Compostela impasse, still unresolved

A couple of weeks ago, one had a visit of the municipal hall and premises of Compostela to pay real property taxes of a few lots for 2011. What met the eyes was just the smattering of municipal employees and the utter absence of the public sector transacting official business, or for whatever purposes. In fact, in the office of the municipal treasurer, there were only three personnel attending, obviously, to taxpayers.

Likewise, in yonder legislative building which is padlocked, the prevailing atmosphere is that of an abandoned public edifice. In short, except for the buildings with no visible official transactions and no people around, the municipal government of Compostela has long been at a standstill. Public services and projects are similarly nil, no doubt.

Standing mute for long in front of the municipal building are the monuments of Jose Rizal and of then Hilario “Mano Ayong” Kanen. The latter was the first municipal mayor or “alcalde” – or whatever his honored designation then – who now could be painfully suffering with copious unshed tears over the tragic state of affairs of his hometown that he had fathered. Nothing was there any manifestation of the Christmas season, no yuletide buntings, or yuletide lanterns, or the faintest shadow of a Christmas tree, and nothing else enlivening the premises and the atmosphere. Oh, yes, there was one “job order” employee who ventured to ask if he and others staying put could ever receive the P10T bonus mandated by the national government. But seeing his sadness, one felt that he has already known at heart the negative answer to his question.

In short, the Compostela municipal government and the place could be worse than “dead meat”, like, the noxious “botcha” for now, and perhaps, for long hereafter.

Meantime, even the then officer-in-charge, DILG-7 regional director Pedro Noval, has voluntarily given up his post by designating a certain Jerome Gonzales – who he? – to take over to carry on the inutile “functus oficio”.

As reported, Noval had been making follow-ups with Comelec to resolve the political municipal standoff, but to no avail since the inception after the general elections in May 2010 yet. And, DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima who was asked about the nagging impasse while on a Cebu visit, also shrugged her shoulders that the conflict is under Comelec jurisdiction.

What’s befuddling to one and all is why the Comelec en banc which, for sure, has long reportedly taken cognizance of the unique conflict, has let the impasse persist without its active hand to resolve the problem. Meantime, Comelec Chairman Jose Melo is retiring in early January 2011. Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer who single-handedly resolved to bar the already proclaimed election winners – Mayor, Vice-Mayor, and all SB members – from assuming their elected posts, is likewise retiring anytime now.

As a native Compostelanhon, one who is a voter in Mandaue City for long, doesn’t take any side between the parties or warring protagonists, one way or the other. While knowing the principles on the nuances and ramifications of the election laws and jurisprudence involved, nonetheless, with the issue now with Comelec, let the latter resolve it with dispatch.

Much earlier, talks had been rife that with the official intervention of Congressman “Red”

Durano as Compostela is part of his congressional district, he allegedly would pursue impeachment proceedings against Commissioner Ferrer, but has apparently fizzled out.

While Compostela may be a comparatively small LGU, and probably “insignificant” municipality that might not have “swing” votes for higher political stakeholders either way, the simple Compostela folk are well-educated and civic-minded citizens with significant stakes in their own

public governance. Hence, Cebuano politicians with higher official ascendancy on public administration, directly or indirectly, can not just shrug their shoulders and say that the matter is of no moment to them.

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