You cannot lead effectively with hatred and vengeance

When local or national executive officials spend time and resources to hit each other instead of working as a team, it is the people who suffer.

This is a lesson that all public officials should reflect on and learn from. President Manuel Roxas failed to deliver what was expected of him by the young Philippine republic because he, a Liberal Party pillar, spent too much time trying to undo what the Nacionalista Party stalwarts, his predecessors, Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmeña Sr., built for many years.

President Roxas died in office with a broken heart because he did not leave any legacy that could be credited to him. He led by hatred and vengeance. Roxas is remembered for giving parity rights to the Americans, allowing them unlimited rights to our mining, forest, and agricultural resources and to build Clark and Subic and hundreds of other US installations inside our territory, thus making the Philippines a target for Russian and Chinese invasion.

Roxas' successor, Elpidio Quirino did no better. He persecuted the NP opponents but he committed the mistake of appointing Ramon Magsaysay as his defense secretary, thus making RM very popular for talking peace with the HUKBALAHAPs. Magsaysay did not have hatred in his heart. That is why until now, he remains as the most beloved and most respected president that we ever had. Ramon Magsaysay and his vice president were close and they worked as a team. They were both NP. But when Magsaysay died and Garcia took over, the vice president was an LP, Diosdado Macapagal. Garcia and Macapagal had problems. They were functioning with hatred. They both failed.

Macapagal’s vice president was Emmanuel Pelaez but he did not give the latter a chance because Macapagal did not fulfill his promise not to run for reelection. Pelaez bolted LP and joined NP. Marcos who was an LP also relied on Macapagal's assurance not to run again. Marcos then bolted LP and joined NP.

Then Marcos got the NP nomination thereby marginalizing Pelaez. The rest is history. Using martial law, Marcos ruled with hatred and persecuted and jailed Ninoy and his enemies including Tañada, Diokno, and all the rest. Karma ousted him via EDSA Revolution. Cory took over but she had hatred against the killers of Ninoy. She failed too. FVR somehow succeeded but Erap failed. GMA failed and PNoy failed.

If President Duterte won’t learn to forgive, he will not succeed as well. There is a need for forgiveness, reconciliation, and healing. Thus, if the provincial governor and the vice governor shall continue with their unforgiving hearts, both will be doomed to failure. They owe it to the people of Cebu to rise above their conflicts and work as a team.

They should come together, forget their past and move on for the sake of Cebu. I think Mayor Edgar, being a very simple and humble man, can easily forgive his opponents. He does not bear any hatred. The same is true with Vice Mayor Mike. Thus, the city is more likely to succeed. I am not sure with the province.

Hatred consumes anyone. Vengeance is self-defeating. Our public officials should go to a religious retreat and come back healed from all hatred and resentment. That will be good for all of us, Cebuanos. And for them too.