The guessing game

Undoubtedly, the most current guessing game revolves on whom President Benigno Aquino III will pick as successor to the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jessie Robredo.

What further fueled the name-game was the report of a power struggle between the Balay and the Samar group of the administration party. In short, it is an admission that Secretary Ochoa is just a caretaker of the office for the time being.

That rules him out of the game. In the first place, he is too cerebral for such a position and could end up studying the legal aspects of any complaint. He also lacks the charisma of a Jesse.

Lately the most prominently mentioned is Rep. Abaya, a retired Philippine Navy officer and a graduate of the US Naval Academy.

A grandson of the late Philippine President Emilio Aguinaldo, Abaya recently said he prefers to live a private life after his present term in Congress.

But he also replied that he will not reject an offer to do something for the country – a signal to the president that Abaya is more than willing to serve in the DILG if he is chosen.

But the more persistently mentioned name is that of Senator Ping Lacson, who is currently a member of the Senate and has gained a reputation as a no-nonsense police officer while he was still in the service.

But Lacson may lack the charisma of a Robredo which saw the former DILG Secretary wear slippers when called upon by the circumstances. Can Lacson do the same?

Well, the former police general had gained a reputation as a strict disciplinarian and work horse.

During his term as head of the PNP, Lacson had cleaned up the police force and was consistent in ridding it of many of its undesirable elements.

But then, he also has a checkered record. He has been accused of the murder of the late PR practitioner Bubby Dacer. And he had to flee abroad when he was ordered arrested by the court.

Lately, though, he has been cleared of that act.

Often mentioned, but until now reticent about it, is DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas. As Secretary, Mar has not displayed the same charisma as Robredo. As LP president, anything he does as DILG Secretary will always be the subject of a controversy by the opposition. He will be suspected to be working all the time for the LP and the LP senatorial slate in furtherance of his presidential ambition.

Vice President Jejomar Binay had rejected the idea of his ascending to the DILG. For the same reason – that he has his hands full with the many tasks assigned to him by the President and his reluctance to be suspected of working for his presidential succession.

It may come as a surprise to most Negrenses, that among those mentioned to President Aquino recently was the name of former Negros Governor Rafael (Lito) Coscolluela.

Maybe just as a dark horse. But who knows. Lito may have impressed Noynoy with his stewardship of the provincial government during his term as governor of the province.

But we don’t really have long to wait. The President said he was going to name a replacement for Robredo before he leaves for the APEC Summit soon.

***

By now, we shall have known what is the solution to the choice of the UNA gubernatorial bet for 2013.

The problem is that the Manila meeting is that of the Nationalist People’s Coalition and not of the United Negros Alliance.

Although Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. said that he was willing to abide with the decision of the body, it is not clear whether that meant that he would take it that the NPC decision is also that of UNA.

Marañon is walking right into the wolf’s trap. He will be there today no longer as NPC chairman. He has been replaced by a coup hatched by Kabankalan Mayor Isidro Zayco and Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez.

He was summarily dismissed as chair of the NPC and Zayco named as his replacement. Zayco had, until recently, been chairman of the Liberal party in the province.

But with Marañon declaring that “God” works in mysterious ways and that everything that happens is for the good, do we understand that the outcome may be a surprise? Or will he just accept whatever it may be with Alvarez as his chosen successor?

Well, by this afternoon or evening, we shall know the outcome of the Manila meet with former Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco possibly presiding over the summit of the province’s six representatives.

Voila! Let the chips fall where they may.*

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