Pagadian City Mayor Samuel S. Co, who is in his second term, is pursuing a kind of politics that will redound to the benefit and best interest of the populace of Zamboanga del Sur’s provincial capital and Region 9’s regional center.

This kind of politics, which Mayor Co divulged during the press conference he immediately called in the aftermath of the fire that razed a portion of the agora, is what we may be called “performance politics.”

This revelation, though untimely and premature, was made by the city mayor in response to the question propounded by this writer during the said presscon. When asked “from the way things are going and in the face of so many projects you are putting up, who do you think will challenge you in 2010?” Mayor Co smilingly stated, thus:

“I don't mind who will run against me. My plan is to keep up the pace I am presently pursuing, that is, introduce every project that will make Pagadian City worthy of its status as a regional center. I will see to it that whoever is thinking of running for city mayor, he or she will find no issue to raise against me in terms of performance.”

Mayor Co candidly asked the understanding and cooperation of the local media. He requested them to be factual in their reports, fair in their commentaries and objective in their assessment of his administration. He will not mind being criticized, every now and then, for as long as it is based on truth, fact and reality and not on mere hearsay or rumor, as in the case of allegations from certain sectors that the fire that razed the agora is caused by arson just to allow the rise of new structures in the public market, which, he said, is clear and simple ill-motivated speculation.

Mayor Co expressed the personal belief that, if he succeeds in accomplishing all that he has already set, started and completed, any ambitious politician who wanted to capture the city mayorship will have cold feet and think many times before launching a campaign to unseat him.

This, of course, prompted me to ask; “In that case, mayor, is it possible that in the elections of 2010, you might seek re-election unopposed?” To this, Mayor Co, replied frankly: “No, that is improbable, there will always be an opponent, but I am sure they will only be token candidates of presidential aspirants.”

What can you say?

Last update : 03-05-2008 12:15

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