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Thursday, February 19, 2004
Espinoza: Declaring Cebu a free zone
By Elias L. Espinoza
MONEY? The political situation in Cebu is something that places President Arroyo in a quandary. Imagine, three provincial political parties with three gubernatorial bets are vying for the governorship and all profess support for GMA.
While Arroyo’s chances of winning in Cebu in the May 10 polls may not be affected but instead bolstered because the three gubernatorial bets are supporting her reelection bid, the president can’t, on the other hand, disappoint any of her supporters publicly.
You know, with the high popularity rating of opposition presidential bet, Fernando Poe Jr. or FPJ, Arroyo needs solid votes from her supporters such that she can’t afford to dissatisfy any of the three gubernatorial candidates.
It is a real pity though that Presidential Assistant Felix Guanzon failed to muster the cooperation of the leaders of these three parties in relation to Arroyo’s scheduled campaign in Cebu.
Declaring Cebu a free zone or zona libre for all the candidates in the three parties is the most appropriate solution to the political imbroglio in the province. Under this scheme, no one will be disadvantaged or left out.
Cebu’s Lakas-CMD can’t also claim special treatment from Arroyo since they have been divided. One wing is Gwen Garcia, daughter of Gov. Pablo Garcia and running for governor under Lakas-CMD and the other Lakas-CMD wing is gubernatorial bet Junie Martinez.
Believe me, money is the only bone of contention among these candidates who openly and jointly support Arroyo despite their being in the opposite political camp. Their support means campaign funds flowing from Arroyo.
In these difficult times, who does not need money? All the local parties and their candidates need party funds. Arroyo is bound to dole out, otherwise, her chances of winning will be in jeopardy.
Arroyo’s minions here should know how to play with the game of the three gubernatorial candidates and their leaders. Otherwise, Arroyo will end up with nothing during the May 10 elections.
SOLICITOR? After the campaign for the national elective posts started, some enterprising local boys allegedly started soliciting campaign funds from establishments and some Chinese-Filipino businessmen.
A grapevine told this corner that this group supposedly aligned with a national party headed by this man had been going around town soliciting funds allegedly for their opposition presidential bet.
This guy is not only singing “Happy days are here again,” he’s also waltzing with politicians. He had himself photographed with the opposition presidential bet as proof to the gullible Chinese businessmen that he has the authority.
My source said this guy was once a government employee assigned in one of the juicy agencies. After leaving the government service, he now dabbles in a private endeavor that includes politics.
These days, if you meet someone who looks nice and gives you a big smile, don’t be surprised. He or she is probably a candidate, but certainly not a schizophrenic or someone who has manic-depressive psychosis.
(February 19, 2004 issue)
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