The Philippine STAR
‘NE gov’s unity call empty rhetoric’
By Manny Galvez
CABANATUAN CITY – His one hand may be extending a hand of peace but his other hand is swinging and about to throw a punch.
This is the scenario painted by Vice Gov. Edward Thomas Joson who accused beleaguered Nuevo Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali, who is facing a slew of graft suits for alleged irregularities, of being insincere in his peace overtures and of flaunting “empty rhetoric” in his call for unity among Novo Ecijanos.
Joson, eldest son of former four-time governor Tomas Joson III, said Umali’s oft-repeated call for unity is short of substance amid the controversies hounding his scandal-tainted administration.
Joson was commenting on the provincial government’s adoption of unity as theme in the 112th anniversary of the “Unang Sigaw ng Nuevo Ecija” in Palayan City Tuesday.
The theme: Pagkakaisa para sa patuloy na pagbabago ng Nueva Ecija (Unity for the continuing change of Nuevo Ecija),” Umali said, is timely because it is the call of the hour in the province. He said that “at this point in time, what the province needs is unity and a step toward the direction of the government to use newly discovered knowledge and modern technology which will change our lives and economy.”
Last year, the young governor made a pitch for change when his administration adopted the theme: “Sa Pagbabago ng Nuevo Ecija, lahat kasama (In the change of Nuevo Ecija, everybody has a share).”
Joson said this battlecry was nothing but empty rhetoric, coming as it is from a governor who extends his hand for peace and reconciliation yet exhibits a fighting stance with members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
He told The STAR by phone that the governor lacks sincerity. “Salita lang yon. Ang importante kung ano ang ginagawa mo. Madaling magsalita pero ‘yung ikinikilos mo naman iba. Ipakita mong sinsero ka (This is just a word. What is important is what you are doing. It’s easy to speak but your actions are different. Show you are sincere),” he said.
He said that for one, Umali has shown an utter lack of respect for the entire SP which he (Joson) heads by refusing to heed its call for him to present his plans and programs for the province. “Umali has never faced the SP even once to present his program of government. Let’s give the SP due respect,” he said.
He said immediately after the commemorative rites for the Nuevo Ecija Day was over, Umali called a press conference attacking the SP members for allegedly blocking his programs.
Joson said that on a personal level, he and Umali may not be able to settle their differences but said they can work together professionally but that the latter has ben doing it the wrong way.
“It is only our work as public servants that we can possibly agree on, but he has been doing things that are the opposite of what he is trying to promote which is peace and reconciliation,” he said.
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