Jun Pe's gambit
IHAPPENED to pass by major thoroughfares in the south district the other day, and I noted those tarpaulins displaying faces and names of some political aspirants, notably “reelectionist” Augustus Pe Jr. or Jun Pe.
So Jun Pe is really determined to run for councilor again, this time in the south district, despite the three-term limit for elected local officials? He is a last termer in the north district. But he transferred residence and registered as voter in the south before the deadline for the transfer of voter's registration in May this year.
Jun Pe's plan has raised many eyebrows. If I am not mistaken, he is the only politician doing this, not even the Muslim political warlords in Mindanao. Former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., who is now detained and facing trial for the infamous Maguindanao massacre, resigned as governor in his last term to circumvent the law on term limit.
But here comes Jun Pe openly defying a provision of Local Government Code. His justification is that he wants to continue serving the Cebuanos, this time, in the south district.
Why? Did he not serve the entire city of Cebu already as an elected councilor? He is not only a councilor of the north but for the entire city. Were his ordinances and resolutions crafted only for the district he represents?
Section 43 of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 states:
“A) The term of office of all local officials elected after the effectivity of this Code shall be three (3) years, starting from noon of June 30, 1992 or such date as maybe provided by law, except that of barangay officials. Provided, that all local officials first elected during the local elections immediately following the ratification of the 1987 Constitution shall serve until noon of June 30, 1992'.
“B) No local elective official shall serve for more than three (3) consecutive years in the same position. Voluntary renunciation of the office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of service for the full term for which the elective official concerned was elected.”
Is Jun Pe challenging this law? If he wants to do so, then he should also challenge the other provisions of the Local Government Code and our election laws, like the pegging of the number of days for campaign period and the provision on election expenses.
If he has delicadeza, Jun Pe should abandon his plan. Mauwaw intawon siya sa iyang kaugalingon uy. Mora man ug iyang gihimong negosyo ang pulitika. Unsa man mamatay na siya kon wala siya sa pulitika. Or dili siya maka-alagad sa dakbayan kung wala na siya sa pulitika?
South district Rep. Tomas Osmeña, head of the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) where Jun Pe belongs, should also advise his political protege not to pursue his plan. It is a big slap on the face of Tomas if he cannot advise his ally. He is a legislator and he should be a role model.
If, God forbids, nobody will question Jun Pe's move or if the Supreme Court sides with him, this will set a very dangerous precedent. Politicians in the local level will just play the game of musical chairs. Believe you me.