EDITORIAL - Cebuanos must rise in anger

The battle to preserve the integrity of Cebu and the honor of the Cebuanos suffered a big blow on Wednesday when the House committee on local governments approved all three bills seeking to carve as many new provinces out of the existing one.

There is still a long way to go in this process, and the initial setback was no doubt only temporary. But what happened on Wednesday grates against the sensibilities of all decent Cebuanos and all people who value justice and fair play.

The committee on local governments is headed by Rep. Emilio Macias of Negros Oriental. Why Macias has steadfastly refused to hold public hearings in Cebu, we can only surmise. But such a refusal is unfair, immoral and arrogant.

Cebu is the subject of the three bills. Cebuanos are the ones to be directly affected by them. For Macias to say it is not necessary to hold any public hearing in Cebu on the matter is the worst form of tyranny an official can engage in.

There seems to be an attempt to railroad the process. And the urgency and desperation with which the three identical measures seem to be surrounded by suspiciously bear the hallmark of a concerted bid to save the political careers of two congressmen and one congresswoman.

Reps. Simeon Kintanar, Antonio Yapha and Clavel Martinez are all serving out their last terms in Congress. It is not coincidental that they now urgently want their districts to be converted into new provinces. Cebuanos are too smart not to see the ruse.

These three complain that their districts are not getting enough help from the Capitol and the only way for them to move forward is to strike out alone. That of course is the reasoning of people who think the world owes them a living. It is a symptom of what ails the Philippines.

If after three terms their districts are still languishing, it is preposterous for them to blame anyone but themselves. But then, that is what it is all about. They are only promoting their own self interests at the expense of the Cebuanos.