Wednesday, November 05, 2008 Malilong: Tommy’s shoe could be too big for Mike’s foot By Frank Malilong The Other Side
THAT was really perverse. Forcing a couple to have sex before doing it himself when the male partner proved unable to perform shows depravity that is outstanding even in sex maniacs.
The suspect pleaded innocence, claiming that if he were guilty he could have chosen to run away when he saw Liloan policemen approach his hideout. Would it have been that he tried to flee and one of the cops was Adonis Dumpit, who had in his crosshair that thing hanging between the suspect’s legs.
I once met a rape victim and saw how difficult and painful it was for her to recall her experience. Afterwards, she told me that the effort made her feel as if she had been violated again and that she wasn’t sure if she could stand more pain and humiliation when she testified in court. She eventually decided not to pursue the case against her attacker.
As the Supreme Court has held in a long line of decisions, it runs against her nature for the usually meek and shy Filipina to falsely accuse someone of raping her, in the process exposing her to public ridicule and condemnation. The poor Liloan lass couldn’t have made up her story including her positive identification of the accused through his voice and tattoo.
In fact, if there is something aside from the suspect’s denial that does not sound right, it is the actuation of the victim’s boyfriend. Why he chose to run away while the rapist was doing his thing bothers me. Couldn’t he have just picked up a piece of wood or stone to hit the pervert with while the latter was pre-occupied with his labors to satisfy his bestial desire? It doesn’t speak well of his valor or common sense, does it?
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I hate to disappoint his enemies but I can’t imagine Mayor Tomas Osmeña resigning now or in the immediate future. I don’t know why and how the subject even came up at all. Tommy is too tough and too proud to just roll over, no matter how sick he may be. He isn’t the type who will fade quietly into the sunset; he will exit with his guns blazing.
He will, as he has announced, continue to be on leave so that he can still have a say over how Mike Rama runs the city’s affairs even while he is undergoing treatment. If Mike remains the good and loyal ally that he is, there will be no need for Tommy to alter the arrangement. Otherwise, he can cut short his leave and take control through the city administrator and other officials.
Tommy’s illness can thus be said to have brought Mike closer to destiny. Not all seconds-in-command have his opportunity to train on the job that he aspires to take over from the big boss. He should be warned, however, that his OJT can both be a boon or a bane, depending on how well he acquits himself not only as the chief executive of the city but also as the crown prince of the BO-PK.
The latter job appears to be a little more difficult, if not daunting. Tommy has ruled BO-PK with an iron hand because he and everybody else knew that he can make or unmake a politician’s dream in Cebu City.
This is the shoe that may be too big for Mike’s foot to fit in. Even among Tommy’s allies, there are those who are not too sure about Mike’s ability to get everyone to toe the line. Can Mike prevail upon third-term Councilor Nestor Archival not to run for Congress against Raul del Mar’s daughter, Cutie in the city’s north district? Can he persuade Bebot Abellanosa and Gerry Carillo to agree to field a common bet against Atan Guardo in the south?
Between now and the start of the next campaign period is a good 15 months. That’s more than enough time for Mike to emerge from Tommy’s giant shadow and prove that he can be his equal. If he doesn’t, he can kiss his dream of taking Tommy’s job on a more permanent basis goodbye.
