Fair game

Ben Contreras

“BAKIT niya ako binabanatan? Hindi na man ako politico.” This is, in effect, was what Arlene Moreno told my brother whom she met through a common friend in Manila.

To begin with, Arlene has never been a good subject for discussion, much less, to be criticized. We, more or less, knew of her ordeal as a wife. And that puts her husband fair game for criticism, personally and politically.

During the campaign period in 2013, Arlene had been Save CDO’s guest brought along by one of our members. And she would tell us or me, “Ben, banatan ninyo si Oscar. T@#$%^&*o iyan.” And she would tell us that she’s leaving CDO or Oscar and go back to Manila. And we would tell her not to because her husband needed him in this period crucial to the man’s political career.

But that sentiment toward her husband would not last long. Or so it seems. Moreno won and it became a game changer. Any criticism against Oscar Moreno became taboo to her, and those who followed her. Thus, a schism in the group eventually led to the resignation of a few of us from Save CDO.

It was common knowledge that the Duaw Park project was meant to silence a person and probably to profit from it, too. Had they been honest about it, it would not have become controversial. Was it a city government project or a donation from the private sector? They flip-flopped in their answers, making the project suspicious. And why should it be undertaken when the Jica dike project would soon commence? Was it that easy to put P5 million to waste?

Then, the Gaston Park! Like the Duaw Park, people alleged that there were no biddings for these two projects. The fountain was touched, allegedly to be replaced with a dancing fountain. The fountain heads were removed and went missing. Curiosity led to a query and Arlene made the mistake of posting on Facebook and claimed the fountain heads were already gone when his husband took over city hall.

When somebody posted a picture of the fountain with the fountain heads intact, it was a slap to Arlene’s face because the date points to his husband’s incumbency. She drew criticisms. Well, she asked for it. Her retorts put her on an even more defensive mood and only worsened the situation for her.

She was advised by someone from our group on what to say. She took it adversely. Thus, the rift also worsened.

Like I said, Arlene is not a good subject for anything except perhaps that she deserves sympathy for being the wife of an alleged womanizer. But since she involved herself in city government projects and may have benefited, then she could be an accessory to whatever impropriety was committed under his husband’s incumbency.

I don’t need to repeat more than what has already been told about this administration. CDO is a small city. When you’re somebody in the community, all eyes focus on you. Much more when you are the wife of a mayor who has become controversial.

Arlene, bakit kita babanatan when I should sympathize with you, being a victim like the others? Just be honest. It will set you free. Otherwise, you will just make yourself fair game, too.