Monday, July 07, 2008 Seares: ‘I was born naked’ By Pachico A. Seares News Sense
LITO Ruiz, a “usec” or undersecretary in the Department of Interior & Local Government (DILG), is accused of two things:
— Campaigning early by holding last week a “pulong-pulong” in a Lapu-Lapu City barangay;
— Telling a lie that he was shot at during the meeting.
Lapu-Lapu ABC chief Leo Mercado’s charge of premature campaigning cannot stand. Under a law that scoffs at intent to limit electioneering, there’s no violation until after COC or certificate of candidacy is filed.
Period for filing COCS is still years away. And Lito’s running for mayor of Lapu-Lapu City, though cheered on by the “usec” himself, produces no legal effect.
Holding small public meetings is usually viewed as luring of votes, an overt act waving intent in people’s faces. But it’s not the definitive COC the law requires.
It’s not punishable. President Arroyo’s avowed wish to shun politics and focus instead on the country’s increasing food and fuel crises clashes with what she routinely does, which is unavoidably political.
But she, or minions like Lito, are no more liable than the president-wannabe senator who peddles face lotion in TV commercials.
Was it a lie?
Lito’s camp must worry more about its claim that somebody tried to kill the “usec.” Barangay folk who were at the site swear that nobody fired at Lito, not even with a “luthang” or bamboo gun used in children’s play.
And he didn’t directly dispute the “shoot-at-me” rap. No stout denial, just allusion to his birth (“I was born naked”) and where his feet are (“on the ground”).
Lito is being vague, which critics see as admission of pulling a propaganda trick.
