Wednesday, May 30, 2007 Nalzaro: Zamboanga politics By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
DIPOLOG CITY---I am in my hometown to visit my mother and attend our family reunion, which was held in time for the annual fiesta of my birthplace, Barangay Olingan located seven kilometers away from the city proper. I noted lots of changes here since I left this place almost 30 years ago.
It was a memorable reunion with my brothers and sisters, together with their respective families. We bonded well even for just a short period of time. Our 83-year-old mother, Nanay Doring, was also happy seeing all of us successful in our chosen fields.
It is seldom that we hold reunions because of distance. My two brothers and a sister came all the way from Bacolod, Puerto Princesa and Zamboanga City. Home, sweet home, indeed.
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The result of the election is also hot topic here. The political landscape in Dipolog and the province of Zamboanga del Norte was also interesting and the elections were marred by vote buying.
Our province is the poorest in the country based on a survey conducted by the National Economic Development Authority a few years ago. But you know how much the vote buying rate here was? It was P1,000 per voter.
Nothing much changed in the political leadership in the province and in its three districts. Gov. Rolando Yebes got reelected. He defeated outgoing Dipolog City Mayor Roberto Uy, a wealthy Chinese-Filipino businessman.
Uy's wife, Belen, succeeded her husband. She defeated outgoing second district Rep. Roseller “Matoy” Barinaga in a hotly contested contest for mayor. Barinaga filed a disqualification case against Belen, questioning her nationality.
Despite his detention, Romeo “Nonong” Jalosjos still holds influence in the province’s politics. Romeo's brother, Dominador, was re-elected mayor of Dapitan City. His sister, Cecilia Jalosjos Carreon, is the first district representative.
Another brother, Cesar, represents the third district. Cesar has a child with actress Maricel Soriano. Romeo's son Bullet, whose mother is singer Lorna Pal, was elected Provincial Board member.
A political neophyte and balikbayan, Dodoy Labad-Labad, succeed Barinaga as second district representative. He defeated actor Matt Ranillo III, son of Cebuana actress Gloria Sevilla. The Ranillos are from Dipolog.
Like in most parts of the country, some political clans here dominate local politics.
