Mayor Osmeña rebuffs PDP-Laban
The oath-taking ceremony of hordes of converts among Cebuano elective officials to the new political behemoth called PDP-Laban that took place last Friday afternoon appeared massive. Congressmen, city and municipal officials from all over the province descended on the historic Plaza Independencia concededly with more enthusiasm than attending either an Independence Day festivity or a Rizal Day celebration. However, I tried to look at the activity as objectively as possible; I could only conclude that it culminated the herculean efforts of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to consolidate his mass base. It became a viable theory that the president, banking on his unprecedented electoral margin over his vanquished foes in the 2016 elections, would want to convert his popularity into an organized force of diehards.
When video footage of politicians' raising their left (rather than their right) hands to swear support to their new party were flashed on TV screens, I could otherwise seem to hear them pledging allegiance to the person, I presumed, of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Yesterday's newspapers confirmed what I thought I simply misheard. All of those who were subsequently asked by the media for their comments on the just-concluded extravaganza declared that they have turned their coats to support the president. They were all there to cast their proverbial die for their new idol. To me, as it probably was to few others, the unanimity of their purpose was breathtaking (inconceivable would be the more appropriate term) considering that not too long ago they campaigned, presumably vigorously, for other personalities seeking the presidency. Do I sound melodramatic, if not a hopeless idealist, to claim that no one among the new converts stated that he wanted to help invigorate a new set of political ideals?
I can understand the brouhaha that came after the grand oathtaking. PDP-Laban insiders underwent rigid indoctrination before being honored with membership. Those who failed to imbibe the fundamental philosophy of their founding fathers were not accepted. Some who pretended to be social democrats were screened out. In other words, membership was not easy. So, blue-blooded PDPLabans were rather not quite comfortable to call as their new partymates men and women who did not go through their kind of philosophical schooling. There was no immersion, at least. That was what I heard from the sidelines. It was also the gripe of people who bore the perceived ridicule of standing on the ground of an emaciated party when politicians, in aligning themselves with the party in power, then frowned upon the PDP-Laban. The muted ruckus apparently sprung when people without formal orientation of the fiber of the party were clothed with instant membership.
Sad to say, the rule of thumb among most of our leaders is political convenience. Political ideology is different from practical politics. Politicians earn the highest respects of their constituencies when they stand by the principles of their party notwithstanding that other colors reign supreme. Joining the party of the president, like what took place last Friday afternoon, is a strategy of convenience. This move is believed to ensure that the machinery of government can be mobilized to favor a politician allied with Malacañang.
If it is true that His Honor, Cebu City Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña, refused to join the PDP-Laban, I doff my hat to him. The arrogant comment of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez -"just ignore him"- said it all. Believe me, despite our difference in principles with Mayor Osmeña, he earned my respect for staying away from the president's party. I applauded him not just because of his reported dislike of alleged communist principles embedded in PDP-Laban culture. I do admire people who would rather fight their wars on their own strength rather than on the convenience afforded by unprincipled alliances and our mayor's move was in that light.
Of course, time will tell if the magnet of PDP-Laban eventually pulls in Mayor Osmeña to its fold, or our mayor will face his future political battles on his own.