WE HAVE yet to see the start of the new City Council--new in the sense that it's divided into two districts but most of them are old, tired faces while there are other newbies mostly aligned with the incoming vice-mayor--but already we're getting the feeling that it would be the same old railroaded type of legislature.
Except that in this case, the one who's doing most of the railroading is sitting as the presiding officer or at least will have others sit in for him while he carefully and even brazenly manipulates the strings on the backstage.
Yep, already incoming Vice Mayor Vicente Emano is making his debut and the messages he's been sending across smack of petty tyranny.
Take for instance his suggestion that the City Council use English when deliberating during the sessions, which registered some strong noise from the elected opposition who are not exactly fluent in the King's language.
While the proposal smacks of snobbery and pettiness on the administration's part the worst is yet to come.
According to radio interviews, the outgoing mayor also wants a change in dress code during the deliberations for the House rules, which in turn is seen as a means to accommodate Emano's usual choice of wardrobe consisting of polo T-shirts, sandals, and jeans or slacks. Not flexible, but that's what he wants and rules be damned.
These two rules indicate one of several things. One, which Emano wants to shape the City Council further in his own image, like a petty god who looks down on mortals as if they exist for his own benefit and these two proposals are meant to reinforce that climate by making all accommodations fit solely for him and not for the others.
Number two, that he intend to float those two proposals if only to raise the hackles of perceived political enemies Councilors Zaldy Ocon and Teodolfo "Bong" Lao and thus remind them that they are now in his turf and would be outvoted for every single measure, every objection and every word they raise against him.
And three, that the two proposals are meant to remind all and sundry that as vice-mayor, he can do what he pleases even if he's in the number two post and will continue to railroad every program, every project in his wish list without any means to fiscalize, assess, and put up mechanisms meant to avoid any potential abuse or exploitation by anyone in power at City Hall, particularly him and his Padayon Pilipino clique.
There are lots more to discuss about the incoming City Council but for now let's leave it at that. And the incoming vice-mayor had better be reminded that even with these petty gimmicks, he shouldn't bully legitimate opposition to the ground and listen to what everyone, including his critics, has to say about him, his policies and his programs of government.
