(Scroll down: Worried about the killings? Worry more, or as much, about 5.2% inflation in June, higher than experts and the market expected.)
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The still-unfilled post vacated by the death of Lapu-Lapu City Councilor Roque Wagwag, 45, last June 26 may no longer create any controversy when his successor is appointed.
Unlike the case of Councilor Damian Go a.k.a. Damgo who died March 1, 2017 at 66 and whose seat was filled by an opposition (Kusgano) member who joined the Liberal Party, this time the LP stalwarts who might complain are no longer with the party; they're with PDP-Laban.
Lapu-Lapu Mayor Paz Radaza and 11 of his councilors left LP and defected to the ruling party last November 17, 2017 in a mass oath-taking billed as "a migration of 50,000 political butterflies" at Plaza Independencia in Cebu City.
Of what interest would the Radazas' loss of one seat to Kusgano? Radaza holds a firmer grip of the Lapu-Lapu City Council than Mayor Tomas Osmeña over the Cebu City Council. Besides, Kusgano is also PDP-Laban with local coating.
In Councilor Damgo's case, Kusgano managed to put its own man, or woman (Jeannify Tan-Dungog), in the Lapu-Lapu City Council. How? By having her sworn in as a Liberal and the LP bigwigs in Manila to sign the endorsement.
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Kusganos in LP plumage
The Local Government Code requires the successor of a councilor who dies, resigns or is otherwise incapacitated to be a member of the same party under which he was elected. Councilor Wagwag won as an LP. His successor, whom the president will appoint, must be endorsed by the LP.
What complicates compliance with the intent of the law is the shifting of alliances. Defections have emptied the LP group that once ruled City Hall. They are now all PDP-Labans.
The irony is that Kusgano, the Radazas' rivals in Lapu-Lapu politics who also belong to PDP-Laban, is able to get a seat in the City Council. With a Kusgano wearing an LP coat occupying it.
Councilor Damgo's successor was a Kusgano. Will Councilor Wagwag's replacement be a Kusgano too?
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More worrisome
Then US president Ronald Regan called inflation "as violent as a mugger, as frightening as an armed robber, and as deadly as a hit man."
But what is inflation? Someone said it's the P250 price for a haircut that went up from P150 months ago, a service for which you used to pay P50 when you still had hair.
The Philippine Statistics Authority Thursday reported a 5.2% inflation in June, 0.6 higher than in May, which was 4.6%. The last time inflation hit 5.2% was in October 2011.
Who's to blame for inflation? If it's "taxation without legislation" (taking people's money away without having to raise taxes), then you know the culprit.
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