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Monday, May 08, 2006
Nalzaro: Councilors’ political survival
By Bobby Nalzaro
The Cebu City Council, which is composed of Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan stalwarts, has been accused of being a rubberstamp, robots or puppets of Mayor Tomas Osmeña because majority of them allow themselves to be used or influenced by the mayor’s decision. They are no different from slaves who obey their master’s orders.
There have been several instances that the council was made a laughing stock because they bowed to the whims and caprices of hizzoner. When the mayor imposes his will, honorable members of the council automatically support it by passing legislation. But if the mayor disagrees or vetoes a resolution, then members set aside their principles and simply bow in acquiescence.
For example, the council passed a resolution recommending payment to member stations of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas that City Hall owed money to, following a legal opinion by the City Attorney’s Office.
The debt amounting to more than a million pesos was incurred during the administration of former mayor Alvin Garcia. But when Mayor Osmeña vetoed the resolution, the council did not make any attempt to override his veto power.
On the issue of the proposed land swap between the City and the Province, only a few councilors, including the vice mayor, aired their opposition to the deal, claiming it was disadvantageous to the City. But their opposition was short-lived because they too relented.
Now, another showdown is in the offing regarding the settlement of barangay boundary disputes. Barangays Lahug, Camputhaw, Apas, Busay and Barrio Luz are fighting for territorial jurisdiction over “plum areas” so they can get a bigger share of real estate taxes that establishments located in these barangays pay to City Hall. But before the council, which has the sole jurisdiction in settling boundary disputes, could act on the matter, the mayor made a pronouncement that awarded the “plum areas” to a specific barangay.
How could the council resolve the issue based on members’ personal conviction when the party head has already pre-judged it? Do the councilors have the guts and “balls” to defy the mayor? I doubt. It’s a matter of political survival.
(bgnalzaro@gmanetwork.com)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (May 8, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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