4 provinces, 3 lameducks...

Days before Christmas, the Sugbuak proponents just had to try one more time. A Freeman report says there was an attempt to "smuggle" the bill when the proponents thought the oppositors weren't looking. Good thing Congressmen Cuenco, Gullas, Del Mar and Durano were smarter than they thought. Congressman Cuenco's threat to filibuster killed the fresh attempt to divide Cebu.

Possible reasons why the proponents thought they should try one more time:

1. With ConAss -- their only chance to stay in office without benefit of election -- dead, Sugbuak is the only thing that can revive their waning political future.

2. They had Joe de Venecia's full backing, in return for their help in passing the 2007 budget, and the ConAss resolution.

3. They thought they could pull one over Cebu's usually vigilant media, just because some of the more influential mediamen were too busy looking for leaks at the CICC. (In fact, Cheking Seares, in today's column still couldn't get over that leak, making you wonder whether people shouldn't just take one, to relieve themselves.)

To the Sugbuak proponents: Nice try. And thanks for the memories.