Ben Contreras
IT is only natural for children to help in the political aspirations of their parents. Thus, I don’t see anything wrong for a son to help his father. But when it comes to one that has been a drug user and has undergone rehabilitation, what influence can he be to the youth who are the target in the guise of organizing, whatever? The youth are most gullible targets due to their innocence, carefree attitude and passion for something different and new.
As a parent, this should be reason enough to be alarmed by mere association alone. Photos of a reformed man can be deceptive if one is still into drugs, albeit secretly. A driver was heard to have refused to drive the son due to the drug being hidden in the car. And when it was reported to the father, the son was asked to leave the city and sent to Manila.
His involvement in fundaising activities are said to be the subject of scrutiny as reports have filtered in that they’ve been questionable dealings. Acquaintances have been talking behind his back about selling his father’s belongings. Certainly, these acts can be bad influence to the youth.
While at that, we also need to understand why the son was drawn to drugs. Bad company can be one reason. Family problem is another. If the parents are no longer living harmoniously due to extramarital relationships with third parties, children become affected.
A selfish and cheating father can drive member/s of his family to the wrong paths of life. Extramarital relationship can happen to both parents. Children can be drawn to booze and drug or uncontrolled sexual activities.
A politician command great power and influence. Dirty money and sexual favors are among the easiest things to come by. But insatiable urge for sex without respect towards another’s wife or daughter or any woman is detestable and society should frown on it.
Parents have a responsibility to know what their children are doing and who they are with. One false step and it could be hell!
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What’s brewing at city hall? Is it really in a mess? Are some consultants given the cold shoulder already? I am not surprised.
Some consultants failed in their assigned tasks. Believe me, they have ready excuses. The favorite whipping boy is this line: “Zero budget.”
Former mayor and congressman Constantino “Tinnex” Jaraula once told me, “There is no such thing as ‘zero budget.’” There has always been a budget for everything, except that what the mayor wanted was not granted by the city council. Thus, this administration’s failure to solve the city’s problems is conveniently blamed on the “zero budget” which is not so.
But granting that it is so, how then could the mayor boast of school buildings and paved roads? Where did he get the money? No money to hire more RTA enforcers but millions to make a dancing fountain? Which is more important then?
Ask the mayor for records that would prove that his projects underwent proper biddings. Ask him how our taxes are spent. If you get an honest answer, then you are in luck.
Has anyone ever asked why the contractor of the dancing fountain and our garbage are allegedly one and the same? And by the way, what happened to the fountain heads? Have they been eaten by rust? These are government property to begin with, and no one should be allowed to take possession of them by any reason.
Sigh. And he wants to get reelected!
