EDITORIAL - Time to move forward

Perhaps we will never know what transpired in the chambers of Regional Trial Court Judge Geraldine Faith Econg that led to the withdrawal of the libel case Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia had filed against broadcaster Leo Lastimosa, who is also a columnist for this paper.

The withdrawal led to the dismissal of the case, leaving one more to settle between the two. But if we go by the outcome of Tuesday's face-off, maybe that too is bound for settlement. An earlier suit filed in a different court was also dismissed.

How happy both parties are now, we will also never know. And we would rather not know. It is best that we all move forward armed with just one knowledge -- that two pillars of our beloved Cebu have set a good example of what leadership is all about.

Gwen and Leo are two different persons. And while both work for the same goal of giving their best for the Cebuanos, they may employ different methods in accordance with differing styles that are too personal to reconcile. That is often the source of all conflicts.

But now that they have agreed to move forward and try to be more accommodating of each other, in the sense that they are not really adversaries but just two different people astride different horses moving in the same direction, what more can be said except Amen.

In light of this development, and as a partner to both in our common goal of serving the Cebuanos, we call on everyone to let the matter be and give Gwen and Leo the chance to mend what needs fixing between them without interference from anybody.

For we have learned from experience that it is far easier for the principal parties concerned to come to terms on their own. What gives everybody a hard time is the interference from third parties who, however well-meaning, will never know the real score.

What happened last Tuesday is a case in point. Left alone with just Judge Econg, Gwen and Leo managed to bridge in a few minutes a chasm grown wide by two years of animosity. The two have spoken face to face. Who are we, outsiders, to think we can say more, or any better?