Ben Contreras Conscience clear like Cala-cala
Conscience clear like Cala-cala
Saturday, 04 February 2012 00:00
HERE'S another letter from Mr. Raul B. Padua of Cagayan de Oro City: "Despite Atty. James Judith's admonition that they focus on the issues rather than personalities, the lord's (to borrow from Mr. Contreras) minions persist in citing politics as the reason behind the criticisms hurled against this administration. If it happens that the critics are from the opposition it is because only these people have the courage to speak out. Lest I be accused of politicking, I'd like to say I am and have always been apolitical. "Like many Cagayanons who have realized the failures of this administration, I support the Save CDO movement. I am for recall not only because of this administration's failure to respond appropriately in the recent crisis but also because this leadership, in their arrogance, have made a mockery and travesty of our laws." (BC: I agree with the view of Sen. Koko Pimentel that the recall movement should be left to the people of Cagayan. But then, let's not forget that the politicians are Cagayanons, too.)
"Sometime in 2000 or 2001, the Regional Technical Director (RTD) of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of DENR 10, in a discussion with a team from Clenro, said he planned to file a case against the mayor for refusing to convene the City Mining Board as mandated by law despite the RTD's repeated pleadings. Realizing, perhaps, that nothing will come out of it because the mayor was well connected, he decided not to pursue the plan. We all see how the mayor flaunts his smoking in the public places despite an ordinance that bans it. As the highest official in the city he is duty-bound to uphold the law. There are a host of other ordinances which they, by indifference and apathy, have broken or failed to enforce. Engr. Valerio, Dennis Naive and myself were detailed to the hinterLands because of our zeal in enforcing traffic laws which they themselves passed. Why pass an ordinance if it is not to be enforced anyway? Is it only for show like the flyover 'kuno'.
"But recall is long and arduous process. I concur with Mr. Contreras's idea that we move instead to have the national government facilitate the conduct of an investigation into the 'piso-piso' program, the Scantel and other dubious projects. I heard that the good Sen. Koko Pimentel is seeing to this. And what about the case of the thrown-away election paraphernalia? The incident is a strong signal that something 'funny' is happening and the Comelec should have, therefore, conducted an investigation whether or not there was a case filed. "To Tito Mora, rest assured that we are 100-percent behind you."
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I read it in another paper and I thought it was the "lord" speaking. The style, the choice of words and the logic--so typical of the "lord." But it was the vice, trying to be his master. "Our conscience is clear," he said. I agree. In fact their conscience is as clear as Cala-cala today, once inhabited by hundreds of families now either dead or missing. "To serve the people," he said. I agree also. That's why we see the people they serve occupying our sidewalks and streets instead of a legitimate place for commerce. They serve those who turn our streets into miniterminals for jeepneys and all sorts of transportation. They serve those who make our Plaza a beehive of hawkers and drinking spots instead of a place for family activities. They serve those who make a mockery of our traffic laws and regulations by allowing them to violate and go unpunished. They serve those who make their pockets bulge. They favor this group of people for a million reasons. They serve them all for what, their votes?
"The mandate that people gave us..." That's baloney. Like the "lord," they may not have won an honest election, too. What mandate is he talking about? The people did not give you the mandate. The "lord" did it for you. Mr. Caesar Ian Acenas, let me invite you to go around the city so you would see the anarchy. Anytime!
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