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Thursday, March 23, 2006
Editorials: Rama’s ‘screw-up’
Cebu City Vice Mayor Mike Rama has picked on a lift-out quote on Page 1 in the March 16, 2006 issue of Sun.Star Cebu as reason for the flak Capitol threw at him.
He implied that without the quote, the governor and the Cebu Provincial Board members would not have been so incensed as to scrap the deal.
He is giving too much credit to a newspaper item that merely teased---thus the journalism term "teaser." Full quote was in the news story's body text in the same March 16 issue.
He is also insulting Capitol officials who must have gathered facts and decided on solid grounds, not just a quote.
Influence
We don't flatter ourselves that the paper wields such power that it could shape, with a one-sentence quote, government policy.
Rama should not also think that the Capitol leaders are dolts who react violently to one line in his speech. Credit them with some intelligence naman.
Capitol officials had been watching City Council moves even before the vice mayor spoke about seeking a "cordial" session with the Provincial Board. After all, the issue had languished in the City Council for almost a year already (Mayor Osmeña's count: two years).
Not listening?
Maybe, Rama wasn't listening. His comments and the councilors' moves before the March 15 speech had already been drawing seething replies from Capitol as the mayor fidgeted.
Besides, has it not been the vice mayor's stand to go slow ("so as not to stumble"), ask questions, and clarify the unclear areas before saying yes to the lot swap?
Did he not speak of what Capitol was getting ("limpyo") while City Hall was to be burdened with collecting debts?
He talked about stewardship and dual responsibility, which explain aversion to quick and easy disposal of city real estate.
Apparently, that has now changed, as he scrambles for excuses for an alleged monumental "screw-up."
Credit, responsibility
Actually, Rama did not screw up. To many people, he had been trying to protect the interest of Cebu City and its residents.
But look. He now seems to be in a daze, collapsing in the weight of criticism, almost a wimp as he scrounges for something to blame.
And pray, where are the other councilors? Why is no colleague defending him?
The councilors bear equal credit, if the Council is proven right, and equal responsibility, if proven wrong.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (March 23, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
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