Tuesday, October 07, 2008 Editorial: Shut up, Mr. Vice Mayor
THE reality that local governments are made of intellectually matured people simply makes Cagayan de Oro Vice Mayor Vicente Emano out of touch in his treatment of -— and his dealings with -— other elected officials like him, including the public.
Emano’s latest antic is the announcement that he would be willing to salvage the suspended US2$ Hanjin investment by going to South Korea himself. Perhaps the ex-mayor and ex-governor of Misamis Oriental would perform his famous “hangad sa langit, duko sa yuta” ritual to mesmerize Hanjin executives in changing their minds?
Never mind that he has nothing to do with the affairs of the Capitol, but the vice mayor apparently doesn’t get it. This kind of meddling is exactly the reason why Hanjin pulled out from the Phividec. The South Korean firm had to talk to many local officials jockeying for its attention—mostly to solicit juicy contracts for themselves and for their minions. LGU officials within the project site also had too many demands and impositions that gave the wrong impression that the Koreans are the ones who owed us a great deal, which is completely the opposite.
Then it came to a point that the South Koreans had too many people to pander to and ran on a lot of troubles from the varying wishes and caprices of those who are in power wanting a windfall.
Malacañang has clearly warned local officials —- Emano included —- to stay away from the Hanjin investment because the investor would like to talk to only one entity, that is, the Hanjin Taskforce, created immediately after the counterclaims of bribery and extortion involving several local officials.
Emano should respect this set-up if he sincerely wants to see this project take off. Enough of showmanship, please. Emano should also exorcise himself from the illusion that he was instrumental in forging the Hanjin deal when he visited South Korea when he was still mayor. He was not. It was President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who signed the deal with Hanjin and officials of the South Korean government. Anyone who thinks that a mere local official can sign a nation to nation agreement is a fool who has an utter contempt of the public's intelligence.
The vice mayor has not attended a City Council session for over a year now. Maybe it is wise for the vice mayor to start minding his own business?
