InWHAT is happening in Panglao is a case study in the use (more likely the abuse) of power. Not even Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos who was the most powerful man of the country during his time succeeded in abusing power and doing away with it. Lest anyone forget, Pres. Marcos was toppled from his power by an angered people. It is amazing how Mayor Doloreich Dumaluan of Panglao seems to have found the formula for doing what one wants to do even if some of these are in blatant, if not arrogant, violation of the law where he, as Mayor of Panglao, is sworn to uphold, and still remain in power.

We're not saying that like Marcos, Mayor Dumaluan sent people to jail or cause them to disappear, or get his enemies arrested. But his open disregard for the law when this goes against his interest, partakes of the abuse of power that sent millions of Filipinos to the streets to demand Marcos' fall. In the process he gives the wrong example to the children who are learning the ropes of good values, to the resort owners who are looking at him as model being the number one citizen of Panglao, to the prospective investors who have respect for the law, and the tourism industry that depends upon the environment to prosper.

Mayor Dumaluan has made law enforcement and law enforcers look like helpless children. His ease in shifting from a mean law enforcer, when it is his competitors who transgress, the law to his complete amnesia of the same law when it comes in the way of his interest is a lesson in mastering the use of power. He is so strict with the compliance of the requirements for securing a building permit for the construction of a fence but can order one to be issued for his own building even without the requirements. He drives resort applicants to the door of the DENR for an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) if they have none but proceeds to construct his own building before securing one.

DENR investigating teams, a task force created by the Governor, and the Panglao Island Tourism Estate (PITE) Review and Development Committee (REDCOM) have filed reports of these violations without any positive response from his side. On the other hand the Mayor's actions, in effect, asked everyone to just close his or her eyes to these violations. Surprisingly he gets them to wait for what he's going to do next. Not even the governor can compel him to abide by the law. Not even the Provincial and Regional Offices of the DENR can compel him to comply with the law.