Bredco issue, let the court decide

The Bredco case against city officials filed with the Regional Trial Court was raffled already. It fell into the sala of RTC Judge Fernando Elumba.

This will now calm the noise until the next election. The Bredco case is a political issue. The filing of the case is a win-win solution.

I talked with two Bredco officials, Buddy Jison and Willy Au. And former Vice Mayor Renecito Novero. They all said, they are all friends and the case is a legal battle.

I asked Buddy, how does Bredco Boss Sammy look at it. He said, Sammy Palanca looks at it as a legal issue but he is pained by the issue that makes him appear a villain.

Why? I asked. Because it is made to appear he does not want to pay the city the amount the city officials are asking for, Buddy said.

I said, I don't believe that is the perception. If we make a survey of Bacolod , Sammy Palanca has a very high goodwill rating for what he has done to Bacolod with the reclamation.

People do not agree with government managing a port operation. What should be resolved by the court is how much must be the rent.

Well, it's there in the court now. Let it decide.

* * *

Our readers on our item about Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto were very supportive of him.

On Tony Meloto, my friend Pol Escobia texted me that “To eradicate poverty implementation of government's povery alleviation program must be done, not by corrupt government people but by people with pure hearts like Tony Meloto.”

Then a little later, he sent another text in the dialect, “Tani mabasa ang item mo sang iban para makabulig kuhit sa mga nagapautingol kag balingag nga mga opisyales, puera sang mga maayo.”

It's translated to something like this, “Hope your item is read by others so that they can help prod calloused and wayward government officials, except the good ones.”

My other friend Neil Honeyman texted me, “Reverse migration by generating employment away from cities. How? Many IT jobs like call centers can be anywhere.”

I will share these inputs with Tony Meloto who told me he was flying to Australia Thursday night, then to the U.S. where he will head a caravan to campaign for Filipinos there to help their poor townmates in the Philippines .

I am sending it to his man in Manila , Dan Bercasio.

* * *

The blast that hit the DAR office here Thursday morning is serious. This just shows the failure of government to address the agrarian reform program.

Government, particularly the leadership, should have been decisive and firm. Problem is when they face the agrarian reform beneficiaries they try to please them with promises. When they are before the landowners they do the same thing.

And the bottom line is they are afraid to lose votes.

Until a law is passed that clearly defines the problem and the solutions to them, this problem will continue to fester Philippine society and the rural areas cannot take off in terms of production of food.

But, the law alone is not enough. We can enact all laws but if we don't have the competent people to implement it, it will be useless.

* * *

Next week, Bacolod will see a big celebration of the Chinese New Year. The celebration is chaired by businessman William Ong.

This will be a very big affair. I had a good interview with the BacaLaodiat officials last night over television.

* * *

I am impressed by General Geary Barias' sense of humor. He had the lady policemen also carry placards to counter the placard-bearing rallyists in Mendiola.

The rallyists complained they were insulted. Barias answered this is a free country. I believe so. Anyway the policewomen did not denounce the rallyists. They only said, they were partners.

Police chiefs in the provinces and cities can follow what Barias did. And hope the rallyists will not begrudge that.

The problem was they complained. So, the police said, the technique worked. Besides, it's true. You cannot stop the police from carrying placards, too.*

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