THE DEATH OF 13 ALLEGED CRIMINALS AND HOUSE OF ILOKANO WRITERS

Sheep in the resort called Paraiso Tribu Vizcayano in Diadi,Nueva Vizcaya.

EYES WIDE OPEN

BY  PETER LA. JULIAN

      It was sad that one of those killed in the alleged Atimonan, Quezon shootout was an innocent insurance agent and salesman. He was in one of the vehicles and probably was wrapping up a condominium sale to the highest ranking police officer who was also gunned down at the checkpoint.

     How sure was the allegation of Senator Panfilo Lacson of the infamous Kuratong Baleleng gang killings that some of those killed were hired guns targeting (Bicol and Southern Tagalog even Metro Manila?) politicians.

     Needless to say, the violent killings (the police and military versus their counterparts) only proved that the police, nay enforcement officers, is deeply involved in the illegal numbers game. And that the government is practically a protector of jueteng despite the pretensions of the former that it did not have anything to do with it. 

     The killings should send also a message to other jueteng operators that include politicians, retired police and military officers and their fronts. It is an open secret that local officials--governors, town mayors, even village chiefs--are recipients of jueteng money. Ditto for town and city police station commanders, regional and provincial directors including media persons and publishers of local tabloids. What do you say, Villamor Visaya? Joe Gonzales, Silver Sarmiento? Jun Elias? And Gabriel Cardinoza? And you, my good friend Hermie Calica?    

     In the pathology of evil, jueteng is in heart of our moral construct. Absurd. Indecent as the display of pubic hair and panties in public by guest relations girls and scantily-clad starlets. As indecent as the act of the Ilokano Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile who gave away millions of pesos (hey, that's the people's money) as Christmas gifts to chosen colleagues. 
                                                                    *****
     Manang Pacing Saludes of GUMIL- Hawaii was in the Philippines the day after last Christmas Day for a reunion with her siblings in Badoc, Ilocos Norte. She look alright in her 84 years but she gets sick now and then, she said. It (reunion) may not come again, she said.
     She is coming out with another Ilokano-English book: Dagiti Balligi ti Puli (Triumphs of the Race), a 200-page compilation of features about successful Ilokanos in Hawaii and the US mainland, poems and short biographies. Publisher is Annak ti Kailokuan iti Amerika. 
     She only stayed for five days. 

     We were able to locate her in her ancestral home in Saud, Badoc. Of course, as usual, she was asking about the Gumil House in Suso, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur for which she and her group contributed a big amount of dollars for its construction. Only Jose Bragado, Dionisio Bulong, Eden Cachola and Rey Duque, to our knowledge, can satisfactorily answer the only tri-media woman in Hawaii. 
      Ariel Tabag, Honor Blanco and other officials of GF can also explain to her how the money was spent for the house that  was never completed. It has become a "dugol" of the organization, according to Prescy Bermudez, who has written Judge Vivencio Baclig, GF president, to sort of resolve the many questions surrounding the patta.

     Kastoy ti dialogo ti blogger ken Manang Pacing iti maysa a malem: 

     Manang Pacing: Kaano a nairugi ti Balay ti Gumil?
     Blogger: 2002, idi ni Apo Jose Bragado ti presidente ti Gumil Filipinas.
     Manang Pacing: Ania a bulan?
     Blogger: Diak ammo, Manang, ta awan met dayta iti financial reportda.
     Manang Pacing: Kaano nga insardengda ti trabaho?
     Blogger: Diak ammo, Manang.
     Manang Pacing: Mano ngarud ti nagasto? 
     Blogger: Segun ti 2005 Financial Report, adda ngata P800,000 no suma totalen dagiti nagastuanda iti labor, purchase of materials, kdpy.
     Manang Pacing: Adda dagiti resibo ti purchase of materials? Mano ti semento, mano dagiti tarikayo?
     Blogger: Awan dagiti resibo a naisubmit, Manang, kas kuna ti maysa nga oficial ti GF.
     Manang Pacing: Saan kadi a kiniddaw ti auditor dagitoy idi pirmaanna dagiti financial report? Sinno aya ti auditor idi?
    Blogger: Ni  Fernando Sanchez, Manang.
    Manang Pacing: No kasta ti kadakkel a kantidad ti  magasto, kasapulan dagiti resibo, gagangay dayta. Insuratda laeng iti ima dagit cost of labor and materials?
     Blogger: Kasta met ti makita kadagiti financial reportsda, Manang.
     Manang Pacing (agwingwingiwing): Sayang dagidi rinepreppet a kuarta a pangisukatanmi kadagiti doliar tunggal agatendarkami idi iti kombension ti Gumil.