TO BE sure, sparks are not yet flying. But the device is being ignited and, if not promptly switched off, fire may yet leap out and grow.
Vice Mayor Mike Rama Tuesday (August 27) called out Mayor Edgardo Labella, with whom Mike led their Partido Barug to victory in the last elections. VM Mike criticized the mayor’s executive order, dated August 23, which creates a “governing board” to organize and oversee the Sinulog Foundation Inc. Mike, who also presides over the City Council, said the EO will destroy the “independence” of the foundation.
No harsh word in Mike’s criticism of the Labella EO but City Hall watchers point out (a) the stories circulating about the VM’s complaint that he was “short-changed” on job-order allocations and, lately, (b) the speculation on Mike forging an alliance with former mayor Tomas Osmeña in 2022.
Mayor Labella is out of the country and VM Rama is the acting mayor. Still, they could’ve talked with each other by phone, before Rama publicized his gripe. Or did they but Rama went ahead anyway?
On Rama’s recent City Council address, which slammed the changes in the route of the proposed Cebu Bus Rapid Transit project, Labella reportedly agreed with, or didn’t oppose, the reduction of the length and changes in the BRT route. Mike so disliked the amendments that he stepped down as presiding officer to deliver the privileged speech. He didn’t refer or allude though to Mayor Labella’s position on the issue.
People talk about...
[1] THE CLAIM OF KAPA THAT IT’S GETTING A SECONDARY LICENSE. Not true, the SEC says. Kapa Ministry International, which has been exposed as “investment scammers,” has not applied for such a license and has no juridical personality to do so, warns SEC.
[2] THE COUNTRY HAVING NO OFFICIALLY DECLARED NATIONAL HEROES. But the Philippines has three persons who have national non-working holidays declared in their honor: Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio and Benigno Aquino Jr.
Rizal and Bonifacio are cited as heroes in the laws declaring the holidays in their honor but the law on Ninoy Aquino’s holiday reportedly does not mention about his being a national hero.
A panel of historians a few years ago recommended nine persons as national heroes and Ninoy Aquino was not among the nine. Neither was Lapu-Lapu. There is yet no separate law or executive order officially declaring the country’s national heroes.
* HOW COUNCILOR DONDON HONTIVEROS IS FARING AS ACTING VICE MAYOR. With Mayor Labella on a trip abroad with his “Walk and Talk” buddies and Vice Mayor Rama acts as temp on the mayor’s seat, it is #1 Councilor Dondon Hontiveros who’s acting VM and City Council presiding officer.
People concede he won’t be as good a presiding officer as a ball shooter but they’re waiting for him to show his wares, especially in tackling a sensitive issue, such as Supplementary Budget #2 which seeks to spend some of the proceeds in the sale of SRP lots. The money “has not been touched” and was “untouchable” during Tomas Osmena’s term as mayor.
***
Tell us about it.
[paseares1@gmail.com]