WE can only commiserate with our global government executive and the police for the series of hold-ups and robberies that has hit the city and outlying towns these past few weeks. Critics say it is either the failure of leadership or the failure of intelligence that is responsible for these unwelcome incidents. On the other hand, optimists say that this is the price of progress. For the coming in tourist and possibly investors to our province and city, also in its wake are the carpetbaggers and criminals who are mostly spillovers from the dark side of Cebu or Cagayan De Oro or even from Manila.

With the election around the corner, heaven forbids that the so-called Con–Ass can overtake it, these incidents of crime can bring a lot of headache to politicians who want to stay in their posts. And speaking of elections, it would seem that lawyer Victor de La Serna of the bar topnotcher fame, has started rolling the ball. His bombast against our 3 congressmen takes a lot of guts considering that our solons are not only influential, but are also rich and powerful.

His detractors say that Señor Victor is only aiming for propaganda mileage since he is reportedly running in the May polls. His fans however say that whether runs or not, he has already mustered fear considering the number of public issues he has taken up for the silent majority. This surely deserves their support.

The move of province to take up the buy-back of the power and water utilities to the people of Bohol , especially to the constituents of Tagbilaran, is a laudable one. The sky high power rates and the services of SALCON leave much to be desired. A consumer going over his billing may be surprised to note several charges outside of the electricity actually used by him. Even the NAPOCOR billing which is supposed to be billed against SALCON is charged against the consumer. And the most painful part of it is that the charge is even much bigger than the electricity used. And to think that the reason for its taking over from the province was that it could give us the same, if not, cheaper and better service.

By the way, the month of January ushers in a lot of fiesta celebrations in honor of Señor Sto Nino. To our fellow Valencianhons, happy and peaceful thanksgiving. The same goes to the people of Anda, Carmen, Cortes, Ubay and other towns as well.