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Monday, October 11, 2004
Mongaya: Revamp in Mandaue?
By ANOL MONGAYA
THE aggressive initiatives of various media outlets to be ahead of each other and even the investigators in the shabu laboratory case had been sidetracked somehow by that erroneous front-page accusation that Mayor Teddy Ouano owned one of the shabu lab bodegas. It capped a media frenzy to link Mayor Ouano to the shabu facilities set up by the Hung-Tan syndicate.
On hindsight, I think the media frenzy was a result of Ouano’s missteps after the discovery of the two laboratories and two warehouses in Mandaue City. The series of wrong moves was capped by that embarrassing performance before a national audience – the interview by Pia Hontiveros in ANC’s “Strictly Politics” that prompted Rep. Tony Cuenco’s controversial smile. Add to these brew the efforts of Ouano’s political foes.
As a result, a huge percentage of the public now believes Mayor Ouano is indeed involved with the shabu lab syndicate.
In fairness though, no proof had so far been put forward that directly linked Mayor Ouano to the laboratories. I thought Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez had some kind of proof that would link the mayor. It would have confirmed suspicions that even I harbor. Unfortunately for the newspaper that claimed Gonzalez made the statement, the justice secretary said the information was raw. Moreover, he further clarified that he said an Ouano, though not Mayor Ouano, owns a bodega in Mandaue City. But the bodega referred to was not one of those raided in relation to the shabu labs.
Mayor Ouano and his family reportedly wanted to file a P100-million damage claim in a libel case against the English-language newspaper (not Sun.Star Cebu) and Secretary Gonzalez. However, the stiff filing fee convinced the Ouanos to settle for a P25 million damage claim.
The case is interesting because it would involve a justice secretary. However, Secretary Gonzalez has a point when he asserted that he would not apologize. He said he did not issue any erroneous statement implying that the accusation against Mayor Ouano was not his. In fact, he expressed willingness to be a witness.
I believe the Ouano family’s demand for Gonzalez to apologize would only alienate the justice chief. Their lawyers should rethink how they should approach the libel case.
As of the moment, Mayor Ouano has to contend with a public whose perception had been influenced by the negative publicity he has been getting. For instance, most of the text messages I have been receiving about the shabu lab case within the past week criticized the mayor.
Note that in the discovery of shabu laboratories in other places, the media focus was not on the involvement of the mayors.
Earlier, I said the only way Mayor Ouano could repair his battered image would be to score major victories in a fight against illegal drugs that he should personally lead. After all, Mandaue City is not just a haven of the country’s biggest shabu lab. It is also the home of several big time pushers. But I don’t know if he will heed a critic’s unsolicited advice.
However, I got word that Mayor Ouano is poised to carry out a revamp of key City Hall officials because of serious lapses in relation to the shabu lab case. My source said the mayor reportedly ordered a discreet probe into the actuations of his men involved in granting permits and conducting inspections of buildings. If this is not kuryente, then let us expect heads to roll at the Mandaue City Hall.
(e-mail: superbalita@ sunstar.com.ph and anol_cebu@hotmail.com cell phone: 09179761193)
(October 11, 2004 issue)
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