Bacolod as site of
survival training

We might amend our survival training to start right here in the city.

That was the stunning revelation by a US businessman who has put up a survival training course in Ma-ao, Bago City.

I was myself jarred by that revelation by Jimmy Araneta in whose place in Ma-ao the businessman is currently conducting a survival course training. The reason for that – he managed to video tape several tricycles going against the traffic on the roadway from SM mall going to the Bacolod Plaza.

“My wife and I were also astounded by the brazen disregard for traffic rules by the trike drivers. And they whizzed through without regard to the danger to their lives and those of car drivers,“ stressed Araneta as he recounted that incident Wednesday night.

The foreign business executive claimed to have seen a similar sight only in a part of India. “Otherwise, your city is the perfect picture of chaos and bedlam,” was his comment to Araneta.

Well, that should be news to our city officials. I hope that such a negative impression of a foreign visitor would prompt City Mayor Evelio Leonardia to stir from his office and throw the book at the traffic enforcers.

And, yes, Araneta pointed out to me that these enforcers were simply viewing the entire situation with complete aplomb. As if it were a normal thing happening there.

Most likely.

* * *

Now, Malacañang has changed its tune. Deputy Secretary Manuel Gaite had reportedly raised from various private sources the P500,000 fund he had entrusted to the brother of Rodolfo Lozada to send him to Hongkong.

That, after the senators and this column, raised doubts as to the capability of Gaite being able to rustle up that much fund in a short time unless he were a multi-millionaire.

But even then, considering that he is a lawyer, Gaite may find himself holding the bag on that transaction. If he intends to get back the amount from Lozada, he may be in for a lot of trouble. He must be able to tell the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee who the real lenders were and produce the receipts indicating that the amount raised was for Lozada.

That is important before the Senate could turn over the money to him.

When you change versions of a story, you’ve got to be sure that it is airtight and could not put you in a compromising situation instead.

That’s the predicament of Gaite now.

* * *

That rush-hour raid by eight unidentified men of a downtown merchandising shop is one for the police book of the city.

The suspects allegedly took off with 40 cellphones from the Unitop Merchandising along Gonzaga Street in downtown Bacolod.

Now, one should remember that this is a busy street at the hour. And it is just a stone’s throw from City Hall.

And, yet, no one among the sidewalk vendors or the evening crowd had called up for help. Including the two security guards.

Now, that’s one for the books.

Police Station 1 commander Noel Manaay should be able to unravel the identities of the robbers who, incidentally, per the statement of the guards, were armed only with knives.

Which only proves that there was no police visibility anywhere near the area.

* * *

One, of course, does not expect President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to resign despite the massive outpouring of public disenchantment by a growing number of civic and business organizations against the graft and corruption of her administration as epitomized by the ZTE-NBN broadband deal.

Contrary to the protestations by Malacañang that the protest is confined solely to Manila, there are now indications that the clamor for her resignation has readily spread to the countryside.

In short, this is now a nation rising in protest. And Bacolod is joining the “Search for Truth” by Monday. And more people and organizations are expected to participate in Monday’s celebration of EDSA Uno.

The group is spearheaded by Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra. But there have been so far no perceptible movement in the other dioceses of Negros Occidental such as Kabankalan and San Carlos.

The call for communal action by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has become an infectious call. Now, even in Bacolod civil society is stirring. And more and more pointed questions are being asked not only by the Anti-Baha coalition, but other groups who want transparency in government transactions.

A healthy development. For one, City Mayor Evelio Leonardia had already temporarily suspended the award for the bid for 10 dump trucks by the city government.*

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