Making a fool out of Aro, city execs, etcetera  

            The United Tarlac Vendors Association Inc. (UTVAI) has filed a petition, addressed to the city mayor, Genaro “Aro” Mendoza, opposing the Nisce-owned wet and dry market. But the grounds for not giving Mabuhay Arcade – the private market’s business name – a permit to operate, which were cited by the petitioners, led by self-proclaimed NGO leader Jess David, lacked truth and are illogical. Accordingly, Private-I has found that the petition consists mere accusations.  

MEAGER ACCUSATIONS

            The petitioners have cited copious reasons why Mabuhay Arcade should not be given a license to operate. Without thorough research (or maybe with the intentional ignorance of the real status of Mabuhay Arcade), the petitioners have come up with accusations that the privately-owned market does not have a Building Permit, Occupancy Permit, and an Environmental Compliance Certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

            But when Private-I checked out on these allegations, the petitioners were found to be either misleading Mayor Mendoza, or Jess David and his supposed followers were making a complete fool out of the city mayor.

            It was also written in the petition that Mabuhay Arcade did not allot parking spaces for its buyers, which would thus add up to the worsening traffic in the city. This, also, remained to be a baseless accusation because Mabuhay has apportioned a parking area for its market-goers located right in front of the establishment.

            Private-I found further the petitioners’ last statement to be humorously ridiculous when it condemned Mabuhay for not holding a “public hearing.”  For if Jess David’s flawed logic should be followed, then other privately-owned commercial establishments similar to the private market – such as the Magic Star, Metrotown Mall, Luisita Mall, C&S Commercial Complex and Darang Cora’s Sari-Sari Store – should then be held guilty for not holding their respective public hearings for fairness’ sake.

THE CLOUDY PETITION  

            Looking closely at the list of petitioners, a series of evidently bogus signatures have been noticed in that document. Obviously, Jess David and the other petitioners’ aim was to make the appeal longer and plausible.  But in the end, if Mayor Mendoza, or any elected city official for that matter, would take those pieces of papers masquerading as a petition seriously, then they have fallen into a trap of being made as complete morons.

            That document, nonetheless, revealed a scam that has been apparently being perpetuated by UTVAI’s leaders and members for a long time now – that they have been violating the market code’s policy of one stall-one owner only.  For in that supposed petition, one would glaringly see different names owning one stall each, but whose penmanship and signatures are all the same.

            So then, Jess David and the petitioners could even be sued for forgery, as their petition against the Mabuhay Arcade can now serve is a prima facie evidence – and it is a clear evidence of fooling the mayor, other city officials and the public.  

JESS DAVID WHO?  

            Jess David has been known to proclaiming himself as a defender of the public’s welfare, and further claims to be a non-government leader.

            His record?

            During the term of former Gov. Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco, Jess David led demonstrations against plans of the provincial government to convert the former Urquico memorial athletic field into a government complex.  As an alumnus of the Tarlac National High School, he led the school’s teachers and students in protests.

            But prior to that, records at the provincial board showed that Jess David made an offer to the provincial government in the athletic field’s development – that he knows of a contractor who could build a huge sports complex instead.

            Shortly after Cojuangco was defeated in the 1998 polls by Gov. Jose “Aping” Yap, Jess David became one of the Capitol’s fair-haired boys and even had himself appointed as co-chair of the Central Luzon Regional Development Council.

            During the term of former city Mayor Gelacio “Ace” Manalang, Jess David initially opposed the construction of the Uniwide Sales and Warehouse Club building at the reclaimed portion of the Tarlac River.  But when the contract for ground leveling was awarded to a known contractor-acquaintance of Jess David from the Visayas, he suddenly went silent on his cause.

            Many time, Jess David became a critique of Manalang.  Right now, however, he sits as an “NGO representative” in the different special bodies at the city hall, particularly the pre-qualifications, bidding and awards committee (PBAC), a government arm that awards luscious contracts being paid for from the tax-payers’ money.  

ANOTHER ANGLE  

            Looking at another angle, shouldn’t incumbent city hall occupants now instead make the law apply to all?  For example, Mayor Mendoza should look into the files of the city engineer’s office, for there, he may find out other private and commercial establishments provided with building permits under dubious circumstances.

            As for the petition of Jess David and company, will the committee on market affairs of the city council please look at the obviously forged signatures of stall owners, for there it may unearth a scam perpetuated by individuals pretending to be people’s voice.