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Tuesday, October 07, 2003
Espinoza: Political scenario in province still fluid
By Elias L. Espinoza
LOCAL. In the provincial scene, former governor Lito Osmeña, Promdi’s top man, announced during the opening of Promdi headquarters on Escario St. the tandem of Agriculture Under-secretary Junie Martinez and Provincial Board (PB) Member Greg San-chez as its gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial bets.
The no-show of Junie Martinez, a member of Lakas, during the inauguration of Promdi’s headquarters was understandable. Lito, though, depended the endorsement of Martinez as a guest candidate of Promdi.
With what happened in the last elections where Martinez lost to Vice Gov. John-john Osmeña, Lito’s nephew, in the vice gubernatorial race, a huge cloud of doubt hangs over the supposed coalition.
If the vice governor pursues his intention to run for governor with Gwen Garcia, Gov. Pablo Gar-cia’s daughter, as his running-mate, I doubt if Martinez will accept the endorsement. He already learned his lessons.
However, there is a dent of truth in Lito’s formula. Efforts are being exerted to convince John-john to forego with his gubernatorial plans. His father, Senator John “Sonny” Osmeña, insisted that he should run for congressman possibly in the first district where he is now registered as a voter.
The presence of the vice governor during the induction of PB Member Victor Maambong and Consolacion Councilor Alfie Ouano as new members of Lakas last week raised speculations that John-john might run under Lakas, but the post is yet uncertain.
I am inclined to believe though that John-john will be convinced by his father’s emissaries and he will run for Congress in the first district since Rep. Dodong Gullas is allegedly not keen in seeking for another term due to his concern over their family’s business.
Besides, a source said, a possible fallout in the rumored Osmeña-Garcia tandem is in the offing after the vice governor allegedly discovered a political maneuver by his supposed teammates.
At this stage, the political scenario in the province is still fluid since the possible candidates are still weighing their options over what party they should join after President Arroyo announced her decision to run next year.
EXPECTED. Long before the announcement, it was already expected that Arroyo, despite her December pronouncement not to run, will join the presidential race in next year’s polls.
It was a decision, not an option or a vocation. Under the circumstances she is in (like the Jose
Pidal account), Arroyo’s running for an elective office is akin to securing a mantelpiece against possible prosecution. It’s just like what Sen. Panfilo Lacson did, even if he said he hates politicians.
Nobody was surprised with Arroyo’s announcement to run for president next year before an estimated crowd of 50,000 in her home province. The announcement was more of a drama than what it purported to be.
Arroyo’s speech contained idiomatic expressions to dispel her participation in the scandal brought about by the “imprudence” of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and his poor handling of their supposed election funds.
Mike deserves no commiseration now that Arroyo reiterated “I shall stay married to my country.” The description gives rise to speculations that Mike is now outside the presidential “kulambo” (mosquito net). Although, some say he’d long been outside the kulambo.
What is significant in Arroyo’s declaration to run for president is her possible opponent from the opposition. While Lacson was the earliest to announce his presidential bid, talks are rife that action movie king Fernando Poe Jr. might run.
A source told me that FPJ’s decision to run for president was dependent on Arroyo’s position. Now that Arroyo declared she is running, it goes without saying that FPJ will soon announce his presidential bid.
My source said Lacson will slide down to vice president as the running mate of FPJ. While I detest the emerging and possible national political scenario, the match up between FPJ and Arroyo, whose popularity rating went down, can draw another international attention.
(October 7, 2003 issue)
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