Where were the congressmen at the height of Tino?

In times of serious emergencies and most especially, during disasters and calamities, the people expect their leaders to be on top of the rescue, relief and assistance operations. Thus, at the height of international weather disturbance Kalmaegi, locally known as Tino, it was only expected that the constituencies of politicians would be looking for their leaders.

Where was Representative Rhea Gullas while Talisay, Naga City, and the other city and the municipalities in the 1st District were being devastated by Typhoon Tino? Where was the honorable Edsel Galeos when Argao, Dalaguete, and the other towns in the 2nd District were being besieged by those strong winds and water? Where was Representative Karen Garcia when her constituencies in the 3rd District, from Barili to Balamban and Asturias were desperate for rescue, relief, and assistance?

Where was Representative Sun Shimura while the people of his district were in urgent and vital need of help? And where was Representative Duke Frasco when his own hometown was submerged in a rampaging flood and his constituents needed immediate rescue and assistance. He has been there a number years. Instead of dreaming about an airport, which is not the priority need of the 5th District, how many flood control projects did he ever plan and implement especially in his own hometown of Liloan?

How about Representative Daphne Lagon of the 6th District and her husband, partylist representative Sonny Lagon and their children who are also public officials? Where were the Lagons while the people who voted them into office were suffering from the damage and devastation of Tino? And how about the spouses Calderon from the 7th District, the former congressman Peter John Calderon and the incumbent Dr. Patricia Calderon? Were they in the country, in Cebu, and in the 7th District during the height of Tino? What happened to the flood control projects?

In the context of today's socio-economic and political realities, members of Congress are not only lawmakers. They also poke their fingers in supposedly-executive responsibilities of constructing infrastructures, including flood-control projects. They even interfere in the distribution of ayuda, like AICs, TUPAD, and AKAP. And above all, many, if not all of them, have flood-control projects in their district, most especially the 7th District. Therefore, the people who put them where they are have the right to ask: Where were our leaders while we are being besieged by winds and floods?

This is not the time for finger pointing and filibustering. Natural disasters and calamities are like final exams, where the competence and commitment of politicians should be tested and should not be found wanting. For instance, at the height of Typhoon Tino, where were the 11 members of Congress representing Cebu's congressional districts? Where were representatives Cutie del Mar, Edu Rama, Lollipop Ouano, Ahong Chan, and Raymund Mendoza?

Where was the honorable Rhea Aquino Gullas, and her husband, also a former congressman representing the 1st District, while thousands of the residents living along the Mananga River were desperately crying for emergency rescue, on top of their dwellings while the same houses they were on top, were being washed away by the rage and surges of rampaging water? Was Mananga River not supposed to be the same river where flood-control projects were supposed to be constructed under the responsibility of a very famous contractor?

Why was Governor Pam Baricuatro virtually alone in being very hands-on, very active, and very visible while the whole province of Cebu was under the fury of Tino? Why were the well-paid leaders among our traditional politicians expectedly hiding in the comforts of their mansions all the while that their beleaguered constituents were losing their homes, were desperately looking for their missing loved ones, and were hungry and were without food, water, and basic medicine?

They cannot forever hide under the mantle of their parliamentary responsibilities. The Constitution mandates that the prime duty of the government is to serve and protect the people. And they are the government. During calamities and disasters, there is no separation of powers. All leaders should come together and help the people.

Next election, we should all remember where our leaders were when we were under grave and imminent danger. In times of crises, we should know who is for us and who does not care at all.