Feuding senators

The quarrel of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Sonny Trillanes started when Trillanes accused Enrile of being the lackey of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for pushing in the Senate the division of Camarines Sur province into two.

Trillanes explained that the former president called Enrile to lobby for the passage of the bill that would split Camarines Sur to accommodate the political interest of her son, Rep. Datu Arroyo. Trillanes didn’t  like the way the  intervention by his alleged tormentor, PGMA.

Enrile, not to be outdone, immediately revealed on the Senate floor the role of Trillanes as a backdoor negotiator during the Philippine-China Scarborough tension. Enrile made public Ambassador Sonia Brady’s notes and accused Trillanes of working for the Chinese government’s interest. Trillanes countered that he was only helping the government ease the tension with China. President Benigno Aquino III said Trillanes helped indeed.

Some experts are now saying that back channeling is a normal practice and is recognized internationally. Prof. Harry Roque of the University of the Philippines is questioning the propriety of Enrile’s revelation of a state secret, which may jeopardize the national interest. Well many are hopeful that Enrile and Trillanes will eventually reconcile and place the interest of the State over their own.

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I welcome the formulation of a Cebu  tourism roadmap by the Chambers of Commerce and other private institutions. This  is indeed needed as we prepare for the influx of more tourists in Cebu. The participation of the private sector is crucial  in the success of the tourism sector.

Tapping  other markets aside from Korea and Japan will be of great help.  Prof. Perry Fajardo of the University of San Carlos did a very good job in leading the formulation and drafting of the tourism roadmap. I wish the group good luck in their united and unselfish endeavor.

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Many Cebuanos welcome the decision of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia not to pursue her senatorial aspiration but instead focus on running for congress in Cebu’s 3rd district.  Many may not like her but let us acknowledge that she has done a lot of good things for Cebu province and that many municipalities developed and progressed during her term.

Many don’t like  the temper  of Cebu’s first lady governor because they may have been at the receiving end of her fury but still there are many who are  recipients of her  generosity just like the Rotaplast International Medical Mission that got her support  when she was still a consultant of her father Governor Pablo Garcia, support which continues to a forthcoming mission on October.

The Rotary Club of Cebu Port Center would like to thank the governor for her unwavering support for the mission that has bought hope to many with facial deformities. I think Cebu will benefit if the governor wins a seat in the House of Representatives. Her opponent will be the young mayor of Pinamungajan town, Geraldine Yapha. The election will not be  a walk in the park for Garcia but she may have the upper hand in this political battle. Nonetheless she should not complacent because Gay Yapha is an active political opponent. Good luck to the good governor in her new endeavor.