EDITORIAL - Great disservice to Cebuanos

Mayor Michael Rama intends to bring to the attention of the president his opposition to the construction of more flyovers in Cebu City. Rep. Tomas Osmeña, with whom Rama is quarreling, plans to also see the president and tell him Rama is just grandstanding.

Until that happens, however, there is no way of knowing how President Aquino will deal with the situation. But if how former president Gloria Arroyo dealt with similar situations is any measure, the president ought not to also soil his hands in the mud of local conflicts.

For Arroyo never interfered in local conflicts. She knew that if she incurred the ire of local leaders, she was dead meat. After all, local politicians are the real kingmakers in this country. When election time comes, it is they who determine where the votes should go.

Thus, despite the allegations against her and her resulting unpopularity, Arroyo managed to hold on to power right to the very end. Her opponents found it difficult to topple a president who kept local leaders happy. If they moved against her, they risked incurring their ire.

Going by this measure, therefore, it would be futile for both Rama and Osmeña to bring their quarrel to President Aquino if he is not likely to entertain each other’s gripe. On the other hand, washing their dirty linen before the president is a great disservice to Cebuanos.

It does not serve the Cebuanos well to have two of their local leaders go all the way up to Malacañang with conflicts that are best left for resolution at the local level, preferably by way of the ballot in the next election.

Cebuanos have nothing to do with political power, which is at the root of their conflict. They do not deserve to be caught in the middle and suffer the consequences, especially if one of the consequences is to be embarrassed before the entire nation.

Cebuanos deserve something so much better from their local leaders. Being subjected to possible ridicule before the entire nation is not one of them. So, to Rama and Osmeña, kung mahimo, palihug dinhi na lang ta sa Sugbo magsumbagay.