Monday, June 11, 2007 Diaz: Arroyo's divide and rule succeeds By Cris Diaz
THE recent election in Misamis Oriental is one that will go down in local elections history.
It was an election caught up between two parties claiming to be political parties of the administration. We are talking of Lakas political party and that of Kampi.
Misamis Oriental re-electionist Governor Oscar Moreno was the standard bearer of Lakas while Congressman Augusto Baculio of the province's second district was Kampi's candidate. Both ran for the gubernatorial post.
Many wondered why the administration allowed this thing to occur. Some argued that fielding two administration political parties with two of the strongest candidates is a way of denying the political opposition the post.
It was a classic example of divide and rule. Under this scheme, administration candidates shall fight head on inside a political arena and leave opposition watching in the sideline. By far, the idea was effective in the sense that the opposition, at least, in the local political arena was definitely set aside.
For instance, in Misamis Oriental, the political opposition failed to muster forces and followers after the electorates decided to choose only candidates between Kampi and Lakas aspirants.
In fact, Misamis Oriental Vice Governor Julio Uy, who bolted from the ruling Lakas political party, tried to organize the political opposition in the province but failed.
In the process, Uy saw himself running as the lone opposition candidate for Congress in the province second district.
In Misamis Oriental's first district, there was no opposition candidate in Congress since challenger Michael Paderanga, (Kampi) and incumbent Congressman Danilo Lagbas, (Lakas), were both administration candidates.
Judging from what occurred in Misamis Oriental, one could surmise how the Arroyo administration struggled to deny would-be-opposition candidates slots in Congress.
Under this scenario, the Arroyo administration has all to gain. They (Arroyo) don't care whomever losses! Too bad, Misamis Oriental became a victim of Arroyo's political chicanery.
In Misamis Oriental, Governor Oscar Moreno has the upper hand since he has the liberty to utilize resources available under his administration.
Second, the political machinery of the incumbents is well-placed. Yes, Congressman Baculio has his political machinery intact in the second district. Yet, the result of the election proves otherwise.
It came to Baculio's surprise knowing that the second district led him to defeat.
Perhaps, out of confidence, Baculio has slackened his grip on the second district and focused his attention in the first district where he perceived himself to be weak.
Third, Baculio's defeat was a traditional example of soldiers with depleted ammunitions in the battle. With three highly coordinated enemies in the battlefront, Baculio was doomed right from the start. Baculio's political archrivals were: the Emanos, Morenos and the Lagbases.
Had Baculio forged a tactical alliance with Uy and the Calingins, the political battlefield would have been different.
Anyway, back to Arroyo's motive. The Arroyo administration definitely succeeded, not only in Misamis Oriental, in profiting from the spoils of two warring political parties they (Arroyo) had created.
(Cris Diaz is adjudged "Best in Column Writing," the Rotary Club of Metro Cagayan de Oro, 2000. cris_d1954@yahoo.com)
