Questions Alcover's lawsuits raised

THE four complaints filed Aug. 24 by Cebu City Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr. against Mayor Tomas Osmeña may not send the mayor to jail or get him suspended. The case might not even go beyond the local ombudsman.

Yet they raised valid questions whose answers an all-knowing mayor might no longer need but could help other chiefs of local governments.

[] On the flag ceremony at City Hall Monday mornings and Friday afternoons, which Mayor Tomas allegedly cut to once a month:

The Flag Law is mandatory and violation is punishable by public censure in a general-circulation newspaper. The paid ad is required but a judge's order scolding the mayor is front-page and primetime news.

[] On appointing councilors as "deputy mayors," which Tomas did for his wife Margot and other councilors belonging to BOPK, his political party:

It's not known if the deputy mayors are given additional salary or benefits on top of their councilors' pay. Does it cost the government more money or resources? Does it grant power not provided by law? Won't it cause confusion or duplication in the bureaucracy? Or is the title merely ego-booster?

LGU heads would be interested to know: Is it nepotism? Is it allowed by law?

[] On paying cash reward or bounty to police members and civilians who kill a drug dealer, which Tomas openly did in the early stage of the "war on drugs":

Is it not an inducement for cops to violate the law, by disregarding rules of engagement, and earn extra money? Do paying and receiving cash constitute corruption since the award is not sanctioned by government?

Limits

In a way, the complaints may enlighten the LGU chiefs in wielding authority. Of course, coming from the enemy camp, they're meant to annoy if not torment Tomas.

But the chance to define limits on power and promote good governance is there.