I GOT up close and personal last Friday with Vice Mayor Harold Respicio of Reina Mercedes, Isabela, the very young but very vocal and brutally frank public official who bravely exposed the ills and anomalies of PBBM and his cohorts.
His stentorian voice, and very clear presentation of data, reverberated across the crowded halls of Max Chicken House in QC Circle, as the media people listened, filmed and recorded his very colorful factual narration.
When I got my chance to talk to him, he admitted that he was indeed “harassed” and “threatened” many times by “you know who” when he started opening his mouth about corruption.
But he said, all is fair in love and war, as he accepted the fact that when one begins to spread “bad news” about the administration, the government officials concerned would usually do all efforts to discredit and destroy him.
But I am not afraid, I am ready to face the consequence, he told me.
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Like Cong Kiko Barzaga and Cong Leandro Leviste, VMayor Respicio assumes the role of somebody who has decided he has had enough of everything, has seen and heard everything and decided enough is enough.
They have balls, and are ready to show it, to all and sundry.
Bahala na og unsay mahitabo, basta lang mahibaw-an sa mga tawo ang ilang panig.
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We have some of them in our midst but unlike the 3 models, what we have are public officials with packaging tapes plastered on their mouths, afraid to see, hear and speak evils in government.
Kay basig initan or makasohan ba kaha.
Tak-om lang ang baba ug padayon na lang sa pagdawat og “ayuda” from the congressman/woman.
Ang uban pa gyod, magpatuo-tuo nga tarong kunohay, malukop og picture-picture kon mosimba, nga di kuno kurakot, nga di kuno modawat of “hiphip” gikan sa contractor or supplier, pero diay, sekreto ra og dawat unya tagoan dayon ang kwarta nga nadawat gikan sa contractor. Unya aron di magka-problema sa ilang SALN, adto na lang isulod ang cash sa vault, dili ideposito sa bangko, aron sayon ra matago og di mogawas sa ilang mga disclosure.
Kon makit-an nimos simbahan, suskong taronga og nawong, magpiyong-piyong pas mata kon mangadye unya diay to, hilabihang kurakota.
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The media presentation of the 3rd articles of BBM impeachment last Friday was also very enlightening.
While the 1st impeachment complaint was filed ahead, and readily received as such, it is burdened with one basic flaw – it lacks the necessary attachments supporting the averments.
When such complaint is referred to the House Committee on Justice and heard on the issue of sufficiency of form and substance, seguradong tagak dayon, dismissed because there is no substantiation.
Pulos lang motherhood statement and verily it does not stand a chance at hurdling the hearings before the Committee on Justice.
Of course, we know that an impeachment proceedings is a political, not legal, process.
It is just a game of numbers, padaghanay lang sa boto, kon kinsay makakuha og daghang Yes votes sa mga kongresmen, maoy mogawas nga winner.
But because the proceedings is open to the public, filmed and recorded by everyone with camera, and easily circulated in the social media, dali ra makit-an sa mga tawo kon gaunsa ang ilang mga kongresmen panahon sa impeachment, unya kay padung na man pod na piniliay, surely they cannot afford to gamble their chances of winning, and reclaiming, their elective positions in 2028.
Labi na og molansad na gyod si Inday Sara pagka-presidente.
Impas-patatas gyod nang mokontra.
