Condolences, true colors and my apology to monkeys

The city mourns the passing of our vice mayor. I personally knew him having helped in the campaign of a slate that included him twice. I remember he once mulled the idea of running for congressman (2007 elections), but decided to go for the vice mayoralty position where he believed he had a better chance of winning and being of service to the City of Baguio. I offer my sincerest condolences to his family.

But while the city mourns, his passing is now causing a stir in the political arena. Varying opinions are being forwarded as to how the political trip to Jerusalem must be played .

I looked up the provisions for succession in Local Government Code and according to Section 45 (Permanent Vacancies in the Sanggunian), “(a) Permanent vacancies in the Sanggunian where automatic successions provided above do not apply shall be filled by appointment in the following manner:”

“(1) The President, through the Executive Secretary, in the case of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and the Sangguniang Panlungsod of highly urbanized cities and independent component cities;”

If it were up to me, I’d say leave the 12th elective council slot vacant. Whatever committees will be orphaned may be distributed to the remaining councilors. That way, not only will the city save some funds allocated for that office, but this will also get the remaining councilors to do more. I always found it odd that members of the City Council can continue practicing their respective private occupations leaving only a few hours every week for their responsibilities as councilors. Try visiting a councilor’s office on a weekday, and you’ll be lucky to actually find them in their office.

The vacancy at that so-called august chamber was created as a result of the untimely passing of Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas. That caused the ascension of the no. 1 elected councilor in the last elections, Edison Bilog, to the vice mayoralty. No. 2 then became no. 1, no. 3 to no. 4 and so and so forth.

We have 13 councilors, 12 elected and 1 spot for the Association of Barangay Captains representative. So we’re now left with 12. That should be enough.

And now, social media and local watering holes are teeming with unsavoury exchanges between supporters and detractors, between politicians themselves, wanna-bes and has-beens and never-was and never-will-bes. It’s monkey business as usual – someone’s passing is someone’s grief and another’s gain and yet another’s opportunity. The scene’s even uglier than during actual elections.

My apologies to monkeys. Let me re-phrase that – it’s dirty traditional politics as usual.

We can see their true colors, and it’s disgusting. I hope this serves as a reminder to the Baguio voting population to be more discerning in the next elections.