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Thursday, March 16, 2006
Espinoza: Mandaue and the CICC
By Elias L. Espinoza
There is no doubt that the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) that is being constructed in Mandaue can spur the city’s development. The CICC will be the venue of the Asean summit that will be attended by heads of states from Southeast Asia and the United States in December. .
As venue of the summit, Mandaue will have an advantage over its neighbor local government units in terms of international exposure. Thus, I am not surprised that Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña recently picked a fight with Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano when the latter opposed Osmeña’s unacceptable proposal to declare a four-day holiday during the summit.
Perhaps, not being in the limelight as mayor of the city where the CICC is located and not being able to play host to Asean leaders in December is something Osmeña cannot accept. To recall, Osmeña offered to donate a portion of the South Reclamation Project as site of the CICC, but Gov. Gwen Garcia proceeded with her original plan to put the facility in Mandaue.
For the moment, Osmeña is trying to bring his unpopular four-day holiday proposal to President Arroyo so he could, at least, show his colleagues in the organizing committee that he is doing something.
To be fair with Osmeña, however, his bravado can be taken in a positive light. He is not scared to say what is in her mind no matter who will get hurt and as long as he feels that what he is saying is right.
Though he could not offer any evidence for it, Osmeña expressed his suspicion that top military and police officials may have been behind the release of the four suspected kidnap gang members arrested last week at the Mactan airport. Because of this, he asked the National Bureau of Investigation to look into how the police conducted the investigation on the four.
The suspects posted bail after a Lapu-Lapu City assistant prosecutor them with a case of usurpation of authority instead of with a case for illegal possession of firearms.
While Osmeña could not present proof of his suspicion, there are circumstances that could lead us to believe it. An example are the paraphernalia the police found in the alleged safe house of the gang in Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City that included four pieces of police badge, uniforms, police shirts, and car registration plates. These are items that can only be acquired by those in the service or those who have easy access to the police or military.
Indeed, there is reason for Teresita Ang See, member of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, to be outraged with the release of brothers Jessie and Ronald Pepino, Richard Orayan, and Crisologo Puzon.
Since they are now out on bail, I seriously doubt whether they would show up during their arraignment and trial considering that they have other pending warrants of arrest.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (March 16, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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