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Monday, February 03, 2003
Who's behind Ping Lacson's movement in Iloilo?
By Glenn Beup
The close aid of former Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Horacio "Boy" Morales called me up last Friday inviting me to attend the meeting set by the former secretary. Definitely, Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson will run for President. This was the topic discussed during the meeting that was conducted last Saturday.
Boy Morales is understandably in charge in organizing the "Ping Lacson for President" movement since he was recently chosen as the party president of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino. My presence there was not a show of any political inclination, but was out of respect to the invitation which I could not refuse, extended to me by the former secretary who was also my former boss.
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Iloilo is included as a topnotch province when it comes to the voting population. In fact, it ranks eighth when it comes to the voting population in the entire country. Statistically, here in Iloilo, Ping Lacson apparently showed a very poor performance during the 2001 election. He was in fact not included in the magic 12. He had poor election results here in Iloilo province, Capiz, and Antique. It was only in Aklan that he got a higher number of votes.
There is a need in focusing Ping Lacson's resources and political machinery in Iloilo, in order to court its large voting population reaching to almost 1 million.
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In that meeting, I incidentally met Retired Supreme Court Justice Santiago Kapunan of Mambusao, Capiz. I introduced myself to him, since my roots are also from Mambusao, as my great grandmother is part of the Lozada clan of the said municipality.
Though I haven't met former Justice Kapunan before, I was told by former Col. Red Kapunan of the RAM who is the second cousin of my father, that I am likewise related to the former Supreme Court Justice.
We had a very friendly conversation and I disclosed to him that Ret. General Arcadio Lozada, whose roots are from Mambusao, was the General Martin T. Delgado awardee last 2001 Pasidungog Award of Sta. Barbara. Indeed, he and Gen. Lozada are relatives.
However, I was not able to ask him if his attendance in the meeting is to support Sen. Lacson bid for presidency.
Also present in the meeting are Rhona Ganzon, wife of former Senator Roding Ganzon; city councilor Joshua Alim; and other political bigwigs of Iloilo, Capiz, and Guimaras.
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A local politician threatens to disclose some information and he allegedly holds some documents against this writer. My personal life, ever since, is an open book. I know myself more than he knows his own self.
Just wait for me to expose your performance as a public official. But of course, will commend you if you had, indeed, rendered good and effective public service. (Feb. 3, 2003 issue) |
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