Saturday, April 14, 2007 Nalzaro: Ading and Norma By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
VICE Mayors Amadeo “Ading” Seno Jr. and Norma Patalinjug took over as acting mayors of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities, respectively, following the six months preventive suspension imposed by the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas against Mandaue City Mayor Teddy Ouano and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza.
While the lawyers of Ouano and Radaza are hatching some legal maneuvers to obtain an injunction so they can return to their posts, Ading and Norma are already discharging their functions since they took over almost two weeks ago.
But the two acting mayors have different management styles.
Ading showed his good intention and professionalism and did not harass City Hall employees and department heads identified with or who are loyal to Ouano. Mind you, Ading is running for mayor against Teddy's son, Jonkie.
Ading only signed appointments to fill up those offices that were left vacant following the resignation of some department heads. During his visit to the various City Hall offices, he even encouraged employees to continue doing their duties and functions and not to be disturbed by the change of leadership.
Ading appealed for the cooperation of City Hall people, although he reminded them not to engage in partisan politics because politics is only temporary. I therefore appreciate Ading's gesture because he is professional.
Ading is not vindictive. Under his watch, he could have made the lives of Ouano's supporters miserable. But he even promised to continue some of the good programs initiated by the Ouano administration.
Well, Ading is a lawyer and he knows how to play his cards well. What he is doing is therefore unlike what's happening at the Lapu-Lapu City Hall.
Patalinjug seems to be on a rampage. She thinks that she is already a permanent mayor.
Reports say she has deployed personnel who are loyal to her to various offices to serve as her eyes and ears. She also issued memorandums divesting department heads of their authority to sign documents and prohibiting them from issuing memorandums, notices and information without her approval.
According to sources, this policy has affected the operations of the City Government since everything now has to pass through her office.
Patalinjug also reportedly directed department heads to discontinue the processing of papers, transactions and endorsements made, signed and executed by Rolando Duero, secretary to the mayor, and City Administrator Teodulo Ybañez.
She ordered Duero, Ybañez, City Attorney Vincent Joseph Lim and City Accountant Buenaventura Igot to turn over to her all the keys and locks of their respective offices and not to allow any of their personnel to possess or hold any duplicate keys.
One official refused to comply with the acting mayor's memorandum, saying he might be held accountable for any loss inside his office because he signed a memorandum receipt.
Why should Patalinjug do this? Even if the City Hall stints of these officials are co-terminus with that of Radaza but the latter's term will expire on June 30 yet. Besides, what if Radaza will be re-elected?
Of course, Norma can do what she wants to do if she wins the elections. But are her actions a sign of paranoia or are these motivated by greed of power?
