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Thursday, April 15, 2004
Mongaya: Graceful exit?
By Anol Mongaya
Presidential aspirant Raul Roco’s surprising withdrawal from the campaign benefits President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Its effect will soon be felt in results of surveys in his bailiwicks.
A pro-GMA partisan told me last week that Roco is a poor second in Cebu. But whether he is second or third, expect GMA’s ratings to further rise in Cebu.
Unfortunately for Roco, talks persist that he deliberately gave way because his rating dropped sharply after the campaign period had started. The medical treatment in America is allegedly just his “graceful exit.”
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If the latest Pulse Asia survey is accurate, Jamby Madrigal’s jump from 18th to 11th place in the senatorial race can be credited to her identification with Judy Ann Santos who is a fixture in her advertisements. The survey’s Magic 12 also included actors Bong Revilla and Lito Lapid.
Sen. John Osmeña’s drop from the top five to number eight could be the result of the demolition job against him. Still, that ranking means he won’t be affected by any dagdag-bawas operation.
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Surveys show administration vice presidential bet Noli de Castro leading over opposition rival Loren Legarda. But there are e-mails being circulated on his alleged extortion activities as a broadcaster. This will pull him down now that we are into the homestretch of the campaign.
Though these could just be part of a demolition job, some of the accusations are sticking. The masa might not be Internet savvy, but many of the e-mails are reprints of articles that came out in Manila tabloids.
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The Armed Forces should do more than cite the presence of Bayan Muna projects in Bogo as proof that Mayor Tining Martinez is sleeping with the Left. After all, Bayan Muna is a legitimate party list group with three representatives in Congress.
The contribution receipt reportedly issued by the underground to Martinez could also be bogus because it does not have any logo on it. Besides, would an underground group issue a receipt for its fundraising efforts? It can perhaps keep a ledger but issuing a receipt is preposterous.
To be fair, the military report mentioning Tining’s Leftist links was confidential. And I think political operators had a hand in leaking this to the media with the declaration of the fourth district under Comelec control as the objective. Expect the Martinezes to reply with exposes of their own in the next few days.
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I don’t think linking the Martinezes to the Left would hurt them. That is not enough to persuade Malacañang to allow Comelec control in the district. As long as Junie Martinez can deliver the votes, GMA will move heaven and earth to keep him within her orbit.
Junie’s opponents should instead zero in on the alleged presence of people from Masbate and other armed teams that will supposedly be used for Election Day special operations. Fortunately for Junie, his opponents, including those with military and police connections, don’t have the balls to meet him head-on on this.
Still, I am convinced armed men crisscrossing the fourth district could lead to the eruption of violence, like what happened in 2001. If so, the possibility of Comelec control will be more likely.
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Among the issues raised by Mayor Tomas Osmeña and former mayor Alvin Garcia is that on the controversial purchase of Hino trucks. Osmeña’s men claim that the City got P1 million discount from the purchase of each truck. But Garcia’s camp said the City spent P2.4 million for a unit whose cost should only have been P800,000 being modified surplus truck.
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Pronouncements from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency confused me. Is Cebu a transshipment point for drug precursors from China and India to Australia? Or is there a shabu lab here, meaning Cebu is the end destination? Enforcement agencies should proceed with their investigation no matter what politicians from both sides of the fence are saying.
(e-mail: superbalita@sunstar.com.ph or anol_cebu@hotmail.com; text: 0917-9761193)
(April 15, 2004 issue)
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