Thursday, March 01, 2007 Espinoza: Informal settlers in Capitol-owned lots By Elias L. Espinoza Free Zone
IN the conflict between Gov. Gwen Garcia and Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña over the botched land swap deal, the helpless informal settlers in Capitol-owned lots in the city are the casualties.
Thinking that President Arroyo, who was here the other day, would intervene for them, the informal settlers held a peaceful prayer-rally only to be ignored.
It’s a shame that while the President, together with Garcia, Osmeña and other officials, shared a thanksgiving dinner at the Malacañang sa Sugbo, the informal settlers are still anxious about losing their homes. Of course, it was not appropriate to discuss the land swap deal in that dinner because trouble might erupt once egos flare up.
Most if not all politicians, when they campaign, claim they are pro-people. But when the people that put them into office need their help, they are ignored.
The governor does not care if the informal settlers in Capitol-owned lots are evicted because Cebu City voters cannot vote for provincial officials. The one who will suffer is Osmeña if he will have an opponent in the May 14 polls. The informal settlers will certainly favor a candidate who can deal with the governor.
And there is no truth to the rumor that Capitol is playing hard ball in the lot swap deal because former mayor Alvin Garcia is running against Osmeña. The governor and Alvin are first cousins.
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Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Patrocinio Comendador denied that vigilantes were behind two recent murders in the city. Vigilantes no longer exist, he said. Comendador replaced then CCPO director Melvin Gayotin, whose watch was marred by the unsolved killings of more than 170 people.
Comendador’s denial only bolstered suspicions that the police have links with the so-called vigilantes. In legal parlance, we call his denial negative pregnant.
It also confirmed theories that the summary executions, allegedly with the blessing of a top city official, were meant to cleanse the city of criminals at a time when Cebu was to host the Asean summit.
So why are the vigilantes laying low, Chief? I am sure Comendador does not have a ready answer to that. But I feel that the vigilantes will come back after the elections.
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Because of boos that he received from Cebuano boxing fans, Manny Pacquiao must have realized that politics is not like boxing. He has decided to let go of his plan to run for Congress in General Santos City.
Cebuanos love Pacman and they expressed that love by opposing his plan to enter politics. Pacquiao was in Cebu to watch the “Moment of Truth” boxing event. I hope he does not change his mind come March 29, the last day of the filing of certificates of candidacy for local posts.
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Pubs Briones, a Sun.Star editor, deserves praise for the honor he received.
His short film, “The Homecoming,” won an award in Manila. Cheers, Pubs!
