By LIWAY C. MANANTAN-YPARRAGUIRRE

BISKEG na Pangasinan , the only accredited provincial political party in Pangasinan had there board of directors and membership meeting last Tuesday evening at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City.

Presided by Biskeg na Pangasinan founding chairman and president, Undersecretary Antonio “Bebot” Villar Jr., the meeting was well attended. And the special guest? It was First Gentleman Mike Arroyo no less who arrived at the lobby of the hotel casually with only one person trailing him.

Through the motion of San Fabian Mayor Mojamito Libunao, FG Mike was unanimously adopted as (the first, and only, I heard) honorary member of Biskeg.

Among the things discussed during the Biskeg meeting was that priority person in a locality to become member of the group is the incumbent mayor. If and when he opts not to join the group, membership will be opened to other leaders who may include the incumbent’s opponent.

It was clarified during the meeting that this does not mean however that the other party will be invited to become a member; instead he will apply on his own volition and his application will pass through the usual screening process.

Aside from the mayors and provincial board members, the current membership of Biskeg now includes vice mayors, councilors and barangay captains. I think there are also businessmen and civic leaders who have joined the group.

Manong Bebot said that the formation (that includes registration at the SEC to make its existence legal) of Biskeg was a dream come true.

I overheard Atty. Gallant Soriano saying how he admires the undersecretary for his being able to achieve what other known (and with clout and all) Pangasinense political leaders in the past were not able to do.

*****
Gen. Leopoldo N. Bataoil is back in Police Regional Office 1 (PRO-1) as regional director.

Before his assignment in Manila years back, he was designated as PRO-1chief of staff. That was after his stint as Pangasinan provincial director.

An officer and gentleman, he kept silent all the time when his re-assignment to PRO-1 was still uncertain.

In our tete-a-tete at the Heritage Hotel hours before he flew to the police regional office in La Union, Gen. Bataoil said his re-assignment in his home region is a dream come true.

“At least bago ako mag-retire (which is still years from now) ay nakapag-serve ako sa ating rehiyon as regional director.

Being assigned in PRO-1 is a challenge, he said. Both his former post (as director of the Northern Police District at the National Capital Region), and as PRO-1 director requires a star-ranked officer.

He firmly believes in the power of prayers. He was a shoo-in to the position as successor of Gen. Alfredo B. de Vera, groomed even by his former boss, retired Gen. Arturo C. Lomibao. But what was expected to happen did not come easily nor smoothly.

“This is one case in point of storming heaven with prayers. That nothing is impossible with prayers. It was a very good birthday gift,” said the general who celebrated his birthday a day before his assumption.

A person close to Gen. Bataoil said their return to the region will not be a walk in the park for them as the general is a workaholic.

Welcome back sir!.
*****