21 December 2005
OPINION: Where’s Purisima? Shadowman stays in the shadows
The PEN SPEAKS
Danny O. Sagun
PERSISTENT is the apparent move to drive a wedge between Mayor Benjie Lim and House Speaker Jose de Venecia and it could eventually force them to clash in the next congressional election. If that happens, the Fernandezes (Vice Mayor Alvin or Immigration Commissioner Alipio) would have no sweat capturing City Hall anew and many are thus speculating that since the Fernandezes would benefit the most from such a JDV-BSL enmity, they could be fanning such intrigues.
But it is also possible that moves to sever the mayor’s ties with the Speaker are coming from Lim himself because unless he comes out of the Speaker’s shadow he cannot take another shot at the post he once held and in which he had endeared himself to the fourth district constituents.
The big question is, does he have a chance against the political giant? He cannot tell unless he tries. Ask former Vice Gov. Gonz Duque, who twice(?) tried to slay the giant but failed. Maybe his effort was not enough, or De Venecia was really that formidable.
It is possible to defeat him though. Why not? Lim once proved the De Venecia magic could be slain when he roundly defeated a De Venecia in Tessie. He did it through the massive votes of Dagupan City which overwhelmed the lead of Tessie deV in the four towns of the fourth district. He could duplicate that feat again.
JDV is different, many would dare compare. The mayor however has proven his electoral prowess too in his last political fights and that record could make the Speaker worry a bit, if not a lot.
A JDV-BSL face-off is far-fetched though at this point. Lim is on his second term yet and he may content himself taking a crack for a third term. This corner believes Vice-Mayor Alvin is willing to wait for another three years; anyway he is still very young.
The Speaker may not also like to see his wards fighting each other or that somebody will be fighting him even and he would do all he can – dance, sing, sales-talk—to avoid having an opponent. Anyway, the present set-up can be maintained without anyone getting hurt or sidelined.
And everybody will be happy. Perhaps only in 2001 when Benjie would be retiring from City Hall and Alvin goes full throttle for the mayorship would we see a battle royale.
The Cha-Cha, if pushed thru, however may change the whole scenario particularly if the provision on term limits is lifted. Abangan.
Danny O. Sagun
PERSISTENT is the apparent move to drive a wedge between Mayor Benjie Lim and House Speaker Jose de Venecia and it could eventually force them to clash in the next congressional election. If that happens, the Fernandezes (Vice Mayor Alvin or Immigration Commissioner Alipio) would have no sweat capturing City Hall anew and many are thus speculating that since the Fernandezes would benefit the most from such a JDV-BSL enmity, they could be fanning such intrigues.
But it is also possible that moves to sever the mayor’s ties with the Speaker are coming from Lim himself because unless he comes out of the Speaker’s shadow he cannot take another shot at the post he once held and in which he had endeared himself to the fourth district constituents.
The big question is, does he have a chance against the political giant? He cannot tell unless he tries. Ask former Vice Gov. Gonz Duque, who twice(?) tried to slay the giant but failed. Maybe his effort was not enough, or De Venecia was really that formidable.
It is possible to defeat him though. Why not? Lim once proved the De Venecia magic could be slain when he roundly defeated a De Venecia in Tessie. He did it through the massive votes of Dagupan City which overwhelmed the lead of Tessie deV in the four towns of the fourth district. He could duplicate that feat again.
JDV is different, many would dare compare. The mayor however has proven his electoral prowess too in his last political fights and that record could make the Speaker worry a bit, if not a lot.
A JDV-BSL face-off is far-fetched though at this point. Lim is on his second term yet and he may content himself taking a crack for a third term. This corner believes Vice-Mayor Alvin is willing to wait for another three years; anyway he is still very young.
The Speaker may not also like to see his wards fighting each other or that somebody will be fighting him even and he would do all he can – dance, sing, sales-talk—to avoid having an opponent. Anyway, the present set-up can be maintained without anyone getting hurt or sidelined.
And everybody will be happy. Perhaps only in 2001 when Benjie would be retiring from City Hall and Alvin goes full throttle for the mayorship would we see a battle royale.
The Cha-Cha, if pushed thru, however may change the whole scenario particularly if the provision on term limits is lifted. Abangan.
* * * * *
We are prompted to compare the present police provincial director to his predecessors in the matter of visibility. While he wants his field men to be physically present in their posts the whole day if possible, he is doing the opposite. The local media complains that Sr. Supt. Alan Purisima is inaccessible for interviews unlike his immediate predecessor, Sr. Supt. Mario Sandiego who finds time to present himself in media interviews particularly on radio. Twice, he graced our Thursday radio program at Radyo ng Bayan-DZMQ together with his community relations officer Supt. Ric Tamayo. He also took time replying to text messages. We could say the same about Sr. Supt. (now general?) Bogie Mendoza.
Purisima, who has been around for only about half a year, is quite difficult to reach even by cell phone. He reportedly has changed his number, apparently to avoid being pestered, by media particularly. We understand he is not used to facing the media every now and then, having worked in the intel community, where silence is golden. But he is now posted in a position that requires his comment, reaction, and action on the happenings in the province related to peace and order -- which situation, by the way, is getting alarming as evidenced by the rise in robbery-hold-up incidents.
Provincial Administrator Boy Solis, who obviously was himself piqued by Purisima’s continued silenced despite a memo from the governor, advised him to be more transparent by facing the people and the media.
That statement could be understood as a warning to the provincial director to change behavior or else face reassignment—or a recommendation to that effect.
Purisima, who has been around for only about half a year, is quite difficult to reach even by cell phone. He reportedly has changed his number, apparently to avoid being pestered, by media particularly. We understand he is not used to facing the media every now and then, having worked in the intel community, where silence is golden. But he is now posted in a position that requires his comment, reaction, and action on the happenings in the province related to peace and order -- which situation, by the way, is getting alarming as evidenced by the rise in robbery-hold-up incidents.
Provincial Administrator Boy Solis, who obviously was himself piqued by Purisima’s continued silenced despite a memo from the governor, advised him to be more transparent by facing the people and the media.
That statement could be understood as a warning to the provincial director to change behavior or else face reassignment—or a recommendation to that effect.
