BEFORE I tackle the subject, let me say that the inhibition by the chairperson of the Commission on Audit (COA), Maria Gracia Pulido-Tan, in the case involving the Occidental Negros government and the Ayala Land Inc. is a step in the right direction — although I think this is not enough, considering the facts I have cited here.
Nevertheless, the discussion of this issue can be suspended until we know what action the COA will take on this lease and sale contract. I don’t know if by the time this column comes out, COA shall have decided, since they were reported to have met last week and an information early last week (not from Bacolod) said that COA is set to decide. This is not news, though, because we heard that indeed last week COA’s Commission Proper was scheduled to meet. The case of the relationship of Rep. Albee Benitez with SM becomes academic at the moment and can be better discussed as an election issue. So I am putting aside this topic … for now. The political pot in Bacolod was simmering right after the Lenten Season but last week, the brew was starting to boil with names already mentioned as to who is running for what. On April 14, at a funeral, one would-be candidate was already shaking hands — not condoling, it seems, but shaking hands and button-holing several. He was not attired for attendance at a funeral but for leisure walking with short pants. The dead or the solemnity of the occasion is no longer respected but exploited for political purposes. This is a sad commentary on the extent to which politicians would go to get elected. I think these politicians do not realize that they only leave a bad taste for bad manners. Several names cropped up over the weekend. Frank Carbon was said to be running for Bacolod councilor. Carbon, president of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), succeeded Bobby Montelibano who held the post since it was organized years ago. But when Carbon accepted the chairmanship of the Liberal Party (LP) Bacolod, I suspected that he’s got political plans. Thus, when the MBCCI under his leadership filed a suit questioning the validity of the city’s tax code ordinance, the move confirmed my suspicion that he is after a political position. Unfortunately, if his candidacy is confirmed, then the MBCCI suit has political intents and throws MBCCI, a nonpolitical organization, into the political arena. It will turn this business organization into a politicized group. Unless Carbon resigns from MBCCI, the organization will be dragged into the political quagmire. The known candidate for Bacolod mayor is Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson. Who will challenge him is unclear. Former congressman Monico Puentevella is rumored to be eyeing the mayoralty post. But rumors also fly that he would try to regain his legislative post. This should be interesting because he will again be pitted against Mayor Evelio Leonardia who is barred by law from reelection for another term. Puentevella and Leonardia are political archenemies. If the former runs for mayor, he shall have avoided another confrontation and possible defeat since he had not bested Leonardia despite several attempts. For Cong. Anthony Golez, it is still unclear whether he will seek for reelection or leave the field to Leonardia and run for mayor. In a radio interview, he did not make a categorical answer about his plans. But there were earlier indications that he would try his destiny by running for mayor. Some people in the Golez camp think that the congressman has a bigger chance of winning in a three- or four-cornered fight that in a face-off with Leonardia. The Golez camp believes that Golez has better chances against Sayson. This is, ironically, the same thinking among the supporters of Puentevella. In the same situation Sayson will have a better chance because of his traditional block votes that carried his father before him and still supported Sayson in all his political battles — the reason he has never lost an election. Councilor El Cid Familiaran was also said to be running for mayor. As the No. 1 councilor, El Cid has plenty of supporters, especially now that he is the highest-ranking member of the LP – Bacolod and thus the possible standard bearer of the President Aquino party. Carbon, however, stands on the way; expect an intraparty fight. There’s Vladimir Gonzales who tried is luck last time and lost. But since then, his business commercials had been portraying him in the best of lights so that he is being groomed for vice mayor. One belief is that Gonzales has the money and is expected to finance a political organization. But will he bite? He didn’t the last time and lost./PN Modesto Sa-Onoy Panay News Negros
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