Thursday, October 18, 2007 Seares: Kiss and make up? I don’t think so By Pachico A. Seares News Sense
WHEN Visayas Ombudsman Director Virginia Santiago called feuding Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza and businessman Efrain Pelaez to a meeting last Monday, she asked them to (1) "deal with each other," (2) "open communication lines," and (3) "settle their conflict."
Deal with each other? That's what Efrain and Mayor Boy have been doing these past weeks, through the ombudsman and the courts.
Efrain and other business leaders want complaints for corruption against Boy decided so he can be suspended and eventually tried in the anti-graft court. The mayor wants the court to lift its order restraining City Hall demolition of Efrain's malls and beach resort.
Open communication lines? They are talking. Correction, Boy is not (speech fright or whatever) but lawyers and p.r. people are speaking for him. Efrain talks, a huge lot.
Both sides are communicating.
How to do it
Ah, but Madam Virgie wants them to "settle their conflict."
Then, she needs to tell the protagonists how. The business leaders withdraw their complaints against Boy and in return the mayor cancels orders to tear down Efrain's businesses? Forgive and forget, kiss and make up?
That would mean terminating the good governance campaign of the business leaders, wiping the slate clean for the Radaza administration, with public officials free to do again what they are accused of doing.
That would mean condoning alleged violations of Efrain and maybe other business leaders. And "business-as-usual": ignore bending of laws and rules for a fee.
Would Madam Virgie want that? Would the public approve? I don't think so.
