Meeting Dino
MANY of us have only read or heard about Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino but haven't met him. Well, I finally had my chance last Friday during the induction of the Walk and Talk and Friendship Club.
The first thing you notice about Dino is the lack of swagger. He is low-key and self-effacing, so unlike many others who preen like peacocks once they're put in what they conceive to be positions of power and influence.
Dino, it seems, harbors no such illusions. In fact, he started his speech by saying that it is his “wishful thinking” to be able to “walk and talk with President Duterte about how and what I can contribute to the development of Cebu and of the entire Visayas.”
Dino described his job as bringing the voice of the Visayas to Malacañang and, at the same time, bringing Malacañang right at the doorsteps of the Visayans. So far, he said, he has been able to hasten the completion of the relocation sites for typhoon Yolanda victims such that 827 families will now be celebrating Christmas in their new homes.
He also revealed that he has lobbied for the inclusion of Cebu among the areas to be covered by the emergency powers that Congress is sure to give the President to address the traffic problem here. He was looking forward to the implementation of a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system in Cebu because it is “the best mass transport system suited for Metro Cebu, given its geographic attributes.
Dino concluded his talk by urging his audience to walk with the Duterte adminis- tration especially in the war against drugs.
*** Former Cebu City Mayor Micahel Rama dropped by at the induction ceremony probably to witness his political ally, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, accept his award for servant leadership from the club.
Unlike during his day days as mayor when he looked gaunt, almost sickly, Mike appeared like he has been able to rediscover his fountain of youth. There is an added spring to his steps, his cheeks are no longer emaciated and, as usual, he looked dapper in his tailored suit.
A night earlier, I bumped into Mayor Tommy Osmeña at the induction of the new set of officers of the Young Lawyers Association of Cebu (Ylac) led by Dwight Remedio. Tommy's mood was admirably light and amiable. I have often complained that that you have to “buy” his smile but Thursday, last night, he showed that he could turn on the charm if he wants to.
Tommy even got himself to tease me if I wasn't “overripe” for Ylac. I restrained myself from telling him that Mike was a Ylac member, too. That would have been a real bummer.
The former and the incumbent Cebu City mayor are at it again, it seems. Not that there was ever any let-up since their quarrel started but this week, their fight has taken an even more ominously savage turn.
After they both took separate drug tests and traded insults along the way last week, Tommy upped the ante by claiming that Mike had received P10 million from Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz, the alleged top drug lord in Cebu, who was slain in an alleged encounter with police in Las Piñas in mid-June, this year.
The claim is particularly hurting to Rama, who not only had to contend with allegations that he was a drug user during the last election campaign but also has been accused of being a drug protector by Duterte. His response was swift and predictable. Better be ready, he told Osmeña, because I will sue you.
A new and potentially more vicious chapter is unfolding in the dogfight between the erstwhile allies turned mortal enemies. Will this be good for Cebu?