When Anthony of Padua, the patron of Tuburan town in Cebu’s northwest, lost a prayer book to a monk who fled the convent with it, the saint offered prayers — eventually granted — for the offending brother to return the volume and rejoin his order.
Saint Anthony’s humble response to theft and his desire to reach out to someone who courted scorn should enlighten the leaders and constituents of Tuburan as they act on the Toledo City Regional Trial Court’s reversal of results of the May 2016 mayoral race.
Following a recount that underlined the imperfection even of automated polls, the court declared that Daphne Lagon, not sitting mayor Democrito Diamante, won the election by 94 votes.
To his credit, Diamante has responded with respect to the court’s findings while saying, understandably so, that he is set to appeal to higher courts.
He may seek a temporary restraining order to block Lagon’s induction.
Being the person in power, Diamante may as well extend his graciousness to refusing to ascribe anarchic motives to anyone who may demonstrate in support of Lagon.
Words that welcome free speech and the right to peaceful assembly, more than prophecies of police intervention in case of violent protests, sparkle like diamond.
But its light is garish towards government officials who support President Rodrigo Duterte by crowing that anyone who maintains dissenting or separate opinions about public issues is a destabilizer.
Lagon may request the court to issue a writ of execution pending appeal so that she will be sworn into office soonest. Diamante must prepare for this possibility when he and Lagon would be responsible for a peaceful power transfer.
“If they (Lagon and her supporters) become unruly, and harass us, I will ask the police to intervene. I have more supporters than her,” Diamante said.
We find the second sentence unnecessary and unhelpful. It belongs to the kind that kindles division and twists public service from being a function of promoting the common good into a question of mere popularity and fanatical loyalties.
Worse, the sentence thinly veils defiance towards the judiciary, whose word finalizes the decisions of voters once they have been verified and far outweighs volatile mob sentiments.
Refinement of the electoral process to ensure precision in vote canvassing and to end the era of tense, time-consuming recounts is in order for the Commission on Elections.
In the meantime, partisans for Diamante and for Lagon should resist the seduction of a counterproductive confrontation.
All who are heavily invested in recounts and related processes, like the ones of Tuburan, can imitate the town’s Saint Anthony. To deal with real or imagined loss, be truly humble and uphold nonviolence. When clearly slighted, prefer communion to discord.
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
