Ricky Poca
I AM shocked by the shameless action taken by the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) when it maneuvered to nominate one of their own to replace Councilor Hanz Abella.
Though many said it is to be expected from BO-PK since they want to retain the majority in the Cebu City Council, luckily, former vice president and United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) Jejomar Binay didn’t go along with them.
Since Barug Team Rama ran under UNA, it is entitled to nominate Abella’s replacement in the City Council, and it officially nominated Renato Osmeña Jr. Binay signed Jun Osmeña’s nomination.
Many are wondering why Jun Osmeña is standing against the mayor when he is related to City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, but Jun Osmeña is a loyal member of Barug Team Rama.
Mayor Osmeña stated that Jun Osmeña is related to Presidential Assistant to the Visayas Michael Dino, who has opposed the mayor’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.
Clearly, the new majority in the council is now in the hands of Barug Team Rama as they now have eight members plus Vice Mayor Edgar Labella compared to BO-PK’s eight members.
It is expected that Barug Team Rama will play the role of a constructive fiscalizer especially when it comes to Mayor Osmeña’s proposals that need legislation.
This time, it is not going to be easy and smooth sailing for the Osmeña camp’s legislative proposals since they will have to pass Barug Team Rama’s scrutiny.
The new majority will also have the opportunity to review some legislation that were approved by the previous majority and probably improve on it or discard it
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I hope US President Donald Trump tones down his rhetoric against North Korea and Iran if only to avoid taking the world to the brink of nuclear war.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s constant missile testing and the Iranian government’s display of its nuclear capabilities had shown that America’s enemies now have the means at their disposal to be a serious nuclear threat.
In a meeting with world leaders at the United Nations (UN), Trump bemoaned the nuclear deal signed by Iran that he thinks allowed that country to conduct missile tests which may later be developed with nuclear capabilities.
President Trump should learn that he could not just look for a fight with anyone in the world without being threatened with reprisal from those he quarreled with.
Though Trump’s followers are happy and some US allies are happy that he is taking a stand against North Korea and Iran, these two countries are not scared of anyone and they are more than willing to retaliate which makes the threat of global nuclear war a very frightening and a very real possibility.