CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is bringing his opposition to the proposed Land Rail Transit – Mono Rail Transit (LRT-MRT) project to the extreme.

In the process he is reducing into a childish quarrel the debate on the project’s viability in Cebu.

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The mayor has threatened to bamboozle members of the Regional Development Council (RDC) into hewing to his line that the project should be opposed because it could be graft-ridden.

He talked about filing cases against RDC members who will endorse the project and of bringing video cameras and witnesses in next month’s meeting, for the purpose.

Incidentally, Osmeña did not usually show up in RDC meetings, which means he was not giving the RDC the importance it deserves---until now..

Fairness

The mayor’s recent ranting against the LRT-MRT has two objectionable, even obnoxious points:

One is his claim that the LRT-MRT project is anomalous even if he still has to gather evidence, even before he could pore into the details of the proposal.

Of course, graft issues always hound every major government project and that could include Osmeña’s favorite project, the Bus Rapid Transit.

The saying that if you point a finger at somebody, three other fingers in your hand are pointing back at you can therefore apply to Osmeña.

Fairness dictates that accusers should give proofs on graft claims because for every corrupt government official there are others who are honest and well-meaning.

That applies to those behind the LRT-MRT proposal.

Stamp pad

Second, you do not use the “agree with me, or else” line on fellow government officials and private sector representatives, many of whom are independent-minded and more knowledgeable than you.

The last time we checked, this country is still a democracy and has not regressed to the old ways of the ousted Marcos dictatorship.

Osmeña can attend the RDC meeting but he should be warned that the body is not the Cebu City Council which he uses as stamp pad to justify his every official act.

The most he can do is to present to the RDC his arguments against the LRT-MRT project, capping this by lobbying for the BRT.

Osmeña must accept the reality, however, that at the end of the day, his is only one vote in that body.