Wednesday, November 15, 2006 Balingit: 3rd district congressional fight a slugfest By Allan Balingit On a High Note
NOWHERE in the country can an endorsement by Malacañang for an electoral candidate more crucial for knotting up a victory than in Pampanga. That is why to most politicians here, the blessing of the President and her administration party is coveted, much like a missing piece in a laborious puzzle.
No wonder also, that in the race for the province's third congressional seat, former and current board members Dinan Labung and Dong Gonzales are seeking that same endorsement.
However, at this stage it would be unlikely that Dong would get it; not after the recent blooper he committed pushing for an anti-Gloria Arroyo stalwart and pro-impeachment Loren Legarda as adoptive daughter of the province. That act was seen by some as an irresponsible move by Dong or by any Pampanga local official for that matter to even consider.
The Palace was slighted by the apparent lack of sensitivity that eventually the Provincial Board (PB) capitulated and rescinded the adoption.
Loren lost here to Noli in her vice presidential bid in the last elections, claiming that there was massive cheating staged here against her. An electoral protest has been filed by her camp, which up to now, I believe, is still being heard by the judicial courts. If there is someone she should blame if she lost here in Pampanga, it should be the people close and working for her in the province.
Seems like someone is just trying to pass the buck; blaming the people, rather than admitting that somewhere along the way something must have gone wrong; deflecting the culpability to other things, cheating in this instance to save his skin.
Dong was even tagged by former Bacolor mayor Jun Canlas in aiding the opposition. That has yet to be proven but quite a damning allegation.
Well for me, if you are with the opposition so be it. Why try to hide that fact? There is no law against it. The last time I heard, we are still a democratic country. The people who would vote surely need to know where you stand on important issues or the political color you carry. This goes to all those who are vying for positions in next year's elections. The public is entitled to it. We can't be saying this and doing that.
I have an idea though why Dong still persists on having that endorsement, or if that is not possible in appeasing the President. He knows that despite his seeming head start in this congressional campaign, all of that would begin to wobble and falter once the administration's political machinery starts churning. Remember, where the head goes the body follows; so the local leaders who might have earlier signified their intention to support him, might at the end have a change of heart as they give more importance to the desire of the President of the country, and at length the welfare of the people in their locality.
At any rate, isn't Jimmy Santos apparent endorsement enough? Jimmy's "pasingit" greetings of Mr. Gonzales in a rated noontime show are quite obvious wouldn't you say?
Meantime, while we suffer from political and economic instability, and with the threat of impeachment still hanging on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's head like the Damocles sword of eons, her administration clearly needs allies that would stay loyal to her against any threat. The chosen one must likewise be supportive of the administration's stand on several important issues pending in Congress, Charter change in particular.
Looks like Dong could not cut it at this time in bidding for the administration's support -- too many loose ends to tie and questions to answer that would test his loyalty.
Malacañang's endorsement, though not an assurance of victory, would be a big factor in guaranteeing a steady stream of resources that determines in most cases the success of any electoral campaign.
Congressman Mikey explicitly said that the administration would give its backing to those with unwavering commitment to the ideology and plans of the party.
Dinan surely has the advantage when it comes to that. He certainly hasn't done anything that could provoke any negative reactions from the Palace, or there is nothing I could think of right now.
Anyway, though Dinan might be the underdog momentarily, I believe that would turn into an advantage for him given the right formula, as Filipinos tend to root for the underdogs. Plus, Dinan had congressional campaign experience that had almost netted him the post. People in the district already know him personally, not just on billboards and streamers.
All things considered however, the fight for the third district congressional seat would be a classic, much like the Pacquiao-Morales tiff.
