OPINION

Who suffers? (2)

“The residents’ prayers were heard when Executive Presiding Judge Samuel A. Biliran of Branch 50 of the Bohol RTC issued a TRO.

Billy L. Andal

Two constituencies continue to suffer at this moment. One is the nation, while the other is the residents of Loboc, Bohol, and neighboring towns. At this writing, two impeachment complaints had been filed by various bogus patriots, pseudo-honest civil society groups, and the chronic destabilizers of peace and harmony in the country.

With much noise, the complaints were received by the House of Representatives. But so far, not a single solon has spoken about supporting the impeachment complaints, although Manila’s Chua, La Union’s Ortega, Bicolnon’s Co, et al., kept mouthing impeachment issues against the Vice President. Anyway, most corrupt individuals like them would create fire and raise hell to achieve their evil objectives.

This is occurring despite President Marcos, while in my hometown of Sariaya, Quezon, condemning in tone, telling his men and women in the Lower House that it wasn’t good, as not a single Filipino life was improved by engaging in this politically-laden initiative against one who most believe will be the main obstacle to victory in the electoral exercise coming up slightly over three years from now.

But the scenario at the sludge politician-filled legislative chamber could freeze the impeachment maniac prime movers and their allies cooking up this nasty plan. They didn’t expect that, although I sensed it, the influential Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) won’t favor the political move. The INC, which is never into politics, has declared strong opposition to the bastard work of impeaching the Vice President.

A huge INC rally, numbering in the millions, will mass at Malacañang to express their vehement opposition to the political act. The INC believes the impeachment will disrupt the peace, and as PBBM told us, so much development work for Filipinos will be delayed. Undoubtedly, the solons behind this dirty act will be shivering in fear of losing the INC vote.

Who Suffers in Loboc?

At the start of this piece, which is actually a continuation of what we exposed two weeks ago at KATRIBU, Loboc, Bohol residents are being denied a continuous clean water supply.

Although I’ve written about this earlier, a legit water utility supplying vital facilities such as the Panglao International Airport, hotels, and resorts, called Loboc Water Inc. (LWI), is building a water treatment plant. Their application was filed in January of this year. Loboc Mayor Ramundo Jala ordered inspections at the site with all government entities involved.

On 7 April, the groundbreaking was undertaken with Sen. Imee Marcos as guest of honor. Finally, the building permit was issued and construction proceeded right after. Every regulatory permit was complied with, including the payment of fees. But Jala kept looking for every angle and through every needle hole to derail the project.

Jala even accused LWI of quarrying and cutting trees, nagging the DENR, etc., who saw nothing irregular in what the utility company was doing. But the mayor insisted on inspecting the project over and over again for no valid reason other than to derail it in utter disregard of the suffering of the residents.

The water facility would have been operating by 30 November, but this has been moved to December 2025. Costing P900 million, the project would benefit half a million Boholanos and every Juan, Jose, and Josefa who prays and expects to have a clean and steady water supply to their homes.

LWI went to court and filed for a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop the oppressive acts of the Loboc mayor. The residents’ prayers were heard when Executive Presiding Judge Samuel A. Biliran of Branch 50 of the Bohol RTC issued a TRO. The judge ordered Mayor Jala, as the defendant, “to desist from further disrupting the construction of the water treatment plant and for the plaintiff to continue the water project.”

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