by: Donald Sevilla
A FLAIR FOR DRAMA
Just about everyone loves to be the center of attention but not for a controversy. Our politicians are no strangers to this and in politics they say there is no good or bad publicity. The exposure generated brings notoriety or fame essential to get awareness in the public eye to garner votes in a largely popular, personality- based exercise.Thus it is not uncommon for politicians to resort to drama to woo pubĺic sympathy. Playing victim and the underdog will sit well with the masses and they are good at it.The suspension order meted out by the Ombudsman on our local officials due to the Chocolàte Hills fiasco is based on a lègal matter and not on a populist sentiment Yet our local leaders try to tug at the heartstrings of our people to gain the latter’s sympathy. But doing so only exacerbates the need to respect the rule of law rather than resort to mob rule to question it.This flair for drama is at best theatrical show and an exercise done in poor taste. It sends the wrong signals by allowing popular sentiment to overturn a legal matter thereby disrupting order.Moreover, adding a religious context to the issue by lighting candles in a prayer gathering to support these suspended officials is missing the point. This is not espousing an advocacy or a good cause but showing partisan support and an overkill.When lower rank and file employees are preventively suspended by the Local Chief Executive pending further investigation when being the subjects of a complaint, nobody raises a howl in protest.But when the tide is turned against those in power after being handed a dose of their own medicine, they end up vehemently protesting.and creating a ruckus.Yet, let it be clear to everyone that these suspension orders are not a judgment or verdict rendered. It can be appealed in the proper forum but not in the bar of public opinion. We must always remember that no one is above the law and we should not feign popular support to question it.Under the circumstances if they are not happy with the Ombudsman’s order, they should contest the matter on legal terms. But to undermine the process of law in the manner they did, is setting a bad precedent. We must strive to understand where the problem arose and how it all started..Thus, to paraphrase the good Senator Cynthia Villar in the Senate hearing on the subject she aptly pointed out, “It is not my bill but it is your bill,” in reference to our beleaguered Governor.Whoever authored and pushed for the passage of the Chocolate Hills protected areas’ bill in the lower chamber should have rigorously thought of the impact it could have in the future, made thorough research and conducted extensive public hearings on the matter. But it appears he didn’t.Yet the Ombudsman’s message is loud and clear. .Our laws should not be taken lightly but respected, especially by those who crafted them in the first place.What happened was a comedy of errors that have come full circle. Ain”t it ironic?
