Shameful act to satisfy greed
The “former political has-been” really got what he wanted. But was his strategy moral and legal?
Like what I said in my previous columns, the “former political has-been” has the last laugh. What he wants, he gets even if he uses “evil” ways. With the election of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation president he endorsed, his minions will now dominate the city council.
Jessica Resch, the SK chairperson of San Nicolas Proper, was elected SK Federation president during the balloting yesterday. She was reportedly supported by the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK). Resch will sit as ex-officio member in the council together with the president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC).
The BOPK is supporting Kasambagan barangay captain-elect Franklin Ong for the top ABC position. Ong is a known BOPK ally and campaign fund contributor. He almost cornered all City Hall transactions, including garbage collection.
During the May 14 barangay and SK elections, the “former political has-been” campaigned hard against barangay captains identified with the opposition. He printed flyers that maligned some opposition candidates. He poured a lot of resources just to entice voters to vote for his allied candidates. And he succeeded because his candidates defeated almost all of the opposition candidates.
After the elections, he warned newly elected village chiefs that if they will not join him they will not be given projects. Was that the right way to recruit members? That was coercion and intimidation.
I was informed that the barangay captain-elect of Guba was forced to join the BOPK because he was threatened that his small sari-sari store business will be closed. Of course, other barangay captains joined BOPK because of the enticing offer for projects.
Before the SK Federation election, he told SK chairpersons that he will give P1 million to each barangay SK chapter that will support a federation head that is supportive of his agenda. Resch’s name did not surface yet, but according my source, she was already floated to all the 80 SK chairpersons in the city. Resch got 44 votes while her closest rival, Maria Sonia Fate Cal of Tisa, who was reportedly endorsed by the opposition, got 34 votes.
The “former political has- been” really got what he wanted. But was his strategy moral and legal? Who says that the SK under the SK Reform Act of 2015 has reformed? If they were just left on their own, they may have implemented “meaningful reforms.”
But politicians like the “former political hasbeen” are corrupting the youth. What he did was shameless. Imagine dangling P1 million to SK chairpersons so they will vote for his favored candidate? And those are government funds.
The opposition cannot also point an accusing finger at the “former political ha- been” because they are equally guilty. What Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino did, which was to bring SK chairpersons to Malacañang also corrupted the youth in a way.
With his minions now dominating the city council, it is easier for the “former political has-been” to pass his legislative agenda and personal intention, which is to satisfy his greed. Kining tawo wala gyuy katagbawan. Magpabilin hakog sa gahum ug sa salapi. God bless Cebu City under his leadership.