Saturday, November 03, 2007 Nalzaro: Why can’t Osmeña accept defeat? By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
ARE residents of Barangay Lahug not constituents of Cebu City? Are they not taxpayers that are also entitled to the delivery of basic services from the City Government like the residents of other barangays whose leaders are friendly or allied with the powers that be at City Hall?
I pose these questions after Mayor Tomas Osmeña has once again issued threats to Lahug following the reelection of Barangay Captain Mary Ann de los Santos. Tomas said that City Hall will not extend any support to Lahug until Mary Ann remains barangay captain.
Osmeña vowed to make de los Santos' life as barangay chief miserable by not giving her barangay any aid. “Let's see if she can survive without City Hall's support,” the mayor remarked during a press conference.
Tomas is again showing his vindictive bent. Why can't he accept defeat and swallow his pride?
The mayor is training his guns on Mary Ann because he failed to unseat her despite his support for her opponent in the recently concluded barangay and Sangguniang Kabtaan elections. Mary Ann also defeated Tomas in Lahug in the election for mayor last May.
Osmeña should be reminded that he is not the owner of Cebu City and that the people of Lahug are also stakeholders of City Hall.
Just several days ago, the mayor also asked the City Council to study the boundaries of Lahug with its neighboring barangays. His target is to take out big establishments like Waterfront Hotel, the I.T Park and the Grand Convention Center from Lahug's territorial jurisdiction obviously to reduce the barangay's income.
By depriving Lahug of its basic services and projects, Tomas is not only crucifying Mary Ann but the residents of Lahug as well. The mayor’s snub of barangays whose leaders are not toeing his line has already affected so many innocent Cebuanos.
As the father of the city, he should have been fair in dealing with all his constituents.
Okay, Osmeña said that he will still extend projects to Lahug but will not course them through Mary Ann but directly to the sitios. Not even out of courtesy, mayor?
The reason why we elect barangay captains is for effective delivery of basic services. So if that's what Tomas wants, we might as well abolish the barangays considering that the city or municipal government can always deal directly with the people.
But under the current setup there are projects that cannot be implemented without the concurrence of barangay officials. Meaning, the city or municipal government cannot just bypass the leadership in the barangay.
Of course, we know already the mayor’s motive. His action is prompted by pride. He cannot accept the fact that an ordinary barangay captain can oppose his policies. Yet, Mary Ann has a reason to do so because she cannot accept Tomas’ dictatorial style of leadership.
Kanang lalaki ra ba nga makig-away og babaye mayor, kadudahan.
