By Boy Guingguing
Bohol Sunday Post Publisher
We hate to speculate on this but we are afraid we are heading to this direction if good men does nothing to stop in its tracks the proliferation of small time despots or worst tin pot dictators.
God forbids, it will not happen while we are still alive. For we will not allow for a moment that the destiny of our province will be ruled by an iron fist wielded by self styled dictators.
Dictators here are so broad a term and we don't wish to equate them with what we know in contemporary events. For God's sake, the dictators we'd like to picture in this corner are not in the same league as the Burmese generals or the late strongman Marcos or the likes of Idi Amin of Uganda or Saddam Hussien of Iraq. They are local "dictators" who usually dictate the tempo of Bohol politics.
With the definition of terms, may be those alluded to will be consoled with the thought that they are not of the same brand of dictators that we know. Is that clear?
Whatever, if still they feel offended because they don't like the connotation, then by all means hale us to court for libel. Then see you there! But definitely, just because they can also claim a "holier-than- thou description to themselves, this Bglante doesn't care if it means calling a spade a spade.
Our beef here is the propensity of local officials to discourage participatory democracy to flourish on our benighted society.
We have had enough of shenanigans in the national level and carrying the burden further more down the line is tantamount to insulting our native intelligence.
Really, we are appalled with talks being circulated around that the coming contest for the provincial federation of the Association of Barangay Councils is nothing but another charade.
By moro-moro, we mean the plan of local officials to discourage if not stop the ambition of other candidates to fight it out with Lim. We know that Lim is a formidable opponent but why should we discourage other contenders to throw their hat in the ABC ring. It may be a pipe dream for these contenders to fight a moneyed bet like Lim, but why would they be deprived of their right to fight fair and square.?
The trouble with our local officials is that they are blinded with the idea that some people have acquired a Torrens title to some public offices up for grabs.
And that precisely is the beef of this thesis. That some local officials are planning to torpedo the ambitions of ABC wannabes and this smacks of dictatorship. For one, why can't we allow other equally qualified hopefuls to try their luck in the ABC showdown.
First of all, the biggest anomaly is that decision of former board member Concepcion Lim to make a go for the top ABC plum. Visibly titillated by the prospect of a Lim comeback bid, local officials led by Gov. Erico Aumentado reportedly welcomed with open arms this earth-shaking development. In fact, if reports are correct, we are of the impression that it was Aumentado who brokered for the decision of incumbent Romulo Cepedoza to slide down as Lim's executive vice president instead of seeking reelection.
If so, then Aumentado must have loved Lim so much that he has to go out of his way to block any obstacle thrown in the way of Lim's bid.
Tell this Bglante, Mr. Governor, this is all not true. Tell them that this is just a figment of the imagination of your detractors.
Firstly, we don't want to question the wisdom of Lim's decision to run. After all it is her inherent right to do so. But what makes it despicable is that if Lim has the delicadeza, she should have foregone her decision to run because "she's been there and done that". It means what more can she ask more when she was already there in the provincial board for three terms. And comes now, as if strutting like a peacock, she's at it again, seeking for another term?
Another deplorable thing is that this Lim wants to inherit the throne from her late brother who ruled the ABC roost until he was overcome by death. Is the ABC crown like an heirloom to be handed down from one generation to another?
Another question is that is there no other Boholano qualified for the position? For sure, we have a wide array of potential ABC aspirants that is as competent or even more than qualified than the lady from Valencia. But why are we sticking our necks to Lim? Can we not find any other leader more acceptable than Lim?.
We know all these questions are just voices in the wilderness. But we feel like voicing them not because we hate Lim but because we want those who are delegated to choose their own leaders a wide latitude of choice. Besides, if freedom is indeed the bedrock of democracy, then by all means, the freedom of choice should be exercised with utmost leeway so that we can come up with an enlightened and comprehensive decision.
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