BULL’ S HIT

Bloody ‘salvagings’ in Baguio, Benguet
RUDY GARCIA

The verdict on Daily Tribune publisher Niñes Cacho Olivarez finding her guilty of libel by a Makati Regional Trial Court judge is keeping me nervous. Imagine her paying the amount of P5 million as damages aside from imprisonment? If I am on her shoes where the hell will I get that P5 million? I will be breaking my back working day and night but surely, I could not produce that amount.

On the other hand, the law firm which filed the libel case against Olivarez could be jumping now with joy from their victory. This verdict could somehow affect the media in particular. It is a premature suppression of press freedom to those journalists who had the courage to print the truth and the facts. Nonetheless, Olivarez has still a venue to let her appeal be heard, and this could be another great challenge to the magistrate at the court of appeals. Let’s just wait and see.
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The night market proposal in Baguio City speaks well and is bound to benefit the local government, traders and the buying public, reason that I strongly support this idea but as far I know, this is still underway for final approval.

While there are local orders permitting vendors to sell on designated time and place, it is a disgust to see some vendors abusing and make this remedial orders their excuse to use public sidewalks and other prohibited areas for display to sell their wares like what I personally witnessed on the early night of Tuesday last June 3 at first Kayang St., Baguio.

People could hardly pass through the sidewalk because almost three fourths of it was occupied by vendors selling VCD’s and DVD’s. This is not at all an issue whether what they are selling is pirated or not but the obstruction and inconvenience they are causing to the passing public.

Worst is, not even a barangay tanod or barangay official and the police lifted any finger to get rid of the sidewalk obstruction the reason why it makes me keep guessing if these vendors have the “blessings” of Barangay and City Hall officials. If there is indeed none, it makes me wonder why the authorities let these vendors pull their own way right under their noses. “ Ano ang sey ninyo Mayor Reynaldo Bautista, Jr. City Administrator Flanza, POSD Chief Greg Delejero and Azcko Punong Barangay Benjie Pinlac> Alam nyo po ba ito mga boss tsip? Gisiiiing!
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That bloody incident wherein a female was stabbed dead inside her boarding house along Brower Road Baguio City is alarming and brings fear to residents of this once peaceful City, More so that this is another black eye to the peace and order and Baguio’s image as a peaceful place to live in.

As per initial findings, the motive of the killing could have been robbery but the way the victim died with 16 stab wounds was way beyond a peace loving person could imagine. No wonder, the family of the victim is shouting in exasperation that justice should be served. Though there is no witness willing to testify and since, the neighborhoods continue to be mum and silent, we urge the investigators to speed up and exert more efforts to solve this gruesome killing of a helpless native from Lomboy, Bauang La Union, who came in this city to work. Sampolan!
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As I am writing this column, I received a text message report from my bubwit that another incident happened at Sepic Rd., A road near Brower morning of June 4. According to him, trouble ensued on the area that resulted to wounding of several persons and it was fortunate that some taxi drivers volunteered to bring them to the hospital. However, according to my bubwit he did not see any barangay tanod or official who should have been there to assist and control the incident.

Brower where the gruesome killing happened and Sepic where the recent incident was reported by my bubwit happened in the same barangay of Campo Filipino. From what I know, most if not all of the barangay officials are all members of the Muslim community. Well, I am not saying that Muslims are not good leaders but Campo Filipino residents deserve to be protected and live peacefully thus, these barangay officials should now act accordingly and swiftly to avoid similar incidents in the future.
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Another salvage victim was found along the ravine of Tuba, Benguet. I don’t want to think that a vigilante group is behind the continued salvaging in Baguio and nearby provinces. Though criminals don’t deserve to live longer, they are but humans who should be given due process and punishment. This column condemns those people who have resorted to summary execution. Makonsensya naman kayo.
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A woman senior citizen in the city of Baguio shared her story on her experience in paying her water bills at the Baguio Water District collection center in Maharlika Building.

Manang “Gloria” (not her name) told this writer that sometime last May 27 or 28, she went to pay her bills at Maharlika early morning. Accordingly there were several people already in the line-up and since she was a senior citizen she joined the line intended for senior citizens only.

There were two female BWD collection clerks on duty at that time. But according to her, the other one went out thinking she went only to the nearby comfort room. But the long period of time constrained the people waiting to complain to the security guard posted nearby. The security guard knowing that the lady clerk only went to the CR asked them to be more patient but the same guard also wondered why the lady clerk was taking too long at the CR when there were lots of payors to be attended.

The lady clerk finally arrived back to the amusement of many including this senior citizen. The lady clerk had with her a plastic bag full of grocery items. Obviously, this lady clerk was perceived to have gone to the market the reason many have uttered the words “ P**ng *na naman , kaya pala matagal na nawala, eh namalengke, akala ba nag CR lang? At this point, this senior citizen confronted the lady clerk, but instead of an apology, this lady clerk in arrogant manner scolded the senior citizens saying they should not be the ones paying their bills and should observe the rule of first come, first serve basis.

Attention, BWD General Manager Teresita De Guzman. How about making rounds and inspect your personnel to teach them good manners and right conduct? Please tell them not to abandon their post for their personal purpose. After all, their salaries are coming from BWD clients’ money, right Madame De Guzman?