EDITORIAL - The plight of Sanchez

Cebu Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez can say anything he wants about the recent order of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia recalling several Capitol-owned vehicles assigned to his office. But the fact remains that it is a political reality that he must eventually learn to live with.

Sanchez is a grizzled political veteran. He is not a political novice getting his first taste of what it means to be outside the political "kulambo." If he is being harassed, then he is being harassed. Period. No use crying the cry of babes.

Certainly Sanchez must have had a fairly good idea about what would happen if he gets elected to a position in an administration dominated by Garcia and her allies. That he persisted and pursued his bid for reelection shows he must have steeled himself for what may happen.

And now this? Sanchez whining about being harassed? What did he expect? That Garcia would give him a three-year supply of cotton candy? These things are not surprises for Sanchez. In fact he should brace for more.

But as Sanchez braces for more, he should not lose sight of the fact that whining is not what he was elected into office for. He needs to do the job those who voted him into office are expecting him to do.

This is not to say working in such a hostile environment would be easy. Garcia can strip him of every perk and privilege that she can legally deprive. But his mandate obliges Sanchez to stay in office and do his job, even with his bare hands, if that is what it takes to do it.

Sanchez is an engineer. Engineers are supposed to have methodical minds. People expect engineers to have the answers to problems and situations. So far, however, Sanchez seems to have limited himself to calling attention to his plight instead of plotting a way out of his fix.

We do not doubt that Sanchez will ultimately find the most practical ending to his extraordinary case especially since, to most people, it is pretty obvious. But he must be allowed to come to his own conclusions. And quick. Three years is too short a time to just whine away.