BULL’S HIT

Baguio bet’s unpaid poll staff complain
Rudy Garcia

Recent experience in getting free legal assistance from the Baguio City Public Attorney’s Office at the Justice Hall in Baguio proved to be difficult and disappointing. This is a common ordeal the less fortunate or the “common tao” experience -- who cannot afford to pay the high cost of legal fees of private lawyers.

Why difficult and disappointing? Read this: Any attorney under the PAO cannot just accept the case of a client who is not “qualified.” To qualify, the client should get a “certificate of indigency” from the Department of Social Welfare Division.

But before the DSWD will issue the certificate, the client should submit his or her previous and latest income tax returns and certificate of tax exemption issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue or BIR district office and barangay “certificate of low income and clearance.” There are several pre-requisites before all of these would be issued.

Adding to these burdens are the signatories of officials who are oftentimes out of town. Could you believe that it took almost two weeks to secure this certificate of indigency?

Believe it or not, but those who are saying that government offices meant for public welfare are serving their purpose, must be crazy. In fact, these government agencies tasked to help the poor are adding more difficulties and burdens of our dear brothers and sisters.

How I wish government officials in charge exercise more compassion for the poor. They should remember there is always a room for the universal law of retribution. Are they not afraid this will catch up with them someday? Alalahanin, bilog ang mundo!
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How true is it that some rank and file “co-terminus” employees at the Baguio City Hall are starting to be demoralized thinking they might be among those who will be kicked out from the city hall come June 30 when elected city officials assume their respective positions.

These employees were appointed into office by suspended city mayor Braulio Yaranon and this early, they feel like they are hanging on a cliff ready to fall anytime.But not for Rey Ekid of the city public order and safety division. Though he feels apprehensive on the thought that he will lose his job this coming change of administration, this does not prevent him from doing his job.

I was been observing this guy and I perceive he is a true public servant. During these challenging hard times, he is more in the pursuit of doing his job. If he is not in their office doing paper work, expect him on field doing inspection, serving and implementing closure orders of erring establishments, and so forth.

Yes your honors, we need a public employee like Ekid to stay and continue serving in a public office of public trust. Ano sa palagay ninyo, Mayor Peter Rey Bautista at City Administrator Peter Fianza, karapat dapat bang alisin si ginoong ekid pagkatapos ng kanyang termino o hindi? Wala po sanang palakasan, plis!

I would like to call the attention of Mr. Elmo Nevada, a city mayoral candidate the last election and some member candidates of his political party and staff regarding the non-payment of compensation of their watchers last election.

The complaining watchers claimed they were not paid even a single centavo up to this date. If these were indeed true, Mr. Nevada and company have a lot of explaining to do. This is not an issue whether he lost or won in the election. It is a moral, social obligation for them to pay these people who worked hard and did a lot of sacrifice during and after the election.

If Mr. Nevada has nothing to do with this, then, he should investigate where the money intended for the compensation of these poll watchers went. Did it go directly to the pockets of the crooks? And who should be held responsible?

Well, I hope Mr. Nevada will not just sit in a corner and ignore these complaints. He should remember that this personal, political and even his family clan of the Nevadas reputation is at stake on this issue. Election time come year 2110 is fast approaching. Three years is too short a period for one’s image to be tarnished to the voting public, right Mr. Nevada?
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Attention also to the manager in charge or administrators of Genesis Bus Line Co. A concerned citizen complained to this writer that the Genesis Bus he boarded in the afternoon of May 15 bound for Manila was overloaded with passengers much to the inconvenience and danger brought to its passengers especially to children and people who have respiratory ailments like asthma.

Because of too much congestion, the air-conditioning system failed to function properly causing the passengers to bear the heat. Worst, according to the complainant, when they called the attention of the bus conductor, he arrogantly answered them back: “Kung ayaw ninyong makipagsiksikan bumaba kayo dito at sumakay kayo sa ibang bus!” Well, the conductor was bulky so no one dared to answer him back.

How true? Yes sir, it’s true. I’ve seen the cell phone video footage taken by the complainant and how I wish I was there during that precise time to give the bus conductor a lesson he will never forget!

Ano sey ninyo dito kayo diyan sa Genesis Bus Line Co.? Disiplinahin ninyo naman ang mga tao ninyo. Huwag naman sana kayong kabig ng kabig kahit malagay na sa alanganin ang inyong mga pasahero. Intiende?