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Monday, July 17, 2006
Mongaya: Other angles in the Dy case
By Anol Mongaya
MAYOR Tomas Osmeña announced with an air of certainty that his friends, the Lim brothers, were behind the killing of Ananias Dy. However, various police sources of Superbalita reporters are talking about other possible angles, because unknown to the public Dy was apparently involved in so many other activities.
There is possibility of a love triangle; Dy’s suspected involvement in the shabu trade; and people he adversely encountered during cock derbies. A coffee shop companion was talking about a recent near violent encounter with another guest inside a bar over a GRO.
Does the mayor have a special source of information not available to the police? Or is he just speculating to the detriment of justice and fairness? Perhaps, it would be best if the mayor would just wait for the result of the police investigation.
If we have to exert pressure on police investigators, it should be in the interest of the truth. With the mayor’s clout over local police, his interest in one version might unduly influence police investigators.
***
Months ago, it seemed preparations for the coming summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in December only involved the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center, improvement of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, security arrangements, and Mayor Osmeña’s holiday proposal.
However, we may be seeing today what could develop into major confrontations between local governments and the urban poor in the months prior to the summit.
Last week, Mayor Osmeña may have diffused a possible confrontation with Cebu City sidewalk vendors who are his erstwhile political supporters. He decided to meet hundreds of vendors who rallied at the Cebu City Hall and asked them to make sidewalks passable.
It remains to be seen if the mayor only postponed a confrontation or he is serious in forging a compromise with the vendors.
Aside from the sidewalk vendors however, Cebu City also has to deal with relocating squatters along McArthur Blvd. and at the North Reclamation Area. Mandaue City also has to relocate some 1,000 squatter families living near the venue of the Asean summit
Will these relocation operations be smooth and non-violent? Or will it only push the affected squatters into the welcome arms of anti-administration groups?
It will indeed be difficult to convince the affected urban poor to serve as the sacrificial lambs for the Asean summit unless government can promise them direct concrete benefits.
Handling this delicate issue will rest on the shoulders of Mayor Osmeña and Mayor Thadeo Ouano. Let’s see who will do a better job.
Meanwhile, with the dismal turnout of rallies organized by local cause-oriented groups for years now, government mishandling the squatters issue will be a shot in the arm for Cebu street parliamentarians. However, they will also need to improve their organizing skills (I still cannot imagine why they are able to mobilize only a handful now when they used to gather tens of thousands in the past) to be able to benefit in terms of actual warm bodies.
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Mactan-Cebu Airport manager Adelberto Yap is definitely on the way out after the temporary restraining order he got will elapse by July 30. Aside from various issues he is facing, he reportedly crossed deliberately his erstwhile supporter Gov. Gwen Garcia.
(superbalita@sunstar.com.ph or anol.blogs.friendster.com/anols_blog)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 17, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here.
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