Saturday, September 27, 2008 Editorial: Freedom Park
FOR issuing rally permits to protesters at the provincial Capitol, City of San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez was bluntly rebuked by Gov. Eddie Panlilio in a letter sent to the former last Monday.
It probably was the first time in his political - or legal - career that Rodriguez had received such a high-handed legal refresher over what appeared to be a rightful action in the first place. And it came from someone who has expressed admiration and respect for him.
In fact, it is relevant to note that the governor had reportedly earlier endorsed him as his possible candidate for the post on or before 2010. That is, until he changed his mind, for one reason or another.
The rally permits that Rodriguez had issued might have something to do with that change of heart. But that's another story.
Two legal arguments stood out in the governor's letter to the city mayor. The first reminded Rodriguez that Arnedo Park was under the governor's jurisdiction, in case he forgot or was ignorant of the fact. The other argument made it clear that he did not consider the park as a freedom park as declared by the Provincial Board.
Panlilio's letter did not merely drive home his legal points. He went a step further to obliquely blame Rodriguez for not stopping the rallyists from making noises or removing their undesirable streamers.
Rodriguez probably agreed with the governor, based on his mild and non-combative response which was quite interesting, to say the least.
Rodriguez's calm and civil reaction to Panlilio's less than tactful missive can be figured two ways. Either Panlilio was right about his legal position, or Rodriguez was simply not in the mood to engage him over legal niceties. Or there are other important considerations where prudence should prevail over valor.
In the process, however, both may have forfeited their respective duties in civics education. The public deserves to know exactly what the law says about a freedom park, and if Arnedo Park, in this instance, is or not. The city residents deserve as well to be enlightened on the City Government's jurisdiction on such important matters as public expression of their sentiments.
In asserting his rights and arguments over the Arnedo Park issue, as strongly expressed in his letter to Rodriguez, Panlilio may have only done it because it had inconvenienced him and a few others, not because the law was really on his side. Power can be a heady and dangerous thing, especially when challenged.
