Tuesday, January 08, 2008 Offer of unity doubtful: Pablo John
IT’S been eight months since the 2007 elections, but Rep. Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, 3nd district) can’t still forget the personal attacks her elder sister and Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia received from their political opponents.
That is why Pablo John reacted strongly against Toledo City officials’ offer of reconciliation to the governor, which the latter readily accepted.
Last Sunday, Gwendolyn was invited for the first time to the 48th Charter Day celebration of Toledo City. She was the keynote speaker.
City Mayor Arlene Zambo, a supporter of former senator John “Sonny” Osmeña, led city officials in welcoming the governor.
Pablo John was vacationing in the US when this happened. He said he was shocked to read the story.
“Considering the position they took on Sugbuak, and the vile, personal attacks they made against the governor just a few months ago, it must have been a quite miraculous conversion,” Pablo John said in a text message.
Sugbuak refers to the three bills passed in the 13th Congress to make three separate provinces out of Cebu. One such province would be the Occidental Cebu that constitutes the third district.
The proposal was filed by former Congressman Antonio Yapha who lost to Gov. Gwendolyn last elections.
“But it’s one thing to talk about unity, and quite another to mean it. And nothing in these Toledo official’s actions, past and present, inspire me to believe in miracles,” he said.
City not united
Pablo John said Toledo City officials could not talk about unity when the city itself is not united.
There are two factions in Toledo City, the barangays that the Toledo City officials favor and those that supported Gwendolyn and Pablo John last May.
During the Charter Day celebration, Zambo said in her State of the City Address, that the governor’s attendance indicated unity in the highest degree.
Gwendolyn gave a fire truck, a mini-ambulance and a mini-dump truck to Toledo City during the occasion.
Pablo John is not convinced of the officials’ sincerity. He said, “If they think they pulled a fast one on the governor, my warning to them is-the governor is not as stupid as they apparently think she is.”
“The governor will always give projects that she thinks will redound to the benefit of the people, regardless of political color,” Pablo John said.
“What riles me is when Mayor Zambo and Vice Mayor (Aurelio) Espinosa talk about unity, and in the same breath harass and persecute those identified with the governor they now belatedly claim to adore,” stated Pablo John.
He also criticized the city’s “overtaxing” scheme, spending on an “Imeldific” new City Hall and its “up to the neck” loans.
While Zambo boasted of its garden city hall in Barangay Ilihan last Sunday through an audio-visual presentation.
Zambo denied the city increased its taxes. She said they just strictly implemented the collection.
In a text message to Sun.Star Cebu yesterday, Zambo said she would prefer to keep quiet on the issue until she reads what Pablo John’s statements against her and the other officials.
But while Gwendolyn has opened her doors to Zambo, this will affect the governor’s relationship with her brother.
“I’m just defending the governor from these people. I’m just here to douse cold water on people who think they’ve taken the governor for a ride,” said Pablo John.
Capitol consultant on information Rory John Sepulveda also said the governor and the congressman have much respect for each other.
“I don’t see any reason nga magkabikil sila. If there are even differences in opinion, I see no possibility nga mo-escalate into something personal,” said Sepulveda. (JGA)
