SOME incumbent officials and the so-called political “has-been” have joined forces to revive the locally founded Panaghiusa Party to fight against the incumbent Capitol occupant and President Arroyo’s anointed presidential candidate in next year’s elections. Leading the group is former senator John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña with former congressman Antonio Yapha and Bogo Mayor Junie Martinez, along with a few incumbent town mayors.

They claimed they revived the Pa-naghiusa Party to fight against Gov. Gwen Garcia’s “political empire” in the province, which she runs “through arrogance and vindictiveness and tainted with anomalies,” the latest of which is the purchase of the Balili property. They also vowed to repute the claim that Cebu is “Arroyo Country” by rejecting whoever the administration anoints as its presidential candidate. They alleged that both the Arroyo and Garcia administrations are rocked by graft and corruption scandals.

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Well, I don’t want to douse with cold water the desire of the group to topple the Garcia administration in next year’s election. But unless they field a good candidate against Gwen, they can never be successful in changing the political landscape in the province now dominated by the Garcias. Nobody can match the governor’s political machinery as of this time. She has been campaigning whole year round, and most of the local chief executives are her allies. At least four of six congressmen in the province are also with her.

However politics can be unpredictable. Some politicians overcame overwhelming odds, winning over formidable and moneyed opponents. Take the case of Gov. Grace Padaca of Isabela. She managed to break the dynasty of the Dy family, who had dominated the political scene in the province for several decades. Fr. Ed Panlilio of Pampanga also won over moneyed and popular opponents Lilia Pineda, wife of a jueteng lord, and movie actor Mark Lapid.

But the prime movers of the revived Panaghiusa Party are the same old dogs, albeit with new collars. They claimed that they have joined forces to fight the corruption-ridden Garcia administration. Look whose talking. They accused Gwen as if they were not sinners when they were in power. Sonny was with the camp of former president Joseph Estrada, who was convicted of plunder. Yapha was involved in the Kasosyo Foundation and fertilizer scam while Martinez’ wife Clavel was accused of depositing her pork barrel funds into her personal bank account. Pareho ra mo uy. Dili na lang mo corrupt karon kay wala man mo sa poder.

(bgnalzaro@gmanetwork.com)