Last week’s distribution of cash aid to Cebu City’s seniors was questioned by the Team Rama bloc in the City Council since it concerned a change in venue for the activity.
The Team Rama bloc said the ordinance clearly mandates that the cash distribution be done inside the barangay hall and/or the barangay sports complex.
But Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña changed the venue of the distribution.
Now is there anything wrong with it? Personally, my take on this is that it is a matter of the present administration’s style to have their people oversee the distribution of financial assistance in a venue not identified with its political enemy.
It is a matter of political survival. Team Rama has legal remedies at their disposal like filing a complaint at the Ombudsman or the courts. If I were to advise the opposition Team Rama, it is best for them to use the legal remedies available.
But I see these things as democracy in action. Maybe it’s healthy for our local politics and democracy but I hope that Team Rama can discover the vast powers it has in the City Council to counter the mayor’s moves.
Though I understand that the Team Rama bloc is giving the mayor the traditional 100-day honeymoon period and it’s been 53 days since the mayor took his oath, so they’ve been acting like responsible fiscalizers to the administration.
But looking at the present situation today, Osmeña is facing serious challenges from various fronts like the withdrawal of his operational control of the police by the National Police Commission (Napolcom).
Now the mayor is trying his very best to have some power over the police by now heading the Police Coordinating Advisory Council (PCAC) that used to be headed by Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella.
I know that the mayor is not given to surrender easily just like the administration of President Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte.
* * *
Speaking of President Duterte, he made some serious allegations against Sen. Leila De Lima specifically claiming that she had an immoral relationship with her driver.
The president identified the good senator in a press conference by calling her an immoral public servant for having a relationship with her married driver. Mr. Duterte claimed that De Lima gifted the driver with houses in Pangasinan.
When asked if he has the goods on Sen. De Lima, President Duterte answered categorically that he has a video in his possession plus a phone conversation that was intercepted by countries friendly to the country.
Though since the President is a former trial lawyer, I’m sure that he is aware that these cannot be accepted as evidence by the court.
The driver, Mr. Duterte claimed, has access to the Bilibid prison where the drug lords are jailed with approval from the Justice Department that was formerly headed by De Lima.
I think the President’s claim should be investigated by the agencies concerned if only for the sake of truth.
* * *
In the US, a lot of attention is focused on Republican Party candidate Donald Trump who’s being hounded by a lot of controversies like the resignations of his campaign managers and opposition to his presidential bid from within party ranks due to his irresponsible statements during the primaries like building a wall in Mexico and not allowing the Muslims into the US.
If one listens to Trump, one would realize that he is the only one who can solve the problems of the Americans, that he knows how to solve the problem of ISIS but he’s not giving clear answers on how he intends to approach it.
His Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton is doing very well though she is still hounded by that email controversy. I always monitor the US elections through CNN.