Pit Señor! Allow me to welcome all our visitors who are in Cebu to celebrate with us the annual feast of the
Sto. Niño.
I know there are many who came to witness and celebrate the fiesta but I advise everybody to stay sober and be on your best behavior.
Many look forward to the street parties happening later today. These events leave some drunk and sleeping on the streets. Because of this, the Cebu city government has come up with a policy regulating the conduct of street parties.
Today’s Sinulog grand parade has fewer contingents than last year but it will be just as exciting with grand presentations.
Good luck to all contingents in the competition. Let us not forget to pay homage to the Señor Santo Niño and pray for more graces and peace for the entire world.
* * *
A person I met last week worriedly ask me about the possibility that Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama would be suspended over the calamity fund case filed by a loyalist of the Bando Osmeña- Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK). I conveyed to him the statement of City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo who told Cebu Daily News that a suspension is no longer possible during the election period.
The election ban prohibits the transfer and suspension of public officials unless it has the permission of the Commission on Elections. Castillo said a suspension was now impossible because the case filed has not yet been resolved by the investigating body, the Department of Interior and Local Government. Thus, it is now safe to say that Mayor Rama would not be served another suspension by operation of law.
When this matter was explained to the person inquiring, I could see that he was relieved and happy with this latest development. But I warned him that those in power can always make impossible things legally possible.
By the way, President Noynoy Aquino attended the vigil wake of the the late Napoleon G. Rama, former publisher of the Bulletin, in Makati. Aquino had a pleasant conversation with the widow and children of Tito Nap. I’m not sure if Mayor Rama, who also went to the wake, bumped into the president.
* * *
I was dismayed by TV reports about the situation of fire victims of sitio Avocado in barangay Lahug. The leader of a homeowners association was shot dead in the sitio. He was heard lamenting that residents were not getting help from their own barangay but were receiving assistance from the city government.
It is difficult to fathom why fire victims are not getting help from barangay Lahug. But I believe their reason is political especially since Cebu City Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos, a former Rama ally, has joined the BO-PK. Lamentable but true. I believe that politics has no place in a calamity situation.
The Regional Trial Court dismissed the injunction case filed by Dean Liza Corro of UP Cebu. The judge said Dean Corro was not the right person to file the case on behalf of the University of the Philippines which owns the land. The right party to sue is the main UP administration.
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.
