Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo is calling for unity among politicians to discuss the proposed federal form of government rather than engage in personal fights.
The mayor issued his call as he was being asked to referee a boxing bout between Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and 3rd district Rep. Arnulfo Teves, Jr.
Remollo said on Tuesay afternoon that he would rather moderate in a round table discussion about amendments to the Constitution, rather than act as a referee in a fistfight because it would need a crash course for him in officiating a bout.
The city chief executive stressed that with federalism being pushed by the President, all the more reason that politicians in the province will have to unite, especially that the mode of amending the Constitution is through the Constituent Assembly.
He said the province needs the representation of our congressmen during the amendment process. But if petty bickering will prevail, the voice of Dumagueteños and Negrenses alike will not be heard as to what amendment it will propose.
“Instead of fighting each other and debating on personal matters I sincerely believe it is high time that we moderate in a round table discussion for the benefit of our constituents,” Mayor Remollo said, because the present discussion will be geared towards genuine autonomy through federalism.
He further said now is the time for elected public officials in the province, cities and municipalities to work together for the benefit of their respective constituencies. Everybody has to respect the fact that they are all elected public officials and those who cannot accept the current leadership, they can campaign in the next election, it should not end up in a fistfight.
Remollo jokingly said that if it has to be through boxing, Rep. Manny Paquiao will certainly win the presidency.
This was Remollo’s reaction when allegedly requested by the congressman to be the referee as soon as Gov. Degamo accepts his challenge to a fistfight, which he himself heard over the radio in Dumaguete City recently.
Remollo, however, said he doesn’t think Rep. Teves has really the intention of boxing it out with Gov. Degamo because he knows he is a public official.
The mayor likewise admires the governor for not responding violently to the challenge.
He said in politics there are no permanent alliances, in fact, the first time Degamo ran as governor, Rep. Teves was his number one supporter but he is not privy why they parted ways.
Remollo himself disclosed his allies before were in the opposite camps in the recent elections. In Tagalog, Remollo said “hindi magandang magsabi ng patapos,” because politics is evolving. (Juancho Gallarde/PNA)
