Cabaero: The advancers

WHAT day is today? Sunday, June 23, 2019. It’s still a week before the term of office of public officials will begin yet some of those elected started taking their oaths of office in advance.

It’s just an oath of office, they might say, but doing it before the time and date stated in the Constitution shows not enough regard for what is proper. What’s wrong with waiting a week before taking the oath?

They said the oath-taking didn’t mean they are starting their terms. They understand that the Constitution states that their terms of office begin noon of June 30. It is possible they decided to do it a week or days ahead in order to keep the limelight on their party leaders who will assume the top posts in government.

Eight incoming Cebu City councilors of the north and south districts belonging to the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) took their oath of office Friday, June 21, 2019, before reelected Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, president of the Laban Ng Demokratikong Pilipino, the national party allied with the BOPK. The eight are councilors-elect Nestor Archival, Lea Japson, Alvin Dizon, and reelected Councilors Sisinio Andales, Alvin Arcilla and Joy Augustus Young of the north district; and councilor-elect Raul Alcoseba and reelected Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr. of the south district.

Since they are in a hurry to take on their elected positions, they should also be in a hurry to serve their constituents.

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The killing of former Medellin, Cebu mayor Ricardo Ramirez by unidentified assailants who stormed the private hospital where he was confined reached the national and international media. One report cited the town’s name, Medellin, and said how apt it was to describe the Philippines’ Colombian-style campaign of death and criminality. Also noted was on how many recent killings have not been resolved and the gunmen not arrested.

Indeed, the manner the hit was conducted was like an organized way of killing someone as seen in cartel movies on Netflix. Witnesses said there were 15 men on board four vehicles who stormed the hospital. They wore face covers and bulletproof vests, and they bore long, automatic firearms. They told everyone to drop, got the mobile phones so no one could take photos or video of them. Four entered Ramirez’s room, fired shots, and left. Everything took only a few minutes. It was done in a swift and very organized manner.

Now the police are looking into security lapses such as why Ramirez was not moved to the regular jail as recommended by the Medellin police station. Ramirez was watched in the hospital by jail guards under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

Police Regional Office 7 Director Debold Sinas said Ramirez was considered a high-profile prisoner and certain security protocols had been put in place. The investigation will be done by his office and the BJMP. There must have been a reason why the town police wanted Ramirez moved.

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