Rumor in Balamban
-A A +AThursday, January 17, 2013
A RUMOR can be a bane or it can be a boon. It can be the latter if it serves as a warning of a potential problem, thereby allowing one to find ways to solve it swiftly.
Rumors are afloat of an impending political realignment in the third district, which is interesting because one of the candidates there for the congressional post that will be vacated by Rep. Pablo John Garcia, who is running for governor, is suspended Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia. And Gwen has not been going the rounds in that district because she has refused to leave her Capitol office since she was suspended mid-December.
According to the rumor, Provincial Board Member Alex Binghay, one of the strongest supporters of the Garcias and a One Cebu party leader, would jump over the fence and into the fold of the ruling Liberal Party (LP). Binghay would be a big loss to the governor if this happens because of his following in Balamban, a vote-rich area in the third district.
PJ wrested control of the third district from former congressman Antonio Yapha partly on the strength of Binghay’s support for his candidacy. Gwen’s own candidacy in the district, therefore, will also be partly dependent on Binghay’s support. Incidentally, she is running against another Yapha in Pinamungajan mayor Geraldine.
The surfacing of the rumor is not surprising because it could have been based on two interesting theories.
One of these concerns Binghay’s announced intention earlier to run for third district congressman. The plan was scuttled when Gwen, instead of gunning for the Senate, decided to run for the post that Binghay coveted. While Binghay did give way to Garcia, some people think he did it grudgingly and that he was pained by her decision.
The other concerns the point that Binghay is a relative of the late vice governor Gregorio Sanchez, whose relationship with Gwen soured months before he died. Sanchez’s kin are supporting the LP’s bid to wrest control of the Capitol from the Garcias. To political analysts, that could be a factor if Binghay decides to change allegiance.
Of course, Binghay’s loyalty to One Cebu may be too strong for a mere rumor to break.
But wily veterans like former senator John “Sonny” Osmeña, who is running for mayor of Toledo City (also in the third district), can exploit any souring of Binghay’s relationship with the Garcias. Meaning, developments in the third district is worth watching.
And how would the governor react to the rumor? If there is some truth to it, then she should leave Capitol and spend time helping mend political fences in her district to strengthen her candidacy.
What Binghay would do, though, may not be followed by his siblings. The Binghay clan itself is divided following the decision of Councilor Dave Karamihan, Alex’s nephew, to run for vice mayor against Alex’s wife, incumbent Balamban vice mayor Rosario.
Karamihan has accused Alex’s camp of reneging on its promise to allow him to run for vice mayor in the May polls. Some of Alex’s siblings are supporting Karamihan’s bid.
Karamihan has been handling the “Paghandum ni Magsaysay” in time for the annual commemoration in March of former president Ramon Magsaysay’s death in Mt. Manunggal. Does this mean that he would be eased out in the preparations for this year’s “Paghandum”? Let’s wait and see.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on January 18, 2013.
Opinion
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