Now it can be told. There are efforts from certain sector in Davao City to link the rising criminality and illegal drug prevalence in this metropolis to politics. This sector is strengthening insinuations that those committing the crimes are from places within the circle of influence by Speaker Martin Romualdez. This came about after the police disclosure that those perpetrators are not natives or residents of Davao City but from the Province of Leyte.
And the wags are quick in insinuating that the suspects could have been intentionally sent to Davao to do their thing so the reputation of the city as “most peaceful” and “most livable” will be blown to “kingdom come.”
If indeed it is true that the suspected criminals are “exported” to Davao City for the purpose we have earlier mentioned, then the political war now fought between a Davaoeno-led new opposition and Ilocos and Leyte-controlled national administration has already gone to its nastiest level.
This came to light after the robbery incident last Wednesday morning at the Ilustre Branch of a popular pawnshop. Media men covering the subsequent police response and later the arrest of one suspect, seemingly emphasized on the province where the collared perpetrator allegedly came from.
But will the administration go to that extent? Is it possible that some bright minds in the “new opposition” have concocted the idea of insinuating that the sudden upsurge of crimes in the city is part of a deliberate plan to discredit Davao City?
We have no doubt that the leaders of the national administration can do it if they want to. So can the opposition in Davao City, if its top guys also will it.
Meanwhile, the constituents in Davao City, while aghast at this emerging political maneuverings, are, without doubt, the final losers. Any which of the opposing political groups is adopting such scheme of smearing the reputation of one place, Davaoenos are the ones placed in the most disadvantageous position.
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It is nice to hear that despite the parting of ways of the Duterte’s and the Garcias of the second district, outgoing Congressman Vincent J. Garcia still voted against the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte. And it is equally good as well that all except one congressman in the whole of Davao Region rallied for the cause of the beleaguered Vice President.
The two lawmakers from Davao Oriental, the other 2 from Davao de Oro, the two from Davao del Norte, all the three from Davao City and the lone district congressman from Davao Occidental, all of them were against the VP’s impeachment. The only one who wanted Sara ousted is Davao del Sur’s representative.
With the lawmaker from that southern Davao Province manifesting his desire to have the Vice President from Davao City impeached, the estrangement of that local government from Davao City is getting overt.
Remember the still unimplemented Metro Davao Development Authority (MDDA) law? It is Davao del Sur that questioned the law at the Supreme Court believing that it is disadvantageous to the province.
Unless and until the Supreme Court rules that nothing is wrong with the law the legislation that has been painstakingly worked on by Davao City Congressman Isidro Ungab will turn to naught.
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Seventy eight persons who have just turned 80, 85, 90 and 95 years old and a single centenarian received from the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) Region XI cash gift of P10 thousand each. The lone 100 years old got P100 thousand.
We have not heard or seen in pictures any single person aspiring for elective position present during the payout at the Davao City Recreation Center last Wednesday, February 26. The reason is obvious. What with only 78 recipients and perhaps another 78 or more who accompanied the elderlies.
Meaning, as far as their number is concerned it is not quite significant to win the election. Besides they came from different districts in the city which all the more makes their number less a magnet for candidates.
But in one barangay where a mortuary association has a huge number of members, a general assembly meeting ended up becoming a rally of sort. Of course the attendance was 100 percent as those who fail to attend were to be slapped with a P200 fine.
So the candidates who made sure they were present had their day making campaign speeches with promises of this and that project for the people.
