I do understand the fuzz about the absences reportedly committed by the Honorable congressman Tomas R. Osmeña, from the sessions at the House of Representatives. This report may not be factual, but people seem to be very exacting. They feel shortchanged by such constant non-appearance of our legislator in congressional deliberations as to rate him with the most disparaging comment of making the highest number of absences among Cebu congressmen. Cebuanos even compare Hon. Osmena's failure to attend many sessions to the perfect attendance of his counterpart in the north district.
But, people may have forgotten the function of lawmakers as outlined in the constitution. The power to legislate belongs to the legislature. We elect our representatives to understand the statutory needs of his constituents out of which understanding they sponsor a bill that benefits the general mass.
It is possible that the constituents of Cong. Osmeña in the south district do not need any law, yet, that can help them promote their well-being for which reason their lawmaker has not drafted any such bill. Or, it may be true that the Cebuano representative does not have, yet, in his mind any statute that can push our country to a higher notch of development. So, let us give him time. The six months that passed without him doing his job was probably a period of adjustment. I like to think that he will double his efforts now that the Cebuanos have seen that he has not done any substantive legislative work yet.
I have said, time and again, that no one has a monopoly of knowledge. Having repeated that line, there is likelihood that some other congressmen from other districts might have great ideas that they have written as bills. It is not an embarrassing act for Cong. Osmeña to attend sessions and help argue for such bills on the floor. He can lend his expertise on such issues and achieve something as a lawmaker, without being the originator of the thought.
Of course, I am not unaware that Cong. Osmeña claimed to have saved the country from such a worthless expense as buying billions of pesos worth of Polish helicopters. According to published reports, he said that his advice to the president of the republic to forego with such purchase stopped the deal. It can be true although I doubt if the president validates that. In case he does, this only demonstrates that if Cong. Osmeña puts his mind into something, (in this case an executive, not a legislative act) he can achieve. So, please act like a representative.
The optimist in me says that the former mayor is just about poised to act as a congressman. The harsh words raised against his absence from Congress sessions must have roused him from a deep slumber. With still two and a half years to do it, he has enough time. To achieve this goal, and he has so much to catch up, I suggest that he focuses on his job. Putting proverbial blinders to his mind frame is not a bad idea.
One specific way to do it is to let His Honor Mayor Michael Rama do his thing as a mayor. Rep. Osmeña claims it is his right? No argument. But, he is sidelined too much. Rather than criticize the incumbent mayor for any perceived mismanagement, and consequently be dragged into a useless exchange of tirades, Cong. Osmeña should spend his time putting into statutory form what he wants our people be.
What program did he present to the voters in the campaign trail? Surely, he enumerated a ton of promises. That is the thing for him to lean on. Chicken. He must pick the best from whatever he listed then and give it the full resonance he is known for. It will not be uncharacteristic of him if he has to bully some congressmen to supporting his bills and, good heavens, we shall be glad to applaud him doing it. That will be more purposeful than castigating Mayor Rama,.
In other words, please Hon. Osmeña, perform as a congressman.