Now the plot thickens vs. Radaza

Now the plot thickens! It is no longer the King brothers accusing Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza of misusing the vast powers of the Mayor's office for whatever purposes it may serve him. Now Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has joined the fracas against "crooked officials" using the very issue that we wrote the other day about the Mayor's giving Mr. Michael Gleissner of BigFoot and the International Academy of Film and Television (IAFT) a hard time to secure a building permit.

Mayor Tommy did not say that the reason for giving Mr. Gleissner a hard time was because of corruption, however every Tom, Dick and Harry already know that there is no other reason for delaying the issuance of business permits. Grease money as we know too well smoothens the delivery of public services. Without it, there would be tough delays, which also cost money. Let me point out that back then we learned of Gleissner's problem because he reported this to no less than Mayor Osmeña who at that time merely raised his hands in frustration. But in fairness to him, he made attempts to resolve this problem through the back door.

When I wrote this last Tuesday, I got a lot of text messages spitting fire and venom against Mayor Radaza. One was asking what is the role of a Mr. Harry Radaza in Mayor Boy's administration and why many people who were denied a building permit came to know this Harry Radaza? Someone even told me that this fellow was warned that the media would get to find out what they were doing and he merely said that he didn't care.

Meanwhile, Mayor Osmeña exhorted the other extort victims to come out of the open so the people in Lapu-Lapu will know that the Radaza administration is anti-business. Of course in the case the besieged Lapu-Lapu Mayor finally relented and even made Mr. Gleissner an "Adopted Son" of Lapu-Lapu City last January. To my mind, this was after the fact, when Gleissner's rage against the Mayor already subsided. But there are many more businessmen out there who were "hit" with building permit problems. But are these people coming out of the woodwork?

I know of two resorts and there's even one who reportedly already gave a generous amount way back in 2004 just before the elections. But while the money was said to be given, no permits were granted. Of course, this was done through intermediaries. But when the owners became frustrated, they came down to Lapu-Lapu City to get the permits themselves and guess what, they said the amount they already paid wasn't given any consideration. Worse, they were "asked double the amount they originally paid." When the King brothers exposed this in public many businessmen were elated that finally someone had the guts to do so.

While no less than Mayor Tomas Osmeña assured those businessmen of his support, I'm sure that these businessmen are silently applauding the King Brothers. But I seriously doubt if any one of them would come out of the open. They are just too scared to fight City Hall.

What these businessmen have gone through is a harrowing experience. I can only hope that Mr. Gleissner himself would also come out in the open. He too hates government bureaucracy, how much more for corruption? Sure the International Academy of Film and Television (IAFT) continues to operate in Mactan, but Gleissner already came out in public that his expansion programs will now be at the South Reclamation Properties (SRP) and that is due to the incident that happened in Mactan.

* * *

Since we've already talked about the idea of having Adopted Sons given to businessmen who did not originally come from Cebu, but made his bones here, let me point out clearly that it is wrong for Mandaue City Mayor Teddy Ouano to take back this recognition from motorcycle magnate Atty. Norberto Quisumbing Jr. (NQJR). I'm saying this even though many people know too well that Mr. Quisumbing and I have already burned our bridges a long time ago. Getting it back from NQJR makes Mayor Ouano look like a kid "nga nag hatag-bawi" or Indian giver. If you ask me, this should not become another issue.

Because of this, now it is Mayor Tomas Osmeña who is offering this to NQJR, even though the latter has no factories in Cebu. But then, this is the prerogative of city mayors as to whom they would formally recognize. As for NQJR, his problem stems from his interfering in Mandaue City politics. He thought he can put Mayor Ouano in his pocket, but that didn't happen. It would be best for him to stay away from politics so he will not encounter such problems. But with his grandson Luigi in politics, that's difficult to do.

* * *

For email responses to this article, write to [email protected]. Bobit's columns can also be accessed at www.shootinginsidecebu.blogspot.com