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Undermining the people’s will

Mayor Braulio Yaranon’s one year suspension issued by the Office of the President for alleged grave misconduct and abuse of authority is the result of a conduit move made by business interests’ expert puppeteer playing the strings of patronage politics.

This is concretely what is referred to as bureaucrat capitalism practiced at the local level under the present administration of GMA. It was solely intended to retain Jadewell as the “king” of the Baguio streets that can be likened to GMA to retaining her position despite a so-called questionable mandate.

Mayor Yaranon garnered the highest mayoralty votes since the city was established. From the very beginning; in his campaign he stated very clearly his purposes for the seat. He was elected into office with these clear programs against systemic graft and corruption concrete and particular to the awarding of questionable business transactions to corporate interests – like leasing out the streets and public parks for private profit. He gained the trust of the people that Baguio should remain foremost for its residents. When he took his oath as mayor he reiterated these purposes and with overwhelming confidence even promised that Jadewell will be out in 72 hours.

Myopic like the mayor’s critics who jeered that he was old, senile and conducts monologues about: Jadewell, Casino, Panagbenga, Uniwide, jueteng and ‘rule of law’; the DILG decision missed the point. The whole picture was disregarded otherwise we could have easier understood “the what and the how” of those anomalous contracts and agreements over the operation of the city’s resources that the mayor was always referring to in his “monologues about Jadewell, Casino, Panagbenga, Uniwide,” etc.

On the other hand, it would look like the “disciplinary action” from the Office of the President as the “disciplining authority” is to castigate or punish genuine peoples’ leaders, courageous and honest elected officials.

The suspension clearly undermines the sovereign will of the people of Baguio. Yaranon enjoys the greatest mandate in Baguio history. People chose him to represent their interests and render appropriate services. This questionable suspension has brought a crisis of leadership in the city: as Yaranon asserts his mandate while the Vice-mayor is being pushed by the Office of the President to act as mayor for the duration of the suspension. (A divide and rule tactic?) As a result, the services to the people are further delayed, if not totally unrealized.

There was no grave misconduct and abuse of authority as alleged by the decision. Yaranon’s order for Jadewell not to collect street fees was based on legislative enactments, particularly the Local Government Code and other laws which prohibit the use of street and parks for the commerce of man. If they claim that Yaranon’s order has no basis, the court will decide on it. As such, it should be the court that must settle for the validity of that order and if there was indeed grave abuse or abuse of authority.

Therefore, to the citizens and all who love Baguio: are we going to take the suspension sitting down? Or shall we reiterate our choice and support our brave and beleaguered Mayor?

Meanwhile, we salute Secretary Silvestre C. Afable, Jr. who resigned as Cabinet Officer for Regional Development-Cordillera Administrative Region (CORD-CAR) “in disagreement with the Office of the President over the suspension of Mayor Raul Yaranon in the Jadewell case.”

We also salute all who recognize the historical fact that Yaranon’s election is a concrete evidence of the people’s trust in him and in his brand of governance, and that the suspension undermines the people’s will. #

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