We always understood “broiling” to mean exposing to intense heat, like broiled fish or broiled meat, or even to burn. That meaning is of Middle English origin but the French root means “to confuse, to be angry, to engage in noisy brawl or to make dirty.”
The recent political development is broiling in the French origin, the start of the political combat that will be waged when the election period begins or even before that. These developments are a prelude or a preview of what to expect even before the candidates file their certificates of candidacy in October this year. It will be early then to know who is running for what and with whom or who is running alone. The first salvo was fired by Cong. Anthony Golez against Mayor Evelio Leonardia with a privilege speech in Congress on the celebration of Charter Day although this issue could have been resolved “among friends.” For what reasons did Golez squeeze the trigger with that speech without warning, some say with stealth that left many to wonder? Golez rode on the campaign wagon of Leonardia that brought him to Congress, a virtual stranger that he was in Bacolod. Golez of course denies this, implying that he owes Leonardia no favors. In fact, one of Golez’ lieutenants told me that Golez gave Leonardia the funds for the campaign, and which Leonardia denied and had intimidated that one reason for the earlier cooling of relations was that Golez did not deliver the money he promised as his contribution to get into Leonardia’s Grupo Progreso. Whatever is the truth, the fact is that the erstwhile political partners have become broiling opponents and the chances of reconciliation appear unlikely. Reports has it that before the Congressional speech that created the final break Golez had proposed that Grupo Progreso field next year Leonardia for congressman, Golez for mayor and incumbent Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson to run for reelection. This ticket was reported in the press to be the “sentiment” of 31 barangay captains but one of these barangay leaders said the meeting called by Golez was about risk management and when they arrived the “manifesto” was already there for signing with envelops as “incentives”. How much did he get? Before I could ask during a fiesta lunch, his wife inquired and he said, “five thousand, but some got only three.” The wife kept quiet but I suspect she will ask him about where the P5k is when they get home. I tend to believe this because the barangay captain was a long time friend and to admit in the presence of his wife gives his statement a lot of credibility. Most husbands, like political managers, won’t. According to insiders, Leonardia did not make any commitment to the Golez proposal but left it to Sayson to decide. The inevitable clash of political agenda took over. The Golez proposal and attempt to get public support indicate weakness. Golez then fired his privilege speech in retaliation. The die is cast. In the other field, a mayoralty aspirant had chosen Vladimir Gonzales to be his vice mayoralty candidate, broiling the other members of his party with a threat of a pull-out because this slot was supposed to be from within, especially Councilor Archie Baribar and El Cid Familiaran. The reason going the rounds in the news rooms is that Gonzales has the money, though I think that while it is true he has the funds, he is also a businessman. If he is as easy with campaign funds as probably believed, Gonzales would have fared well during the last election but many balked for “lack of juice.” It can be different this time and he might have really pledged to fund the campaign. But this has also a price even at this stage – some leading members of the party bolting not necessarily to join the other side but to form another local party. El Cid Familiaran is a leader of the Liberal Party in Bácolod and there are several recent members of the LP that are councilor material and had in fact been bruited about as planning to run for the council. If Baribar and El Cid form the third force they can draw others, even from the defunct MONOPAL, like Sonia Verdeflor who is up for reelection. Other new names, like Bong Dilag, Jun Gamboa and Frank Carbon might find a new and unblemished group (LP) more attractive than one led by a candidate with a plunder case pending before the Sandigan and other graft cases before the Ombudsman. It would be difficult for them as allies of President Aquino and his campaign against graft and corruption to defend a leader tarnished with graft charges. A new LP would be a fresh wind without hang-ups and candidates with record of acceptability.* MODESTO P. SA-ONOY V isayan Daily Star
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