AS MUCH figuratively as literally, did former 4th District Rep. Juan Pablo “Rimpy” Bondoc suffer some slashing with his posters torn down in certain areas in his once and future domain.
Crying political harassment, Rimpy scored the San Simon police for removing posters thanking him and his elder sister, sitting Rep. Anna York Bondoc-Sagum, for projects delivered to their constituents.
Then somewhere along the stretch of the Arayat-Apalit setback levee that runs through Candaba, San Luis and San Simon, the same posters of gratitude to the Bondocs have – as reported in Sun-Star Pampanga – raised the ire of residents.
“Ano ang kinalaman ng isang pribadong tao sa proyekto ng pamahalaan? Bakit ang laki ng pangalan niya at may litrato pa?” So the paper quoted one fuming Nicanor Garnace.
Garnace was said to have referred to a public works project “implemented through the Priority Development Assistance Funds of Bondoc-Sagum.”
“Bondoc po kami talaga, mula pa sa tatay nila hanggang sa huling term ni Congresswoman Ana York pero sa tingin ko ay hindi po tama ang ginawa nila.
Obvious po kasi eh, ginagamit nila ang proyekto ng gobyerno sa pulitika.
Ang totoo ay wala naman siyang partisipasyon sa nasabing proyekto.” So well articulated Garnace in the news story.
Which immediately brought to mind Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s Senate Bill No. 1967, popularly known as the “anti-epal” bill as it targets public officials, both elected and appointed, who routinely claim credit for projects built with public funds.
“Epal” is street jargon “mapapel,” Tagalog term for credit grabbers, attention seekers, and scene stealers.
The Kapampangans have a cruelly colourful term, mapanako damulag (carabao rustler).
“It is a prevalent practice among public officers, whether elected or appointed, to append their names to public works projects which were either funded or facilitated through their office,” Maid Miriam said in the bill’s explanatory note.
“This is unnecessary and highly unethical” and “promotes a culture of political patronage and corruption.”
The incorruptible senator‘s bill formally titled thus: “An Act Prohibiting Public Officers from Claiming Credit through Signage Announcing a Public Works Project.”
The practice of incumbent officials or bureaucrats misappropriating credit unto themselves for public-funded projects “diminishes the importance that the public needs to place on supporting government officials, not because of their popularity, but because of their essential role in policy determination, whether on the local or national level.”
“Secondly, it diminishes the concept of continuity in good governance in the mind of the public,” Maid Miriam said.
I don’t know what happened to the “anti-epal” bill. Given the continuing, indeed incessant, proliferation of tarpaulins showing names and faces of officials appended on government projects, it is safe to assume that Santiago’s measure has not been enacted.
I do know that Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo issued a Memorandum Circular 2010-101 that banned names, initials and images of government officials in billboards, including signages on government programs, projects and properties.
But again, given the continuing, incessant, proliferation of tarpaulins showing names and faces of officials appended on government projects, it is clear as day that Robredo’s circular is more honoured in the breach than in the observance.
So Rimpy now is in clear violation of some order if not some law?
“Naging tradisyon na ng mga tao sa kwatro distrito ang magpasalamat sa mga proyekto ng mga opisyales.
O ngayon pinagbabaklas ang mga streamers na kunswelo at pamamaraan ng pagpapasalamat ng mga mamamayan.” So was Rimpy quoted as saying.
Earning the immediate retort: “Kung mga residente ang naglagay bakit uniform mula Candaba hanggang Macabebe at isa ang lay-out? Saan kaya nanggaling ang pondo sa pagpapagawa ng tarpaulins na may mukha ni Congressman Rimpy?”
So Rimpy now has no right to cry harassment against the San Simon police who tore down his posters and made use of them as roofing and walling materials in the police station’s outhouse and dirty kitchen?
“We were singled out. The posters with the picture of the mayor or other politicians were not removed.
This is political harassment,” Bondoc said, pointing to the smiling mug of San Simon Mayor Leonora Wong at just about every nook and cranny in her town and that of Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo’s arrogation unto himself of the popular actor John Lloyd Cruz’s very persona, down to his byword, ‘Ingat.”
Spread throughout the fourth district.
Rimpy singled out for ripping. Where’s the equity of the law there?
Yeah, as some tarpaulins that once mushroomed all over Manila screamed: “The law applies to all, otherwise none at all.” So quaint and sensible, grammar and syntax be damned.
