I THOUGHT that the “former political has-been” would issue a strongly worded statement against the police in last Sunday’s thanksgiving mass and rally held during the 140th birth anniversary of his grandfather, the late president Sergio Osmeña Sr. Days before the activity, he said he would answer all the issues confronting the police and City Hall.
He has not been holding his daily press conferences for the past weeks, saying he would reserve his comments against the police, including his controversial intervention in the arrest of three persons who were caught refilling butane canisters with liquefied petroleum gas. He was charged by the police before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for it.
The Cebuanos also expected him to answer the issues raised by President Rodrigo Duterte during his recent visit here wherein he was castigated by the chief executive and threatened to be slapped. But last Sunday’s rally was boring. He delivered a speech but it was not the one the media and the public expected.
He diverted the issue by hyping his achievements, like the development of Kawit Island at the South Road Properties (SRP) together with the Gokongwei group. He even thanked the President for approving his long dreamed project, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). He did not mention his relationship with the police. That relationship became sour when he suspected that the police had a hand in the spate of killings that happened in the city recently.
Kung ang mga sugarol pay pasultihon, mikakak man lagi. He decided not to criticize the police because he is afraid. Why did he not show his usual arrogant behavior being an influential person? Is he intimidated by the police or by someone more powerful than him? He called for unity and asked some quarters not to tear Cebuanos apart. What unity is he talking about when he is the one dividing the Cebuanos?
He assured the poor and the underprivileged that he would take care of them, especially those victimized by injustice and abuses by authorities. He urged the victims of abuse not to hesitate to call him even in the wee hours of the night because he would help them. He said that poor people have no connections with higher-ups. Their connection is only with his cellular phone number, which is displayed in his Facebook account.
Sus, kamaayo mo drama. Are you projecting a pro-poor image because the elections are fast approaching? Stop fooling the Cebuanos. Why don’t you tell them that you helped the three persons arrested for refilling butane canisters because they worked for your businessman-ally, Peter Osmeña Visitacion, the manufacturer of those illegal butane products where your son, Miguel, is a part owner?
Are you sure that you will help the poor and the victims of injustice when you are doing an injustice yourself? You don’t even acknowledge legal and lawful orders. What did you do to the court sheriff who was just implementing a legal demolition order? What did you do to the informal settlers in Mabolo creek? You ordered their houses demolished. What about your executive order on counterflowing imposing a harsh penalty? Isn’t that anti-poor?
Unya mao nay nagpakabana sa mga kabus? Pagkatoytoy!