Horrendous timing, a parting shot

What inspired this piece was the latest backlash this early February when dismissed Mayor Peewee Trinidad's partisans battled with the PNP to take over City Hall, claiming that the Ombudsman decision is now on appeal. And their "people power" will go on, they vowed…

Was it mere coincidence that the Ombudsman resolved successively in one day, the separate cases against Iloilo Governor Neil Tupaz, Pasay City Mayor Peewee Trinidad and Jaen, Nueva Ecija Mayor Antonio Esquivel by dismissing them with perpetual disqualification? And, on the same Friday, January 12, Batangas Governor Armand Sanchez was preventively suspended, after that of Cavite Governor Ireneo Maliksi on January 9? Was it also coincidence that the DILG had to enforce these decisions lightning-fast? Perhaps, the DILG was still smarting from shame in its futile attempt to suspend Makati Mayor Jojo Binay… The events speak for themselves and, the foregoing questions need not be answered, except that on January 14, the May 2007 150-day election period began to toll.

Almost anybody knows, whether partisan or apolitical, that there's a whale of difference between election aspirants who are yet "outsiders" and the sitting "insiders" at the provincial/city/municipal halls who are running for reelection. While it's true that there are several "don'ts" that seemingly shackle the incumbents from taking advantage, or abuse, of power during the interim, nevertheless, the legal proscriptions are only good in theory. More grossly honored in the breach than in the actual veneer-thin observance.

And so, Tupaz et al. raised Cain and refused to give up the ghosts, by barricading and ensconcing themselves with their fired-up partisans in their offices. Obviously, they took a page from the successful impasse of Jojo Binay in defying the DILG until he got the CA TRO to buy time in holding power while appealing his case.

That the Ombudsman's decision on anti-graft cases, for one, is executory which the DILG can also implement, is without any legal cavil. But then, why the simultaneous decisions as if, and as they appear, intentionally rendered to beat the tolling of the election period? Thus, for "timeliness", the Ombudsman and DILG have been put to question, with the respondents crying: "Foul, political persecution, rank injustice". Whether a magic wand had orchestrated the hurried dismissals and preventive suspensions, is anybody's guess. But, in the case of Gov. Tupaz in the bailiwick of Senator Franklin Drilon, he castigated DOJ "Acting" Secretary Raul Gonzales, his nemesis, as behind the axe wielder. Overall though, Drilon and other GMA critics were, as expected, pointing accusing fingers at the Palace.

The tempers flared up with the Gestapo-like storming of the Iloilo Capitol where Gov. Tupaz with his children and followers held fort in vain. The "overkill" by the battle-geared troops was graphically recorded by the ubiquitous media zoomers whose footages got clear national viewing in all households with TV sets. Surely, they also found international exposure.

Granting arguendo that the main door was inside-locked, nonetheless, after breaking one glass panel for the shock troopers to gain entry, why, oh why, were the other glass wall panels also smashed into smithereens. What an overkill! And herding women and other unarmed civvies on the corridors at gunpoint, and in very abusive manner, grossly violated the sensibilities of nationwide tv viewers. Indeed, actions with photos to boot, speak louder than words!

Sadly, the Iloilo Capitol scenario brought to mind the obscene highway scene sometime in 1991, when colored and helpless Rodney King was caught and videotaped by the bystander's camera being beaten cruelly by four Los Angeles highway cops.

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