EDITORIAL - The politics of Sugbuak

One of the biggest and most crucial issues confronting Cebu and the Cebuanos today is that proposal by three last-termer members of Congress -- Simeon Kintanar, Antonio Yapha and Clavel Martinez -- to convert their districts into new provinces.

It takes not much effort to see why they want to break up Cebu. The motives practically ooze from the package. The benefits they claim to derive may sound good, as do all proposals. But like Jesus, there is a need to reject the Devil in the fine print.

The Devil in the fine print, however, is getting some outside help. Another member of Congress, Emilio Macias of Negros Oriental, who happens to be the chairman of the House committee on local government, also wants to play God.

Macias, thinking his voice is law, has decreed three million Cebuanos do not deserve to be heard by his committee regarding a matter that affects their lives and their future. He refuses to conduct any public hearings on the matter in Cebu.

As a Negrense, it is easy to understand his detachment from the passion with which the issue has inflamed Cebuanos. But as a lawmaker, the convolution of his thinking is shocking. And as a supposed gentleman, the cavalier attitude with which he dismisses sentiment is sickening.

Cebu is the place being sought to be carved up. The three last-termer members of Congress who want to carve it up are the very ones who stand to directly benefit from the partitions. Yet Macias wants no hearings in Cebu and will hear only the voice of the three proponents.

With remarkable alacrity, he asserts Cebuanos can be represented in the public hearings his committee will conduct by the proponents of the breakup themselves. Think of gall, and that is that.

On the other hand, what Macias is not saying is that he himself could ultimately stand to benefit from a decimated Cebu. Cebu, after all, has always been accused by other officials in the region, those of Negros Oriental among them, of always getting the lion's share of projects.

A Cebu broken up into four provinces could tip the balance of power and influence in favor of Negros Oriental. Maybe Macias is entertaining thoughts of being hailed as the savior of his province and getting crowned as the new regional power broker.