Move over, Spidey!

Spiderman may be good at scaling walls and ceilings. But he’s certainly no match to Pinoys when it comes to clinging to positions.

Meet the “Tuko Four,” the Energy Regulatory Commission officials who were ordered suspended anew by the Ombudsman but, who once again, sought relief from the Court of Appeals (CA).

“Tuko” is the local name for gecko, famed for its sticky feet.

According to the Journal of Physics, the mechanism of gecko feet is so effective that it has served as inspiration for the development of wall-climbing robots and space-age adhesive materials.

It was actually presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who inspired the term “Tuko Four” when he wondered aloud in an interview why these officials—two of whom were supposed to step down by July—still had to ask the CA to stop their suspension.

“Narinig na natin ang posisyon ng Presidente na dapat talagang matagal na silang nagbitiw. Pero talagang mga parang kapit sa ewan ko ba..sa kapangyarihan ano (We have heard the President say that they should have resigned from their posts long ago. But it seems they are clinging to –I don’t know—power, right)?” Roque said.

Roque’s statement clearly hinted at the local parlance which derisively refers to those who are desperately clinging to their posts as “kapit-tuko”—or sticking fast like a gecko does.

In their petition to the CA, the ERC commissioners not only asked the appellate court to reverse and set aside the second suspension order issued by the Ombudsman against them, but also asked for a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop an order suspending them from office for three months without pay.

Earlier this year, the same commissioners had secured a TRO from the CA that enjoined the earlier one-year suspension order issued by the Ombudsman against them allegedly favoring several power firms.

So, what gives the “Tuko Four” the strength to maintain their incredible staying power? Could it be the lifetime pension equivalent to that of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court?

Maybe so, but anyone with superpowers still has a weak spot.

“Let’s not forget that the criminal cases against them are still pending. While they were able to get a TRO, if the Sandigabayan declares they have, indeed, violated the laws, they could be facing not only disqualification, but forfeiture of all retirement benefits. Let us have faith that justice will prevail,” Roque said.

And so the saga of “Tuko Four” continues.