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Saturday, January 07, 2006
Roperos: All the President’s men
By Godofredo M. Roperos
Politics Also
There is nothing more reassuring to a president like Gloria Macapagal Arroyo than the knowledge that she has at least three able and loyal men in her trust, doing the political, social, and economic things for her administration from Cebu.
If GMA were the sun, the three would be her dependable satellites circling around her in their separate and independent orbits. They would be co-equal in speed, accessibility, and gravitational connection to her.
Of course, there are lesser satellites that used to, or also have, their own orbits around her. But they have been incapacitated in the inner, disguised, and subtle “power struggle” among the stronger, more prominent satellites.
The struggle, in this kind of political power-motivated circumstance, often comes in subtle leaks of info floated as true. It is, in essence, a disguised intrigue, destructive and anchored on little bits of truth, mixed in a bowl of lies.
Yesterday, with the President in Cebu, we expected at least two of the three of them to be within her beck and call, as the cliché goes. In her schedule was a trip Toledo City for its charter anniversary. Toledo, as you know, is a city noted to be under the political umbrella of a former senator who is trying to make a come back.
But this is not really what we have in mind for this piece. The three presidential men in Cebu, if one were to believe every bit of “txtd” talks about them, may often appear as close and friendly, but that is only when the President is around.
It is interesting to note, so their close and loyal friends aver, that they all profess close ties and friendship with the media, or at least with certain sectors of it. But then again, this has also become the basis for intrigues and probably baseless talks that float around.
For instance, there was talk in the previous weeks that one of them was unceremoniously eased out of his sub-Cabinet position. This was a bit harsh, coming as it did, out of the blue without any hint of reason why.
And even before the veracity of the talks could be ascertained by media, another “txtd” talk followed: that at least one of the three was entrusted with some P10 million intended supposedly as Christmas joy for the island’s media community. However, not even a shadow of the amount ever reached the hand of any media man or woman.
Now, who could be trying to foul up the relationship of the President’s men in Cebu? Your answer could be as good as mine.
But just between you and me, the info about the sub-Cabinet man being eased out did have a basis, but one without malicious imputation. It was a voluntary request to be moved to another post after he had reportedly successfully restored to a better financial health the office he was originally assigned to.
The presidential footman, who I think has deeper political roots than the other two, was in Dutch with another official he could not stomach to work with.
And what about the million pesos for media joy? Well, it is downright impossible to believe such a talk could have basis. No self-respecting media man in Cebu would bite such talk even if the one who floated it would swear to its truth.
After all, if one comes down to it, all the President’s men in Cebu are self-respecting men, too.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (January 7, 2006 issue)
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