CONSTRUCTION of a concrete bridge that will span the Pantal river here costing P800 million will begin by mid-March this year, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways.

DPWH Regional Director Fidel Ginez said construction of the newest bridge in Dagupan will be undertaken by the Toyo Construction of Japan which won the bidding for the project.

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POLICE SCORED big at a checkpoint in Rosario, La Union last Sunday when they found and confiscated 475 kilos of marijuana hybrid worth some P11.8 million based on market price of the banned item. Chief of Police Jonathan Sabado inspects the seized dried marijuana as Rosario PNP operatives look on. (PIA Photo By Sebs Aguinaldo)

SAYAN INDIO
Mario F. Karateka

ANGGAPOLAY deen ed saya a kuanko.

Aliling toy imbulos la imay “genie” o akakulong ya higante ed botelya tan dakel so nayarin nagawgawa lan ontombok. Saray totoon matudyo pakanengneng da et singa pinmawil la imay panaon no iner anggapolay nayarin onkontra tan mansalita laban ed gobyerno; ta lanti ed silong na Proklamasyon 1017 nen Presidente Arroyo, amin a batikos ed si Misis Arroyo et batikos lan ituring ed gobyerno. Nitan ka, Balong!

Say singa ansakit ya lorey daray arom ed samay agawad Manila sanen Biyernes et say nagmaliwan na Pipol Pawer Monyument dimad EDSA. Amta impaalagey ya bantayog o pagalang ed saray katoowan (people), aglaingen pinagatin diman iray katoowan. Antoyan kabaglan! Di maong lan gebaen sirin itan, awa?

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PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Proclamation No. 1017 declaring a State of Emergency throughout the Philippines, following a seemingly aborted coup d’ etat last Friday dawn, February 24, 2006 by disillusioned troops of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

More than any other actual or imagined implications of this presidential action, the threat to press freedom as in actual closure of media stations or outlets critical of the administration, and banning of the normal news reportage is ever present, if not already here. In fact, it is what the print, broadcast and television media fear (?) most as borne out during the press conference called that afternoon by Malacanang Palace with concerned cabinet members arrayed against mediamen.

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AFTER ALL
Behn Fer. Hortaleza, Jr.

WE CAN’T miss the irony of it in our life.

We started our career in government in 1973, just a year after Apo Marcos declared martial law in the country in 1972. Now that we’re just about to retire (having already signified our intention to avail of the PIA’s Rat (for rationalization) Plan), La Gloria shocked everyone, critics and all, by declaring a State of Emergency in the land.

For the Great Ilocano, it was Proclamation No. 1081; for the Kapampangan Spitfire, its Proclamation 1017. In between the two history-making moves is a span of 34 years.

So much airtime, so much newspaper space, so many blogs will be written about this move by President Arroyo in the days, weeks and indeed years to come, that’s for sure. Most of these will be recollections of the Marcos ML years or warnings of consequences – justifications will expectedly be drowned out by the avalanche of adverse comments.

We chose to discuss something other than these.

We chose to probe the great burden heaped upon those who will, as the State of Emergency progresses, have to be called upon to either favor or disfavor it sometime soon.

There are four such icons in the national landscape we can think of this moment who could provide, as the circumstances go, the so called “tipping point” in the entire scenario: the Supreme Court magistrates especially Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Generoso Senga, Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Jose de Venecia.

* * * *

Of the four, Panganiban as the top arbiter of laws in the land will be bearing the greatest burden of all, putting proper sense to the whole landscape, aided by the collective wisdom of his fellow justices, once a case is filed questioning GMA’s declaration of emergency. The High Tribunal’s action on this will have far-reaching implications and could either ease or exacerbate the national situation. May God grant them the clearest mind in interpreting the law and, by extension, the latest presidential action for the entire Filipino nation’s sake.

Gen. Senga — with former AFP Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes’ “withdrawal of support” manuever that largely triggered the Estrada administration collapse in hindsight — for all his cool, calm exterior, could still be inwardly grappling with many questions about the various facets of loyalty and duty until this time. Don’t look his movie star looks fool you; the man today is as troubled as troubled can be. Drilon as the third man in the succession totem pole, if and when something should happen to the Chief Executive and the Vice President, may have to be on his toes round the clock till the harsh winds of 1017 blows over or at the very least, simmers down.

And the irrepressible, incomparable Joe de V, his charter change proposal, now on wings of flight (not fancy, as some critics, put it) with a full army of congressmen behind him, could still find Fate smiling on him in the Year of the Dog — or whatever other animal sign is coming next.
There is no doubt that the House Speaker is the most solid, unyielding rock GMA can hold or hang onto in this critical season, the once trusted FVR who “saved” her throne with his mere presence when the Hyatt 10 tried to pull the rug from under her last year having already distanced himself from the Little Lady of Mekeni Country.

In these four men, we daresay, rests the future of the country now during these uncertain times. One or a combination of them, acting in the best — or worst — lights, could yet save the situation and bring about relative peace or put us all on the road towards national perdition.

In stormy weather, the captain could choose to hand over the rudder to the strongest of his mates.

THE PEN SPEAKS
Danny O. Sagun

THE coming Bangus festival that will involve the towns in the fourth district is meant to project the image of Dagupan City Mayor Benjie Lim nothing more nothing less, no matter the claim to the contrary of its organizers.

People will not suspect anything if the mayor has remained in good terms with House Speaker Joe de Venecia. But now that Lim has severed ties with the speaker and has even announced his intention to challenge him for supremacy in the fourth district, any move of his from now on like expanding the Bangus festival to neighboring towns would be linked to his political plans.

Why only now that such festival would involve the city’s neighbors? It should have been done last year or the time the festival was conceived.

Meanwhile, it was interesting to note that JDV has been very visible in the past few weeks in the entire district, visiting schools, police stations and distributing particularly Philhealth cards. He is obviously making up for the lost time. He might have been jolted by Lim’s sudden turnaround and possibly considers the mayor as a real threat. He could not just stay at the comfort of his office and let his wards do the campaigning for him as he had used to. The situation is now different. He has to work hard.

* * *

The LTO branch in Lingayen could have been an ideal place for motorists and vehicle owners to register their vehicles and apply for driver’s licenses with pretty, amiable, and approachable Jovy Dion around.

But as is true in almost any office private or government, at least two of Dion’s subordinates are doing a disservice. A chubby lady in a section there nonchalantly told this writer she was already processing the papers of the driver’s license application of my daughter and that of my Junior one day last December. Maybe there was nothing wrong with her seemingly innocent statement except for the fact that she made it while on my way to a canteen nearby and she was already there taking her lunch along with two companions.

It made me wonder since my two kids had just taken the written test and the papers were still with the examiner I suppose. What did she mean? A free lunch? It could be since she appeared arrogant after we ignored her.

The LTO has gone stricter in the registration of vehicles which we understand very well. But the vehicle inspector in that branch was going beyond his authority, even going against his boss.

Jovy had advised us to return a day after for her to confirm the registration of our motorcycle which the dealer had registered it with another branch. The time allotted also allowed my kid to return the motorbike to its original design as he had modified some of its features. The inspector whose face alone would tell anyone he is arrogant, the hard-to-please-type and puts weight around, was not convinced. He was adamant not to sign the inspection form because the side mirror according to his view is small. In a raised voice due to exasperation to his narrow mind, we were forced to point to the other motorcycles parked in the compound which have smaller side mirrors.

The exchange came to a head when he claimed we had detached a small paper from the documents in which he claimed he had written his observations on the first day we brought the bike for inspection, which he did not. We did not budge too. Obviously, he could not bluff us so he signed the form.

Told of it, Jovy said we were not the only person who got miffed of the actions of her vehicle inspector. We also learned later that said employee was only detailed to the Lingayen branch after his assignment in Alaminos and San Carlos LTO offices. In short, he was not welcome there.

We think Jovy had better move fast before her men destroys the good reputation her office has attained during her stint there. In fact, many motorists and vehicle owners we know have preferred going there and we ourself has opted to transact with her office for the license and registration needs of our family and our friends which in a small way has contributed to the marked increase in that branch’s revenue collections.

Smorgasbord
Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre

In one of our conversations with Supt. Edgar O. Basbas, Dagupan City police chief, he expressed concern on the rising incidents of juvenile delinquency in the city.

Three minors were apprehended early this month for driving in wee hours a tricycle with no plate number. It was loaded with stolen items from a sari-sari store in barangay Pantal.

Reports also reached the city police station and the Dagupan City Water District that children were being used by adults to steal water meters. From afar, it would look like the child is just playing but in reality he is already tinkering with the water meter. An adult soon comes to finish the job started by the child. Within minutes, the water meter is gone.

A 14-year old boy poked a gun at his playmate who was teasing him. Apparently, the boy brought with him his father’s gun when he went out of the house.

*****

Last February 2, 2006, we (this writer, Susan V. Yadao, Eva Visperas, Yolly S. Fuertes and Violy V. Ferrer) dropped-by at this center located in barangay Karayungan in Agoo, La Union.

It was not a planned trip, we didn’t event know this center existed. We were to cover the 15th PNP Anniversary Celebration of Police Regional Office 1 (PRO-1).

As suggested by Col. Basbas, we hitched with his policemen who turned over a young law offender to the center.

The center is located in a sprawling compound. The wards or juvenile delinquents housed there would appear like they were just on vacation. The center has a nurse, social workers and roving psychologists.

There were 65 minors committed (including the new arrival from Dagupan) at the center when we visited. Center chief Athena Jacutan said being committed here are youth offenders aged 18 years old and below all with suspended cases. The transfer from the police custody to the center is covered by a court order.

The youngest, a 10-year old boy, is charged for murder and theft. We were shocked by his answer when we asked him why he stabbed his friend. Without batting an eyelash and without a tinge of remorse, he said “mayabang kasi sya!”

Mrs. Jacutan said visitation is scheduled (and they are strongly encouraging parents or relatives to come and visit to children to enhance the psychological rehabilitation of the child).

The children do homelife activities like gardening, marketing, they help in the kitchen, cleaning inside and out of their dormitories. They also have spiritual activities. During rainy season, they plant palay.

They also have informal class (accredited by the Department of Education). Those with school records (and can already be trusted to go out of the center) are enrolled in elementary or secondary schools near the center. They are also given in-house skills training in cooperation with TESDA.

It really pains me seeing children not enjoying their pagiging bata; who are forced to play an adult’s game because of poverty or insensitivity of family.

WINDOWS
Gabriel L. Cardinoza
 

THURSDAY and Friday last week may have been the longest two days this year for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Despite her composed and firm image when she addressed the country on television last Friday, she showed signs of fatigue – and anger. It was quite obvious that she just had a sleepless night, maybe to figure out with her closest advisers how to deal with the crisis that never was.
 
As I listened to her, I wondered how the President reacted when she was told that Scout Ranger Gen. Danilo Lim had withdrawn his support from her. I wondered if at all she entertained the thought of losing her seat. Did she tremble? Did she panic that she immediately summoned her tactless chief of staff Mike Defensor to do thinking and talking for her? Did she yell “punyeta” to anyone she saw in Malacanang?
 
In restrospect, the President’s declaration of a state of emergency may have been an overreaction.

No one, not even Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales, could cite a good reason for the declaration, sending signals to progressive and activist groups that Malacanang had acted whimsically, too aftraid of its own shadows that it wanted to fill every street with soldiers in their full battle gears as prelude to Martial Law. As usual, it was only Mike Defensor who had the storyline, the plot and some unnamed characters that would make a good action tele-novela.
 
The other funny thing during last Friday’s “crisis” was when PNP Chief Art Lomibao ordered the transfer of former President Joseph Estrada from a hospital in San Juan where he is scheduled for an eye surgery to a “safer ground.” It was 3 a.m., a fuming Erap said in a radio interview. They came knocking hard on my door and even kicking it. But I refused to go with them, he added.
 
To say that Erap was unsafe in his own hometown, where the incumbent mayor is his son and where he also served as mayor for a long time, is simply preposterous. We recognize that it was the PNP’s responsibility to ensure Erap’s safety but at that moment, they could have immediately thought that Erap couldn’t have been safer right in his own house. Common sense.
 
Despite the state of emergency rule and the declaration of no rally zones, protesters asking the President to resign defied it. They marched in EDSA, at one point triggering a violent confrontation between the rallyists and the policemen. UP Prof. Randy David was even arrested while he was negotiating with a police general. Then, of course, former President Cory Aquino dared Malacanang to arrest her by leading the protest-march in Ayala to commemorate the 20 th year anniversary of the EDSA Revolution that toppled the Marcos dictatorship and to once again ask the President “to make the supreme sacrifice by resigning from the presidency.” Cory was not arrested.
 
As the last protester left Ayala last night, Malacanang declared that it’s over. In fact, they have done it earlier in the day by announcing that the military has thwarted at coup attempt.
 
If it’s really over, why not lift the state of emergency? Why the threats of arrests of civilian plotters and financiers?
 
The tension during last Friday’s “crisis” has certainly dissipated. President Arroyo still sits as President and to her supporters, “tuloy ang ligaya!” Gen. Danny Lim’s “defection”, however, must be one lesson Malacanang should find time to analyze. His action was not just a simple political exercise or military insubordination. Not even, as Malacanang loves to call it, “military adventurism.”
 
It’s time Malacanang starts listening hard to the people.

GMA IN BINALONAN. President Arroyo unveils the marker (left photo) for the new Binalonan Public Market which she inaugurated yesterday as Rep. Mark Cojuangco, watches appreciatively. The Chief Executive assisted by Mayor Ramon N. Guico, Governor Victor Agbayani (extreme left) and Philhealth regional Director Ernesto Beltran (not seen in photo), later handed out Philhealth cards by batches (right photo) to the town’s barangays in simple ceremonies still at the newly-inaugurated public market. (PIA Photo by Roland Naoe)