In Bicolandia, machiinery is all powerful

Monday May 28, 2007

In Bicolandia,machinery is all-powerful
By Rhaydz B. Barcia, Correspondent

LEGAZPI CITY: Cash-starved candidates for the congressional and gubernatorial posts in Albay and Camarines Sur suffered defeat in the last May 14 midterm election. But three members of the so-called Bicol Bloc in Albay’s second district and in Catanduanes and Masbate were booted out.

Congressional candidate of the first district of Albay and incumbent Vice-Governor Jesus “James” Calisin suffered defeat against reelectionist Edcel C. Lagman of the Lakas-CMD.

Calisin, a popular radio broadcaster was backed by three political groups—the UNO, Liberal Party and PMP. Groups of young professionals, church-based organizations and church leaders also supported Calisin, who was perceived to be popular also among the voters that hoped to topple the political dynasty that has been in power in the first district for over three decades.

But his lack of money had apparently crippled Calisin, whose landslide victory over Lagman had been predicted by political observers here during the campaign period.

On the eve of the election, Calisin simply could not match the reported P800 that his opponent had supposedly shelled out to each voter.

A member of the Lakas-CMD for 15 years, Calisin was a former provincial board member of the provincial government in late 80s and was acting vice-governor in the 90’s after his colleagues in the provincial board were suspended, along with former governor Romeo Salalima for graft and corruption charges.

In the second district of Albay, Rep. Carlos “Papay” Imperial fell to Al Francis Bichara. Imperial had been in office for 42 years, while Bichara, a former representative of the third district, was Albay governor for 9 years and was designated ambassador to Lebanon by President Arroyo.

Although a close fight between Bichara and Imperial was expected, but in the end Imperial’s political machinery, which included a media blitz and a seemingly bottomless pocket, made the difference.
Ironically, Imperial and Bichara were friends once. Their friendship ended during the 2004 election.

Bichara had told The Times he ran against Imperial to avenge the latter’s treachery against his father Don Alfonso Bichara, who ran for governor against Don Fernando Gon­zalez in 2004. He said Imperial had dumped his father at the last hour and instead supported Gonzalez, who lost anyway to Joey Salceda in the last May 14 election.

In Camarines Sur, the political battle was focused on the first district, the turf of Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya.

The battle between Diosdado Ignacio Jose Maria “Dato” Macapagal Arroyo, the President’s son, and San Fernando town Mayor Sabas “Abang” Mabulo for the district’s congressional seat was likened to the fight between David and Goliath.
Arroyo was the Goliath to Mabulo’s David.

Church groups, nongovern­ment organizations, people’s organizations and community leaders from the academe and the business sector had supported Mabulo. He was the only candidate who was believed to have a fighting chance against Arroyo.

Mabulo lost, supposedly because three powerful politicians in Camarines Sur—Second District Rep. Luis R. Villafuete, Rinconada Fourth District Rep. Felix “Nancing” Alfelor, and Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya—supported Arroyo.
Political observers in Bicol said Villafuerte was moving mountains to be the next speaker in the House of Representatives. With Arroyo elected, Villafuerte has a direct line to the President.

Arroyo’s triumph means that a Pampangueño would be representing a part of Bicol in the House.

In Masbate, the defeat of the powerful Espinosa family who had ruled the island province for more than five decades was an unexpected turn.
Backed by strong political machinery and logistics, members of the Espinosa clan, who ran for various posts, were believed to be shoo-ins.

Ma. Lourdes Lilia “Maloli” Espinosa was defeated by outgoing governor Antonio Kho. Espinosa, the daughter of former congressman Moises R. Espinosa, has the educational qualifications, and has held positions in government and private corporations.

She gave up her position as vice-president for government, corporate affairs at the public relations office of ABS-CBN network to run in her province. She was president of the Kapisan ng mg Broadkasters ng Pilipinas for eight years, and was chairman of the copyright committee of the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union, representing 150 broadcast and allied organizations from 54 countries in the Asia Pacific and other regions.

Kho’s uncle, Emilio “Miling” Espinosa, also lost to Kho’s wife Olga, in the race for governor. Espinosa is the outgoing representative of Masbate’s second district. He belongs to the Bicol Bloc, which counts political kingpins Imperial; Rep. Jose Alberto of Catanduanes; Rep. Felix Fuentebella, father of Arnulfo, of Camarines Sur; and Rep. Berting Sabido of Albay’s third district.

Members of the International Observers Mission from the US, who witnessed the elections on May 14, had hit the political dynasties in Masbate.
IOM spokesperson Sarah Ronnevik, told The Times political clans were one of the major causes of extreme poverty in Masbate.

Another IOM member, Becca Lawson, said: “Powerful politicians, who have access to national and international resources, continue to amass wealth and control power. They build their private armies to protect them, [and] if you have more of these people carrying arms, no wonder they end up with loss of lives and bloody incidents.

“They’re in control of the land—this is the integral problem in Masbate—poverty. The people of Masbate should wake up from apathy. They should elect people with long-term programs for the betterment of the countryside. Though, it’s a long process, people should wake up and exercise change by casting their vote for good politicians. The poor is already at the edge of the edge. They don’t exercise their free will. That’s why they remain in poverty.”

Bishop Joey Bailon, prelate of the Diocese of Masbate, agreed that poverty has been a major concerns in the province despite its rich natural resources.
He said politicians in Masbate have acquired vast tracts of land for their own personal and private enterprises while many of the farmers struggle to till the land they do not own.

There are more cockpits in the province than health centers in Masbate, and hardly any developmental projects that would benefit the people, Bailon said.
In Catanduanes, Leandro Verceles, three-term representative of the province’s lone district and two-term governor, was beaten by Chinese-Filipino businessman Joseph Cua.

In Camarines Norte, former internal revenue commissioner chief Liwayway Vinzons-Chato of the United Opposition routed Lakas-CMD’s Renato Unico Jr.
Chato ran for senator under the administration coalition in 2004, but joined the opposition at the height of the “Hello, Garci” scandal.