Mike declares war

If it were only up to Cebu City Mayor Michael “Mike” Rama, he would  make changes in the 50 executive boards and commissions presently occupied by political appointees of former Cebu City mayor and now Rep.  Tomas “Tommy” Osmeña of  Cebu City’s south district. Mike announced this move early this week, in line with his intention to conduct a loyalty check among key people in City Hall.

The plan to oust pro-Tommy appointees and consultants looks like a retaliatory move after Mike was brought to court by Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez over the Mahiga Creek controversy.

Bimbo heads the Pagtambayayong Foundation, a coalition of urban poor groups. He has taken up the cudgels for informal settlers affected by Rama’s decision to clear the Mahiga Creek of illegal structures. In behalf of 2,000 Mahiga dwellers, Bimbo filed administrative cases before the Ombudsman against Mayor Rama and three of his trusted lieutenants in City Hall’s Squatters Prevention, Elimination, and Encroachment Division (Speed) and City Disaster Coordinating Council.

Mike was clearly hurt by the turn of events and described the filing of cases as “knives in his back.” I got the impression that Mike discovered termites in his administration and before they could bring his house down, he would  eliminate them first.

There is a perception that because Bimbo is a known Tommy protégée, the Cebu City south district congressman is behind the campaign to bring down Rama’s administration. As if to say that he can no longer take the whole thing sitting down, Mike declared a purge and loyalty check of City Hall workers. It sounded like a declaration of war.

With all due respect, I think Mayor Rama has carried the title Mr. Nice Guy too long. I don’t recall a time that he opposed or criticized any of his predecessor’s policies even if  his own stance differed with Tommy’s, like in the vigilante killings issue. When Mike announced he would  be appointing his own people, many commented that finally he has found the nerve to be his own man, no longer acting obsequiously to please Tommy.

There is always a point to make  for unity and harmony, but the Tommy-Mike political rift is a welcome development. We need to have checks and balance to ensure that an official does not go beyond the limits of his power. That is exactly the rationale of the bid to stop the demolition.

“Nausab na ang kamada,” (the arrangement has changed), Mike stressed in a talk with newsmen early this week.

If we interpret Rama’s recent pronouncements as a sign of him no longer doing the bidding of the BO-PK chieftain, the dynamics of check and balance apply as well to the local party, which has controlled City Hall for the longest time. Indeed, there is a need for an effective opposition party to prevent BandoOsmeña-Pundok Kauswagan from becoming too powerful or autocratic.

The question is, will Mike go all the way and challenge Tommy?

Mike’s resolve will be tested in the days to come but at the moment, he’s  finding out that it’s not easy to tear down the BO-PK machinery. For instance, while the mayor’s assent is needed to hire consultants, it is Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young who signs their contracts.
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The death of former Constitutional expert and retired Court of Appeals (CA) Justice Regalado “Dodong” Maambong has evoked a sense of loss among fellow jurists and other government officials who knew him for his vast public service—as Cebu provincial board member in 1980, assemblyman in the 1984 Marcos-era Batasan Pambansa, 1987 Constitutional Commission member, Comelec Commissioner and later as CA associate justice.

The sense of loss is likewise felt among local media circles who knew Dodong Maambong as  one of the most accessible government officials.

I used to engage Dodong in live radio interviews during his stint in the ConCom and afterwards as Comelec commissioner. He could cite not just the  provisions of the fundamental law when he examined a political issue but would also discuss the spirit of the law when it was written because  he was always present during Concom deliberations.

Dodong was not only available but, more importantly, he was  intense and intellectually equipped in helping the media enlighten audiences about public issues. It is a testament to the dedication and hard work that he put into public service. He will be sorely missed.