By DANNY O. SAGUN
PIA Dagupan Infocenter

LINGAYEN – Only a transmittal letter from the governor’s office to the sangguniang panlalawigan for the appointments of two co-terminus positions was all that came up – no fireworks at all.

Many observers including members of the media trooped to the sangguniang panlalawigan last Monday thinking that Rafael Baraan and Cesar Carpio would be grilled by the provincial board before their confirmation as provincial administrator and provincial information officer, respectively.

Baraan was seen proceeding to the office of Vice-Gov. Marlyn P. Agabas past 2 p.m. It was not immediately known if he met with the SP members who were holed up at the vice-governor’s office.

The session started past 3 p.m. already, late by almost one-and-half hours of the scheduled 2 p.m.

No proposed resolution regarding confirmation of the two officials was calendared in the agenda, it was noted. The appointments were only mentioned when the floor leader read the governor’s communication to the body.

Board Member Alfonso C. Bince, who had earlier voiced disagreement over Baraan’s appointment on the issue of residency, asked the two officials to submit their biodata so that the sanggunian, he pointed out, could study very well their qualifications.

Baraan served as administrator for Dagupan City during the past administration of Mayor Benjamin S. Lim. He was picked by the administration of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. soon after mayoralty bet Brian Lim, son of the former mayor, lost to comebacking Mayor Alipio Fernandez, Jr. in the last elections.

Baraan could not have been appointed administrator if he was not from the city, which is a basic requirement, Bince noted.

Baraan’s chances of confirmation dimmed with the filing of a complaint before the Ombudsman in connection with the controversial construction of a building at the Magsaysay area across city hall.

Bince had asked some mediamen after the session if Baraan was a subject of any complaint, to which the latter answered in the negative. His question was answered two days later when news broke out that Lim, Baraan and others were named as respondents in the graft case.

Meanwhile, the sangguniang panlawigan appropriated some P98 million last Monday to fund the recently-implemented salary increase for government workers as well as the year-end bonuses for provincial workers.