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Friday, August 18, 2006
Wencelao: Dumped impeachment complaint
By Bong O. Wenceslao
The House committee on justice has,as expected, dumped the impeachment complaint against President Arroyo for being “insufficient in substance.” Earlier, the body accepted only one of eight impeachment complaints filed by the political opposition and militant groups. It ruled the complaint sufficient in form.
I don’t know the rating of the television coverage of the proceedings, but judging from the placement of the story by news editors and directors, it must not have been much. Despite the usual grandstanding and the main protagonists flair for drama, the coverage was buried by other developments that many people consider more important.
That just shows where the political opposition and militant groups should focus their attention on. I think it would not take away much from their cause if they allot some of their time and resources to, say, providing moral and material support to Filipino workers back from Lebanon, to people fleeing from the fury of Mt. Mayon, etc. Di ba?
EVICTION. That Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has issued notices to vacate to families occupying Capitol-owned lot in Barangay Luz is not surprising. The stance is in keeping with his leadership style: tough, with doses of political will. Besides, the move is but a follow-up to the warning she issued to the lot occupants weeks back.
But I don’t agree with the idea of rushing to the demolition phase when other alternatives are still available. I believe government should only use force as the last option, especially involving such an important and basic concern as shelter. Also, dealing with problems is not about style but about looking for the best available solution.
While I am suspicious about the motive of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, I could not understand why his land swap offer, or its variations, seems not to have slowed down Capitol’s rush to evict occupants of its lots in Barangay Luz. With Vice Mayor Michael Rama shutting up, there’s no more problem tackling the deal again.
Maybe, the Province is confident it can pursue its plan for Barangay Luz residents easily, considering the relative ease with which it was able to retake another Capitol-owned lot at the back of the South Bus Terminal. But the Barangay Luz property is a much bigger and complicated case to lay a hand on.
I think a better alternative to demolition can be had if all the parties---the Provincial Capitol, leaders of the lot occupants, the Cebu City Government---will sit down together and talk everything out. As it is, each party separately airing their proposals, criticisms and views to the media is not the best approach to the problem.
(khanwens@yahoo.com/ 0915-9228651/my blog:
cebuano.wordpress.com)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 18, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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