EDITORIAL - Government of the people

It is good for Governor Gwen Garcia to block the appointment of Gigi Sanchez Zaballero as consultant to Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, if the only reason for her appointment is to continue the projects of Zaballero’s father, the late former vice governor Greg Sanchez.

The appointment smacks to high heavens of politicking, and it is a disappointment that it had to be Magpale who should be involved in such cheap low-down chicanery. That Zaballero is to receive only one peso a year does not hide the ugly reason behind her appointment.

And that ugly reason is taking in Zaballero will expectedly bring in what is left of the old Sanchez supporters who can boost the chances of Magpale in 2013 when she will be running for the same position to which she has been elevated following the death of Sanchez.

There is no basis for Zaballero or Magpale to claim that Zaballero’s appointment will be to continue Zaballero’s father’s projects because, in the first place, Greg Sanchez, with all due respect to his memory, never had any projects.

Any projects Sanchez may have proposed or initiated were all proposed or initiated for and on behalf of Cebuano taxpayers and it is a slap on the face of President Aquino for anyone to claim otherwise.

Aquino, under whose Liberal Party Magpale is running, frowns on officials who claim government projects as their own. If Magpale hires Zaballero to continue Greg Sanchez’s projects, isn’t she then in conflict with Aquino’s and her party’s good governance platform?

Right there in the facade of the Capitol building where Magpale holds office, and where Zaballero may also hold hers if her appointment is not stopped, are permanently etched in stone the words: “All government authority emanates from the people.”

That means officials are merely agents of the people. No single centavo that goes into a single government project comes from the personal pocket of officials. It comes from the taxes of the people and any official who claims otherwise must not be trusted with public office.