Confusing stand
The “former political has-been” accused members of the opposition of being obstructionists after they went to court questioning the City Council resolution passed by Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) allies that authorized him to sign the joint-venture agreement ( JVA) with Universal Hotels, Resort and Casino Inc. to develop Kawit Island at the South Road Properties (SRP). He described it as anti-investment as their legal move will scare investors from pouring their money in the area.
He bragged that the JVA is good for Cebu because it will employ more or less 5,000 Cebuanos from the project’s construction until its full operation. It will also showcase the entire 300-hectare SRP as an ideal investment center that will trigger economic activity.
But look who’s talking? He criticized the opposition for blocking this P18-billion project but look at what he did during former mayor Michael Rama’s time. When Rama disposed of some 45 hectares to the consortium of SM Prime Holdings, Ayala Land and Filinvest, he tried to scuttle the deal.
When he returned to power after clobbering Rama in the 2016 elections, his priority was to rescind the contract. But until now he has failed to do it. He did not even used the advance payments from the three developers.
The “former political has-been” claimed that Rama’s deal with the country’s top three developers was disadvantageous to the interest of the City Government because the floor price could reach as high as P110,000 per square meter. Rama sold the lots at P38,000 per square meter with buyers paying the capital gains tax.
If he wants to develop and promote the SRP as the investment center of Cebu and if he wants to help Cebuanos get employment, why would he block the three developers from putting up more investments in the area? SM Prime Holdings planned to put up a sports and convention facilities in addition to its existing shopping mall. It could have employed 50,000 skilled and professional workers.
If it is his deal, everything is aboveboard. If not his, it’s questionable and illegal. He is now in power. He wants to pursue that deal against all odds. This, despite the questionable resolution authorizing him to enter into the JVA and the questionable provisions of the JVA, especially the sharing scheme which appears to be disadvantageous to the City’s interest
The “former political has-been’s” stand on the SRP deals is like his stand on the killings in the city in his previous administration and up to the present. In 2004, he “masterminded” and inspired vigilantism, killing more than 150 persons with criminal records. He then “utilized” active policemen to do the killing spree. Just recently, he changed his stand after his political ally, Tejero Barangay Councilor Jessielou “Jingjing” Cadungog was the alleged target. He suspected that the police were behind the attempted ambush of Cadungog. His suspicion that the police were behind the spate of killings was bolstered following the killing of PDEA agent Von Rian Tecson. He wanted to stop it.
But when President Rodrigo Duterte announced that he would give P5 million to those who can kill a “rogue/bad cop,” the “former political has-been” also announced that he would give an additional P50,000-incentive. By offering the amount, in effect, he’s encouraging killing. Isn’t confusing? Uyon siya sa patay kung laing tawo ang target. Apan kung iyang kaalyado supak siya. Mao ra gihapon sa SRP deal. Uyon og legal kung siya ang makig-deal. Pero kung lain, iyang supakon og illegal. Wala na kaha na siya mayabag?