Apas showdown

Last Friday I was invited by my Rotary Club of Cebu Port Center president- elect  to join him in the district assembly in Ormoc City. Without any hesitation, I accepted  because as past president of our club, it is my responsibility to support future presidents since I too was helped  by past presidents during my term.

Our District Governor for the Rotary Year is  Perok Rodriguez of Ormoc. I am staying in a room occupied by current president Gilbert Cabatana and club clerk Rolando Cabiluna, who is responsible for the club’s Change Maker Photo contest award this year.

Our club won many awards during the fellowship night at Sabin Resort here in Ormoc. Earlier in the day, I visited my nephew Vincent Rama, who  married Karen Torres, the sister of Rep. Lucy Torres.  I joined  the Torres family for lunch.

I was amazed by the food served during the fellowship night. Food was overflowing and the Rotarians were  very  satisfied. Congratulations and thank you District Governor-Elect Rodriguez.

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I have mixed emotions about  how  elected officials handled themselves in dealing with   homeowners facing eviction from a private lot  in barangay Apas.

Last week, Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama and South District Rep. Tommy Osmeña  crossed paths again when they both showed up to help  resolve the conflict.

Mayor Rama intervened by asking the court sheriff not to implement the eviction order while Congressman Osmeña  was there to support the homeowners.

The next day Councilor Eduardo Labella went to court upon the mayor’s advice  to seek a temporary restraining order, which the city  got.

Congressman Osmeña criticized both city officials for deceiving  Apas settlers with their help. I don’t think it’s proper to criticize elected officials who went there to help the homeowners especially if they were able to get a reprieve in a pro-active manner.

Mayor Rama went there as the city’s top official. He  respected the  congressman and didn’t criticize his  presence even though   Apas belongs to the north district and Osmeña represents the south congressional district.

Osmeña accused Labella of conflict of interest, saying Labella was  a law partner of  Nonong Plamares, legal counsel  of the  lot owner Mariano Godinez.
Labella clarified that he was not  a law partner of Palmares but only shares office space in the same building, which  is common practice   among lawyers. So why should these elected officials be criticized for trying to help?