Dirt thrown both
ways in Bacolod

Early in the game, dirt-throwing has been the principal characteristic of the political exchanges in Bacolod. Especially between Rep. Monico Puentevella and Mayor Bing Leonardia. And we can expect more to be unlimbered in the next few days.

Newks told me Saturday that he has a trove of exposes that he will bare within the next week. And that, I think, includes many more tidbits about the Hilmarc's contract. The opening salvo was already delivered by members of the United Architects of the Philippines (Negros Chapter) headed by former Vice Mayor Ramiro Garcia.

But it is not just Garcia behind Puentevella, other big names in the UAP, such as Silverio Ureta and Pontit as well as other relatives of the solon are readying their ammunition.

In short, it's going to be a battle between Legal Officer Allan Zamora and the combined competence and expertise of Bacolod's top architects and engineers.

But, as I had mentioned in previous columns, it's not a one-sided strife. It's both ways. Zamora and Leonardia himself, intimated that they have a lot of torpedoes they can unleash against Newks who seems to have undertaken a one-man crusade against Leonardia.

"I can't stomach it anymore," was how Newks put it in a chance encounter last weekend.

Well, for one, he is supposed to bring with him a copy of the House Good Government Committee findings on its investigation into the Hilmarc's contract with the Iloilo provincial capitol. This was a probe undertaken by the committee headed by Rep. Arthur Defensor, himself former Iloilo governor.

Now that is something that could provoke Negrenses and Bacolodnons to think hard about Hilmarc's and why it won the bidding for the government center contract as the lone bidder.

Well, I think that it is best for the two officials to come out with their respective ammo against each other. That will only help Bacolod voters truly settle their minds on whom to vote for in the May polls.

***

While, we have our eyes focused on the Bacolod and Negros Occidental political contests, we seem to have overlooked what is happening over in Iloilo City.

The most important development - if former Senate President Franklin Drilon will not run for a local elective position, whom is he fielding against Rep. Raul Gonzalez Jr.?

Ilonggos are wondering whether Drilon, in the guise of campaigning for the opposition national ticket, said he cannot run in the Iloilo polls, and Ilonggos have been looking forward to attest to his political strength between him and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez.

That also proved a relief for Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas. Former Mayor Mansueto Malabor had been waving the flag that he may run again this election. But Malabor lacks the finances that he may have expected Drilon to raise for him.

The report from Aklan is that the local mayors who used to belong to the Tibyog Aklan had joined the KAMPI together with Rep. Florencio (Joeben) Miraflores.

I still have to hear about Governor Catalino Marquez. But one can expect the latter to join his former partner.

In Antique, Gov. Sally Zaldivar-Perez is awaiting who Rep. Exequiel Javier will field against her. Both have been at each other's throat for years. But Sally apparently had convinced retired Brig. Gen. Roberto Delfin to run for Congress against Javier.

Former Gov. Jovito Palmares had earlier been convinced to cast his hat into the political arena. But the Ombudsman had recently announced its decision finding him guilty of the charges filed against him and barring him from further holding a top political office.

That must have been devastating blow against Javier. I still have to hear who could be his substitute bet.

In Guimaras province, the latest scuttlebutt is that Ambassador-designate Emily Relucio Lopez may finally decide to run against reelectionist Gov. Rahman Nava.

Well, there are a lot more developments that must await the final listing of the candidates in various provinces of Western Visayas next week. But there is no end to speculations.*

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