Reaction to Soco’s reaction, 2

CEBU CITY MAYOR TOMAS OSMENA, EXPRESSING SURPRISE WHY NO BARANGAY OFFICIAL IN THE CITY WAS ON THE PDEA LIST OF ALLEGED NARCO-POLITICIANS

Dili na gani ta magminaot. Daghan pa unya kog ibutyag nga inyong mga binuang diha.

In the case of one barangay, all of them, even down to the last councilor (are involved in illegal drugs). The one on top is involved, the ones below are saling pusa, not necessarily or directly (engaging in the illegal drugs trade).

I have no interest in whoever would sit as DPWH 7 regional director and I don’t give a damn if that depressed structure project in Mandaue would push through or not

This is a continuation of my reaction to Glenn Soco’s letter to the editor published in two parts in this paper. I already answered the first part in my column last Monday about his biases and favoritism to some proposed projects endorsed to the Infrastructure and Development Committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC) 7 that he chairs.

But Mr. Soco’s letter was not fully published maybe due to space constraints. I read the original transcript in social media. Since I kept mentioning a “principal” who is influencing RDC decisions, he also accused me of having my own “principal.”

Mr. Soco, I don’t have any principal, unlike you. I am just an outsider looking in. I would challenge Mr. Soco to name names so I can ably defend myself. However, he mentioned the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the controversial “depressed structure” project along United National Ave., in Mandaue City. So maybe he is referring to DPWH 7 regional director Ador Canlas.

I will not deny that Canlas is a friend. So is Mr. Soco a friend. But this is not about friendship. I am not a Canlas defender, although I observed his sincerity. Besides, the issue against Canlas is not graft and corruption. It is about endorsing and recommending a project that has been approved by his superior.

On that “depressed structure,” Soco’s concern about DPWH not consulting with Mandaue City officials and the agency’s failure to present a traffic management plan are not true. DPWH consulted with Mayor Luigi Quisumbing and sixth district Rep. Jonas Cortes. They are the proper people to be consulted because the project is in their area. As for the traffic management plan, it is with the winning bidder because it is a design-and-build package.

Glenn and the others wanted to scuttle the P711 million project because one of the losing bidders is their friend. But the winning bidder, a Tacloban-based contractor, offered the lowest bid from P900 million-plus to P711 million. Thus government was able to save around P200 million.

Also, Glenn wanted to stop the project because the establishment of his business colleague in Mandaue City will be affected once the construction starts. The owner is also a classmate of RDC 7 co-chairman Kenneth Cobonpue and Glenn’s “principal.” That is the real story. Isn’t that vested and personal interest?

Don’t mislead the public Boss Glenn that you are working for the development of Cebu and for the future generations. You can not even provide decent salaries for your employees in your janitorial and coffee businesses. You are working for an interest group.

In my case, I have no interest in whoever would sit as DPWH 7 regional director and I don’t give a damn if that depressed structure project in Mandaue City would push through or not.

You bragged that the present set up of RDC 7 officials cannot be influenced by traditional politicians. Your “principal” is not a politician but he acts more than that.