Kaban ni D_BystandeR: DILI ANGAYANG TUGAWON ANG KATAWHAN SA SAM-ANG NI DONYA PEPANG

This is the first time I believe the TF Editorial positively hits the mark by devoting its time to seriously discuss about the brouhaha created by "disturbing the peace" at Dona Pepang cemetery where the  Rama administration has set a deadline at the end of this month of November for those with loved ones buried in that old cemetery to transfer their remains, or else! Not only are the bones needed to  be transferred somewhere else at the "owners" expense but also those who are living in the area for so long are also asked to transfer somewhere else because Mayor Mike wants to make a park out of it. The TF Editorial got its point right that, although there is something in the transfer document a "stipulation" that it should be developed but there is no deadline and it is not specifically stated that a park should be built there. And that means, in order for Rama not to disturb the "hornets nest," he is free to concentrate his efforts to other more meaningful projects like, attending to the basic needs like "plasters and syringes." And another thing, the doctors there are now collecting from hospital patients their service fee, which is not supposed to be done because it is a government hospital. The urgent needs the hospital wants to make its operation move forward in an efficient manner should be given the Mayor's priority rather than "disturbing the peace of the dead and the living" in the Dona Pepang cemetery.

I wonder if Tommy O's filing of the case in court can stop Mayor Mike Rama from evicting the dead from the old cemetery of Dona Pepang. Rama has no heart for the poor. Between choosing to spend money for beautification and helping the poor, he would rather choose to starve the poor than to forego any of his plan for beautification. Not contented with his demolition order to drive the poor from their place near the river banks, in Mahiga Creek, in Citi Center in Junquera, and any place in the city where you find dwelling places for the poor, now he has found a new direction in his demolition drive and that is directed against the dead in the old cemetery of Dona Pepang. Kun duna man gani gaba ang pagdaugdaog sa mga kabus nga buhi pa, labaw na tingali ang mga patay kay ang ilang kalag bisag asa sila maglakaw-lakaw dili nimo makita. Ang gaba nga moabut ni Rama mao nga sa sunod eleksyon palagpoton na siya sa katawhan diha sa City Hall aron ibalik si Tommy sa iyang pwesto sa pagka-mayor sa syudad sa Sugbo! Sama sa iyang amahan nga si Serging Osmena nga pinangga kaayo sa katawhan ilabi na sa mga kabus tungod sa iyang pagkamanggihunahunaon sa pagpalambo ug pagtabang nga mahaw-as sa ilang kalisud dili sama ni Mike Rama nga way kalooy sa mga kabus tungod kay para niya ang mga kabus "sagbot sa katilingban."

Not contented with how Dona Pepang cemetery was allowed by previous city administrations to go unperturbed, Mayor Mike Rama wants to be known as the only one capable to make controversial decisions that would bother not only those who lived inside the place for so many years but also the remains of those who are buried there, where years ago, nobody would ever entertain the thought that something drastic would take place there in the name of "development." But how can Mayor Mike develop it when there is no City Council approval for its move? If the purpose is just to disturb the "peace" of the "dead" living there, maybe he will succeed!

Footnote: This comment came out in connection with a TF Editorial, entitled, "Stirring up trouble for nothing." It came out on  11/27/14.