It is but natural for Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to appoint people of his own choosing to sensitive and even non-vital positions if it means not only advancing his own agenda but also to retain his now more solid grip on power at City Hall.
Thus there was no reason for outgoing Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young to complain if the mayor does away with 2,000 contractual workers instead of reappointing or extending their contracts especially if they are identified with the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) camp.
The fact that they are contractuals meant that their tenure is dependent on whether they meet the requirements set by their jobs. Heck, even appointed officials are unsure of how long they would be in their positions since they serve a the behest and pleasure of the mayor.
Those who are assured of their tenure are officials and employees who have served for more than a year. Due to Civil Service Commission (CSC) laws, they cannot be fired except when they committed administrative and criminal offenses.
At most they can be shipped to dead-end departments where they cannot influence policy much less handle major projects and programs. Contractuals are on the same boat as consultants and advisors, except that consultants tend to be closer both personally and professionally to the powers that be.
Such is the case of former councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, Rama’s closest advisor who is said to screen applicants and appointees to City Hall positions and may now assume a position of even greater importance now that the mayor is reelected.
Also expected to be appointed to sensitive positions are former councilor and Team Rama campaign manager Jose Daluz III and his cousin, Councilor Edu Rama.
Until the Commission on Elections nullifies the election victories of Rama and incoming Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, Young and his BO-PK allies can only bide their time and extend their cooperation until after they get in a better position in 2016.
To the victor go the spoils of war which is why the BO-PK through its founder and leader Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district remains adamant in pursuing their election case even if it would take them three years to get either a favorable or unfavorable ruling.
In deciding to wait out the end of the contracts of job order workers identified with the BO-PK, Rama is only getting back at those whom he perceived to be collaborating with those he considered “the enemy” or those who will oppose him at every turn regardless of how altruistic or beneficial his programs are.
Young shouldn’t begrudge Rama of that privilege afforded to him by Cebu City voters since his patron, Osmeña never hid his intentions to go after Rama’s people once he gets reelected as mayor.
Parochial politics are a reality in every local government but we hope that Rama would be the exception and rise above petty partisanship in deciding who stays and who goes in City Hall.