Talisay's big disappointment

Eduardo Gullas is the father of Talisay City, having authored the law that made the then Municipality of Talisay to the bustling city that it is now. He also served as its first city mayor in addition to decades of public service as governor and as congressman of Cebu's first district, to which Talisay City belongs.

Except for a few short-lived criticisms that are par for the course in a politician's career, Gullas has never been involved in any controversy. His name remains unsullied to this day. Thus, when the people of Talisay chose to elect someone else for mayor in the May 2013 elections, only one conclusion comes to mind.

And it is that the people of Talisay, despite the time-tested leadership of Gullas, must have found someone better in their estimation. And so, by the slimmest of margins, the Talisaynons installed the man they call JVR as mayor of their beloved city.

In keeping with his character that has distinguished him in all the decades that he has served the public, Gullas quickly conceded. To him the people of Talisay City have made their choice, and it was not for him to question that choice.

But barely a month since taking office, JVR got mired in his first controversy. It has been reported that JVR has surrounded himself with relatives he hired to various positions at City Hall. Nepotism cried the media. He also allegedly employed hundreds more political supporters. Patronage, the media cried some more.

In fairness to JVR, hiring relatives and political supporters is nothing new in Philippine politics. It is just that Talisaynons probably did not expect such issues to explode so early in JVR's term. He probably has not even done anything significant and meaningful yet as mayor, and now this.

The allegations give the impression that all JVR did upon taking office was to immediately make hay. He did try to explain, apparently because the allegations cannot be denied. He told lawyer Frank Malilong of ABC 5 that he needed to hire people he can trust, hence the need to hire relatives.

That, of course, sounds very lame to me. How quickly JVR must have forgotten that he has just come off a major political upset, the kind of which is seldom seen in local political history. For him to defeat Gullas shows the people of Talisay gave him their trust and confidence. Can he not do the same for them?

Well, apparently not, as he did not hire Talisaynons to positions of trust but relatives some of whom, according to the allegations, come from as far away as Mindanao. In another lame attempt at an explanation, JVR told Malilong hiring just anybody as driver might prove risky for his personal security.

Again I cannot buy that excuse. JVR has no business running for public office if he does not trust anybody. How can he say he needs to entrust his personal safety to a driver who is a cousin instead of just any Talisaynon when he is the mayor of all Talisaynons? Does JVR not trust his own constituents?

According to Malilong, JVR complained that his life has changed since becoming mayor. He reportedly has no more time for his personal life as attending to his constituents' needs take up most of his time. They wait for him at home and he no longer has time to even go to the bathroom, Malilong's account went on.

Is JVR regretting ever running for office? Why ever did he seek the mayorship if he is unprepared to take on its many tasks and duties, in the variety of forms and dimensions that they must take? A little over a month as mayor and he is already complaining?

Maybe JVR has not yet fully settled into the role of mayor, and I agree he deserves a little time to get into the groove of being one. Still, while a few tentative steps here and there and a few slipups every now and then can be forgiven.

But nepotism is a serious accusation, especially coming as it did after just a month of being in office. Clearly, this is not just a small unthought of blunder. Nepotism is not the son of an accident. It is a product of something more calculating and deliberate. And, in losing no time, it is a humongous disappointment.