Alignments

With about three months to go for politicians to file their certificates of candidacy, the alignments of politicians in the province and the capital city of Bácolod are getting clearer but this does not mean, as usual or normal, that these reshuffling or merry-go-round of loyalties and affiliations will be final.

The jockeying for slots in the senatorial slates is also on swing. The problematic situation of Sen. Koko Pimentel has somewhat ruffled feelings in the leaders of the United Nationalist Alliance but as in all political alignments nothing is permanent.

There are also two Magsasays being fielded – Rep. Mitos and former Senator Ramon, the son of the late President who is being groomed by the Liberal Party. Mitos belongs to UNA.

Sen. Franklin Drilon called Ramon genuine implying Mitos is a fake. He backtracked later on but the damage has been done. Drilon, of course, is either fake or genuine, whichever political party one wants to tag him.

The Liberals, with an anemic list of candidates for the Senate need Koko but Koko needs the LP more. In a sense they need each other, but whether Koko can survive the lack of charisma among the LP slate, is another question. He can be relegated to fend for himself as the others will try to make deals to win.

Back-stabbing is not a stranger to senatorial candidates as it is among local ones, but this only shows that political alignments are not real evidence of party loyalty.

The filing of candidacy is the only “final” evidence that will tell us who will be running for what and with whom or alone. So not until then can we be certain. For now we can only “read” their body language and find hidden meanings in their statements.

But even this is not guarantee one is genuine or fake party member.

Media had been making speculations during the last fortnight and its biggest victim was Vice Governor “Lim-ao” Alvarez who was tickled to run against Governor Alfredo Marañon. The governor appeared coy about this plans and left media a house full of speculations until Lim-ao doused ice cold water into wagging tongues. Intrigue, after all, is a game politicians and media play each year as election year draws close.

Some got tickled pink with the thought they are being considered and some think they really are and then found out they are diving into an empty pool.

The saddest alignment so far is the local LP. Frank Carbon, the LP district chairman was quoted as saying their candidate for congressman is Atty. Lyndon Caña, for mayor is Chick Garcia and for vice mayor is Councilor Archie Baribar.

Hardly had the news been digested, Lyndon said he is not certain of his plans and Garcia shrugged it off. Archie said he will try, meaning he has accepted the offer.

Lyndon has lately been inactive politically, Garcia had tried and got clobbered while Archie is the best bet the LP can field. We don’t know yet who will face Archie among the Grupo Progreso to be headed by its mayoralty bet Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, but whoever that is will give us a great time trying to select which of them will head the Sanggunian.

Last week, Atty. Joemax Ortiz had a lengthy interview in Mercado Publico of Vic Mercado and from his statements we can expect a very aggressive electoral campaign in Salvador Benedicto. He will challenge the political hegemony of the de la Cruz family.

I wonder though whether Joemax will be aligned with any political party. The de la Cruz clan is with the United Negros Alliance though I heard that the issue of the alleged illegal titling of the lands there – some 700 hectares – rankled many in UNA.

Joemax’ issues are similar with those that I exposed in Canlaon City under the late Ondo Cardenas who was later assassinated by the New People’s Army on charges of human rights violations. If Joemax succeeds he shall have dealt a blow for democracy and against economic and political monopoly that should have been sent to the dustbin of history.

But can Joemax align with the native residents who had decried this monopoly and the sluggish growth of their town due to economic strangulation? He has an excellent issue but will he get the necessary alignment of political and economic forces for his crusade?

Going the rounds is a new alignment in the provincial level, but it is too early to give credence to this because so far the mayors are pledging loyalty to UNA. The suspicion is that the LP will try to grab the leadership of UNA.

There are two LP leaders in the province – Rep. Albee Benitez and Rep. Bebot Mirasol. Will they get Marañon to align with LP?*

back to top