|
Monday, September 26, 2005
Mongaya: Diverting the issue
By Anol Mongaya
BOGO Mayor Tining Martinez is trying to convert the issue linking him to the P9.4-million Land Bank robbery into something political. I think this can be effective if the suspects will categorically deny knowing the mayor.
Unfortunately, they insist on knowing the mayor when he hired them as goons in the last elections. Tining needs the expertise of special ops artists who could make witnesses retract accusations.
Unfortunate still, he could no longer call on Malacañang for help because his mother Rep. Clavel Asas-Martinez placed her bets on the opposition’s failed impeachment move.
Because of her decision to withdraw her support for President Arroyo, I expect the resurrection of more issues that had been shelved in the past and practically considered dead.
For so long as President Arroyo stays in power, the Martinez clan should anticipate political persecution. The administration will surely make their political lives miserable.
***
But will Arroyo stay in power until 2010 despite the adverse issues that keep on cropping up and the so-called destabilization moves?
I think the opposition needs to do a lot of homework and correct the missteps it has committed.
For example, they obviously relied much on the off-mark political assessments made by the American embassy that former aide of Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Michael Ray Aquino, stole in the United States.
They still have not offered a unified alternative to President Arroyo. The disparate groups are united because they hate the same person. They don’t agree on whom or what will replace her.
***
Despite the positive economic indicators being crowed about by the administration, the adverse effects of the continuing political controversy in Metro Manila is already being felt, said customs insiders, in the radical drop in the volume of importations.
“Traditionally, moabot na unta ang mga shipments para Pasko kay Ber na man,” one said.
On the other hand, customs watchers should look at possible increases in import volume arriving in other areas like Davao City and Batangas. If this happens, it is also possible that local importers are dumping their goods somewhere else. This also means there are other causes to the drop in volume like internal bickering.
Nonetheless, I was told of continuing efforts to resolve the conflicts. Let’s hope the efforts will succeed for the good of Cebu.
***
Though local journalists concluded the celebration of the Press Freedom Week, I am confident that initiatives like the activation of the citizens-press council will proceed accordingly.
(superbalita@sunstar.com.ph or anol.blogs.friendster.com/anols_blog)
(September 26, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
