Brewing political pot

Before I tackle the subject let me say that the inhibition by the chairperson of the Commission on Audit, Maria Gracia Pulido Tan in the case involving the Occidental Negros government and the Ayala Land, Inc. is a step in the right direction, although I think this is not enough, considering the facts I have cited here.

Nevertheless, the discussion of this issue can be suspended until we know what action the COA will take on this contract of lease and sale.

I don't know if by the time this column comes out, COA shall have decided since they were reported to have met last week and information early last week (not from Bácolod) said that COA is set to decide. This is not news, though, because we heard that, indeed, last week COA's Commission Proper was scheduled to meet.

The case of the relationship of Rep. Albee Benitez with SM becomes academic at the moment, and can be better discussed as an election issue. So I am putting aside the continuation of last week's column on SM and Benitez.

The political pot in Bácolod was simmering right after the Lenten Season but last week the brew was starting to boil with names already mentioned as to who is running for what.

Last April 14 at a funeral, one would-be candidate was already shaking hands, not condoling, it seems, but shaking hands and button-holing several. He was not attired for attendance at a funeral but for leisure walking with short pants. The dead, or the solemnity of the occasion, is no longer respected but exploited for political purposes. This is a sad commentary on the extent to which politicians would go to get elected. I think these politicians do not realize that they only leave a bad taste for bad manners.

Several names cropped up last weekend. Frank Carbon who got the presidency of the Metro Bácolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry is said to be in the race for councilor. He succeeded Bobby Montelibano who held this post since it was organized years ago.

However when Carbon accepted the chairmanship of the Bácolod Liberal Party, I got this suspicion that he has political plans. Thus, when the MBCCI under his leadership filed a suit questioning the validity of the city's tax code ordinance this move confirmed my suspicion that he is after a political position.

Unfortunately, if his candidacy is confirmed, then the MBCCI suit has political intents and throws MBCCI, a non-political organization, into the political arena. It will turn this business organization into a politicized group. Unless Carbon resigns from MBCCI, the organization will be dragged into the political quagmire.

The known candidate for Bácolod City mayor is incumbent Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson but who will challenge him is unclear. Former congressman Monico Puentevella is rumored to be eyeing the mayoralty post but then rumors also fly that he would try to regain his legislative post.

This should be interesting because he will again be pitted against Mayor Evelio Leonardia who is barred by law from reelection for another term. Leonardia and Puentevella are arch political enemies. If the latter runs for mayor he shall have avoided another confrontation and possible defeat since he had not bested Leonardia despite several attempts.

Rep. Anthony Golez is still unclear whether he will run for reelection or leave the field to Leonardia and run for mayor. In a radio interview, he did not make a categorical answer about his plans but there were earlier indications he would try his destiny by running for mayor.

Some people in Golez's camp think that in a three or four-cornered fight, Golez has a chance to win rather than face off with Leonardia. Golez's camp believes he has better chances against Sayson. Ironically, this is the same thinking among supporters of Puentevella.

In the same situation, Sayson will have a better chance because of his traditional block votes that carried his father before him and still supported Sayson in all his political battles, the reason he has never lost an election.

Councilor El Cid Familiaran is also said to be running for mayor. As the number one councilor, El Cid has plenty of supporters, especially now that he is the highest ranking member of the LP in Bácolod and thus the possible standard bearer of President Aquino's party. Frank Carbon, however, stands in the way so that we can expect an intra party fight.

There's Vladimir Gonzales who tried is luck last time and lost but since then his business commercials had been portraying him in the best of lights so that he is being groomed for vice mayor. One belief is that Gonzales has the money and is expected to finance a political organization. But will he bite? He did the last time and lost.*

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