EDITORIAL - Skirting the trap

The photo being circulated that shows a City Hall official and two other men with 10 bottles of beer on a small table in his office is clearly a smear campaign against the official. It is also clearly a pathetically weak attempt to besmirch somebody.

There is no indication in the photo that the men were drinking while working. Of course they must have been drinking, as suggested by the presence of 10 beer bottles, but it is clear by their postures and positions that no work was involved in the picture. 

So, if no work was involved but just pure drinking, then the incident must have happened during some celebration at City Hall, in which case, and as everybody knows, the usual rules or regulations against drinking are relaxed, if not totally waived.

It could not have happened after working hours on a regular work day because it makes no sense to stay in the office and drink when you can go somewhere else to get inebriated with your friends.

The most telling blow against the clear intent of circulating the picture is the fact that the source indicated the photo to have been taken sometime in July, or a good five months ago. If the purpose was to call attention to a breach, the photo should have come out by then.

That the photo started circulating after the same official in question complained against some employees clearly caught drinking during office hours indicated that the smear campaign is a retaliation against the official and carries more malice than righteousness.

The almost universal ban against drinking in the workplace is good and must be supported and sustained. But even the most stringent of regulations have their fair share of exemptions. Such exemptions may include office parties, after work is done or when work is suspended.

It is good City Hall has chosen not to bite and refused to call for an investigation. Had it fallen into the trap, the issue could have swiftly turned political and swerve to a direction that can only take it away from where it initially headed.