WELL…WELL, it seems that Monday last week’s flag ceremony at the “I Am Iloilo City” hall was anything but routine. It was controversial, interesting and colorful to say the least.
Those present at that particular flag ceremony were treated to a full monty (pun intended) by “I Am Iloilo City” mayor Geronimo. No, I do not mean that the good mayor dropped his trousers in front of all the city hall employees present, including student representatives for the Boys and Girls Week, it was just a figure of speech.
What happened was they were witness to an unleashing of a “fire and brimstone” sermon by Mayor Geronimo, specifically aimed at what he considers erring city hall officials playing with fire rather politics instead of serving the people.
Excerpts from the Oct. 22, 2019 issue of Panay News:
Treñas channels Duterte in fiery flag ceremony speech
In the presence of boy and girl city officials, Mayor Jerry Treñas minced no words as he verbally attacked unnamed officers and personnel of the City Engineer’s Office in a blistering speech during Monday’s flag-raising ceremony at city hall.
He accused them of engaging in partisan activities in the recent midterm elections.
“Kamo dira sa City Engineer(’s Office) mga yawa kamo!” hollered Treñas, channeling President Rodrigo Duterte who is known to hurl invectives during public speeches. “Pausar-usar kamo sa hijo de puta? Tonto kamo!” said a visibly irate mayor.
The high school boy and girl city officials and city government officials and employees were silent, stunned by what they heard.
Treñas accused the previous city government of pressuring regular employees and job hires to engage in partisan political activities.
“Never again should the offices of the city government be used for partisan consideration. Sugod subong kon sin-o sa inyo ang mapausar-usar pulitika, tapongolon ko,” warned the mayor.
Continuing his rant, “Wala kamo nahuya? Indi ang mayor ang gapasweldo sa inyo. Ang gapasweldo sa inyo ang gobyerno sang syudad.”
The fiery speech was intentional, Treñas admitted as much.
“Gusto ko ang mga kabataan makabati. Indi ‘na husto nga klase sang pang administrasyon.
Dapat serbisyo sang husto,” he explained.
Treñas also warned department heads frequently absent from meetings. Their offices won’t be receiving budgets, he said.
“Ginbayran kita tanan sang pumoulyo sang syudad. Waay kita nagabakasyon diri. Waay kita ginabayran para magkaon sa mga hotel. Ginabayran kita para mag obra,” Treñas said.
The highlights of that “fire and brimstone” sermon were the colorful invectives and the threat of “erring employees” given a taste of the good mayor’s fist, including losing their offices budgets.
It does not come as a surprise as Mayor Geronimo, when he was then the congressman of “I Am Iloilo City”, was rather infamous for his outbursts when he felt things were not going his way.
Panay News senior reporter Glenda Tayona aptly described it as Mayor Geronimo channeling President Rodrigo Duterte, who is quite known for hurling invectives in his already fiery speeches, and based on last Monday’s sideshow at the flag ceremony, it certainly seemed that way.
Perhaps the good mayor is just a firm believer of President Duterte’s strong-arm way of running the country and from the look of things it does seem to work most of the time.
The clearing of roads is relatively successful because of the strong-arm style, likewise for the rehabilitation of Boracay.
If President Duterte runs this government like that nincompoop Noynoy Aquino, Boracay would be a cesspool literary and the roads would be sidewalk vendors’ haven.
So I can see Mayor Geronimo’s point of view and no-kid-gloves policy. Of course we all trust Mayor Geronimo to apply the same not only to the “beauticians from the other parlor” but also to the “beauticians of his side of the parlor”.
But President Duterte is never known for punching people; he is more known for just “killing them” and not waste his time punching them.
If Mayor Geronimo indeed punches “erring” city hall employees then he would be channeling his inner Manny Pacquiao.
It’s been a week since Mayor Geronimo announced that he will punch “erring” city hall employees including department heads; so far we haven’t heard of “snowflakes” and “beauticians from the other parlor” say that they were offended and their “human rights” threatened.
No Greg Diez type or Skimmers in “I Am Iloilo City” hall, or they’re just scared stiff of Mayor Geronimo. Maybe, just maybe, they didn’t take him seriously enough.
Perhaps Mayor Geronimo should show he means business by punching the first “erring” city hall employee regardless of “beauty parlor” affiliation. (brotherlouie16@gmail.com/PN)
