EDITORIAL - From positive to negative

The FREEMAN deeply regrets the injury caused on Vice Mayor Michael Rama by our publication of a story that, in our estimation, had the positive aspects right-thinking Cebuanos are looking for and expect from our leaders.

Unfortunately, some of these very leaders have a very different view of what is good for the Cebuanos and quickly pounced on Rama on the mistaken notion that "cooperation for the good of Cebu" was a political sellout and against their own selfish political interests.

Here is what happened: Rama was invited to a roundtable discussion with FREEMAN editors and reporters in connection with a series on candidates set to be run soon. Among the questions asked of Rama was whether he was willing to cooperate with Capitol for the good of Cebuanos.

The question was based on two premises easily verifiable with the public if only some of our leaders are not so malicious and myopic -- 1) It was possible Rama and Governor Gwen Garcia would win; 2) Cebuanos are tired of all the political bickerings between City Hall and Capitol.

In fairness to Rama, he tried to dodge the question four or five times, but maybe we were too persistent that he eventually answered, emphasizing that collaboration was another thing but that he saw nothing wrong in cooperating if it was for the "good of the Cebuanos."

Only fools or those cursed by God to see devils where there are none would find anything wrong with that statement. If our leaders truly had it in their hearts to put the welfare of the Cebuanos above their own, maybe they would even congratulate the Cebu City vice mayor.

But alas, Cebu City is just as cursed to have leaders who think they have the final word on everything. And so poor Rama got castigated, chastised, threatened and otherwise humiliated. Even the lapdogs of these leaders who have no brains of their own joined in the execution.

The FREEMAN did not take the words of Rama out of context. It was the greedy offensive leaders who did. If some of Rama's comments did not make it to the story, that was only because of space limitations and nothing else. The essence, we believe, was captured truthfully.

Mr. Rama was our guest. We were there. We know the context of the story better than those who were not present and merely reacted to it on the basis of their own selfish interest. Again, to all right-thinking, God-fearing Cebuanos, Rama did nothing wrong and should be applauded.