A preview of things to come: Cuenco, Macias nearly come to blows over Sugbuak

QUEZON CITY - In what could be a preview of things to come in the increasingly volatile issue of breaking up Cebu, congressmen nearly came to blows yesterday at a meeting of the House committee on local government, to which were initially referred the three breakup proposals.

Committee chairman Emilio Macias of Negros Oriental had to be restrained from getting near Cebu City Rep. Antonio Cuenco during a heated exchange of words.

The Macias committee had passed on August 9 three separate bills filed by last termer Cebu representatives Simeon Kintanar of the 2nd district, Antonio Yapha of the 3rd district and Clavel Martinez of the 4th district seeking the conversion of their districts into separate new provinces.

But oppositors to the bill led by Cebu representatives Eduardo Gullas of the 1st district and Ramon "Red" Durano IV of the 5th district, as well as Cebu City representatives Cuenco and Raul del Mar asked the Macias committee to reconsider.

Macias refused to resolve the motion for reconsideration, filed by Cavite Rep. Crispin Remulla, insisting the matter was no longer within the jurisdiction of his committee, having endorsed the bills to the committee on rules.

This refusal prompted yesterday's verbal tussles.

As the congressmen argued for about an hour without resolution, with Macias flatly refusing to listen to arguments by Cuenco, Gullas, del Mar and Durano as to why there is legal basis to take up the motion for reconsideration even if the bills have already been endorsed to the committee on rules, the exchanges began to veer off toward the inevitable name-calling and insults.

Rep. Douglas Cagas of Davao del Sur, who appeared unable to get a word in as the debate raged, finally called the attention of Macias, saying he wants to speak up as he also has a stake on the issue, being also a Cebuano.

Piqued by the interruption, Macias told Cagas that he himself is also a Cebuano, to which Cagas retorted: " You are only fifty percent Cebuano while I am a true-blooded Cebuano. "

At this, Macias called for a one-minute recess but Cuenco kept up the verbal offensive.

He told Macias: " Paghari-hari sa inyo, ayaw diri. Mahari-harion ka man gud, pero ang mga Sugbuanon kaliwat ni Lapu-Lapu, mga isog ni ( You can act like a king in your place, but not here. You may be used to acting like a king, but the Cebuanos are descendants of Lapu-Lapu, and are very brave ). "

Macias, who was about four seats away, heard this and whirled around to confront Cuenco, saying: " Ah yati gud ( no English expletive equivalent ). If he is Batman, I am Superman. "

As he moved toward Cuenco, other members of the committee blocked his way to restrain him, telling him to cool down.

Martinez then spoke up, admonishing those opposed to the Sugbuak bills on why they are not respecting the signatures of more than half the members of the committee who were present when the bills were first taken up by the local governments committee of Macias.

She also threatened retaliation. " Nganong magbabag-babag man mo. Kon binabagay diay, hasta inyong mga balaodnon sa sunod magbinabagay na ta ( Why are you blocking my bill. If it is blocking you want, next time I will also be blocking your bills). You have nothing to do with the Province of Cebu because you're not voters of the Province of Cebu. "

Cuenco and del Mar are representing the two districts of Cebu City and have nothing to do with the Province of Cebu.

When Macias called the meeting back to order, Rep. Remedios Petilla of Leyte asked for a deferment so the committee can move to other matters, but Macias, visibly shaking, asked if anyone would move for adjournment instead, saying " I am so tired. "

Cuenco, who seemed to have cooled down himself, asked the matter to be taken up another day and requested that a majority of the 79 regular members of the committee be present. But Martinez interrupted him by moving for adjournment, which Macias himself quickly seconded.

Angered once again, Cuenco stood up and told Macias as he passed by that he was scared to go to Cebu, the reason why the Negros Oriental congressman adamantly refused to hold public hearings in Cebu even if the bills affect the Cebuanos.

Macias snapped back: " I am not scared to go to Cebu . Unsa man, ipagawas na nang dos por dos nimo diha ( What now, go ahead and show me your 2x2 ). "

The mention of 2x2 ( a piece of wood ) was in referrence to an earlier encounter between Cuenco and Macias during which Cuenco reportedly warned Macias that if he came to Cebu, irate Cebuanos may hit him with a 2x2, and to which Macias now dared loudly to the Cebuano solon to produce the piece of wood. Macias even asked no one in particular to inspect Cuenco to see if he does have a piece of 2x2 wood with him.

As Macias started to move again toward Cuenco, sweeping aside a chair that banged hard against the table.

Again, cooler heads stood in the way. Akbayan party-list Rep. Mario Agujar drew Cuenco away, telling him it was not worth it. The staff of Macias restrained their boss and led him away.

Cuenco later explained that he did tell Macias earlier not to go to Cebu because if he did, he might be mauled by the Cebuanos. " Bay ayaw'g suroy didto sa Sugbo kay kon mao gani imong huna-huna, hikulatahan ka unya didto sa Colon, " Cuenco recalled telling Macias.