Word war

I was a neophyte reporter then, assigned to Cebu City Hall. It was the height of the Rama and Osmeña drug test issue: one blaming the other for using illegal drugs. My colleagues and I would rush off from one’s office to another, or sometimes to the residence, for a response to a statement. Our news anchor and fellow The FREEMAN columnist, Leo Lastimosa, called me out for a somewhat seemingly slacking style of reportage. “Gipasabong,” or to cockfight, was his term. I couldn’t grasp what he meant at that time because it seemed like everyone was doing the same thing.

As Tomas Osmeña is back in City Hall, the same cockfight is happening again, but to the newer generation they are calling it a “word war”. However, instead of waiting for their exposure from the media, they are free to write their sentiments on their social media pages. There is no time to consider nor any filters, but plain and pure posting in response to the attacks hurled against each other. The comment section is a trove of emotions --from the silent readers dropping a popcorn emoji to the loyal constituents who feel strongly about the issue.

While freedom of speech is welcomed in this matter, there are also other things to look into with the allegations of the current administration. The public must watch out beyond words and spite and instead look for documents. City Hall, albeit a bit late, religiously posts its purchase orders and procurements on a transparency site. Anyone is free to explore, but only if you have the patience to. The site is clunky but leads you to a treasure trove of evidence when you are looking for any shady purchase from the city. It could be used as a basis to cross-check any claim from whoever party.

There is also the issue of bringing up the past in the argument. Many young voters today are looking at the fight like a petty quarrel, using old issues to bridge the present. Maybe there is a better way to put the argument and frustration into perspective. There is always a decent way to frame the issue while informing the public where their money went. Imagine toddlers listening to their parents fight and then repeating the same manner of logic when they grow up. It could be a mess.

The current word war could be exciting at some point, like waiting for the next part of your favorite teleserye and its plot twist. It could go on like this for the next three years or maybe not, we’ll see. What’s clear now is that the new administration is on to something, returning after six years of not being in the top positions. Both the vice mayor and the mayor publicly present themselves as a team, and it is only by working together do we get things done and right. I hope Cebu City, being always poised as the one next to the capital, gets to par itself as number one.