Leaks and comedy

Rainy days are over but leaks are still very much around us. 'Naga Leaks' which others dub as 'Leni Leaks' gave us a prelude to what looks like well-kept secrets of couple Jesse and Leni Robredo.

'Deception' is the title of the expose. It is a compendium of a masterfully crafted sequence of historical and political events which gave us a family background of Jesse and the power brokers of Camarines and how the former Naga City Mayor and DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo was catapulted to power.

Weaved into the first episode are the deep and bloody political conflicts, drugs and illegal gambling and some inconceivable events and information which makes one in the askance like, "Who owns the condominium unit which the Robredos rent in Quezon City?" That is for a starter. VP Leni is scantly mentioned in the first canto of Naga Leaks but the author cleverly gives a hint of what will come next just like the bible's dénouement the Book of Revelation.

On the heels of Naga Leaks, is Davao Leak. Coming from a funny source, Cynthia Patag, the recitation of issues is a vain attempt at diverting public focus from Naga to Davao. Reading through what she squeaks, Patag sounded like a juke box. She was mouthing the old election propaganda issues raised against Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

To refresh those who have forgotten what Duterte political adversaries raised against him, these includes:

1. Garbage bins which they claimed can be purchased in local hardware stores and supermarts at pretty much cheaper price than what the city government bought. Truth is that the garbage bins' specs are far different from the local bins which are processed from plastic waste from banana plantations and those gathered by scavengers from garbage heaps and sold to local processors.

2. That Davao City has no hospital of its own. The city in fact is home to the biggest medical center (Southern Philippines Medical Center) which is supported by the city government. The cancer center for children is also supported by the city government and personal initiative of Mayor Duterte. Cancer patients all over Mindanao and Visayas are among the beneficiaries. The city is also home to many private hospitals that cater to patients also from all over Mindanao, including patients from neighboring countries near Davao. The city runs a mental hospital where some failed actors and actresses may avail of.

3. They raise issue about the People's Park. Patag and her ilk haven't seen the likes of this. The park is quite a spectacle and one of the best if not the best in the country. Google it to appreciate.

4. Convention centers in Davao are aplenty. Cynthia P. simply exposes her ignorance.

5. No sports facilities. Actually two sports centers are in the making. These are located in the campus of the University of the Philippines and University of Mindanao in Davao City. Duterte did not pursue the construction of a sports complex contracted by a predecessor after finding out it sits in a fault.

The political opposition is doing its dam or dumb best. In desperation they have fielded another perjured witness, Arthur Lascanas. Whoever is coaching him is actually tightening the noose around his neck. Recently, he claimed he kept a diary about the crimes he committed but written only in 2015. Reading from his hand-written accounts and in impeccable English one wonders why his rank in the police remains dismal SPO3. This does not match well with his claim that he is close to Digong the mayor. Why be a butcher, which he admits he is, when he could very well be an English professor or an author of a book of fiction.

The inconsistencies are getting funny and funnier and one wonders why the Senate wastes it time listening to prevaricated stories and comedy.

(Mr. Jun Ledesma is a community journalist who writes from Davao City and comments from the perspective of a Mindanaoan)