BULLS HIT

Watching the dis)honorables
RUDY GARCIA

It is the month of February and who would forget this is Valentine’s month in this year of the rat? Unlucky I have not yet found a special someone to date on Feb. 14. Lucky are those who have valentinos or valentinas for they have someone to hug and not be bothered by the chilling cold weather. And who could also forget that February is the month for the Chinese. I look forward to watching those dragon dances, catching coins and eating my favorite tikoy. So when will be the press con? I really miss the food at Supreme Hotel courtesy of Mr. Peter Ng and company.

February is also a busy month at the treasurer’s office at the Baguio City hall. Many are lining up to pay their taxes. I wish this will not add to the burden of our kababayan who are trying their best to make both ends meet. Kudos to them. Of course the Baguio treasurer’s office personnel are also commended for doing their job well.

While the city treasurer’s office is one among the busiest offices at city hall, the permits and licensing office could also start to monitor and inspect business permits of all business establishments in this summer capital. This office should be informed that a lot of businesses particularly on night establishments serving liquor had been operating without any business permit since last year 2007 and it is a wonder why they were not padlocked by the city government. And I suppose some of these establishments could not be granted permits because of the existing liquor zoning ordinance.

What bothers me though, are reports from my bubwits that some city officials are allegedly coddling businesses without permits. Some of these establishments could be found at Dagohoy, Lower Magsaysay, Lakandula, Rajah Soliman and Otek streets. Who are protecting these establishments? It would be a good job for the permits and licensing office to unmask these people.

And how about the reported existence of fixers at city hall? This could be another job for. Cristio Lagyop and his men, unless the fishy smell could be coming out right there from his own department. Right Mr. Lagyop? We are watching!
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I understand the reason why the Department of Transportation and Communication Cordillera regional director Federico Mandapat Jr. stood pat on his order to prohibit trucks, buses, and public utility vehicles like vans, mini buses from passing through Kennon Road. This is because of the danger it poses to passing motorists. The lawyer though advised that they pass through Marcos Highway instead as their alternative route.

And, as usual, a lot protested from his order but Manong Bong, as I call him, stood firm and was never influenced by some politicians who were wooed by some complainants to court him. This man got the balls and his sense of social responsibility for those people whose life could be in danger once they pass along Kennon.

However, it will be more appeasing to see the DOTC director get rid of those smoke belching vehicles registered under his turf. Like motorists passing at Kennon, killer smoke is endangering lives of many who are susceptible to air pollutants. They die slowly from respiratory ailments and even lung cancer. It is a wonder why our own authorities seem to be looking the other way around, and not serious in their campaign against these smoke belching vehicles. And how about those accredited smoke testing centers?

How true that these centers are issuing certificates to operators and owners who could pay extra amount of money so there will be no more inspections? And who could be involved in this cashsunduan? I bet, these are some of the corrupt men at DOTC, LTFRB and LTO. This is another challenge for Manong Bong who is a known advocate against graft and corruption. Perhaps, he can start going after his men who could be in cahoots with those fixers at DOTC-CAR, LTFRB, LTO and accredited drug and smoke testing centers and the rest could follow.
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It is another joke for us ordinary pinoys to be watching our authorities turning deaf and blind and worst inutile on illegal activities done right under their noses. One instance is the continued operation of illegal numbers game called jueteng, reported to be on the upswing in this summer capital and other nearby provinces, which is being operated by a certain Luding who, accordingly could be mistaken as a balut vendor or even a construction worker once you see or meet him personally.

Well, that could be his way of hiding his real identity, a smart idea to camouflage -- as smart as those authorities who simply are hypocrites pretending to be on all out war against this illegal numbers game but the truth is they themselves are the ones giving protection to the operators. While it could be true that they are now arresting so kubradors, we have yet to see the managers or even its operator placed behind bars.

Its no surprise though to hear a story from a friend who said that some officials were like this important young one who were meek as a lamb from the start but later became smart ones upon learning their ABCs and arithmetic and from there, they started to enter into underground deals like jueteng. Yes!

They didn’t want to be part of the game at the start. But the color of money is hard to resist, the reason they are now among those who joined the bandwagon of jueteng money takers, where most of its members have a common motto -- see nothing, hear nothing, and do nothing. They really have the cooperation. I suggest they form a cooperative to be called Jueteng Coop. in fact,
I would even call them, cooperatives rather than authorities. Be careful, for the temptation from jueteng is just around the corner.

I was nearly into their trap, but its good that I maintained my sense of control from this temptation as my parents who are now in heaven have been telling me since I was a kid..! Never receive money or goods coming from bad sources.

Haan ka nga agtakaw! I recall. I just don’t know if this city official has the same parental upbringing like mine. Mind you, he is rich but how come, so young and yet sooo… Your guess is as good as mine.