EDITORIAL – Selling the drama

Cebu City residents are the losers in the Cebu City Hall drama involving councilors from Team Rama and the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan.

Both groups have found the perfect storyline -- the Supplemental Budget 1 (SB-1). Team Rama wants the budget passed so that the city can use the funds for the SRP loan prepayment, among many other reasons. BOPK-allied councilors, meanwhile, have blocked the approval of the supplemental budget, citing a civil case filed against the body, which asked the court to stop the city government from using the P8.5 billion proceeds of the sale of a 45.2-hectare property at the SRP. The lot sale proceeds is supposed to fund the supplemental budget. The civil case has been dismissed, as well as a motion for reconsideration, but it is still a no go for BOPK councilors

To make the story short, Team Rama wants to use the proceeds of the SRP lot sale, BOPK does not. The story is quite simple but the drama that both groups are employing to emphasize their respective stands is like a telenovela.

Acting mayor Edgardo Labella, who is with Team Rama, requests the council to hold a special session after Christmas to address the supplemental budget issue. Acting vice mayor Nestor Archival, who is with BOPK, calls for a special session but only him and Team Rama councilors attend. BOPK councilors do not show up, there is no quorum, session is adjourned. Archival sets another special session and still, no BOPK councilor shows up. Archival adjourns the session but Team Rama councilor Gerry Carillo objects. Archival walks out, Carillo takes over, orders Team Rama councilor David Tumulak to "arrest" BOPK councilors and compel them to attend the session. Tumulak goes through the motion of going to the BOPK councilors' offices but does not find the councilors there. Carillo schedules another special session.

C'mon, do you honestly think that the BOPK councilors will show up by scheduling special session after special session, including one scheduled at midnight, on the last few days of the year? The stand of both groups are clear, crystal clear from the very beginning. BOPK does not want SB-1, Team Rama wants SB-1.

And while both groups are busy playing heroes and villains, selling the drama that is the Supplemental Budget 1, their constituents, the Cebu City voters, are at the losing end, victims of drawn party lines and political bickering, but entertained nonetheless.