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Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Seares: Rubber stamp
By Pachico A. Seares
News Sense
Mary Ann de los Santos, Lahug barangay captain, sees a raw deal from Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña on boundary disputes.
Lahug has been squabbling with three other barangays—Luz, Camputhaw and Apas—on territory lines involving prime real estate.
Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino and Cebu Grand Convention Center. Marco Polo Plaza Hotel and Asiatown IT Park. Say them aloud and officials’ mouths water.
Those are rich sources of taxes. Thus, the competing claims, no matter how shaky some of them can be.
Barangays whose chiefs are aligned with the master chief are rejoicing. The mayor already announced that no plum property will go to Lahug.
It stunned Mary Ann and many others who believe in what is right and fair.
Rubber stamp
Do facts and law support the mayor?
Or is it just a wish to shut out Lahug because it is the lone barangay whose head—efficient, multi-awarded and feisty Mary Ann—hasn’t paid homage?
It looks like harassment, raw exercise of power with no regard to anything decent.
If the mayor’s stand is anchored on facts and law, he didn’t need to threaten the City Council with a “showdown.”
Mary Ann dares the City Council not to be a rubber stamp of the mayor.
To be rubber stamp is to approve routinely without thought. I am sure councilors think a lot: what will happen to them if they don’t say “yes” to Tomas.
Rubber stamp? No. Puppets, maybe.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (May 2, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
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