|
Wednesday, October 29, 2003
Editorial: Facing the flak
In their eagerness to defend Rep. Ace Durano from criticisms for signing the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Vice Gov. John-john Osmeña and Provincial Board Members Josefina Asirit and Judy Durano walked out when a pro-Davide measure was about to be discussed.
Osmeña later noted that he was ready to take the flak for what he did in much the same way that Ace Durano took a stance that was not popular on the impeachment issue.
In other situations, such a move would have been heroic. Indeed, going against the odds requires guts, especially from politicians who defend on voter support for survival. But for such display of guts to become stuff for heroes, the matter of right and wrong must be considered.
Ace Durano and the other Cebuano who signed the impeachment complaint against Davide, Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz, risked catching their paisano's ire for doing what they did. That would have been forgivable had they presented reasons compelling enough to justify that "unpopular" act.
However, their arguments were found wanting, thus the condemnation they are currently getting. In the eyes of their fellow Cebuanos, they were not merely going against what is popular–they were also against what is right. That spelled the difference between hero and heel.
In the same vein, it would be good to ask the vice governor whether his decision to "take the flak" for walking out of the Provincial Board session he was supposed to chair was justified. Even reporters who interviewed him later were at a loss regarding his stance. He flip-flopped on the Davide issue.
In a sense, one can give it to Asirit and Judy Durano–both are Ace's relatives. But John-john?
Actually, one can conjure several reasons for what Osmeña did. Maybe he did it for friendship sake. Or maybe he just didn't want to alienate himself from the Duranos who have promised their support for his gubernatorial bid in the 2004 elections.
Whatever it is, the vice governor missed one important lesson.
It has been said that the best test of a leader's character is during difficult times or when he is forced to make difficult decisions. In this case, John-john was made to choose between friendship and political consideration on one side and public good on the other.
By choosing the former, not a few will surely say that he failed the test.
Lakas outwitted
Easily observable during the mass and prayer rally initiated by the Citizens for Judicial Independence last Monday was the presence of former senator Raul Roco and former Cebu governor Emilio “Lito” Osmeña.
Roco, Osmeña and former armed forces chief Renato de Villa were among the first political leaders to issue a statement defending Chief Justice Hilario Davide, thus earning pogi points from Cebuanos.
Aside from that, they have succeeded in popularizing the line regarding the supposed failure of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Lakas to defend Davide.
In this sense, Lakas leaders in Cebu have some catching up to do if they want to make Arroyo win in Cebu. The presence of the President’s daughter Luli during the mass was apparently meant to counter the initiatives of Osmeña and Roco.
But it looks like more should be done.
(October 29, 2003 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
