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BY RHICK LARS VLADIMER ALBAY
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Saturday, September 2, 2017
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UNLESS YOU’VE been hibernating at a mountain retreat (sans mobile data and a radio signal) for the past few days, you probably know there has been much hullabaloo about the announced reassignment of “mayor slayer” Ozamiz police chief Jovie Espenido to Iloilo City.
The immediate repercussions of President Rodrigo Duterte’s new assignment for Espenido is seen in the viral photos of Mabilog’s “mansion” by the Esplanade, and the National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine National Police pouncing on orders of a lifestyle check for the embattled mayor.
But it is a testament to the strength of the Ilonggo spirit, that we see a rallying force – especially on social media – of our local community speaking out loudly and proudly saying Iloilo is not the “most shabulized” and a “bedrock of drugs” as our president claims.
(For the record, data from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency shows that of the 81 provinces and 27 cities listed, Iloilo province ranked only 79th in terms of the number of drug-affected barangays per province, while Iloilo City ranked 51st, from January to August 2016. Ironically, Davao City – Duterte’s home turf – is in the Top 20.)
Here are a few public sentiments I came across social media from proud Ilonggos, defending their home town.
Rock Drilon (veteran artist and cultural mover):
Espenido is most welcome in Iloilo. It will be a different scenario, I predict – he will discover and establish the truth that we are not the “most shabulized,” [and] Mayor Jed [is] not involved in any way with illegal drugs, [was] never a protector and has even intensified the campaign against it after the elections; that Iloilo is a peaceful and beautiful city and that the Ilonggos are just simply great!!
Ilonggos lang, by the way, ang may regular bicycle “Kontra Droga” mass rides that traverse thru communities, the latest of which was joined by 700 plus bikers with the next to be held in Guimaras. He will disprove once and for all misperceptions and lies fed to his boss by those who want to destroy Iloilo in their desperate attempt to grab power. UNLESS, the mission is to kill and to plant evidence as has been admitted is done, then God save the Queen City of the South. But I trust the man that he will do the right thing as Senator [Panfilo] Lacson had pointed out. Welcome to the City of Love, sir.
CHARLES ARTHEL REY (student leader from Central Philippine University):
Kung may due process lang tani kag husto lang ang pag-enforce sang layi, mayo gid. Pero kun patarasak kag pinagustuhanay, mga wala moral lang na ang masadyahan sina. Sa isa ka sosyodad nga wala due process kag ginapamatay ang mga suspetsado nga wala man napamatud-an nga guilty okun base lang sa sugidsugid, indi kita kahambal nga “kun wala ka man lang sala, ngaa makulbaan ka gid.”
Kun kamo, ang inyo mga abyan, ginikanan, kaunturan, o mga pinalangga ang masapwan sa kilid dalan kag may signage nga “pusher ako” kag gin plantedan sang mga illegal nga droga, dira niyo na mahuna-huna kun ano kalian ang epekto sang war against drugs. Supporter, hulat lang kay matabo gid na sa imo.
RAOUL DANIEL MANUEL (activist and former University of the Philippines student regent):
To my fellow Ilonggos: Indi kita sagad kasapak masyado sa pag-away ni Duterte kay Mabilog, kag sa kung ano pa nga mga side issue. Indi ini ang main point. Hehe. Amo gid ina kay mga pulitiko sila. Pati mga gamay nga bagay nga indi main issue, pareho sang balay ni Mabilog, ginahilabtan pa.
Pero kita nga mga pumuluyo, wala dapat nagapa-distract sa mga matuod nga issue sang mga Ilonggo kag mga Filipino.
Ano ang dapat nga bantayan sang mga Ilonggo? Ini ang possible nga pagdamo sang mga inosente nga patyon tungod sa war on drugs, nga pwede gid dal-un ni Espenido sa siyudad sang Iloilo.
Kalma kita tanan kag atubangon ang mga dapat problemahon para mangin mas mayo ang aton siyudad kag pungsod. (maverhick.blogspot.com/PN)
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