This exactly describes the political woes of controversial Panglao Mayor Doloriech Dumaluan. When it rains, it really pours. And it is not just an ordinary rainfall. The way it appears, it is indeed a heavy downpour of sorts. Well, that's how the cookie crumbles. And sometimes the runner stumbles. And stumble, he did, not just once but twice. For God's sake, we are not trying to make kantiyaw out of his predicament. We are just making a full account of what happened and that in this world of the just and the free, anything can happen.

We are referring to the double whammy, the good mayor is subjected to. It may be recalled that only two weeks ago, his business enterprise, Dumaluan Beach Resort was unceremoniously closed by an environmental crime task force formed by DENR Sec. Angelo Reyes. Although Mayor Dumaluan allegedly mocked the close order by allowing guests to be booked in his resort, it was enough that the Cease and Desist Order was carried out and effected even over the vehement protestation of the municipal executive himself.

That it was business as usual as far as the mayor is concerned was confirmed by no less than Nestor Canda, senior environmental management specialist of the local DENR Environmental Management bureau (EMB). According to Canda, in his own ocular inspection Friday afternoon, he found for himself that indeed the resort is still accommodating guests from previous bookings. It may be true that business was affected as a result of the closure order but just the same, it was business as usual. Whatever, even if Dumaluan did defy the CDO, one thing sure: it exposes his kind of person-- whether he is law abiding or not. But since he thinks that he is above the law, then he did just that—belittle the intent and import of the law and go on with his merry ways by defying the CDO.

Another political headache, the mayor is nursing is the recent Court of Appeals decision dismissing and the subsequent lifting of the preliminary injunction he has sought for in connection with the suspension order meted out by the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas last December. Any first year law student will tell you that as a result of the dismissal of the injunction, the Ombudman will have no way but to implement the suspension order that was stopped because of the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) obtained by Mayor Dumaluan even before the said suspension was served.

With the TRO denied and lifted, the only legal remedy available for Dumaluan is to get one, this time, from the Supreme Court. If he fails to get it (TRO) from the High Court, he has no choice but to serve the suspension and dread to see the day that his vice mayor Pedro Fuertes, a mortal political enemy, will laugh all the way to the mayor's office and claim the position as acting municipal mayor of Panglao.