Be more resourceful than comic

It was a sad and gripping sight. When a sheriff and companions were set to implement a court order to demolish residential homes, affected persons, uncertain whether or not to move to yet unknown destinations, could, as a last and only resort, offer forceful resistance nurtured by bucketfuls of tears of anger. Such was the scene at Barangay Apas, this city, few days ago.

True, however, to the resourceful nature of politicians, they gave us a kind of relief only their breed can offer. Their presence practically stole what could have been an ugly sight. Our attention was riveted to them and away from the tension of such nasty activity as tearing homes apart. Rather than the residents parading their defiant muscles, they gravitated to high strung political personalities. Oh, modern Pied Pipers of old Hamelin. In that regard of providing a different show, let us bless our “politicos.”

Actually, when I was still conceptualizing this article, someone suggested to me to use the word “comic” instead of “resourceful” to describe its nature. I could not be persuaded because, as it turned out, the appearance of some of our elected leaders at the site where the supposed demolition was set was more embarrassing than funny. Their unrehearsed production number could never be described as comic.

Let us take one particular scene. The Congressman of Cebu City South District, Hon. Tomas R. Osmeña, was seen, on TV camera, talking with the sheriff. Then, came, the Honorable Cebu City Mayor, Michael L. Rama. Despite being former comrades, they did not greet each other. The mayor, unmindful (or in spite) of the lawmaker, shook the hand of the sheriff and herded him away. They left the legislator who looked somewhat humiliated. If only to emphasize what I saw, let me use the Cebuano word “minghoy” to describe the face of the former city mayor.

On record, it was a first for Mayor Rama. After playing footsie to his former boss for almost two decades, he did an act that was totally unexpected. No one, not me, at least, thought that the mayor could completely defang the congressman in that searing situation. The people there, who were massed for their own grave concern, saw that the mayor was uncowed by the presence of his erstwhile patron. Indeed, the mayor showed that, when confronted at his turf, he could defend it with abundant measure.

Why am I saying “at his turf”? The congressman is no longer a mayor of the city. By his choice, he decided to represent the people of the south district. Barangay Apas is not a part of the south but of the north district. Nothing of his current position could justify his presence there. Perhaps, advance political campaign but this is not yet an allowable period. Legally speaking, there was none in any report that indicated he had legal interest in the demolition issue. To say it differently, he was a non-entity.

How about the mayor, was he not in the same footing as the congressman as a non-party to the case?

In the course of the television coverage, there was a claim of the affected residents that the area they had been occupying was declared as covered by the Lina law for their urban housing settlement. If that was a fact asserted in any court proceeding, that brought the city government in the vortex of the case and certainly, it provided a legal interest for the mayor to sally forth.

But believe me, the best solution lies not in pursuing any legal angle to the case. At this stage of the litigation, the chips appear to be cast against the occupants. Considering the bits of reported news, I feel that it is better to seek an end that upholds the integrity of legal ownership and still humane enough to the landless citizens involved.

This is where a leader, like the mayor, can do something more meaningful. Using his good office, and availing of more focused and disinterested professionals armed with unbiased minds, he can achieve, without confrontation, for much less expense and a decidedly earlier time, a solution that may be acceptable to the legal owner of the property and the beleaguered homeowners. Who knows, his functioning as such, is indeed giving more weight to being resourceful than plainly being comic.Am I right, Mr. Robert Harrow III?

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