Mayor Mike and VM Edgar should now talk

The days of posturing and saber-rattling are over. They should sit down and talk. Mike and Edgar are both honorable, reasonable men, both lawyers and devoted Catholics. Unknown to many, both are also Visayanians who once studied in the University of the Visayas Gullas Law School. Although Mike transferred to San Beda (a politically correct institution nowadays), Edgar graduated from the Law school where I also graduated from, and where I taught as a professor such great men as the late Cerge Remonde and Mike Rama. Mike is the more good-looking "kilabot ng mga coeds," but Edgar was the "buotan and carinyosong" crush ng mga girls and girl-aspirants.

So they should first talk as comrades with a common enemy, then call all the barangay leaders (including the kagawads) aligned with Barug Team Rama. They should consult the grassroots and even conduct a straw vote. Even in barangays identified with the opposing camp, there are many kagawads still affiliated with and loyal to Barug Team Rama. Of course, the incumbent mayor will be happy if Mike and Edgar continue to go their separate ways, and distance themselves from each other. The Machiavellian tactic of ''divide, conquer, and rule'' is as old as Napoleon Bonaparte and Hitler. It is even possible Barug Team Rama has been infiltrated by a spy who gathers information and sows intrigue so Mike and Edgar shall be estranged. They better watch out.

To me, the best strategist and political tactician was President Ferdinand Marcos who beat our beloved Serging Osmeña Jr. even here in Cebu Province. Marcos poured millions in pork barrel to Ramon Durano to secure all the votes from the old first district in northwestern Cebu (now the sixth, and fifth) and helped is ally Tereso Dumon. Also, Marcos helped Manuel Zosa, who controlled the old sixth district covering Ronda, Dumanjug, Barili, Aloguinsan, Pinamungajan, and Toledo City. One of the strongest supporters of Marcos in Cebu was the undefeated Isidro Kintanar who controlled the old fourth district called SAAD (Sibonga, Argao, Alcoy, and Dalaguete). Marcos empowered all the political enemies of Serging and they all delivered votes in the 1965 polls.

And so, Mike and Edgar should learn from history. During the time of Serging (I was a member of Youth for Osmeña), nobody could beat Serging in Cebu City. But in the province, the Osmeñas lost support because Durano, Dumon, Zosa, and Kintanar all controlled their districts. Later, a young, clean, and very passionate leader, Eddie Gullas, rose as the new Marcos ally under KBL. Under Marcos, Gullas never lost an election. But here in Cebu City, no one could beat Serging, no one could beat an Osmeña, except Mike Rama. But Rama was beaten in the return bout and he alleged he was cheated. He was beaten while running with Edgar as his loyal teammate. But if the next mayoral derby will be three-cornered, Tom, Mike, and Edgar, the happiest guy in town will be Tomas.

And so, two sensible, pragmatic, brilliant men like Mike and Edgar should have a heart-to-heart talk now. Who can better beat Tomas? Who has the better chance to win. Dino? He is a new name, a fresh face, but how many ward leaders even know him, except some hearsay that he is Manong Digong's Trojan Horse in Cebu? I would advise him to be the convenor of a Mike and Edgar rendezvous in Osmeña Peak, the highest point in the island. I would love to be there as a reporter for The FREEMAN.

‘If the next mayoral derby will be three-cornered, Tom, Mike, and Edgar, the happiest guy in town will be Tomas.’