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Thursday, November 03, 2005
Espinoza: Lone opposition councilor
By Elias L. Espinoza
Councilor Eugene Espedido is the lone opposition member of the Lapu-Lapu City Council, and councilors aligned with Mayor Arturo Radaza always drown his voice of dissent there.
Radaza and Espedido were once the best of friends and were thus politically allied. It was Radaza who invited Espedido to join politics. Radaza first ran as vice mayor and Espedido as councilor, and both won.
The reason for the breakup of their alliance is what most people can only speculate. But a source told me it has something to do with the 2007 polls. Espedido is in his last term as councilor and is rumored to run for mayor against Radaza.
Sources say the mayor’s advisers and sycophants passed the rumor to him and he took the poison pill. The mayor ended up losing confidence in Espedido.
Although Espedido refused to admit or deny he would run for mayor when I asked him about it two weeks ago, he said he only has two choices: quit politics or seek a higher post.
There are indications Espedido is not quitting politics. A source said his political positioning for the 2007 polls largely depends on Vice Mayor Norma Patalinjug. If Patalinjug runs for mayor against Radaza, Espedido may run for vice mayor under her.
Many feel that the Patalinjug-Espedido tandem would give Radaza and whoever will be his running mate a good fight.
Meanwhile, Espedido could not hide his resentment at the way majority councilors “railroaded” the approval of budget resolutions. He said his may be a voice in the wilderness, but this would not stop him from opposing measures that would disadvantage the City Government.
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Molding the behavior, character, and personality of students is the primary obligation of educational institutions. But a private school in Metro Cebu may have been remiss in this duty.
Instead of teaching students the right virtues, the school’s extra-curricular activity, in a way, encourages corruption, a parent complained. Parents of students short listed to participate in an activity abroad were allegedly required to show their money.
“Why should we show our money to them?” the parent asked. Student should be selected based on merit and not on “show money.” Anyway, the students would be obliged to spend once their child is chosen, the parent said.
Requiring “show money” is not good for a private school that is supposed to teach good moral values. The Department of Education should look into this immoral, if not illegal, act.
(November 3, 2005 issue)
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