Man Who Puts Order in the Mayor's Office

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Many callers have been surprised in the orderly corporate liked transformation of the office of the mayor here.

Thanks to the stringent enforcement of Gerald Gutierrez, the special assistant to Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil, who controlled the influx of indigents, solicitors, village chiefs, and others inside the office of the first class capital town's chief executive.

They have to queue or sit outside before their names are called by Gutierrez’s staff for them to confer with the mayor or Gutierrez.

He  used to be a 28-year bank manager before he was whisked by Bataoil to be his special assistant in taming the hoi polloi who massed to enter the office of the mayor.

GATE KEEPER. Special Assistant Gerald Gutierrez (left photo) the “sheriff” who puts order in the office of Lingayen, Pangasinan Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil (right photo). The latter is an alumnus of the Philippine Military Academy as seen on his class bull ring. Bataoil is a member of PMA Class of 1976.

During the 27 years reign of then mayors Jonas and Josefina  “Iday” Castaneda, people of various persuasions “shoved and jostled” for a seat inside the mayor’s office and compete again to have a seat in front of the table of the mayor.

“You can see Mayor Jonas and the village chiefs puff their cigarettes in between sipping their hot coffee while marginalized members of the society who hailed as far as Bugallon and Aguilar towns solicit for monies to buy milk for their infants, medical needs, and others,” a media man, who asked for anonymity, cited his experiences inside the office of the mayor here.

Gutierrez said Mayor Bataoil wanted that his office should be orderly and not tupsy turvy.

His new protocol how a constituent meets with the mayor however offended barangay chairmen and media men.

“They use to enter unhampered the office of the mayor. They were not used to be asked what their purpose where they have to jot their name, time of arrival, and their purpose at the ledger keep by a guard near the door,” the media man said.

Gutierrez explained the thick blue covered book serves to update the mayor about guest who came to his office on that day or the previous days.

He could cite a certain media man what time and day he dropped by whenever the mayor asked him.

“There were cases where a solicitor (for financial aid) would visit the office for six times in a month thanks to the ledger”.

Some media men attacked Gutierrez in their radio programs by even concocting incriminatory story how he patently abused his position.

“The mayor told me to ignore them otherwise I would be affected by their diatribes".