EDITORIAL - What a campaign!

That's right. What a strange campaign this has been. Cebuanos certainly have not encountered such an extraordinary run-up to an election in many years. And extraordinary it was not in terms of the heights to which candidates explored the issues, but in terms of the depths to which they were ready to dive just to get elected.

It would have been understandable if the spit and hiss were confined to the provinces. But in the cities, and involving otherwise learned men? It probably started in Cebu City where desperate measures were launched against Raul del Mar by way of text messages that said he fell and got incapacitated, which was a big lie of course.

Then came the innuendoes about how much longer Tomas Osmeña has to live, countered by insinuations about the mental health of Michael Rama. From matters of health, the battles shifted to court litigations, with Totol Batuhan suing Bebot Abellanosa, who chose to fight back with lopsided survey results in his favor.

Then just like in old times, things jumped across the Mactan Channel to Lapu-Lapu City, where Jun Pelaez sued Paz Radaza over illegal posters, and Radaza suing Pelaez back for distributing food during a rally.

But if you think that was that, Pelaez upped the ante by suing the deputy ombudsman, PelagioApostol, for allegedly sitting on the Radaza case. Then he capped it with another suit against Radaza, this time for alleged plunder.

All of these things Pelaez could have done long before. Had he done so, they would have made an impact. And they would have been believable. But just days before the election? Any observer will likely dismiss these belated moves as nothing but political ploys and get unmasked for what they probably are.

As to Apostol, the deputy ombudsman is in a quandary as to where he went wrong. But that is his problem with Pelaez. As to Pelaez and Radaza, decision day is already on Monday, and the verdict is in the hands of the people. It is not in the courts or other similar forums as Pelaez, by his actions, seems to believe.

There will be a time for reckoning in the courts if Pelaez so desires, and so too with Batuhan, just as there will be time for health matters to manifest themselves, as far as the Cebu City politicians as concerned. But as far as the elections are concerned, Pelaez, et al have to prove themselves worthy before the people themselves.

The Radazas have held sway in Lapu-Lapu City for years. If they are as bad as Pelaez thinks they are, it is not the courts that he should convince but the people of Lapu-Lapu themselves. As one who thinks of himself the better leader, he needs to prove that to the people he intends to lead. Or else he is no better than in Cebu City where health questions are made to replace wisdom of choice.