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Monday, February 14, 2005
Mongaya: Sugbo-ak?
By Anol Mongaya
ADVOCATES of a united Cebu describe the efforts of Congress last-termers as ‘Sugbo-ak.’ I’m sure the effort to keep Cebu united would get majority support in a province-wide referendum. However, if the referendum would be carried out per district, the congressmen advocating new provinces would enjoy the advantage.
Gov. Gwen Garcia, the official most affected by the move to carve additional provinces in Cebu, should double time in efforts to co-opt the active support of mayors and barangay captains.
Nevertheless, the lady governor has not been wasting time. According to a news item over the weekend, “Gwen gives out P7M aid to Cebu towns.” Judging from the body language of second district mayors, as perceived by reporters during her sortie down south, Governor Garcia won’t have any problem in Rep. Sim Kintanar’s bailiwick.
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It seems Cebu City vigilantes have begun hitting non-criminals. One of their recent victims is a mere ukay-ukay vendor.
But while vigilantes go about denying due process to people whom they label as crooks, friends of convicted felon Paco Larrañaga still enjoy the luxury of appealing for justice as they insist on the innocence of Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s nephew in the tragic Chiong abduction, rape and murder case.
Had Mayor Osmeña inspired the Cebu death squad years ago, they could have made Paco and his barkada samples of their killing spree ostensibly to control crime.
Perhaps City Hall beat reporters should ask the mayor if he supports this move for the freedom of Paco. Let’s see if the mayor will be consistent with his “love the victim, hate the criminal” stance.
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The City’s Swat team showed last week its new non-lethal weapon that would be used to control unruly crowds. Armed with rubber bullets, the gun won’t kill. It would only cause bruises and pain like the hits of plastic bullets of airsoft pellet guns.
The possession of the non-lethal guns would demonstrate an effort of the police force to respect life. However, the seeming non-action against vigilantism speaks louder than several column inches with Swat men showing off non-lethal weaponry.
Again, the death squad had not shown effectiveness in curbing crime. More of the community alertness and bravery of barangay tanods demonstrated in Zapatera should do the trick.
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Officials should now address the concern on the weak security at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport owing to the hiring of private guards sans training in aviation security. Should we wait for tragedies to happen before doing any action?
(superbalita(at)sunstar(dot)com(dot)ph; anol_cebu(at)hotmail(dot)com; 09179761193)
(February 14, 2005 issue)
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