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Monday, February 16, 2004
Mongaya: Election violence
By ANOL MONGAYA
TWO incidents marked the onset of violence in the coming polls. The ambush-slay of a vice mayor in Mindoro and her companion, a district coordinator of the party-list group Bayan Muna, as well as the failed ambush on Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado.
The body of Vice Mayor Juvy Magsino, 34, a human rights lawyer, was found in her Revo at around 10:30 p.m. in Barangay Pinasabangan 2, some 20 kilometers from Calapan. With her was Leima Fortu, 27, a teacher and acting secretary general of Karapatan-Oriental Mindoro.
In the Mindoro case, the Left cried harassment and blamed the military for the ambush. In the Aumentado case, the National Democratic Front (NDF) claimed responsibility to remind “an increasingly anti-people and counter-revolutionary bureaucrat.”
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I hope poll violence won’t spread to Cebu. In the 2001 polls, a goon from Masbate killed a party-list worker from Manila in the fourth district. I gathered that the incident created some kind of tension because the party-list group was identified with the late former NPA chief Rolly Kintanar. I was told that former congressman Junie Martinez succeeded in defusing the threat in his territory then by brokering some kind of peace with RK’s group.
But with RK out of the picture now, who would stop hotheads from his group from toying with the possibility of resbak? On the other hand, they might just be incapable of doing anything organized without their leader.
In the 2001 incident, Martinez proved that his fourth district fiefdom, known to be reinforced every election by Masbate goons, is secure. But will he use his armed capability to project his power outside the fourth district now that he is running for governor? Being media-savvy, Junie might reject this option because his people could easily be compared to the ‘bungotons’ in the ‘50s.
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In the second district, Rep. Sim Kintanar is thought to be weaker now with the loss of Rolly Kintanar, his enforcer in the past two elections. Sim’s adversaries cite this vulnerability in computing the possibility of victory this coming May.
To recall, RK was instrumental in breaking the morale of the Abines goons in 1998 reportedly with a preemptive strike early in the campaign period. In 2001, the Abineses reportedly sought the help of former rebels from Negros Island yet their former chief daunted them.
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I was right. The journalist in Cebu City Councilor Jun Kintanar prevailed over the politician. He chose to shield Sun.Star from controversy by refraining to write columns further because of ‘delicadeza.’ Nuff said.
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Former senator Raul Roco was the first presidential candidate who barnstormed Cebu last Friday and Saturday. Roco, who enjoyed the support of former governor Lito Osmeña’s Promdi, focused on his strong areas, which are the youth and urban professionals. Sen. Panfilo Lacson will follow suit reportedly with a province-wide caravan.
While the administration party is meeting snags owing to President Arroyo’s feuding leaders in Cebu, the Agila ni FPJ core group is planning a province-wide activity for Fernando Poe Jr. They expect ordinary Cebuanos to go all out for FPJ. “Dinudumog kami,” said the actor’s runningmate Sen. Loren Legarda in describing the reaction during their sorties.
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Some importers grumbled about a favored customs officer’s habit of going out Friday afternoons until three or four in the afternoon. Because import documents pass through this functionary’s desk, the delay costs brokers and importers overtime pay for their people and customs people at the Cebu International Port (CIP). And I thought District Collector Billy Bibit’s policy is trade facilitation.
This functionary is untouchable. Several brokers, who complained among others about her expanded powers last year, found it harder to do business with the bureau since.
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A recent visitor from Ormoc City complained about the smell from the city’s dumpsite. The neighboring town of Albuera reportedly had officially aired their sentiments through a petition but the Ormoc officialdom is not doing anything.
(Email: Superbalita@sunstar.com.ph or anol_cebu@hotmail.com cell phone: 09179761193)
(February 16, 2004 issue)
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