After more than a year of calm in the political front, old wound pestering Naga City LGU-Camarines Sur LGU relation resurfaced again prior to the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

        Whether or not this portends reprised political tug-of-war between Robredo et al and the Villafuertes, the issue lies in two conflicting views regarding the use of the plaza. The city government on the aesthetic value and the provincial government on the commercial one.

        On Sept. 6, a composite team composed of operatives of the Public Safety Office and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and led by retired Col. Benjamin Navarro, entered the premises of the Rizal Plaza and took off streamers displayed on its periphery. Information from the provincial guard office revealed Navarro was claiming that the announcement and streamers have no permit from the city hall.

        As this developed, Gov. LRay Villafuerte issued a strongly worded statement denouncing the city hall’s move as desperate move to seek attention at the same time that it turns the religious celebration into commercial venture.

        Mayor Jesse Robredo has yet to respond on the strongly worded statement of the governor, if ever he intends to.

        But Robredo’s response is actually less relevant as the issue progresses that squarely put LRay’s position on a path contrary to that of the former. Eventually, it will boil down to the interpretation of the use of Plaza Rizal which the city government is into legal battle for years regarding its control and ownership.

        This is the first face-off of Robredo and LRay after only one joint celebration last year under the Gayon Bicol that broke the perennial political skirmishes during the Peñafrancia Fiesta that had become a ‘tradition’ since the time of former governor and now Cong. Luis Villafuerte. The honeymoon, as you may, between the Villafuertes and Robredo et al was short-lived.

        But this is actually the second time this year the provincial government and city government were at loggerheads over the use of the Plaza Rizal. In an unprecedented move, the city council on Jan. 2 has passed a resolution condemning the provincial government of Camarines Sur over its decision to rent out spaces to transient vendors.

        Viewing the provincial government’s move of renting out the spaces at Plaza Rizal as acts of dishonor and disgrace to the national hero and violation of a city ordinance, the city council has called on the provincial board and provincial government of Camarines Sur to “stop the desecration of the Rizal monument.”

        In response, the provincial board disagreed with the city council saying that the provincial government has the right renting out spaces to small-scale entrepreneurs to help them in their livelihood and provide earnings for the province.

        Turning the tables to the council, the provincial board reminded the city council that the city government was the one with permanent commercial structures for rent at the Plaza Quezon.

        With no hope of reconciling positions regarding the use of Plaza Rizal, the political skirmishes between the two parties have again been reprised and could deteriorate further as the political fever heats up.

        It would be another story if the ownership claim of the Plaza Rizal is finally resolved. But would it still be possible that this pestering discord betBlue &

        whiteween the two LGUs continues beyond the terms of political rivals?