Name dropping

“Dropping the President’s name to advance political agenda is far worse.”

It is not unusual to hear people dropping names of top government officials to get what they want from private or government offices.

There were even instances when no less than the President’s name was dropped by some to project an image of having the country’s highest elected official’s ear.

This practice was never sanctioned by any president, much more by President Duterte. But some influence peddlers get away with it.

Admittedly, there are instances the President’s name has to be dropped if only to get things done. This usually happens when an official of a government agency sits on his job.

It is tolerable name dropping for positive action beneficial to the people. Despite its positive result, however, the act can never be justified. No one can use the name of the President and his office in vain. Second, government servants must not wait to work and fulfill their mandates.

Dropping the President’s name to advance political agenda is far worse. We can be certain President Duterte will not tolerate this. The perpetrator can expect to get a presidential dressing down.

But this is exactly what a village chief in Cebu City is doing. In her desire to capture the top leadership of the city’s village chiefs association, she claimed to have received the blessings and endorsement of the Palace’s top occupant. This was debunked by Palace functionaries based in the city.

But while she has the right to seek a post, sideliners think her name-dropping stunt was to pressure possible rivals to withdraw from the race.

“Admittedly, there are instances the President’s name has to be dropped if only to get things done.”

What made it scandalous was her tendency to become arrogant and drunk with power as village chief. She once physically attacked an in-house hotel security personnel aided by her male companion, who reportedly claimed being close to a Cabinet member from the South himself.

The attack, now subject of a complaint against the village chief before the Ombudsman in the Visayas and before the city fiscal against her male companion, happened in the wee hours of the morning on June 19 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City’s Lahug district.

The guard asked the duo if they were hotel guests after they made noise and appeared tipsy. When both directly went to the elevator, they were asked by the security personnel for credentials. This infuriated the village chief’s male companion who punched and kicked the staff. The village chief pushed the guard to disable his parrying the attack.

Cebu’s coffee shop talk is now awash with details of this incident, the village chief’s personal life and questions about President Duterte’s supposed encouragement for her to seek the post she claims she wants badly.

Cebu residents are doubtful President Duterte really did.