Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Malilong: It’s only John-john?
By Frank Malilong Jr.
The Other Side
CEBU 1st District Rep. Eduardo Gullas said he was not surprised that former Cebu vice governor John Gregory Osmeña is planning to challenge his reelection bid. A more accurate reaction would have been that he was glad but, of course, you won’t catch Eddiegul saying that.
In fact, you won’t hear Eddiegul trying to correct claims by John-john’s backers that Sonny Osmeña’s disclosure of his son’s political plans has left the first district solon quaking in his boots. The most that he will probably say publicly is that which he has already said: “The sun shines for everyone.”
It is no secret that Sonny O always wanted to pit John-john against Eddiegul. That was the plan in 2001 but the younger Osmeña defied Sonny O`s wish, preferring instead to run for governor. John-John went on to lose not only the election but also his father’s goodwill, in both cases, rather badly.
Sonny blamed Eddiegul for his son’s political misadventure. He accused the latter of tricking John-john into joining the gubernatorial race with promises of support, only to abandon him at the last minute. Osmeña also thinks that Gullas junked him when he ran for the Senate in that same election.
Gullas denies this, of course. He said he supported John-john to the very end but the issues that were raised against the latter were so heavy that they simply weighed his candidacy down. As for Sonny O, he said, the records show that he did win in the towns comprising the first district.
When John-john disappeared from public view after his defeat, the issues against him were no longer mentioned in public discussions. If and when he decides to make a political comeback, however, you can be sure that questions will again be asked about his supposed friendship with the people involved in the Perdido Lex scandal and in a controversial shipment of chemicals that the authorities seized.
Sonny O compares Gullas to an old tree with old roots. He didn’t say how he regards John-john but it could only be in a more pleasant light since his son has chosen to abide by his wish, even if a tad late.
Make that three years late. Had he challenged Eddiegul in 2001, they would have been more or less on equal footing in the sense that none of them was an incumbent. As with all defending champions, Eddiegul now enjoys a tremendous edge over all challengers especially against one who has been absent for so long.
If John-john vanished from public view for a purpose, thinking that the people’s short memory will make them forget the issues that caused his 2001 debacle, he may have thought wrong. Capitol consultant Pablo John Garcia’s “where have you been; it’s nice of you to remember” is particularly instructive.
You see, Eddiegul may not say some things including that he’s happy it’s only John-john, but many others will.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 21, 2007 issue)
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