THE long arm of the law has caught up with Mabalacat City Mayor Morales. Residents here extolled anti-crime and corruption activist Pyra Lucas for booting out the man, who has controlled political life in this bustling community since 1995.
He is now out in the cold begging for reconsideration for being knocked out from office.
Morales will be replaced by former vice mayor and ex-provincial board member Cris Garbo, a known protégé and dogged loyalist of Nanay Gob.
Our Man from Bical has fulfilled a power grab previously undreamt of in his native Barrio Tabun. It was former Governor Lito Lapid, who drafted Garbo in his political team on the belief he was a medical graduate. On that basis he was elected board member.
Scandalized by the violation of the election mandate of three consecutive terms, the Gov pleaded to Boking not to reelect to correct the anomaly, Morales turned down all entreaties, creating a wedge between him and the Pinedas.
Boking was confident he could beat the Pineda machinery in Mabalacat. True enough he trounced her candidate in a smashing upset. He has proven that the Gov does not have vote control of Mabalacat.
Residents believed Nanay Gob has extended tremendous help to disqualify Morales and put Garbo to replace him. Actually it was the “Fightin’ Pyra” who started the disqualification case against Boking, the legendary politician with nine lives. No matter how you toss Morales in the air he will land squarely on his feet. Pyra has accomplished her goal of being a legitimate crusader and standout leader of the city.
***
The beginning of the end for Boking erupted when President Duterte disclosed on TV the names of public officials involved in drugs. He cited Morales among alleged suspects.
Drug enforcement authorities are unsuccessful to this date to pin down Morales as a suspect. Speculation was that the DILG will bring down the axe on him, but to no avail. The disqualification case finally caught the wily and attorney-smart Boking in the corner.
If finally evicted from office, definitely he will make a comeback in 2019. I surmise the Cat with Nine Lives will prove again that he can beat the Pinedas in his kingdom.