By Mortz C. Ortigoza
According to Department of Interior & Local Government undersecretary Rico Puno, the Writ of Preliminary Injunction with Temporary Restraining Order filed by Meridien Vista Gaming Corporation at the Court of Appeals has already long expired.
He said policemen in Regions III, IV, V are already after the operators and subalterns of these illegal number games.
If that is true, then Jai Alai operation should fold in Pangasinan and Dagupan City.
As what Dangerous Drugs Board Secretary Bebot Villar posed to media men earlier: “Bakit may Jai Alai sa atin? That’s a front. But that is accepted already by the mayors (who) gave their permit. I don’t know baka sila ang ma-Ombudsman, di ba?”
In the five towns and a city I have been, I saw myself how jueteng operators used Jai Alai as cover for their nefarious trade.
Former jueteng cobradores (betting agents) sport a Meridien identification card but underneath the betting paper of Jai-Alai was a papelito of jueteng.
“Front lang itong Meridien sa mga nagpapa-jueteng. Marami pa rin ang tumataya sa jueteng dahil mas mura at naiintindihan nila,” divulged to me by a cobrador.
“At mas gusto ng mga mayors and kapulisan, dahil mas malaki ang kita kaysa Jai-Alai,” a media man who was with me told the cobrador.
***
Is it true that among the Department of Education’s division offices in Pangasinan the one in San Carlos City is the most corruption-ridden? A public school teacher told me that the division office under City Superintendent Rowena C. Banzon practices R.A 170
R.A 170 is not Republic Act 170. It is only a play of words among people with sense of humor on how much a teacher applicant shell-out to get a job with a starting pay of P18 thousand a month.
It means an applicant pays criminal minds there P170 thousand to get the job.
My source told me that P40 thousand of this loot is shared to the principal where the vacant post awaits the lucky but mulcted applicant.
In the neighboring town of Urbiztondo and Mangatarem, my source told me a P40 thousand “good will” money is already enough.
The school officials there are not as greedy as those in San Carlos City.
If these damaging allegations are true, DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro, San Carlos City Mayor Ayoy Resuello, and the mayors of those two towns should investigate these matters.
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Last Father’s Day, I saw former Immigration Commissioner and former mayor of Dagupan City Al Fernandez treating his grandchildren at Jollibee-Calasiao.
As a Liberal Party (L.P), I asked the amiable and the “stout” former mayor what department or bureau the party prepares for him.
He emphatically told me there was none. He said one should apply for a post if he wants to get one.
Fernandez said he did not apply for any post.
I told him that some political kibitzers are looking for him or former Pangasinan Governor Victor Agbayani to get the top plum of Land Transportation Office in lieu of controversial Virginia Torres – who lately made a come back ala Douglas MacArthur at the consternation of fellow Pangasinense, billionaire and top honcho of Stradcom, Nestor Quimbao.
Al just smile, shook his head and told me “no.”
He said he would not get a position which he has no knowledge of.
I told him he is qualified since he got a Master’s in Public Administration from Lyceum Northwestern University (He graduated in 1996, while I, your humble “calumnist”, er, columnist was a pioneer graduate (aheem!) of that course in 1995).
If Al’s post in the government is still uncertain, I will hate the President, the old guards and the gate keepers of the party.
Susmariosep and how dare you people forget a man who was so loyal and hosted President Noynoy, vice presidential bet Mar Roxas, and the whole slate of the L.P whenever you barnstorm Region 1 in the 2010 national poll.
Have you forgotten those more than a kilo grilled bangus (milkfish), expensive malaga , and other aqua culture products you gnawed like there was no tomorrow every time you cool your heels when you visited several times the swanky fish-farm of Al.
I could say this since I was always there whenever you people dropped and even rest your back there.
Remember folks, when every city mayor in the whole country ingratiated with former Gloria “De Excelsis Plunder- Prone” Arroyo, Mayor Al gambled with your party by tirelessly hosting you all at his own expense in Dagupan City.
***
Pangasinan former governor Victor Agbayani’s former public information officer told me earlier that his boss face the same uncertainty with Mayor Al.
“Has somebody called you sir for any appointment?” Ruel posed to Victor as they downed couples of San Miguel Light beers at the house of the latter at Brgy. Pangapisan in Lingayen recently.
Agbayani told him in the negative.
Ruel told his boss that he should be calling pronto Mar Roxas.
“Mar has just been appointed at the DOTC (Department of Transportation & Communication). You congratulate him for his appointment, and asked him what help you can contribute to him,” Ruel told Victor.
Camba told me that Victor has a moist eye earlier to head the National Irrigation Administration. The post he said is where Agbayani is comfortable since that was his mark when he served Pangasinan as a nine-year governor.
Ruel said to me that he is being groomed by the Man-Friday in the media of Dagupan City Mayor Benjie S. Lim to be the top honcho of the City Information Office but declined it as he prepares himself to go wherever his beloved boss Victor goes.
It would be in heaven, hell, or high water, I no longer ask Ruel, a learned man who could discuss with me the intricacies of Dean Acheson, Watergate, Rand Corporation, what you got man, about it.
***
But what lesson we learned from Al and Victor is it doesn’t meant that every time President Aquino comes here in the province with LP people like Victor in tow he is already a shoo-in to any government position.
How dare you again, LP people! Ibalik ninyo iyong mga kina-in niyong mga bangus at malaga sa fish-farm ni Mayor Al.
(You can read my selected intriguing but thought-provoking columns at http://mortzortigoza.blogspot.com. You can send comments too at totomortz@yahoo.com).
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