Thursday, January 11, 2007 Ledesma: Joecab is spreading himself too thin By Jun Ledesma Sunbursts
GOVERNOR JOE Caballero is one politician with enviable fortune. But I always look at him as a lucky beneficiary of the conflicts of other political heavyweights. Place him in a campaign stage he can mesmerize his audience with fiery speech delivered in his native tongue. But that is his gift, which in Comval is hardly contested.
Roger Sarmiento or even Pros Amatong never had that orator's savvy. I don't think Arthur Uy, better known as Chongkee, has even a 10th of his eloquence. Add enough money to run his campaign and he can be a winnable candidate. But that was when Roger was the political adversary and when Comval politicians and miners consider Roger a threat to their interest.
But time has changed. Roger is out of politics for good. The rich man poor man subject, which sells, has become banal and can no longer incense Joecab. He has become rich and famous too.
Because Joecab's term limit is up, he has opted to run for congress. That was a good alternative for a tradpol that has become of Joecab. This week however, he assembled the womenfolk and the men folk and announced that he is fielding his daughter to run for governor too.
I think that Joe's overestimated his and that of his daughter winnability and charm. I also think that his adversaries, this time Pros Amatong and Chongkee, are just waiting in the bend for this kind of classic blunder.
My Ninong Paco Dizon is correct. Joecab will likely commit the mistake of running for Congress on one hand and then letting his daughter, or wife, vie for the gubernatorial race. In short one politician in the family at a time is enough. A daughter or son gunning for a much lower position, like board member or maybe vice governor, is acceptable. Wanting both the congressional and gubernatorial seat is political greed that even the avid supporters of the Caballeros may find nauseating.
Joecab must remember that he cannot outspend Pros Amatong anymore. Amatong, whose 3rd term as congressman is about to end, is fielding his son to run for the 2nd district versus Joecab. Pros will be celebrating if father and daughter will field their candidacies for the top posts in the province. Not only will Joecab spread his finances too thin he will certainly lose his financial backers who would not risk their interest on candidates who have less chances to win.
What's in the governor of Comval that Joe so direly wants to keep the post for his family? Chongkee is no pushover and knowing the China man, he knows where and how to spend his money where it is worth.
Still -and this should shock Caballero's adversaries about realities in politics on the ground -Joecab and daughter enjoyed a not-so comfortable (comfortable just the same) over their rivals in a recent survey reportedly commissioned by the Lakas NUCD itself.
Chongkee, Rep. Manuel "Way Kurat" Zamora and Rep. Pros Amatong have reportedly been briefed of this not so palpable survey. Expectedly, they are doing something about it now. The survey only proves one thing: Joecab -together with his daughter- is no pushover.
BTW, what's this I heard that Rodolfo del Rosario, RDR for short, is running for mayor of IGaCoS (Island Garden City of Samal)? The charismatic Mayor Roger Antalan is no longer qualified to run. Last time I was in IGaCoS a little birdie told me that the First Lady of the island will vie for the mayoral seat.
Before I even reached the port of Babak, I was told that former Mayor Aniano Antalan, the younger brother of Mayor Roger, is making a comeback! Tssk, tssk. I think that RDR's joining the fray will settle family disputes. The Antalans are my friends and they are sincere political leaders. Moreover, if indeed Dolfo is interested to be Mayor of IGACOS that will a big boost to the island.
During his term as congressman and governor RDR has always considered Samal Island a prime tourist spot. He brought in investors to the island and succeeded in placing the island province in the UNDP map for tourism development. Mayor of Igacos? Why not? Why refuse a blessing?
