Two districts

Reports have it that the proposal to divide Bácolod into two congressional districts is already in the hands of Sen. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and some quarters think that the proposed measure would pass when Congress resumes session next month.

Inside information confirms this report but whether the Senate will pass it with four other proposals of the same nature is another matter, because there are senators who oppose the plan, at least in the case of Bácolod. The other proposal could pass but that of Bácolod can be in doubt. An influential senator is reported to be against it.

Although I was told of the reason for this alleged opposition this information has not been validated. The source is a credible one, however.

Be that as it may, let us look at the political scenario in Bácolod in case the bill is passed before the candidates file their certificates of candidacy in October.

Incumbent Bácolod Congressman Anthony Golez has already declared his intention to seek reelection. This information is most welcome considering that, during the last months, he was secretive about his political plans. Now the battle plans can be drawn with clear objectives in mind.

This will pit him against Mayor Evelio Leonardia who is graduating and nowhere to go but for the congressional seat. He has also declared he has his sights on Congress.

Right after the 2010 election, Golez, then an ally of Leonardia, filed the bill dividing the city into two districts. This was supported by a large majority of the barangay chairpersons and was perceived to be a way to avoid the clash between Golez and Leonardia.

While the House of Representatives acted favorably on the proposal, a leading senator reportedly blocked the move because of distaste from Golez. The senator must have thought that if the city was not divided, Golez would be in a great predicament – he has to clash with Leonardia on whose political machinery he rode in 2010.

Allies became adversaries when Golez last year began to publicly criticize Leonardia and the Grupo Progress that carried Golez in the campaign. Golez sent the message he does not owe the Leonardia group any favors and had in fact, put in his share of the campaign funds, which the Grupo denied.

Anyway, early last year, an aide to Golez told me that they have the money, the manpower and the organization to do battle with Leonardia. What they would be doing is to set up their machinery and with the money that will not be a problem.

I will not argue with that although experience shows that political machinery takes time to develop and more so to sustain in-between elections. But perhaps they have found a better solution.

The division of Bácolod into two districts however will no longer heal the wounds between the two. They have crossed and burned their bridges, considering the exchange of words. Golez expressed the plan to meet with the mayor and the Grupo Progreso but nothing came out of it because while offering the olive branch, Golez continues to fire his guns and Leonardia replies in turn.

Granting that the city will be divided I think that Grupo Progreso will field a candidate against Golez. In effect, the division will not be a victory delivered to Golez on a silver platter.

There are several qualified candidates in the north district. Leonardia resides in the south of the projected division so that he and Golez will not be meeting on the same battle ground but there are members of Grupro Progreso in the north who are also graduating from the Sangguniang Panlungsod who can face off with Golez.

There is also former Vice Mayor Renecito Novero who is eyeing the vice mayoralty post but if he joins forces with Grupo Progreso he can be a formidable opponent of Golez in the northern district. Novero has his traditional political base in Barangay Bata and he made a good showing against Golez in the last election. If the Grupo Progreso votes swing to Novero he can give Golez a nightmare if not beat the congressman.

Novero can bank on his being a natural of Bácolod while Golez has to defend his claim to be a native of Bácolod.

There is Councilor Dindo Ramos and his vote-rich Barangay Granada which falls in the northern district. An undefeated politician he can also give Golez a good fight, again using the “native of Bácolod” issue. Ramos’s ancestry is among the pioneers of this city who had held top political and economic positions.

Al Espino is also a formidable congressional candidate with his base in Villamonte, that is, if he is not chosen as the vice mayoralty candidate with Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, the NPC bet for mayor. We’ll have more of this later.*

back to top