‘In Between Columns’

Unity among members of the media who had been covering the customs beat in Cebu City had been elusive since the time of former District Collector Billy Bibit. I think one of the reasons is the entry of more writers in the weekly papers covering purely customs matters.

Local beat reporters also became columnists and formed various cliques. Gone were the days of the original seven members of the Cebu Customs Tri Media Association.

Still, I’m trying to sell the idea of unity among the writers if they want to gain credibility in the eyes of their peers in the Cebu media.

Somehow, unity has eluded the media community covering customs beat. Since FRiday evening, Sunstar reporter Ely Baquero had been texting close frends that he is resigning because of alleged schemes plotted against him. There had been calls for an election.

I think the cause of the disunity were the conditions during the time of Billy Bibit.

If the various factions would come to their senses however, they would realize that the best arrangement would still be unity.

While customs media generally imposed a honeymoon period to give the new customs cebu leadership some time to set things in motion, a reporter broke ranks after having been treated the wrong way by a trusted man of District Collector Lourdes Mangaoang. After a buzz item in today’s sunstar, I expect other articles to come out.

I personally think Collector Mangaoang still has to feel her way in dealing with the Cebu media. I hope she does not have the cavalier attitude towards legitimate media like former collector Billy Bibit.

But one grapevine talk worries me. There is this talk that Mangaoang even fought Tulfo in the past and does not care if the guy hits him or not. How much more others.

Still I think smooth relations with the legit media is the best way.

Customs Commissioner Bert Lina has appointed Collector Roger Lim as acting district collector in lieu of former district collector Billy Bibit. But District COllector Lim had barely warmed his seat when news came that Commissioner Lina had named another customs official to replace him.

Apparently, Commissioner Lina and his imperial advisers in Manila think COllector Lim is a pushover.  Little did they know that Lim has the suport of Cebuanos.

One influential Cebuano, Danao Mayor NIto Durano, has personally asked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last Friday. President Arroyo was the principal sponsor in the wedding of Nito’s daughter.

According to Nito’s camp, President Arroyo said yes to the request to retain Lim as district collector. Would President Arroyo fufill her promise? Would Commissioner Lina disobey President Arroyo? Let’s see.