Noy Pabling, a “photobomber” on the 93-1 land swap deal

BAÑOC

What happens to former Governor Pablo Garcia? Why did he come late on the land swap deal issue? What are his motives for voicing out his points very lately? Or is he just bored in his house?

These are the instinctive questions that crop up in my mind upon learning that the former governor called a press conference voicing out his legal points on the land swap deal between the province and the city of Cebu.

On the said press conference, the former governor, who is also fondly called “Noy Pabling” by Cebuanos, said that the land swap deal between the two LGUs’ is “illegal” and “grossly disadvantageous” to the province. He further said that that there is no need for the two LGUs to land swap properties because the province can directly deal with the occupants by resuming the implementation of the 93-1 and selling them directly or through the NHA, Home Mortgage Insurance or Pag-IBIG Fund.

But the big questions that the former governor should himself answer are: Why did he not do it when he was given the chance, being the governor of Cebu for 9 years? Why did he not advise her daughter, former governor and now congresswoman Gwen Garcia, when she served also as governor for 9 long years? Why did he not voice out his points when that idea of land swap was born during the administration of Gwen as governor?

It is still fresh in the minds of the Cebuanos that the land swap deal was almost completed when his daughter was the sitting governor. It is public knowledge also that the said deal was aborted due to the “dawat limpyo” remark of former mayor Mike Rama who served as vice mayor then at that time. Clearly, the legal point of Noy Pabling was not the reason for the aborted land swap deal. It was Gwen’s tantrums triggered by Rama’s careless “dawat limpyo” remark –period!

In fact, when Governor Hillario Davide III took over the reign of power as governor of Cebu that land swap issue was a fervent topic for more than 10 long years. Finally, such agreement has been approved by the two LGUs just last month. The thousands of occupants of the 93-1 lots are now very happy with the latest development. And yet, Noy Pabling comes in very lately.

What is really his purpose? Has he not thought that his action now is tantamount to killing the joy of the thousands of the 93-1 occupants? If, indeed, he is concerned of the province as the deal is allegedly not favorable to the latter, then why after so many long years, he comes out lately? If verily, he is concerned about a favorable deal for the province, then why did he not advise his daughter Gwen not to buy the Balili property, most part of which is submerged by sea water? Worse, through legal exhibitionism, he defended the sale.

In fairness to Noy Pabling, he is a brilliant lawyer, a bar top-notcher, a constitutionalist and a well known practicing lawyer before. But he should remember that both parties of the deal have lawyers also who studied well on the land swap deal. Noy Pabling should remember that there is no monopoly of knowledge. In fact, while he won in many cases before, there were high profile cases where he also lost.

On the land swap deal issue, he is tardy. If he is bored in his house, it would be much better if he would just write a book so that he has a good legacy to the Cebuanos.

He appears to be a “photobomber” in the land swap deal issue.