By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
UNIMAGINABLE, but it happened so fast.
‘Twas a “riot” on Facebook after Abang Lingkod party-list’s Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano announced on Monday, September 9, that he will seek a House inquiry on Silay City’s P1.1 billion dealings.
The inquiry target is Mayor Joedith Gallego.
Minutes after I posted my binalaybay on Facebook titled “Tunog Pulitika” on Tuesday, September 10, it earned over 45,000 views, more than 2,000 reactions and comments, and more than 175,000 reached – and counting to date.
It’s kinda “People Power Revolution” social media version.
PROOFS, BIASES
Though Paduano contended that he had proof on transactions involving the P1.1 billion, Silaynon netizens cannot be parried in nixing Paduano, and accusing him of harboring political biases.
Paduano is publicly known as politically allied with brothers Bacolod mayor Albee Benitez and former Negros Occidental 3rd District congressman-turned-TESDA director general Kiko Benitez.
The Benitezes already declared all-out support to comebacking mayor of Silay, Mark Golez.
Golez was defeated by Gallego in the 2022 elections, a political upset that was historic in Negros Occidental’s political landscape. A “money-less” former security guard toppled a landed incumbent mayor.
‘DEMOLITION JOB’
Gallego told a press conference on Wednesday, September 11, that Paduano’s move was a “demolition job” aimed at subjecting him to “trial by publicity”.
But he declared he won’t be dwarfed by such a move towards him; rather, he will be more than inspired to serve Silaynons with all honesty and integrity.
The soft-spoken mayor also stressed that the P1.1-billion loan of the city government is in “good hands” and far from the claim that it was “caramelized with corruption”.
The loan, per Gallego’s report, will be spent for the following:
* construction of Silay City College – P300 million (ongoing)
* rehabilitation/upgrade of Silay City Public Market – P300 million (ongoing)
* construction of New Silay City Hall – P500 million (bidding and groundbreaking done)
* construction of Silay City Sports Center – P300 million (memorandum of agreement for lot donation is about to be inked)
NO BETRAYAL
Gallego assured Silaynons that he never betrayed them of their formidable trust afforded to him.
Everything he does, he stressed, is for all Silaynons’ sake, especially for those who have less in life.
Meanwhile, yesterday, a photo of Paduano and Kiko Benitez raising the hands of Golez and his running mate, Silay councilor Ryan Gamboa, also circulated on Facebook, creating buzz again and, at the same time, cementing allegations that, indeed, the party-list solon is pro-Golez, thus anti-Gallego.
FINGERTIPS OF THE POOR
In this “riot” on Facebook, the message is clear – never underestimate the fingertips of the poor.
In the advent of digitalization in which smartphones is a necessity and ultimately become part of everyone’s life, and Facebook or social media as their refuge, the fingertips of the poor are “mighty”, they equally represent their unspoken yet powerful voices./PN
