BULL’S HIT

Rudy Garcia

Top Baguio official detained in casino

The first week of this Year of the Os seems not too good as I was greeted with bad news that two of my close friends died Jan. My former guest columnist of this paper expired at the Baguio General and Medical Hospital after a long battle with the Big C. Bernadette Dicang Durano or “Manang Bernie” made her last wish to this writer if I could feature her on my column which I eventually did.

I delivered her a copy when I visited her in the hospital. I could see joy in her eyes when her watcher who is beside us read the article and all Manang Bernie could mumble are the words “Thank you Rudy, that was a good piece, a precious gift from you.”

Those were the last words I heard from her, my favorite guest columnist who always came to the rescue whenever I could not beat the deadline of my column. Now, I know she would be there to continue writing her articles with the best mentor and editor. May the Lord bless her and may she rest in peace.

Then, a day after, I got another bad news from attorney Sera whom I happened to meet at Abanao Street informing me that engineer Ferdinand Boncodin, Jr. of la Trinidad, Benguet died of complications believed attributed to his smoking and drinking habits.

Boncodin or “Bukol” is not only a friend but a brother who used to sleep and eat at our family house in South drive. I don’t mean to say that his fate could be his fault. But he was a hard headed fellow he didn’t heed our advice to lay low on smoking and drinking habits.

If he did, he could be living longer in this world and have more happy moments with his good wife and children. Nevertheless, we will all get there and it is our destiny. None of us could guess who would be next on the line, my condolence to their relatives and friends.
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One of the controversial issue nowadays is the “Alabang Boys” drug case. Do I stand corrected to call the suspects “Alabang men” instead of “Alabang boys?” They are no longer minors and know what is right or wrong.

The controversial issue started when PDEA agents arrested the “Alabang boys” from a drug buy bust operation. State prosecutor John Resado of the Department of Justice dismissed the case on the basis of technically, but the PDEA refused to release the suspects, at this point the later is now crying foul and the sympathy of the public goes to them. It was a perception that the PDEA operatives exerted efforts to catch the suspects only to dismiss the case filed for resolution at the Department of Justice. So, is the instant case mishandled by whom?

At a congressional probe, Resado admitted they have been releasing suspects dismissing cases without the final review of the justice secretary which is an utter disregard of memorandum circular of then former Justice Secretary Datumanong issued last 2003.

PDEA agent Major Ferdinand Marcelino also alleged there was an attempted bribery to free the suspects. But I just wonder why they did not made any entrapment if they were this good as they were in doing their buy-bust operations.

I supposed, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is not happy with what is going on the reason maybe that she appointed herself as the anti-drug czar following her earlier order for the prosecutors at DOJ involved in Alabang Boys controversy to go on leave. But I guess it’s more appropriate for her to order resignation of all government officials involved in the case whether they are from DOJ, PDEA etcetera!
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Most Baguio City Market vendors who were asked to attend the Rizal day anniversary at Rizal Park in Baguio were dismayed when President Arroyo failed to attend the activity. They were expecting that the President would give them some “Pamasko” but seemingly it was only an enticement for them to go there just to draw more crowd for the president, hence many are asking if the president really forgot to attend or she was avoiding the place where she once made a promise that was eventually broken, the reason maybe that she choose to set her foot at San Fernando City, La Union on that day, less talk, less mistake for her.
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Is it true that a top city official in the city of Baguio was arrested and detained at the Subic Bay Casino for his unruly behavior? According to the story, this official who is known for his habitual drinking and plans to ran for mayoralty post in Baguio was drunk that time and played the casino pitsas in his mouth to bring him good luck. But it was funny for bad luck struck him instead.
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At the rate things are going on at the Baguio City council in the deliberations of the garbage problem, I guess residents are advised to brace up for the possible garbage crisis the coming days ahead. Why? They hare not come up with a concrete solution on how and where to dump garbage that would soon be piling up on roads and in every corner considering that mayor Reinaldo Bautista could now be in Macau that would leave the city council to resolve this long problem themselves.This August body needs to double efforts, otherwise, this Baguio would be called “The garbage city of the north.”
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How true is it that the clearing operations of the demolition team of the city public order and safety division were temporarily halted because of lack of funds? Unbelievable, but this summer capital city was perceived to have had enough resources and funds and now they are saying “Wala nang pondo?” so what is going on? How I wish I was just dreaming and somehow would wake up to see that Baguio is still the city I used to enjoy living.
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The “Bomb Scare” inside SM Baguio that happened last January 4 of this year should serve as a wake up call to the administration of this establishment to tighten security measures and order the security agency handling security services to be more strict and alert in securing their areas of responsibility particularly in areas where monitoring is needed like the main entrance and the lobby.
I personally was a witness how guards at the two main entrances of SM Baguio poorly searched bags and people entering the place. I hope the security agency would find some time to conduct briefings and seminars with their guards, after all patrons and lessees of SM Baguio don’t need their paporma. What people need are reliable security services, Hindi iyong pagbabawal lang ng mga sasakyan sila magaling!
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If there is a truth that there will be a major reshuffling of regional directors at the Department of Environment and Natural resources then we expect also an overhaul of DENR officials in the Cordillera who seem to be incompetent and helpless in stopping the illegal pocket mining going on for years at Camp 6 Kennon, Tuba Benguet.

The sooner the change of command the better since we cannot just close our eyes on what we see when there are these officials who should be taking appropriate action to stop the deterioration of our mountains. Hopefully, those who will take over would take down this matter as their priority. Taking this longer would bring more dangers to the lives and properties of residents living nearby. Balasahin na!