TIGHT ROPEWITH MODESTO P. SA-ONOY
First let me congratulate the eight seminarians of the Sacred heart Seminary in Bacolod for completing their Philosophy studies. They received their Ecclesiastical and Civil Diplomas from Bishop Vicente M. Navarra who presided over the ceremonies yesterday. The graduates are: Christian Jun Louie R. Llorca, Tyrone B. Ravina, Joel C. Tambuson, Ryan Raul J. Mabasa, Ritchel A. Tabanyag, Jefree C. Gabalonso, John Rey D. Piaña, and John Gilbert T. Sa-onoy. They will now move on to Theology for another 4 years of study and then to their diaconate and finally, the priesthood. * * * Bacolod Councilor Archie Baribar wrote (3/15) regarding my column (3/10) on the confirmation of Dr. Johanna Bayoneta with a snide remark “a relative?” as if the comments I made was motivated by my being her “relative.” I know her since she was a student as well as her father and mother, but I went through our genealogy which dates back to 1820 and I have not seen any of the Rabago or Bayoneta there. Anyway, I am related to her tracing back to Adam and Eve and surely we share the DNA of a human species. I don’t know if Baribar shares the same genetic code or he has a different one from our species. Baribar said that there is no position in the Bacolod City College for an Administrator but only a President. Well, is there also a prohibition that an administrator cannot be appointed? What do they say in law? What the law does not exclude specifically cannot be deemed excluded, isn’t it, or whatever legalese they use? If the Board of the college recommended her, surely they are not foolish. They did not recommend her for President with its qualifications, but administrator with the qualifications they believe are proper. So what is Baribar beefing about? Baribar claims the appointment is illegal, then, by all means it his duty to bring the matter to court not whine under the guise of “courtesy.” If courtesy be his parameter then he is not doing his duty in insuring that issues in debate in the council are discussed with thoroughness and a wise and legal decision is made. If courtesy is the yardstick, why whine about the SP action being illegal? He noted that like them (with Sonya Verdeflor and Catalino Alisbo) the majority voted “along party direction.” Is that not expected? What are political parties for? Of course, Baribar probably does not believe in it since he keeps on jumping from one party to another whichever is convenient for his political ambitions. Political parties discuss issues and come out with common or united stand. I wonder whether Baribar’s group discussed this issue and voted along party lines because he did not mention Councilor El Cid Familiaran, to have voted with them. I would have enjoyed commenting on his other points, but as he admits he wants to avoid “petty politics.” Nevertheless, If the SP action is illegal, is that just petty politics? * * * By all means let the protest of the Monico Puentevella who lost in last year’s election for mayor proceed. His protest which seeks to annul the election returns must have some merit in it that the Commission on Election has given it due course. Puentevella alleged “massive fraud and irregularities from the casting, counting and transmission of the votes” that can only be attributed to the Board of Election Inspectors. Mayor Evelio Leonardia claims that the protest of Puentevella is a “sham, unmeritorious and lacks factual and legal basis.” Puentevella, of course claims otherwise and thus the issue is joined and must be resolved with finality lest the sword of uncertainty will hang over Leonardia’s head and that of his administration and we will never hear the end of the conflict and confusion. That Comelec finds it worthwhile to order a recount, then Comelec must have a basis so let the game continue that we may have something more to watch than the tragedies that are being inflicted on people in various parts of the globe, from natural to man-made disasters and we can keep our minds off the daily rising prices of commodities. Surely the recount can be done in a day because it must be computerized as during the elections, using the same machines but by a new set of inspectors, counting all the votes, not only those precincts to be chosen by Puentevella because he claims cheating in all the 307 or clustered precincts. If there was cheating in all, then all the votes must be counted, not just what Puentevella wants.* Visayan Daily Star
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