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Thursday, May 08, 2003
Wenceslao: Mayor has ‘Sars’?
By Bong Wenceslao
The City Hall-run condominium as isolation facility for patients afflicted with the dreaded severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars)? Trust Mayor Tomas Osmeña to be the one to think out the plan. Actually, this is what makes the Cebu City mayor one of a kind. Aside from his now highly proven arrogance, he is also much too “creative” comfort.
In his recent proposal, he wants us to forget that the condominium is in a very populated place, and that Sars is no joking matter. And he seems to be telling us not to listen to Cebu City Health Office epidemiologist Ilya Tac-an, who stressed that Sars isolation units must not be in crowded places and must be well ventilated.
But why is the mayor insisting on it? Don’t look for answers in things altruistic. The mayor is not as concerned with the safety of the residents living in the area as he is with evicting the occupants of the building. He knows he must follow due process in forcing out the 85 building occupants, which include City Prosecutor Jose Pedrosa.
With the Sars scare, his “creative” mind worked double time. He has discovered a new way to flush out the occupants. Consider what he told City Hall reporters: “We feel a very strong resistance (from the occupants). But if we’ll start putting Sars patients there, they will move out quickly.” See? Didn’t I tell you this mayor is a “genius.”
This reminds me of another “creative” idea of the mayor to evict the sidewalk vendors who previously occupied the Osmeña Blvd. side of the Basilica del Sto. Niño. To starve the vendors of customers, he barricaded the main gate of the church so churchgoers won’t pass where the vendors are. The idea failed miserably. Pastilan bitaw.
‘SARS.’ Emil Gestopa, a reader from South California in the US e-mailed to me his reaction to my article criticizing Mayor Osmeña’s act of berating and then shooing Sun.Star fotog Amper Campaña from the mayor’s office and City Hall. Gestopa said we should bring the case to court, noting that we have the best lawyers in Frank Malilong, Mel Libre, etc.
But what I found interesting was his comment on the joke among reporters that the mayor probably had dysmenorrhea at that time (although I think some women will probably not consider as politically correct the use of dysmenorrhea in the joke). “Your city mayor,” Mr. Gestopa said, “has Sars—Severe Arrogance Related to Sun.Star.”
Anyway, I agree with Ombudsman Director Virginia Palanca Santiago that, “arrogance has no place in public service.” And it is good that she reminded Osmeña about it, because he gloats every time he insults people. But the good director should also watch out. I am sure the mayor will find ways to hit her back for daring to tell him that.
Meanwhile, Malin of Marian Village, Tayud Consolacion, Cebu texted this: “Osmeña doesn’t deserve to be a mayor. He is very arrogant and has no respect even for himself. What he did to Amper Campaña did him more harm than good.” Archie Brown felt that Osmeña ought to be reminded that as mayor, “he’s like a captain of a boat. He steers it and makes it go wherever he wants. But pastilan, bisag unsaon di gyod iya ang barko.”
P.S. Roel Gingoyon, V. Rama Ave., Cebu City asked me if the Sars virus can contaminate livestock. “I am just curious,” he said, “as nothing has been said about it.” Well, the mode of transmission of the virus, according to experts, is close contact with Sars patients. There’s no report Sars can be transmitted by eating livestock.
(For your Text Reax contributions, my cell phone number is 09166496783. Please give your complete name and address. E-mail: cowens21@ lycos.com or opinion@sunstar.com.ph)
(May 8, 2003 issue)
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