and business establishments.
But there were public officials who served wholeheartedly, those who were contented only with their salary, and who never dipped their fingers in the cookie jars.
Romeo Caesar “Juncae” Manikan Jr., the ex-oficio member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod representing the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation in the early 90’s, was one of them.
Coy and always smiling, Manikan would rather engage in sports activities with friends than taking advantage of his position as city councilor.

-o0o-

I can’t remember having written a controversial story or expose where Manikan’s name was included.
But I have written critical stories that angered some of Manikan’s senior colleagues, especially the corrupt and the egomaniacs.
Manikan, currently the head of the Office of the Local Civil Registrar, wanted to preserve the legacy of his late father, the indefatigable Treasurer Romeo “Roming” Manikan Sr.
He and his older sister, Ma. Concordia “Diday”, also a former city councilor and a former village chief in Brgy. Concepcion, City Proper, never abused their “privileges” as “Treasurer Roming’s children.”
They remained humble even if they were in power.
Those who share my observations about Juncae Manikan are also probably shocked that he is now being linked to a ridiculous fake marriage scandal.

-o0o-

The fake marriage brouhaha could be a sham and is probably being used only by Manikan’s critics as a political vendetta.
It’s inconceivable that Manikan, who is holding a permanent position as a department head, will risk his good track record in public service to commit a very cheap malfeasance that can’t be kept under wraps.
If Manikan is a bad guy or someone who throws his weight around, he could have made a lot of money through nefarious means during his heydays as city councilor, and when his father was at the helm of power.
City hall will only make Manikan and his wife, Tourism Assistant department chief Eireen Rita, martyrs if it won’t stop persecuting them.
The Manikan couple and other rank-and-file employees now at the center of storm from City Hall’s wrath, are not enemies but members of the City Hall family.
They aren’t adversaries “from within.”
If politics is addition, what is going on is not only subtraction but self-destruction.
A family can’t devour its own children.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

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City Hall wrong to pin down ‘enemies’

“Identity politics preaches a splintering of one large, collaborative group into competing vindictive ones - resulting in new, angry tribes whose central thesis is to not cooperate.”
--Greg Gutfeld

By Alex P. Vidal

IT is not healthy for city hall or any local government unit to start its administration by running after employees or department heads who did not support the current mayor or governor in the previous elections.
It’s a waste of time and resources; it’s anticlimactic and smacks of vindictiveness.
Like what is happening in Iloilo City today.
It is embarrassing that the first case Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas had to face since he assumed as city mayor two months ago came from a city hall employee, not from big time tax evaders or giant firms that have fought back after being ribbed for violating the city ordinances.
Instead of Goliath versus Goliath, what the Ilonggos are seeing in the front seats is a Goliath trying to eviscerate David, who fights back not for political survival but for his livelihood.

-o0o-

The case, which hogged headlines, came from an employee reassigned from his original post to a dumpsite in Mandurriao district supposedly for having been identified as a political supporter of the previous mayor.
If the minions of Treñas or the city mayor himself are not embarrassed about this, I don’t know how they handle and absorb the news about this petty squabble that has spread around the world.
It’s like an intra-family quarrel that went out of control and the public is watching, hearing and reading eerie stories that should’ve been discussed and settled in the family’s living room.
Sometimes it depends on what kind of advisers that surround the city mayor; it depends on what kind of advice they give the big boss on how to deal with people who have been identified with the defeated Mayor Jose “Joe III” Espinosa III and are still working at city hall.
It appears that some of them have more ax to grind against some people inside the city hall than the mayor himself.
Instead of running after the perceived political decoys, they should run after the crooks and rascals. File cases against the thieves, the tax cheats, the fixers and the ten percenters.

-o0o-

Mayor Treñas is not a vindictive type of leader.
I should know. He is one of the few Ilonggo leaders who don’t harass critical reporters.
His mind as a public servant isn’t barriotic.
I have not heard Treñas file a libel case against any journalist, but I know he was one of the most maligned elected officials even when he was still a city councilor.
Some of those not familiar with his management style mistook him as “suplado” (snob) maybe because he is frank and does not hide his feelings in public.
Who among the tormented candidates in the previous elections have the courage and honesty to cry literally and empty his emotions “live” on air?
Hours after it became crystal-clear he had won the bitter and nightmarish elections in May, he went on air and cried while being interviewed by Bombo Radyo anchorman Don Dolido.
I can’t speak the same for others, the mayor’s subalterns who are now calling some of the major shots inside the city mayor’s office.
By the way, a throwback in 1989: Mayor Treñas should be careful not to commit the same mistake made by then Mayor Rodolfo “Roding” Ganzon, who also allegedly harassed city health officer Dr. Ortigoza weeks after he assumed as city mayor.
Ortigoza sued Ganzon and enemies of the hard-hitting former senator, led by then local government secretary Luis Santos, used the Oritgoza brouhaha to slap Ganzon with a preventive suspension. And the rest was history.
It was Karl Marx who once said that “history repeats itself first as tragedy, then as farce.”
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

City hall's political vendetta

"In our age there is no such thing as 'keeping out of politics.' All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia."
--George Orwell

By Alex P. Vidal

NO matter how the Iloilo City Legal Office package, justify, and camouflage the "electioneering" case recently filed against three City Hall officials Danny Tan, Vincent de la Cruz, and Eireen Manikan, Ilonggos will still sneer at it as nothing but a political vendetta.
Ilonggos weren't born yesterday to believe hook, line, and sinker that casual employees Dennis Biñas, Julia Bitonga, Jena Jose, and Donephine Domingo weren't coaxed, coached, and guided by some powerful subalterns of Mayor Geronimo "Jerry" Treñas to sue the three officials suspected of siding with former mayor Jose "Joe III" Espinosa III in the May elections.
Only fools will agree that the casual workers filed the case on their own volition and resources, and without any help or influence from the big bosses in the mayor's office.

-o0o-
Ilonggos will, of course, suspect that the four casual workers may have been dispatched by City Administrator Melchor Tan and briefed by City Legal Officer Edgardo Gil to formalize the cases for violation of the Election Code/Fair Election Act, Civil Service Law, and Republic Act No. 6713 (Code of Ethical Standards for Government Officials and Employees) against Tan, de la Cruz, and Manikan.
Administrator Tan is in charge of the hiring and appointment of casual employees, while Gil has been very vocal and sharply familiar with the case as if the four complainants are under his direct supervision.
The casual workers have singled out the three officials to be the ones who called them for a meeting at City Hall sometime in February, or three months before the elections, allegedly to compel them to support Espinosa III.
They considered the statement as a threat “since our employment is at the stake if we will not follow his instruction.”
They added in a statement: "We were likewise directed to recruit at least 10 persons to attend ‘Pag-ulikid’."
Many believed that Espinosa anchored his bid to keep his office through “Pag-ulikid sang Syudad”, a community outreach program that brought city government frontline services to the barangays.

-o0o-

Since it appears to be crystal clear that City Hall may be behind the legal juggernaut against the three suspected Espinosa III backers now bearing the brunt of an apparent "witch hunt" under the Treñas administration, some Ilonggos may view this internal pandemonium to be an "obvious political persecution."
Granting that Tan, de la Cruz, and Manikan really rooted for Espinosa III in the recent polls, their "offense" should be understandable and even pardonable since, they too, were part of a system that demands adherence to the status quo.
It's not about personality, but more as jurisdiction and stability.
The reality is because most department heads or officials holding permanent positions in any government office normally develop a "good working relationship" (euphemism for affection or feeling of endearment) with whoever is the incumbent (appointed or elected) mayor, governor, director, secretary, or general manager, partisanship in incoming competition or election is hard to reject and avoid.
The relationship should be mutual and necessary; they, as top officials and administrators tasked with major obligations and responsibilities, must and need to treat each other as members of one family.
The relationship they develop shouldn't be considered as a political crime because it metamorphosed in the name public service, not because they hate someone who has just taken over the helm.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

No need to worry

"The more we can organize, find and manage information, the more effectively we can function in our modern world."
--Vint Cerf

By Alex P. Vidal

THE ongoing reshuffling and reorganization of key positions in various government offices should not be treated as a tidal wave and a major event.
Many fresh administrations all over the country are doing the same, not just in Western Visayas; not just in the city and province of Iloilo.
Reassignments and revamps are normal. It's the prerogative of any local chief executive.
What is not normal and should be denounced is when vindictive elected officials start to lower the boom on employees identified with their rivals in the recent elections and kick them out from their lofty jobs.
If they were only reassigned, they can still regain or retain their jobs and they won't lose their livelihood.
Their families won't half-starved and life must go on.
It's another story if they are summarily dismissed even if they are permanent employees and, as a result, are forced to forage for food so that their loved ones won't starve to death.
In government service, sometimes it's best if we refrain from making a mountain out of a molehill.

-o0o-

When the wobbling Panay Electric Company (PECO) recently filed a criminal case against former Iloilo City councilors Joshua Alim and Plaridel Nava, Presidential Consultant for Western Visayas Jane Javellana, and former politician, Dr. Marigold T. Gonzalez, the news came out simultaneously in all the major publications, broadcast and TV networks with a loud thud.
The timing when the news blasted its way to public was something that catches the eye: after the May midterm elections.
PECO administrative manager Marcelo U. Cacho filed the case on June 27, 2019. Media screamed in unison about it on June 28, 2019.
It's very rare for news about a case being filed against a prominent person or group of persons to immediately attract a helluva attention from the media and delivered simultaneously--unless it's a flash report from a press conference.
In the story of the creation of the universe, scientists call it a "Big Bang!"
Even if the accused won't be convicted when the case reached its climax, the purpose of letting all and sundry know that the key players in the anti-PECO movement have been slapped with a criminal complaint, was already served.

-o0o-

Even after Chief Supt. John Bulalacao has left the Regional Police Office 6 (RPO-6) as regional director and turned over the post to Chief Supt. Rene Pamuspusan in a ceremony on June 27, 2019, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has not responded to our report on the alleged massive recruitment of "soldiers" for enlistment in the armed forces of the "Royal Maharlika Tribes 1-Nation" recently in Calinog, Iloilo.
Recruits were made to fill up a form with a sub-title of "Panay Tribal Governance for Self-Determination and Empowerment" and "Rejahnate of Panay."
In the article we wrote most recently, we asked this question: "Are we bring governed by another sovereign state right in our own independent civilian republic?"
"Are the police and military authorities keeping a blind eye on this supposed enlistment in a private army?"
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

City hall’s wheel of fortune

“There's still is a status-quo group at City Hall who likes things done the old way, behind closed doors.”
--Laura Miller

By Alex P. Vidal

THE wheels of political fortune will always favor those who are allied with the winners.
Did we say nobody loves a loser?
In a sudden twist of fate, one of the executive assistants asked by Mayor Jose “Joe III” Espinosa, through his right hand, Rommel “Jojo” Castro, to resign in March 2018, will take back his portfolio as city administrator when Rep. Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas assumes as the new city mayor on July 1, 2019.
Melchor Tan, who served as city administrator when Treñas was mayor in 2001 until 2010, will replace lawyer Hernando Galvez, city administrator since the term of Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
Tan and five other Treñas acolytes-- Abel Alejano, Boyet Rico, Irene Ong, Mitch Antiqueña and Roy Firmeza--quit during the Espinosa administration after Castro asked them to resign “if they couldn’t prioritize their City Hall tasks over their other concerns outside City Hall.”
They quit, disappeared from public scene for a while, planned their resurrection, and resurfaced when the Bastille has been recaptured.

-o0o-

The city administrator is the most powerful person in the city mayor’s office.
He is in charge of all the appointing papers of casual employees and reviews the executive orders, among his other major functions.
Will it be Tan’s turn to ask Castro and other city hall big guns who feverishly campaigned openly for Mayor Joe III in the recent elections to resign?
Castro, city engineer Bobby Divinagracia, Vincent Dela Cruz were among those who are reportedly “heading for the chopping block” when the Treñas administration takes over next month.
If they are protected by the civil service law, the least that Administrator Tan can do is to reassign them, a euphemism for demotion.
It would be a violation of their rights if they’re dismissed mainly because they were identified with the Team Joe III in the recent polls.

-o0o-

Castro, et al may have already known their fate and are not expecting a walk in the rose garden starting next month even if they can still retain their jobs.
For being loyal to his boss and for “only doing his job,” Castro became the incoming administration’s most favorite punching bag and has been placed in the center of storm in city hall’s forthcoming “house cleansing.”
Many casual workers who lost their jobs during Mayor Joe III’s brief reign are also sharpening their knives against Castro.
But Castro, in fairness to the man, was only doing what his boss Mayor Joe III was asking him to do.
Castro, a sports buff, shouldn’t be singled out during the Joe III administration’s “Reign of Terror” that resulted in the casuals’ “mass slaughter” as his role was only to implement or facilitate the orders from the big boss.
For his part, Mayor Joe III shouldn’t abandon his wounded soldiers.
Although it is not anymore his responsibility to feed and clothe the adults after they have been vanquished, Mayor Joe III, at least, still have the moral obligation to make sure Castro, et al won’t be stripped of their dignities and livelihood.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

Don’t join the debate with a Dracula face

“Those who cannot understand how to put their thoughts on ice should not enter into the heat of debate.”
--Friedrich Nietzsche

By Alex P. Vidal

WHEN Rosa “Tita” Caram was appointed by President Cory Aquino as OIC mayor in Iloilo City after the 1986 EDSA Revolution, she became known as the “Cinderella surrounded by the seven dwarfs.”
One of the “dwarfs”, who became a village chief when Caram was no longer in city hall, had suggested to extend the route of the Dinagyang parade to the Fort San Pedro area.
Caram, wife of the late former Assemblyman Fermin “Nene” Caram nixed, the “crazy” idea.
When Mayor Caram learned that former senator Rodolfo “Roding” Ganzon, arch enemy of her husband, had been released from jail and helped campaign for the deposed dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ reelection bid in the snap election, she was reportedly worried.
Fire-spewing Ganzon was rumored to be interested to run again for city mayor, and the news was a nightmare for Mayor Caram.
She bade goodbye to politics for good.

-o0o-

I covered the City Hall beat in 1989 when Ganzon became the city mayor.
He told reporters in jest, “Nahadlok si Tita Caram mag debate sa akon kayman gin isyuhan ako sang una ni Nene (Caram) nga putyong kuno ako. Ginpamangkot ko sia ngaa nga nabal an mo nga putyong ako? Gin pamangkot mo si Tita haw?”
Mayor Ganzon brought the house down.
One of the last remaining “dwarfs” (he really had a small frame and was already a department chief), who died during the administration of Mayor Mansueto Malabor in the 90s, told me “Mayor Caram was so nervous to debate with Mayor Ganzon (if ever they will face in the election)” thus she quit politics.

-o0o-

IT is during the political debates where the voters, especially the undecided, will have the opportunity to peruse the character, personality, and intelligence of the candidates running in the elections.
It is during the political debates where candidates with no prior or with insufficient media exposure will have the chance to prove their mettle without the assistance of any public relations (PR) expert; they will be on their own and they will advertise their own fortitude and capability as aspirants for a public office without the help of any prepared script.
A candidate participating in a public discourse can’t be rescued by the best PR consultant once he falters and scrambles with facts and figures.
Thus they need to be impressive; they need to look good physically, as well.
Even their body language and facial expressions must be guided accordingly with aplomb and collectedness.
Rule No. 1 actually is: Don’t join in the political debates if you are mad, or if your blood sugar is tottering.

-o0o-

The pre-debate checklist should include mental and emotional conditions, not just the cloths, hairstyle and make-up.
If you’re not in good mood, skip the debate immediately. No ifs. No buts. No second thoughts.
If your mood is on alert status and you engage a rival in a heated exchange of words before a huge audience that will last for an hour or two, it will have a catastrophic effect on your nerves; you will have no idea you appallingly look and act like Dracula.
Dracula has a poker face.
He owns one of the most untrustworthy faces in the known physical world.
The name evokes hostility and antagonism.
In fact, his aura has been dismissed with a dauntless disdain, fear, and scorn by any standard and imagination.
Don’t be a Darcula on stage.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

Don’t add insult to Iloilo Freedom Grandstand’s injury

“Never insult an alligator until after you have crossed the river.”
--Cordell Hull

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- I hope it is not true that Iloilo City Mayor Jose “Joe III” Espinosa III will rename the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand to “Dinagyang Grandstand,” which has been transferred to the Muelle Loney Street fronting the Iloilo River.
It will add insult to injury of those behind the construction of the original grandstand, built in the 1950s to commemorate Republic Act 1209 or the “Iloilo City Freedom Law” authored and sponsored by the late former senator and mayor Rodolfo “Roding” Ganzon.
The law restored to the residents of Iloilo City their constitutional right to elect their own mayor, vice mayor, and councilors.
In the first place, the decision last year to transfer the grandstand from the Sunburst Park in front of the Customs house or Aduana to its present location, was bitterly met by derision and opposition from Ilonggos who wanted to preserve local history and heritage; Ilonggo old timers and millennials who wanted to retain Iloilo City’s spirit, aesthetic and ingenuity.

-o0o-

But Mayor Espinosa III and other proponents insisted the transfer was “necessary” to pave the way for the revival and redevelopment of the slumbering Sunburst Park
Ergo, Espinosa III, et al won; the protesters lost.
Tuloy ang ligaya.
But, wait a minute.
The mayor is already thinking of changing the name of the P45-million project even before its completion?
We thought the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand “will only be PHYSICALLY transferred to a new location for purposes of development?”
Demolished, transferred, and now permanently erased from memories?
Reports said the project will be completed “before” the highlights of the 2019 Dinagyang Festival on January 25-27.
Mayor Espinosa III announced the decision to change its name on January 8 or two weeks earlier.
That’s pushing the cart ahead of the horse.

-o0o-

The mayor is also expected to issue an executive order to officially rename the grandstand before the Dinagyang Festival highlights.
When visitors and local folk occupy the new grandstand during the week-long religious and cultural festivities, the name Iloilo Freedom Grandstand, as well as all our glorious recollection and imagination about the iconic structure, are already a ghost?
Is the new grandstand to be used exclusively only for Dinagyang, or in honor, benefit, and spirit solely of Dinagyang Festival?
How about the other mammoth educational, medical, cultural, political, spiritual, business, and civic activities held prominently in the grandstand since time immemorial?
Iloilo Freedom Grandstand became a household name, famous from all over the world from people with great experiences and evocations of the structure, even before Dinagyang Festival was born.
We expect Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, son of the illustrious the late former senator, and those who care for Iloilo City’s history and heritage to ask Mayor Espinosa III to reconsider his decision of permanently putting away all the memories and glories attached to the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand.
As an Ilonggo who was born and raised in Iloilo City, I mourn Mayor Joe III’s latest boondoggle.

The ‘Iron Lady’ Zulueta I know

“Win or lose, we go shopping after the election.”
--Imelda Marcos

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- The reported “surprise” entry of Dr. Perla S. Zulueta in Iloilo City’s congressional race must have saddened Councilor Joshua Alim and former councilor Julienne “Jam-Jam” Baronda.
Alim and Baronda are aware they will be facing a serious contender with an almost impeccable record and a long experience in public service.
If there are still active Iloilo beat reporters today who have covered Zulueta starting when she won a seat in the Iloilo provincial board in 1988, I am one of them.
In the period between 1989 until 1992, Zulueta was a runaway newsmaker (from an IBC-TV 12 newscaster before she entered politics) as the No. 1 tormentor of then Iloilo Governor Simplicio “Sim” Griño.
Now Councilor Armand Parcon was Bombo Radyo Iloilo’s capitol beat reporter but fellow Bombo Radyo reporter and then law student Alim (he passed the bar in 1991) and another former Bombo Radyo star reporter Francis Hinayhinay would join us from time to time when we interviewed then Board Member Zulueta, who first earned the moniker “The Iron Lady” because of her series of jaw-dropping expose and Philippic speeches in the provincial board.

-o0o-

A tense moment occurred sometime in 1992 before Zulueta ran and lost to former Assemblyman and Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) Commissioner Arthur “Art” Defensor Sr. for governor in the May 1992 elections.
We, in the Iloilo Capitol Press Corps, had been tipped off that an “indignant” son of Governor Griño was in the capitol premises “planning to disrupt” the provincial board’s regular session to prevent Zulueta from making another scathing privilege speech that would embarrass the governor.
Everyone waited anxiously and our attention was divided--we leered from time to time inside and outside the session hall like we were watching a ping pong match.
The son indeed appeared but a phalanx of capitol henchmen, alerted by the potential chaos, boxed him out peacefully thus preventing a melee as the late virtuoso and watchful former Oton mayor Lazaro “Nene” Zulueta silently stood nearby like Kevin Costner in the Bodyguard film.
Board Member Zulueta managed to sledgehammer anew the Griño administration in her sharp speech unmolested.

-o0o-

Griño, a religious and good man, lost to Defensor. Zulueta, who wound up second, garnered more votes than the defrocked governor. Fifth district independent bet, the late Azur Salcedo finished last.
When Zulueta became Iloilo city councilor in 1995, she strapped around her waist the opposition holster anew and became the No. 1 source of Mayor Mansueto “Mansing” Malabor’s headache.
In every cookie jar that minions of Malabor had dipped their fingers into, there the firebrand Councilor Zulueta was running the gauntlet and firing the cylinders.
In every anomaly that she had stumbled upon, Zulueta saw to it that there were Dickens to pay for the thieves and the taxpayers would heave a sigh of relief.
In the 1998 elections, Zulueta sided with then fellow city councilor and now Iloilo City Rep. Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas in a foiled attempt to defeat the reelectionist Malabor, the “man of the masa” who rolled past all his moneyed rivals to complete the three terms as city mayor.
Zulueta became Treñas’ ally when the latter reigned as city mayor from 2001 to 2010.

-o0o-

It was during those years that Zulueta’s political relationship with fellow city councilor and eventually vice mayor Jose “Joe III” Espinosa III was buttressed (although they had been closely working together in the local legislature in the opposition during the Malabor administration). When Joe III became city mayor in October 2017 after Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog’s “forced departure”, he retained the “Iron Lady” (a Mabilog appointee) as one of his advisers.
Zulueta has reportedly accepted Mayor Joe III’s invitation for her to run for congress in May 2019 after former councilor Nielex “Lex” Tupas said “no mas” to politics.
Her entry will place her in a collision course versus Baronda, who is being backed by Treñas; and Alim, who is reportedly being supported by the group of Dr. Pacita Gonzalez.

   

‘Where were you when I needed you most?’

“Choose to focus your time, energy and conversation around people who inspire you, support you and help you to grow you into your happiest, strongest, wisest self.”
-- Karen Salmansohn

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- I have misgivings with reports that former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog will endorse local candidates in the top positions in the May 2019 elections.
Since he is not running for any elective position (his dismissal is under appeal in the Supreme Court, according to his wife, Marivic) next year, it’s doubtful if he will issue an official statement endorsing certain candidates.
Why risk antagonizing one group for endearment of another if you can maintain a peace of mind and a stress-free life while watching the political cockfighting in the safe confines of the splendid Canadian territory and far away from the wreckage and bloodbath?
Why stir the hornet’s nest and end up exposing yourself to be stung by the “unforgiving” and “ungrateful” bees?

-o0o-

Some Mabilog supporters who are still undecided have been anxiously waiting for his go signal.
Many of them still conjure up a bedazzling scenario of their idol staging a “surprise” comeback any moment during the election season.
There are village officials, youth leaders, and city hall officials and rank-and-file workers loyal to Mabilog who are smiling at Mayor Jose “Joe III” Espinosa III and Rep. Jerry Treñas like bosom friends, but, deep inside, their hearts are still for the self-exiled enemy of President Duterte.
If Mabilog won’t endorse anyone in Iloilo City, no one can blame him.
In fact, he isn’t morally and politically obliged to raise some hands in the coming elections.
He isn’t beholden politically to any Tom, Dick, and Harry.
And besides, where were they when he needed them most?

-o0o-

Malversation of public funds has many forms, stripes, and faces.
There is actually another source of graft and corruption in the Philippine government: cash advance.
Corrupt government officials always find the calamities, other natural disasters, hosting of events, and out-of-town or foreign trips as the perfect opportunities to enrich themselves.
When there is no limit for these rascals to ask for cash advance, it is easy to fill their pockets.
Others become instant millionaires by indulging in indiscriminate cash advances.
Although they are required by the law to liquidate their “expenses”, many dishonest government officials submit liquidation papers that have been “doctored” or supporting documents with tampered or bogus receipts and signatures.
Many of them intentionally delay their liquidation report; sometimes it takes years before their shenanigan is uncovered, when another administration has taken over.
Other thieves in government with unique talent and guts steal the salaries and allowances of job hires or casual workers through cash advances.

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That’s why we need a no non-sense Commission on Audit (COA) officials who will never succumb to pressures, coercion, and back-door manipulations.
COA auditors must be independent, fearless, and committed to safeguard the taxpayers’ money.
COA auditors must have strong moral and family values in order to dodge temptations.
They must reject gifts, freebies and expensive goodies, and other material favors from incumbent officials with direct access to the cookie jars.
COA auditors who waltz with corrupt government officials are coddling graft and corruption and should be booted out from office before they could play footsie and resurrect more Frankensteins in the civil service.