An insult to intelligence

The illegal drug allegations against some Cebu City officials just cannot die down. Accused of being a drug addict by former mayor Michael Rama, Councilor Margot Osmeña is eyeing legal action against the former city chief executive.

Rama must be stressed, Osmeña said. Her husband, Mayor Tomas Osmeña, came to her rescue. "That doesn't need an explanation. She served already for 25 years. She doesn't make people ligid-ligid there. She doesn't walk into a telephone pole. Siya pa ang na drug addict? Napraning na guro si Rama, uy," Tomas said.

It was Mayor Osmeña who would always also accuse Rama of being involved in drugs. In fact, he would often brand the former mayor's political organization, Team Rama, as "Team Suyop." Such accusation stems from President Rodrigo Duterte's claim that Rama was one of those local officials involved in drugs.

Now, it's the two camps hurling drug accusations at each other as political tension rears its ugly head. And we can expect this circus to continue grabbing headlines well into the political season next year as they gear up for the mid-term elections.

However, these drug allegations that both camps are busy throwing at each other only show the degrading brand of politics our local officials embrace. What we are now witnessing is a kind of political ballgame that is being played below the belt.

As we brace for another political showdown between the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan and the Barug Team Rama PDP-Laban next year, Cebuanos are now getting a preview of what is expected to be a dog-eat-dog race for City Hall's elective positions.

We are bound to see a political spectacle being played at its lowest level, as we expect both the administration and the opposition to resort to brandishing even the foulest tactics. Of course, Cebuanos do not deserve this kind of political ballgame. To be treated with the filthiest political propaganda as they select the right leaders is an insult to their intelligence.