Duso-butong -2

The push-and-pull game keeps people in tenterhooks, though the way Governor Alfredo Marañon was responding to the unfolding of events, he is not the least perturbed and I think that makes his intending opponent stand on edge.

Rep. Albee Benitez took the cat (is it the rabbit?) out of the bag when he spoke to media August 10 about the UNA still undecided. He nevertheless declared that the principle or tradition of the “equity of the incumbent” will not be the deciding factor; it will be the decision of the six congressmen with the governor, the vice governor and former Ambassador Danding Cojuangco. They constitute the ruling group in the United Negros Alliance.

If one makes a count, the governor and his son, Rep. Alfredo III and Rep. Bebot Mirasol will constitute the three of the nine. Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez and Rep. Jules Ledesma and Rep. Mercedes Alvarez makes up another three members.

Which way will Rep. Albee Benitez and Rep. Jeffry Ferrer go? Cojuangco is believed to be on the side of Alvarez since it was his alleged blessing that emboldened Alvarez to break off from the governor. So it is four against three with two undecided, at least publicly.

In a movie, “Three Coins in the Fountain,” a pilgrim can throw a coin and make a wish. Tradition has it that a lover who throws a coin at the Fonti de Trevi in Rome can get his or her answer and so the theme song of the movie, “Which one will the fountain bless?”

But so far, we don’t know which one the two congressmen will bless. And so we get the spectacle of duso-butong instead.

The pathetic sight would be the mayors who took sides. There is no problem with those who are supporting Marañon because there are no ifs and no buts, only certainty. On the other hand, the mayors who took the side of Alvarez can be in a great predicament.

What if the UNA leadership, to preserve the political group, decides on the equity of the incumbent? Sure, Marañon will be happy to get them back and work for his candidacy, but as I wrote last week, can they be trusted?

The list of new members of the NPC shows that these politicians are anti- Marañon and thus strengthen the belief that the NPC is recruiting local politicians who will vote or work against Marañon, more so because they were inducted by NPC leaders without any leave or courtesy to Marañon. Otherwise, why would the NPC do such a devilish thing?

The fissures created by this duso-butong game have emboldened the non-NPC and non-UNA politicians to look further into the fray and pry an opening. It is rumored that the group identified with the leadership of former governors Bitay Lacson and Lito Coscolluela is watching the situation closely and if the opportunity arises they will field a full slate of provincial candidates.

Bitay, in the last election had thrown his support to Marañon against Lito but the circumstance of the time necessitated the parting of ways of Lito and Bitay. It was important first to get PNoy elected and Marañon’s support for the Liberal Party was crucial to get the Negros votes.

Remember that in the 2010 presidential election, Danding Cojuangco desisted from openly supporting his nephew, but Marañon did come in strong. Thus I wonder whether, in return for this support, Benitez would abandon Marañon. That would be an unkind cut although we can understand that in politics there are no permanent friends or allies, only convenient partners for the moment, like sailors consorting with prostitutes until the next port of call.

On the other hand, Benitez can bring in Marañon into the Liberal Party by supporting the governor. That would be a big fish that can bolster the chances of the senatorial candidates of the LP while Benitez can emerge as the new political kingpin.

Why is this so? In the event Marañon wins the election in 2013, that would mean the repudiation of the NPC with a diminution of the perceived strength of Cojuangco. The eyes of strength shift to Benitez as the new kingmaker, whether the perception is true or not.

Benitez has the charisma, the money and the youth that would be attractive to new political forces. His direct connection with PNoy and position as member of Congress puts him in an advantageous position. He has, in fact, already entered into the tumultuous Bácolod political arena and as I wrote earlier, it would be best for the “orphans” of the Monopal to take this route and be cleansed of the corruption issues that hang like a millstone on the neck of Monico Puentevella.

I just hope Benitez does not play duso-butong but comes in as trustworthy.*

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