IT NOW appears that Vice President Sara Duterte is raring for the Senate to proceed in its trial of the impeachment case filed against her by the Lower House.
And she wants the trial, not just any circus or display of braggadocio inside the Hall where the Senators will be acting as judges. She wants a “bloodbath,” whatever that means for as long as it is not the literal one.
With that statement of the VP, we too are also very eager for the impeachment trial to begin. Let us see whether the floor of the Senate Hall will be splattered with what.
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So, the Dutertes were reaching out to the Garcias, specifically outgoing Congressman Vincent Garcia of the second district. According to a statement made by VP Sara to the local media, she and the rest of her siblings were doing their best to communicate with the second district congressman. The efforts to reach out continued towards the dying days of the period for the filing of candidacy. They contacted incumbent Congressman Vincent. But the VP claimed that he did not respond. The reason why they reached out, she said, is that the home-grown party still wanted to have Garcia as their candidate for Congressman in the Second district.
Sara, however, disclosed that she did not get any feedback from the Garcias, who apparently made themselves beyond the reach of the VP. The Hugpong then finally decided to field instead Omar Duterte, who is in his early months as Barangay Captain of vote-rich Buhangin. The rest is, of course, now history in the annals of the second district politics.
We are, however, hoping that the Garcias, through anyone from their family, will come out and be heard of their side of the story. Or, would they rather keep their mouths shut and let the people conclude as to the truth of what VP Sara said?
Now the question: Is the loss of Javi Garcia Campos the end of the Garcia dominance in the second district politics? Worth watching.
Meanwhile, only the third district has remained in the hands of a non-Duterte politician, although the current congressman is a long-time ally of the City’s ruling clan. It is, however, our take that it will not be long before a Duterte scion will be invading the Ungab-dominated third congressional district.
Yes, when a Duterte family member will be transferring his or her residence to the third, then that will be a very clear signal that the family is out to consolidate their hold in this large city, no matter what.
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When the next City Council members assume office on June 30, we are certain that there will be a reorganization of the different committees in the local legislative body. Will Councilor Myrna Dalodo Ortiz be retained as Chairperson of the powerful Committee on Finance, Appropriations, and Ways and Means? Unexpectedly, Dalodo-Ortiz, who had been a consistent occupant in the upper four of eight councilors elected in the third district during the past local polls, landed in the eighth slot in last May 12 elections in the third district.
The Committee she is presently heading is without doubt one of the most difficult to oversee. Imagine searching for sources of revenue and appropriating the same for various projects of the city! And the Chairperson’s job in that Council body is definitely one that is not a “walk in the park” kind.
But of course, as we said earlier, the committee is a very powerful one. Hence, any member of the Sanggunian who is half-hearted in his or her job cannot make the body meet the expectations of those who voted for him or her in office.
Another critical committee in the City Council is that of the Environment, now chaired by former broadcaster turned politician Tek Ocampo.
Considering the rapid urbanization of Davao, people are now concerned about the fast-deteriorating condition of the city’s ecology.
So far, we have yet to hear or read of any high-impact ordinance intended to arrest the deterioration of the city’s environment. We are even wondering why the said committee has not looked into the still undisturbed garbage bins in several barangays in the city, despite the bins’ delivery to the recipient villages over five years ago.
The receptacles were purchased with the people’s money. So it is imperative that they can use the same.
Unfortunately, there are still a huge number lying idle in some corners of the barangay hall’s compound. Some are already covered with tall grasses.
Can’t the committee call the attention of the head of the agency in charge of maintaining the city’s cleanliness? Or, better still, organize a team to inspect the areas where these thick plastic bins are just dumped and seemingly forgotten?
