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Wednesday, October 15, 2003
Politics turns kin into foes in DavOr
By Ben O. Tesiorna
THIS is another example of the many cases wherein politics destroys the harmonious relationship among family members.
In Mati, Davao Oriental, Mayor Francisco "Paking" Rabat was accused by one Joanna Mabini, a former municipal employee, of not paying the salary of some casual employees hired during the past administration of then Mati Mayor Benito G. Rabat (BGR), Paking's younger brother.
Paking refuses to pay the former municipal employees hired by his predecessor.
The Mati mayor was also accused by a local broadcaster of "harassment" saying Paking's henchmen went to their radio station one day and demanded a copy of their broadcast program and threatened them with "harm".
Charmaine Bangoy, Mati Radyo Natin station manager, revealed during a seminar conducted by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) a few weeks ago that Rabat has been harassing them for airing "blocktime programs" in their station critical of his administration.
In an interview Monday, Michelle Rabat, Mayor Rabat's daughter and chief of staff, revealed that the two incidents stemmed from a growing rift between her father and Mati Vice Mayor Florinda Isabelle "Baby" Rabat, Paking's sister-in-law.
Michelle said the rift started during the last weeks of Benito Rabat's (BGR) administration when he allegedly hired hundreds of casual employees without the prior approval of the Municipal Council.
Michelle said the casual employees hired by BGR and led by Mabini are now making so much fuss and even threatening to stage a protest during the Mindanao Friendship Games slated in Mati on October 19 to 24.
She added it is this same Joanna Mabini that has been going on air in Radyo Natin and humiliating Paking.
"Masyado nang personal ang tira nya. She even made fun of the ailment of my dad. Kesyo may butas daw sa lalamunan ang father ko," Michelle said. It was learned that Paking was operated on the larynx for cancer due to excessive smoking during his younger days.
Michelle said it is for this reason that they made a protest before the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), who in turn advised them to get a copy of the particular blocktime program to serve as basis for the filing of charges.
She said they sent people to get a copy of the radio program from Radyo Natin. She, however, denied harassing the radio station employees, saying they even did not make any further demands when the management refused to hand them a copy of their taped programs.
Michelle said they suspect somebody behind the recent black propaganda campaign against Rabat and this could be no other than her aunt, the vice-mayor. It was learned that Michelle's aunt is planning to seek the mayoral seat this coming elections.
(October 15, 2003 issue)
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