|
Thursday, January 15, 2004
Mongaya: Monkey wrench
By Anol Mongaya
PRESIDENTIAL contender Raul Roco is right. After the Supreme Court decided that irregularities plagued the bidding for the machines to be used for the supposed automated counting of votes, Comelec commissioners who approved the contract should resign in shame.
The SC decision placed a monkey wrench on the Comelec’s plan to computerize our voting system. We would now go back to manual counting. I just hope Comelec can beat the May 10, 2004 deadline to carry it out.
While many are now considering the postponement of the election, I think this will lead to another explosive political crisis.
****
Board Member Victor Maambong dug a deep hole when he made himself an incorporator of Daniel Machanik’s online dating business. Though the Securities and Exchange Commission only listed his investment at P30,000, he is still an owner.
With the issue erupting during the political season, I’m sure Maambong is doing his best to downplay the matter. Unfortunately for him, this won’t happen. Though he explained that affixing his name is “standard operating practice” for lawyers, Machanik’s detractors now plan to also sue the Capitol official.
Even if the camps of Gwen Garcia and Junie Martinez want to pin down Vice Gov. John-john Osmeña on the Machanik case, there is no record he is involved in the business. The models themselves said so.
Martinez can continuously stir the issue and do his best to link Osmeña, his gubernatorial opponent, to Machanik. He can implicate John-john through Maambong. But the Board member is no longer with John-john’s camp.
Junie’s camp can also get in touch with the complainant herself, Wenilita Gil, who used to be the manager of Machanik’s business. Gil was also Machanik’s girlfriend until he dumped her in favor of a younger model. The jobless Gil reportedly is easy to convince to sing like a jukebox.
Gwen can’t do what Junie can on the issue because Maambong belongs to her camp. Maambong reportedly left John-john’s camp because the Ouano clan supports Gwen. I was told that he needs the support of the Ouanos to win in the sixth district.
****
Martinez is still pushing for the declaration of Cebu province as a free zone as far as Lakas-CMD is concerned. But reports that his camp is flirting with Fernando Poe Jr. places serious doubts on Junie’s loyalty to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
On the other hand, I don’t think it would be good politics for GMA to stop efforts to keep the Martinez camp within her orbit. The FPJ camp will only be too glad to accept Junie after Sen. John Osmeña left them.
****
No, FPJ is reportedly not coming to Cebu for the Sinulog. Organizers of the Aguila for FPJ said only Sen. Ernie Maceda, possibly together with other opposition bets, will come to Cebu on Sunday.
Earlier, President Arroyo reportedly cancelled plans to visit Cebu during the Sinulog to prevent people from thinking she only wants to use the festivities to boost her political ambitions. Personally, I think it would be best for the local economy if all the politicians will come to Cebu during the Sinulog.
****
Aside from the Sandiego dancers, the public also wants to see the Landonians. The contingent is a crowd drawer. The decision of the Sinulog committee to allow the participation only of the Sandiego dancers as guest is unfair to the others similarly situated.
****
The strike planned by drivers from southern Metro Cebu towns is obviously a result of the Cebu City Government’s brazen act of pushing for the One Citilink project, a move that can only be traced to the leadership’s partiality to its rich owners. It is unfortunate that this has erupted during the Sinulog festivities.
(e-mail: superbalita@ sunstar.com.ph and anol_cebu@hotmail.com; text: 0917-9761193)
(January 15, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
