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Saturday, September 03, 2005
Dumanjug or Barili ‘mulled as gift for Garcias’
By Jeanette P. Malinao Sun.Star Staff Reporter
With Lovey Lady Villanueva
When the issue was raised about the existing province being left with not enough land area to comply with requirements, sponsors of the split-Cebu bills “considered” retaining Dumanjug or Barili town with the mother unit “as a gift” to the Garcia family.
But Rep. Clavel Asas-Martinez (Cebu, 4th district), who disclosed this yesterday, added that they made a thorough study about the subject and concluded that they wouldn’t have to do it after all, because the existing province will be left with “sufficient” land area.
Capitol consultant Pablo John Garcia said Martinez’s pronouncement only shows they are at “the height of arrogance and drunkenness with power.”
“That’s madness, hubris in the highest order. The Province of Cebu or any portion thereof is not theirs to give. It belongs to the Cebuanos— those who are living, dead, or yet unborn. How dare they think that the Province or any of its portion is theirs to give?” said Pablo John in a press conference.
Martinez, in a forum organized by radio dyAB yesterday, also insisted that the Catholic Church has nothing to do with the move to create three more Cebu provinces, which, for her, is “only for the development of the constituency.”
Besides, Martinez asked, why should the Church block the move when no one is opposing its creation of new parishes all over
Cebu to “better serve their parishioners?”
The Municipality of Bogo even helped the Church financially in building its new parishes within the northern town, she said.
“I don’t know unsa may labot sa simbahan when we are just trying to serve our people in the same way that they are making new parishes to better serve their parishioners,” said Martinez.
So far, residents in only two of Cebu’s 102 parishes approve of the plan to carve up Cebu.
Msgr. Roberto Alesna, member of the Presbyteral Council, said that of the 73.9 percent of the parishes that submitted their survey results, the parishes of Lapaz, Bogo and Lamac, Pinamungajan show an overwhelming support for the move.
Bogo would be part of the proposed Cebu del Norte of Martinez, while Pinamungajan would belong to Cebu Occidental, if the bills are approved.
Alesna said they expected all survey results to be in by Aug. 28, the deadline, but not all parishes were able to submit.
After the results are collated, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal will issue a pastoral letter, along with the church primer.
Martinez’s son, Bogo Mayor Celestino “Tining” Martinez III, earlier asked the cardinal to visit the fourth district so he would know why they want to create Cebu del Norte.
In reaction to Martinez’s tirade against the church, Pablo John said the congresswoman’s argument is illogical and absurd. He pointed out that one could not compare a political subdivision with the church organization. By making more parishes, the Church is not dividing itself, only branching out.
“There is still one Archdiocese in Cebu,” said Pablo John.
Cardinal Vidal’s stand against Cebu del Sur, Cebu del Norte and Cebu Occidental also prodded former senator John Osmeña to seek audience with the Papal Nuncio in Rome.
Osmeña said he would have liked to tell the Vatican that Vidal is opposing people who have supported the Church in its advocacies, like House committee chairman Antonio Yapha Jr. who blocked the church-opposed reproductive health bills.
“Ang tawo nga ila gi-away nibarog para sa simbahan,” said Osmeña. He added that the person who acted as their “go-between” told him not to pursue his plan, as “we will do something about it.”
Osmeña also demanded “transparency” from the church asking, “Pila may nadawat nimo gikan sa Pagcor?”
In a press conference yesterday, Pablo John said Osmeña and his allies are free to complain to anybody. “But again, he is missing the point. This is not about personalities, this is about Cebu. If they think they can win this debate by maligning the church and its leaders, then I’m truly disappointed. I had thought (Osmeña) was a brilliant political mind.”
Martinez also defended their bills from Rep. Antonio Cuenco’s claim that it violated rules, failed to meet requirements and should not have been deliberated on by the House committee on local government yet.
“That is incorrect, basin siyay na technical,” she said, referring to Cuenco (Cebu City, south).
Rep. Raul del Mar, in the same radio forum, said he also disagrees with the proposal to cut up Cebu. After hearing the three proponents at the committee hearing, Del Mar said he has yet to be convinced of how the move will make “superior economic growth or lead to greater administrative capability to deliver basic services.”
Also, Del Mar “finds it very hard” to support the bills knowing that the remaining province will no longer meet the minimum land area requirement. After questions were raised on why Cebu City representatives are joining the debate, he also stressed that he is an ex-officio member of the committee so he has every right to participate and vote on the measures.
Martinez cited that the Land Management Bureau (LMB) already testified at the House committee hearing that they complied with the requirement.
In response to this, Pablo John said that the LMB testified only that the new provinces meet the requirement, but was “deafeningly silent” about the remaining province.
(September 3, 2005 issue)
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