True colors

 LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March Fianza

Nine days to go and we will find ourselves shading the circles across the names of our candidates. Pray that the PCOS machines in your precinct will swallow hook, line and sinker your ballot and what you shaded. This should mean that your inserting the ballot into the machine went smooth and that who you voted for is what should be counted.

Yellow, green, blue, orange, red or whatever colors a candidate represents, the true color is seen through his past actions and campaign promises. The candidates who wear green shirts for example are not exactly representative of what the green color originally represents which is the environment. In Baguio, I see that many of them in the green team are not true to the color they wear.

They try to portray their images as something sympathetic to the plight of the remaining trees but they have allowed tree cutting activities within the mini forest behind SM with one of them saying “ay kinat du initing!” Their multi-million peso funded projects that they brag about in their statement “aramid ti pakakitaan” have encroached on trees and forests. Their boastful statement should be “aramid ti pagkakitaan.”

The same Baguio green team leader never lifted a finger to stop the wish of co-players to cut trees that were standing in the path of golf tournaments insider John Hay. I was told later after the trees were cut “with permission” from the JHMC and the LGU that the DENR was bypassed or was avoided in order that the cutting would push through.

Then a “dialogue” between those involved and Malacanang later took place. By the way, as I write this, I was told that a “case of sexual abuse” happened inside John Hay sometime in March. I never came across a news report about the incident, maybe it was deliberately cut off from the media. The authorities do not want this to be out in the press because the former American base should be portrayed as “clean,” walang masamang nangyayari under PNoy’s matuwid na daan. That, of course, is a story that should be followed up soon.

The red team’s Baguio congressional bet meanwhile, has been misunderstood by voters who looked at him as a supporter of illegal settlers at the Busol Forest. He got stuck in that situation when he successfully stopped the demolition of houses at Busol.

So that until now some quarters that include the media do not understand or refuse to accept his explanation. A little scrutiny from my end led me to the truth. I found out that the reason why councilor Nick Aliping, a lawyer, physically stopped the demolition team from implementing what they were “ordered” to do was to prevent an injustice.

There was an order for demolition for three structures but the demolition team was out to demolish seven structures, a clear violation of the order. The additional four structures were not included in the mayor’s demolition order, but the demolition team was hell bent on demolishing the other structures.

On the other hand, the lawyers of the owners of the structures had filed for a TRO with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) that was to be out by 2pm of that day. Apparently, the mayor’s demolition team was beating the 2pm TRO by entering the site and attempting to demolish the structures in the morning even while the TRO was being processed.

Eventually, the TRO was served. If demolition proceeded that morning, the outcome could have been bloody with casualties from both sides. In addition, there could have been irreparable damage and injustice for the owners of the other structures that were purposely included in the demolition by a team that knows no more than obey veiled orders. Unwittingly, Aliping’s action saved city hall from shame and saved the neck of the mayor. I am not suggesting that you vote for the guy. That is up to you. Now you know.

In Benguet, the green team is following after the footsteps of the national opposition. Last week, there were talks going around that a candidate for local executive post has been using his connection with a provincial official by acting as the distributor of funds released for local organizations that solicited funding support for their livelihood projects.

Last week, there were reports that Vice President Jejomar Binay who is also housing czar campaigned for his daughter and senatorial bet Nancy while distributing land titles in Butuan. Senate bet RizaHontiveros called this as highly unethical since it would appear that the Vice President was “dispensing government services to solicit votes for his own daughter.”

Candidates such as those who survive under the shadow of their elders have no business taking over the reins of the LGUs they intend to head. My unsolicited advice is for them to continue getting rich by engaging in private business which I believe is their expertise, and not attempt to gain their riches by disguising as public servants. And who would want to vote for President a disreputable Vice President who has a disreputable senator daughter?

The yellow team of congressional bet Ronald Cosalan and mayor re-electionist Greg Abalos, according to Roger Sinot of the Republic of Asin, has a lead that cannot easily be overtaken. The incumbent congressman, he said, is “supported by his grassroots development and livelihood projects.” Abalos, on the other hand, is using up his time in campaign sorties, answering non-issues that are thrown at him by his opponents on two sides.

My cousin from Daclan, Bokod none other than Atty. Robert Basco only reacted by shrugging his shoulders, saying at the same time that candidates who do not have legitimate platforms to present to their audience resort to mudslinging. He explained the situation further and likened Abalos to a fruitful mango tree that is pelted with stones by passers-by. “Nu awan bungam, labas-labasan da ka laeng,” he said.      

By the way, I am wondering why the candidates in Baguio and Benguet and other parts of the Cordillera who have been active in endorsing regional autonomy have suddenly lost their tongues. In their political rallies, nobody is talking about Cordillera autonomy which they have been claiming as something good for the region. Is this an indication that regional autonomy is a sensitive issue that they are scared to endorse now, knowing that talking about it might shoo away prospective voters?

Nine days to go and I am itching to vote for the following senatorial bets. They are: Hontiveros, Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Teddy Casino, Rep. Sonny Angara, Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn, Jesus is Lord Movement leader Eddie Villanueva, Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Koko Pimentel who has been robbed of his services as a senator, Grace Poe, Greco Belgica, Loren Legarda and Ricardo Penson.