From Baguio City Councilor Richard Cariño:
This is a very large city… [which measures] 49 square kilometers. When we campaigned [during the May 14 elections], we were not able to visit all [villages of] the city.
Wow. I never thought someone would come up with this lame defense. What parallel universe are we living in these days such that, all of a sudden, 49 square kilometers is now “very large”?
Thanks to Anonymous 2:52 for pointing out this news report which presents the Baguio City councilors’ side of the story. I maintain that there are more important things to spend the money on but, as wisely pointed out by Anonymous, let us look at all sides of the matter.
I’m not sure though if this report puts the councilors in a better light. “Let us think out of the box,” says one of them. Really? A government official using public funds to buy a car for him/her to use is so not thinking out of the box. Just about every public official who thinks s/he can get away with it, does it. Thinking out of the box would be advocating for the pedestrianization of Baguio.
Do you remember those silly radio dedication programs where you can phone in and say, “Mister DJ, gusto ko pung ididikit ang song na ito kay ehem?”
Continue reading Dedicated to Major Basilio and Mayor Peter Rey
Lisa Araneta of i-Baguio.com has an update on how the Baguio City councilor’s voted on the “let’s buy cars for ourselves” scandal. Read it here. We are with Lisa in hoping that Mayor Peter Rey Bautista will veto this ill advised budget legislation.
So the ball is now in the mayor’s court. Let’s see whether he stays true to his electoral promise that he’s going to be “Simple Lang”. But we should also help him decide by revisiting his campaign materials in the past election.
Update 2: Thanks to all of your comments. Here’s our favorite from Nats Dalanao: “Next naman na project nila is to build a first class hotel inside the city hall exclusively for them!!” Hehe, oo nga naman. Apologies for not responding to your comments individually, daming hinahabol na trabaho eh.
Thanks too to Anonymous 4:41 for pointing out that the quote “What are we in power for?” should be attributed to Senator Jose Avelino. We mistakenly thought that Senator Ernesto Maceda was the one who said it. Anyways, because of his sleaziness, Maceda was once described by then Manila Mayor as “so young, and so corrupt”. Sana walang “so young and so corrupt” sa Baguio ano? At sa buong Cordillera na rin.