Delos Santos: Demolition job

(3rd column)

I FIND it strange that with all the ruckus raised by the Novero camp about an allegedly graft-laden purchase by the city of La Carlota of a back-hoe from the son of Cano Tan, Congressman Jeffrey Ferrer has remained quiet about it. He was the mayor of La Carlota at the time of this purchase, and if the same was disadvantageous to the city, then Ferrer should be answerable for it. After all, his signature is all over the purchase documents.

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Having looked into the matter myself, Novero’s media boys are simply engaged in their usual demolition job against Cano Tan. The equipment is much better than the one specified in the purchase order, in fact, it is still being in tip-top condition and continues to be used in the infra projects of La Carlota. Thus, notwithstanding the fact that it was bought by the city more than half a decade ago. The technical aspect of its being different from the specification have been cleared with COA and the other related government agencies as it is in fact of superior quality than the intended purchase.

The only thing wrong about it, as far as Novero’s boys are concerned, is that it was bought from the son of Cano Tan.

So, why does Congressman Ferrer not break his silence to clear the air?

Is it because having no opponent, he’s going to win anyway?

But how about the matter of fairness? How about his sense of justice?

* * *

What was earlier seen as a walk in the park for former third district Congressman Kako Lacson is now turning into a neck to neck contest between him and incumbent Mayor Saratan. If my information is correct, Kako may even be at the shorter end of it.

And I find this suprising. Kako had been mayor of Talisay before it became a city, and then congressman for several terms of the district where Talisay is situated. He is after all a Lacson, which, in alternating with the Lizares, have controlled the city’s politics. On the other hand, Saratan is, for all intents and purposes, a commoner while the Lacsons and the Lizareses are its royal blood.

So, how in the world, can Saratan be a threat to Kako Lacson!

But it seems Saratan is not just a threat. Wonder of wonders, he seems to have the upper hand.

One factor, I think, why Kako appears to be at the losing end of the contest, is that he has been there for so long. Talisaynons have had him for decades, and apparently, they have not become any better for it. A traditional politician all throughout, Kako has failed to inject any vision to his way of serving his city mates. He remains the same Kako, dispensing favors to his supporters, spreading largesse to a select group of constituents, and patting as many backs as he can. The Talisay electorate sees that with Kako, nothing in their city or in themselves, has really changed.

Not that Saratan is of a different mould. His approach to governance is as traditional as can be, except that as mayor of a city that has suddenly become wealthy mainly because of the high real estate and other related revenues now filling its coffers, Saratan has more largesse to dole out. Being a doctor himself, he has been able to extend medical and health services to a wide percentage of the population on a grand scale. Of course, rumors of corruption abound, especially about his key people who were once lording it over during the time of Lizares, but the prevalence of corruption in the city hall did not generate the indignation that it should precisely because Saratan’s pro-poor programs are reaching the farthermost sitios of the city.

Of course, behind all the good image of Saratan looms the shadow of Miling Lizares. The Lizares grand old man was not able to match Kako district-wide, but now, in the small disputed kingdom, Miling is out to prove himself the greater Capo de tuti Capi.

And it looks like he will succeed in proving it.