The function of the list of 300 concerns

I listened to His Honor, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, quite attentively, months ago when he mentioned that he had 300 concerns. He was referring to those things (services, politicians call them) which the preceding administration failed to address. At that time, I was in no position how to call it. Was it a simple declarative statement or a form of indictment? Did the new mayor accuse his predecessor of administrative failure, so massive that the successor listed 300 items?

Somehow, there were no specifications Mayor Rama made. From his office, no clarifications came forth. For the mayor’s apparent failure to state in a clearly defined language what he meant, his listing of 300 concerns that the former city chief did not deliver appeared to be a serious accusation of maladministration.

Truth to tell, I was expecting an immediate rejoinder from the congressman. I perceive him to be a person who is always swift in his repartee and such an unflattering statement (accusation, if you may) by his former anointed successor would, at that time, necessitate a hasty comment. In much the same way that the new mayor did not clarity what he mean by such 300 concerns, the congressman was silent. I really wondered whatever happened to his famed quickness in mental jousts. And so the issue seemed to die with the passing of days.

Of late, the congressman has taken the mayor to task. The issue, to him, must be settled, albeit late. It is important to his image that he be spared of such stinging accusation of having failed as a mayor, lest, his projected return to the seat as our city chief executive meets a hefty 300 roadblock. He now demands that he be furnished by the mayor such a list or failing so, the latter must apologize to him 300 times.

I am sure that the congressman did not give direct flanking orders to his friendly city legislators. Our councilors are no stooges of the former mayor. They do not act upon the say-so of the representative. They have their own minds. It has just happened that they took time to study the ramifications of an exchange of volleys between the two former political buddies.

That the men and women in our city council have expressed the sentiment hoping that the mayor reveals this listing for the public to scrutinize is just a coincidence. They have just realized that it is important to know whether such a list exists or it is merely a bluff.

A news item I read reported that the congressman has, in his position, such a list. The way it was written indicated that the former mayor acknowledged having obtained such a paper. Of course, we do not doubt the resourcefulness of the south district lawmaker. And since there is no reason to discredit that report, it must be true. Consequently, there is now no more doubt that such a list, however hard Mayor Rama kept, in fact, exists.

What needs to be done in the situation? Let us ask both Mayor Rama and Congressman Osmeña, to join hands in validating such a list. Whatever may have been included that is not anchored on fact, let the mayor acknowledge like an honorable man. That will be more than giving an apology and if the representative insists on that apology, he will unduly unravel his intention to embark a campaign to return to city hall. Admission of an error, he should remember, is a hallmark of a true leader.

On the other hand, if the listing contains items that show where the former administration failed, the present leadership does not have to talk about them anymore as to embarrass the past regime. There is no need for that. If he blows up this issue, he will be deemed campaigning for 2013. Let the mayor work on them in the hope that he delivers to us those we did not get in the past.

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