PERSONAL, PURELY personal was the reason behind my namesake’s resignation of his post as hizzoner’s alter ego in the city that prides itself of friendship but makes big business out of shaking down unwary tourists. That’s a totally different story though.
“Let’s put it this way, it is personal. I need a break and I want to focus on my private business. Nothing more, nothing less. Thank you for your accommodation.”
So was Mister Bong Alvaro quoted in the papers as saying. And there’s no reason to disbelieve him, knowing his managerial involvement in one big, big locator at the Clark Freeport.
So I wished my tocayo well and shared his joy at his “liberation.” Albeit through a text message, having gotten the news of his resignation while driving through scenic Narvacan, Ilocos Sur on my way to Vigan with the whole family in the weekend after Christmas.
Personal, purely personal. Nothing more, nothing less. Mister Bong was emphatic.
Everything personal. And a lot more. Some sources at city hall were as emphatic in laying down the real reasons for Alvaro’s resignation.
One said it had everything to do with Alvaro’s reported opposition to the alleged 150 percent increase in the city mayor’s intelligence fund – from P6 million at the time of Tarzan Lazatin to a whopping P15 million.
Alvaro, it was alleged, told Mayor Francis Nepomuceno to his face that he could not justify such increase in the intel fund. This, again allegedly, even after the mayor told him “makapasubu naku” — that he’s neck-deep into it.
Alvaro, so this source claimed – was virtually asked to do some “doctoring” to justify the need to increase the intel funds.
“Mayor Blueboy may have thought Alvaro’s doctorate degree is applicable to doctoring documents to suit whatever purpose he may have.” So our source said with just a tinge of forced humor.
Nothing personal. Alvaro was forced to resign. Yet another source swore.
“Alvaro was prevented from entering his own office by some CSU (civilian security unit) and a lawyer who threatened him of a civil and even a criminal case should he insisted in getting into his office. That forced him to hand in his resignation that very day.” So this source claimed.
Asked for the reason why Alvaro was barred from his office, the source said: “Mayor Blueboy totally lost his confidence in him. That is more than enough reason.”
Personal, purely personal indeed are the reasons behind the resignation. As in a personal war Alvaro waged against some “corruptive powers” at city hall that one more source called the “Axis of Malevolent Powers” or AMP.
What’s this? Amp for ampere? Kuryente? A bum stir in journalistic parlance?
“You’re clueless about the inner workings at city hall if you don’t know what AMP stands for.” The source now talking to me as though I were an idiot.
Okay, I’m an idiot. What’s AMP?
“The letters stand for the initials of the triumvirate of greed that actually rules the city.”
There’s neither a B for Blueboy nor an N for Nepomuceno there and he’s the mayor. You’re making me understand that Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno does not rule Angeles?
“He reigns, like some monarch standing as head of state but not head of government.”
Spare me.
“So why did Tony Mamac bolt the Nepomuceno corral? AMP treated Fields Avenue as some personal fief, depriving Kapitan Mamac of his jurisdiction over the place with Blueboy’s acquiescence.”
Okay, could see some sense there.
“Remember those JOs (job order employees) your paper exposed a while back, crucifying one lowly factotum of the city sports department in the process?”
Yes, I do remember well. It was even Alvaro who defended what’s-his-name against our “paninirang puri.”
“So guess who were the brains behind the multiplication of JOs at city hall? Guess who had the most number of JOs, by the hundreds, to their names?
AMP, I suppose.
“You’re right. Now, Alvaro’s a righteous guy who so believed in the campaign slogan of Blueboy he wanted it imposed – “Ibalik and dangal sa Angeles. So, with AMP’s unsatiable greed running berserk, what honor, what dignity, what nobility could ever obtain in the city?”
So Alvaro had to make a stand and in so doing conflicted with AMP?
“Yeah, and he lost. Political exigency, expediency and patronage winning the day as ever.”
Ah, a square peg is Alvaro in a round hole that is Blueboy’s city hall. A cliché there. Or, bluntly, Alvaro’s been AMPed.
Still don’t know who A, M, and P are? Ask Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting. She would very well know.
“Let’s put it this way, it is personal. I need a break and I want to focus on my private business. Nothing more, nothing less. Thank you for your accommodation.”
So was Mister Bong Alvaro quoted in the papers as saying. And there’s no reason to disbelieve him, knowing his managerial involvement in one big, big locator at the Clark Freeport.
So I wished my tocayo well and shared his joy at his “liberation.” Albeit through a text message, having gotten the news of his resignation while driving through scenic Narvacan, Ilocos Sur on my way to Vigan with the whole family in the weekend after Christmas.
Personal, purely personal. Nothing more, nothing less. Mister Bong was emphatic.
Everything personal. And a lot more. Some sources at city hall were as emphatic in laying down the real reasons for Alvaro’s resignation.
One said it had everything to do with Alvaro’s reported opposition to the alleged 150 percent increase in the city mayor’s intelligence fund – from P6 million at the time of Tarzan Lazatin to a whopping P15 million.
Alvaro, it was alleged, told Mayor Francis Nepomuceno to his face that he could not justify such increase in the intel fund. This, again allegedly, even after the mayor told him “makapasubu naku” — that he’s neck-deep into it.
Alvaro, so this source claimed – was virtually asked to do some “doctoring” to justify the need to increase the intel funds.
“Mayor Blueboy may have thought Alvaro’s doctorate degree is applicable to doctoring documents to suit whatever purpose he may have.” So our source said with just a tinge of forced humor.
Nothing personal. Alvaro was forced to resign. Yet another source swore.
“Alvaro was prevented from entering his own office by some CSU (civilian security unit) and a lawyer who threatened him of a civil and even a criminal case should he insisted in getting into his office. That forced him to hand in his resignation that very day.” So this source claimed.
Asked for the reason why Alvaro was barred from his office, the source said: “Mayor Blueboy totally lost his confidence in him. That is more than enough reason.”
Personal, purely personal indeed are the reasons behind the resignation. As in a personal war Alvaro waged against some “corruptive powers” at city hall that one more source called the “Axis of Malevolent Powers” or AMP.
What’s this? Amp for ampere? Kuryente? A bum stir in journalistic parlance?
“You’re clueless about the inner workings at city hall if you don’t know what AMP stands for.” The source now talking to me as though I were an idiot.
Okay, I’m an idiot. What’s AMP?
“The letters stand for the initials of the triumvirate of greed that actually rules the city.”
There’s neither a B for Blueboy nor an N for Nepomuceno there and he’s the mayor. You’re making me understand that Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno does not rule Angeles?
“He reigns, like some monarch standing as head of state but not head of government.”
Spare me.
“So why did Tony Mamac bolt the Nepomuceno corral? AMP treated Fields Avenue as some personal fief, depriving Kapitan Mamac of his jurisdiction over the place with Blueboy’s acquiescence.”
Okay, could see some sense there.
“Remember those JOs (job order employees) your paper exposed a while back, crucifying one lowly factotum of the city sports department in the process?”
Yes, I do remember well. It was even Alvaro who defended what’s-his-name against our “paninirang puri.”
“So guess who were the brains behind the multiplication of JOs at city hall? Guess who had the most number of JOs, by the hundreds, to their names?
AMP, I suppose.
“You’re right. Now, Alvaro’s a righteous guy who so believed in the campaign slogan of Blueboy he wanted it imposed – “Ibalik and dangal sa Angeles. So, with AMP’s unsatiable greed running berserk, what honor, what dignity, what nobility could ever obtain in the city?”
So Alvaro had to make a stand and in so doing conflicted with AMP?
“Yeah, and he lost. Political exigency, expediency and patronage winning the day as ever.”
Ah, a square peg is Alvaro in a round hole that is Blueboy’s city hall. A cliché there. Or, bluntly, Alvaro’s been AMPed.
Still don’t know who A, M, and P are? Ask Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting. She would very well know.
