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Thursday, January 13, 2005
Mongaya: Politics in the breakup proposal
By Anol Mongaya
Politics and not development is the primary reason behind this move to break up Cebu into six different provinces. If it succeeds, the position of the sitting governor will be undermined and will prevent her from consolidating her grip on the whole province for three consecutive terms.
Though I think the breakup will be turned down by majority of the Cebuanos, the whole process will take away from Gov. Gwen Garcia time and resources that could have been channeled to development projects.
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I never thought the lawyer Geraldine Faith Econg I knew long ago would become a judge. Knowing Judge Econg, I believe she has the strength to hurdle the challenge of handling the Ecleo parricide case. How she handles this controversial case would be a defining point for her as a judge.
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The Sinulog Foundation has finally recognized the efforts of retired customs collector David Odilao Jr. who started the Sinulog 25 years ago when he was regional director of what was then the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development. I remember this well because my father, the late Doroy Mongaya, was Odilao’s provincial coordinator that time. He helped organize the first Sinulog with contingents from local universities that danced around the basilica using the traditional steps.
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Everybody in the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) at the Cebu port area fervently await the return of their chief, Koko Holganza, who is on sick leave. The temporary replacement is reportedly present only on Fridays and immediately leaves for Manila.
Koko’s blood pressure reportedly shot up because of internal customs politics.
Some quarters talked about the possibility of Koko’s promotion. But I think the time is not ripe for this. Higher officials are using customs, including Cebu, as a playground for their games. Koko will just get his fingers burned. He has probably realized that politics in the bureau is more intense than in City Hall.
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The controversial dinner National Bureau of Investigation Chief Reynaldo Wycoco had with his relatives marred his recent visit in Cebu. Radioman Choy Torralba, who also had dinner with the Mendozas of the Associated Labor Unions at the Ching Palace, saw him with businessman Wellington Lim.
The controversy raised such issues as lack of delicadeza and violation of ethics.
In fairness to Wycoco, however, his relatives have already clarified that an uncle was the one who invited Lim to join the gathering after they met and discussed a Lions Club project. The congressional inquiries that involved the Lim brothers several years ago also failed to produce evidence linking them to illegal drugs.
(January 13, 2005 issue)
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