Why not?

“Gwen won’t scrap the deal buying Balili property,” according to a report in The FREEMAN, 2 days ago.

Why not?

This is a question being asked not only by lawyer-friends but by Cebuano taxpayers as well. And not just, why not. More related questions need to be raised and need to be answered as well.

If the P98.9 million transaction was a bad deal, why not work to get back the millions of taxpayers’ money?

According to the report, “Garcia is determined to fulfill her task in deciding and defining the vision of the province that includes developing the site into an international port and dumpsite for coal ash.”

When did a governor have the sole prerogative to single-handedly define the vision of the province? Isn’t the vision of the province one to emanate from the Cebuanos, not just from one person in power? Shouldn’t a Governor merely implement the collective and agreed upon vision that Cebuanos have for their province?

Also, isn’t Cebu a province of all, not just one or some Cebuanos? Doesn’t One-Cebu mean One-Cebu for all Cebuanos, not one-Cebu for one or some Cebuanos?

Furthermore, does the vision of the province that Cebuanos have include a problem-ridden dumpsite for coal ash? Do Cebuanos really agree to make Cebu a dumpsite for problematic and imported coal ash?

According to the report, Garcia said “ I am not rescinding it. I will not waver, I will not be indecisive and I will not say one thing today and say another tomorrow,”

Goodness.

The Balili deal is not a case of one person being indecisive or not. Rather, the Balili case is so obviously an issue about irresponsible management of millions of taxpayers’ money!

If the people have been shortchanged, if their money was used to buy land but instead of land, they find their money drowned/submerged in water instead, is that not a deal worth rescinding, for the sake of the Cebuanos? Is that not a deal worth a very decisive act for the sake of the people, not for the sake of a personal vision, but for the sake of Cebu and the Cebuanos?

By saying that she will not rescind the deal because she”will not be indecisive,” is she saying that it is her decision that matters most in Capitol?

What about the PB? What is their role in the decision-making process and the vision of and for Cebu and the Cebuanos?

Is it logical to conclude, from her statement, that no one can proceed or hasten any decision-making process in Capitol without her prior and clear approval and go-signal? If so, would PB member Bolo have boldly proceeded to actively pursue the Balili deal had he not received a clear go-signal from the so-called real decision makers in Capitol?

If PB member Bolo really wants to save himself and his family from bad publicity, the only way to go for Bolo is to serve as whistleblower for the truth. Only the full and complete truth can untangle the nabali nga Balili deal. Only the truth can set the Cebuanos free as well and have their millions restored for their welfare, for their real needs.

Turning to the vision of and for Cebu, where and when did the issue of a dumpsite for coal ash enter the vision for Cebu?

Is the Governor saying with her statement that she would rather lose the millions of Cebuano taxpayers’ money rather than appear indecisive to whom? To the Koreans? To the international investors? Is she saying that the international investors are more important than the Cebuanos, the people of the province that she is Governor of?

No one is arguing that Cebu needs a steady power supply. Sure. But having that energy supply does not have to come at the expense of people and the environment. Surely, there are certainly more inexpensive, more ecologically friendly means to get that steady power supply for Cebu and Cebuanos?

But hey, hasn’t Capitol demonstrated clearly to all, in their “sloppy” handling/bungling of the Balili deal, that it is not their practice to scrutinize documents, to follow standard procedures for document-approval and signing, to evaluate proof, and to decide collectively on what is best for the people and for this province?

If the obviously bungled Balili deal is not rescinded, why not? Is it related to the deal for the international port and the dumpsite for the coal-ash dumpsite? Is this deal bigger and more important for Capitol than the small-time Balili deal? Why?

Will the Cebuanos get the answers to their valid questions at all? Will the Cebuanos also get back their millions?

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