BULL's HIT

Rudy Garcia

The way things are going now in Mindanao, we can’t help but pity our civilian brothers and sisters out there who were greatly affected by ongoing hostilities. It is somehow a relief to know that most of these Moro Islamic Liberation Front camps are now been overrun by the Armed Force of the Philippines. I wonder how long will it take for the long arm of the law to catch up with commanders Bravo and Kato, who up to now are still at large like loose bulldogs ready to attack anytime.

While the military claims it has control of most of the MILF camps, most of the civilian evacuees’ refuse to return home for fear of their lives. This means they don’t believe that the government could protect them from those rebel forces.

The government should think that what is happening started when it entered into a deal with the MILF but retracted due to opposition and more so after the Supreme Court ordered a stop for the signing of the said memorandum of agreement. It is but proper for the government to give full protection to affected civilians no matter how. It should stand firm in going after these rebels cum terrorists and better still, issue a shoot-to-kill order to give this criminal group a doze of their own medicine.

There are propositions that the MILF should be declared a terrorist organization, but, isn’t it funny to think that our own government nearly conspired and made a deal with a terrorist organization?
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All was well and ended well at the Beijing 2008 Olympics with China topping the over-all standing with 51 gold medals while the United States of America placed second with 36 golds. Though the Philippines got a very low standing from this recent Olympics, we should be proud of our athletes who did their best and mostly the two wushu players of Baguio who brought home with them two bronze medals. With this humble column, let me commend these two of Baguio’s pride for bringing honor to the country. Kudos kina Mariano at Rivera and may you bring home more medals in the future.
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I received reports from one of my bubwits that the illegal pocket mining or usok at camp 6, Tuba, Benguet continues to operate despite dangers this would bring to the nearby residents in the area.

Lately, residents were again caught flat footed with the consecutive explosions they heard at the mining site which they believe are being used to open some portions of the mountains for mining. My bubwit said anyone who passes by along the highway could see several holes at the mountain that could weaken and lead to disaster such as landslides.
I have been calling the attention of concerned authorities through this column to look and investigate the reported illegal mining and illegal quarrying at Camp 6, Tuba, Benguet but this seems to be taken for granted especially the barangay officials. Are they just waiting for untoward incidents to happen before they act appropriately? Hoy, Agkuti kayo met a Apo!.
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A lot of speculation are coming out after the fire that hit two girlie bars and one billiard joint along Legarda Road in Baguio early dawn of Aug. 27. Reports have it that a molotov bomb thrown by an irate costumer inside a VIP room in one of these KTV bar caused the fire.
I wonder though how this costumer was able to enter or return inside the joint unnoticed by the employees of the KTV Bar unless there could be some kind of conspiracy between the suspect and his companions who were left behind before the incident.

Whatever reason or cause of this untoward incident, it is still a big question why the security personnel failed to institute safety measures to prevent untoward occurrences like this one, or were they sleeping on their posts and caught flatfooted when they heard an explosion?
I don’t want to blame them in this incident but I strongly urge the security agencies to be more strict in recruiting watchmen, otherwise, establishments would be paying their guards for nothing. Kumuha naman kayo ng kuwalipikado, hindi iyong pinabili lang ng suka sa kanto, guwardiya na!
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The Baguio city police force finally got a new police chief in the person of Supt. Wilfredo Franco. Let’s just wait and see if the new chief has the will to improve peace and order in this summer capital and how he will he go after the lawless elements. As I have been saying. whenever there is someone new in the position, urayen tayo ti garaw na a bago tayo agsao. That’s it, but nevertheless, we welcome the new BCPO chief.
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There is now a brewing rift between the Baguio City public order and safety division and ambulant vendors along the city market. This after the POSD operatives conducted no- nonsense clearing operations against those hard headed vendors who continue to occupy even the middle of roads to ply their trade.

One instance was an incident along Zandueta and Kayang streets around 11a.m. of Aug.. 23 where some fish vendors were allegedly manhandled by operatives of the POSD, but the POSD claimed otherwise saying the vendors threw stones at them hitting passersby, the reason why they had to fight back to defend themselves.

It is my opinion that city mayor Reynaldo Bautista should look into this matter before anything happens to any POSD man like what happened to former POSD officer George Dumawing who was shot and seriously wounded while doing his duty.

He should also look into possibility of expanding the authority and responsibility of the POSD like the POSO in Dagupan City or the MMDA in Metro Manila. But most important, he should conduct a dialogue with the vendors to let know their sentiments. After all, these vendors are also humans who have families to feed. It is better to sit down and compromise than using iron hands that could break the peace. Kakaasi da met mayor dagita tao nga agbibinato ken mabatbato!
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A public high school teacher in Baguio complained to this writer about the proliferation of computer and internet shops or cafes near their school campus. The dismayed teacher is accusing the concerned authorities of being bulag, pipi at bingi on these establishments which she said don’t even have business permits.

Some could even be found inside residential houses where some students are now addicted in playing computer games rather than attending to their classes or making good use of the computers like school research. Attention, Department of Education and Councilor Fred Bagbagen, committee chairman on education. Paki busisi ninyo naman po ang reklamong ito!