Tuesday, May 22, 2007 Cabaero: Lamppost saga continues By Nini B. Cabaero Beyond 30
EVERYBODY expected that the lamppost overpricing controversy in Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue cities would be made as campaign fodder.
Indeed, the incumbents had to parry questions and suspension orders. Thadeo Ouano and Arturo Radaza, mayors of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities, respectively, were placed on six-month suspension without pay just weeks before the elections.
Ouano was on his last term and endorsed his son, Thadeo Jovito or Jonkie, as his candidate for mayor. Radaza sought reelection.
Jonkie Ouano had to address the lamppost issue in almost all interviews and public forums during the campaign period. Although he was not part of any of the questionable transactions, he had to answer issues meant for his father. A week after the elections, his rival Jonas Cabungcal Cortes was proclaimed mayor of Mandaue City.
Radaza, on the other hand, is still awaiting the board of canvassers’ decision. He too had to face questions during the campaign over his alleged corrupt practices. The tally of votes in Lapu-Lapu City is not yet over.
The latest report showed that the votes cast surpassed the number of registered voters in Lapu-Lapu City. How this happened is now the subject of complaints before the elections body.
At least 187,000 ballots were cast but the number of registered voters is at 148,870.
Maybe the lampposts voted too, said those entertaining malicious thoughts. The lampposts were not only overpriced, they said, these were enfranchised for the local elections and were allowed to vote for Radaza. It may sound funny but it shows how the lamppost scandal is still fresh in the people’s minds.
The preventive suspension order on Radaza, Mayor Ouano and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways was handed down late March by the Office of the Ombudsman.
The anti-graft body said there was “strong evidence of guilt” that some 2,300 street lamps bought for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit held here last January were “highly overpriced.” It found out that the cost of the lampposts was expanded to, in some cases, almost 10 times the actual cost.
The fact that people are making that link between the lamppost controversy and the discrepancy in the number of total votes cast and registered voters shows Cebuanos have not forgotten the scandal. They are far from forgetting because they are seeing how the lamppost scandal is tainting not only reputations but even the results of the elections.
There could be no such link between the lamppost scandal and the canvassing controversy. But it is inescapable for a people battle-scarred from allegations on the extent of corruption, to entertain such thoughts.
Radaza’s election rival, Norma Patalinghug, asked Saturday that a new canvassing of votes be held by a new board of canvassers. Patalinghug wants any proclamation of winner deferred until the results of the new canvassing are announced. As of the end of canvassing last Friday, Radaza was the winning candidate.
Even if Radaza gets a fresh mandate in Lapu-Lapu City, he would still be hounded by questions over the lamppost controversy.
