Why our past mayor is probably the future mayor

There was a news item that caught my attention last week. I thought our eagle eyed radio commentators and profound opinion writers would have a field day exploring the topic either for its value in gold or hidden odor.

Quite unbelievably, they failed to consider it as a good item for their discussion. I waited for them to come out with their brilliant diagnosis but after a week of their silence, I realized that my initial appraisal of the news report as substantive could be wrong. It could not be big issue, at all. But, there was also a remote possibility that they deliberately chose to throw the matter into the dustbin of forgetfulness because they found it unworthy of their space or it was simply a dud.

I refer to the story about the claim by His Honor, the Cebu City Congressman Tomas R. Osmeña, South District that the proposed annual budget of the country contained an entry that was, at least, worth looking into, or words to that effect. Our representative said that the allocation for a naval boat to the tune of few billion pesos was useless (I forgot his exact word) especially that the cost did not include the armaments. If he meant that the ship had no guns, let alone missiles, our lawmaker was right! Why should the government buy a vessel for the navy that had no arms? What kind of a navy boat would that be?

Our former mayor, more known to be acerbic in his language than to hide his thoughts, could have asked if the ship was for pleasure if only to drive home his point. Navy boat for pleasure? Sure, only in da Pilipins. Naturally, when the congressman pointed out the folly, I began to hope that he was training his mind, sharp, we like to believe, to help this government define some hitherto inexplicable policies. In that case, what could be the purpose of the acquisition of a bottom that could not perform its intended task?

While I waited for his next pronouncements, the former mayor uncharacteristically appeared laconic. To my utter disappointment, he left me hanging. While apparently he stumbled on an issue that, in my estimation, was capable of generating national debate and of perhaps cleansing some undesirable processes, he opted to pause. Rather than go for the jugular, he withheld his tongue. Surely, it could not be for shortage of stinging vocabulary. Why did he hesitate?

Not before long, the answer came. It was supplied by the Honorable Speaker of the House of Representatives himself. According to Speaker Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte, our congressman did not speak out during the appropriate session when the budget was under consideration. It was the duty of our former mayor, specially that he is among the top personalities in the committee, to point out any valid observation at some proceedings of the Congress. Congressman Osmeña preferred to be unheard of. He could have been a useful member of the house had he helped it craft a reasonable budget, by highlighting such wayward expense as buying a navy vessel without armaments. That he kept silent was his own undoing.

 Speaker Belmonte was very diplomatic. He did not want to insult our congressman. The house chief could have brushed aside the untimely comment of our own legislator but, by simply saying that the latter's observation was made out of time, he assumed a friendly posture.

But, whatever the intention of the speaker was, he pointed at something that is factual. Our lawmaker is not of the mould that fits Congress. Within its walls, he is only one among the mortals, not the king. He is thus, expected that at the end of this term, he will clamor to come back to our city hall.

So, every now and then, the former mayor speaks out on matters related to administering the city where he would appear credible instead of telling us what he is not doing in Congress. His statements will be designed to let us feel that he, because perceived better than the sitting mayor, is more needed than the latter. On the supposition that as he reveals to us whatever is going on in Congress, he is probably speaking out of order, we shall hear from him more on the affairs of Cebu City.

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