Friday, March 23, 2007 Roperos: Objectionable politics By Godofredo M. Roperos Politics Also
SCHOLARS of history who are now watching the flow of contemporary events from their swivel chairs in the academe would no doubt be knitting their brows studying the current political campaign. It is a condition that nowhere in the history of our republic has ever noted until now.
Of course, there was a time in the mid-1930s when the nation’s political life was largely dominated by two political groups—the Democrata and the Nacionalista. While there were other smaller groups, the two parties were dominant and all political movements revolved around them.
After the Second World War, the setup continued. It was because of this that the push for a multi-party system to open the political playing field to all political players was made in the mid-1980s.
And so it is today that we have now the political drama in Camarines Sur where the Villafuertes, specifically a father and his son, are headed for “political combat” over the congressional seat held by the father. The outcome, will be worth watching come May 14.
Similar cases are developing in other parts of the country, like in Mandaue City. At this point, one may have to study the local situation a bit. Political bad blood and personal enmities may have to be considered here, all in the name of politics and in the guise of public interest.
As it is, national and local political interests are intertwined here, worsening the confusion. It should, in some way, make keen observers take what they see or hear with a grain of salt, like the talk that Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has urged the ombudsman to suspend Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano because of the lamppost scam.
Whether it is proper for Mayor Tom to do that or not can only be judged against the backdrop of the two mayors’ political relationship.
Anyway, a more confusing situation in Mandaue seems more interesting, and this is the positioning between business and politics. It is something that should test the mettle of wily politicians doing battle against seasoned business lords.
But what makes the Mandaue politics interesting is the mix-up of the key candidates’ political affiliations. Jonkie, who is running for mayor vice his father, Thadeo Ouano, was appointed city chairman of Lakas-CMD. His opponent, Jonas Cortes, is supported by Luigi Quisumbing, Lakas’ 6th district chairman and the party’s candidate for congress.
The Lakas district leader is supporting the opponent of the Lakas party bet for mayor. This means there is no tie-up between the district and the city political machinery. Still, one can say it can be a win-win situation for the city’s electorate.
