BASED on latest political satellite trackers, it looks like the reported clash between Bacolod Mayor Bing Leonardia and former 3rd District congressman and gambling mogul Albee Benitez is becoming unavoidable, especially with the latter’s increasing visibility in a number of recent events in Bacolod and the issuance of manifesto of support by majority of mayors in the province.
While Albee remains mum himself on the mayoralty bid, his recent highly publicized presence and eye-catching actuations in the city are sending a strong message that he would likely challenge Mayor Bing.
So, will there really be “engkwentro” o “areglo”? Analyzing Albee moves and the declarations of his allies, supporters and campaign partisans, it is now highly possible that he would challenge Mayor Bing.
What has attracted him to entertain Bacolod to be his second home? With his unimaginable money, or so they say, he can easily settle in top cities of the world, or join the world's billionaire’s hunt for a second planet earth. But why Bacolod when he does not have a major business in the city that he has to protect or nurture though he could start one like a world class casino city anytime he wants. Or does he have some sentimental attachment to the city?
Whatever it is that attracts or simply fascinates him to Bacolod is his own. But to bring with him an army of all sorts of sugar lords and landed elites in the province to support his journey to Bacolod is something else. It is a political message with a definite agenda.
What would move him to finally decide to face off with Mayor Bing?
From my various sources, his most important consideration is not money and support of his colleagues, they are given in the equation. It is the blessing of a formidable presidentiable, to avoid political complications with the powers in Malacanang. Of course, and also, if Mayor Bing would not settle for a political compromise or trade off.
And all that to be translated into a cohesive and effective strategy.
On the other hand, knowing Mayor Bing’s mindset and attitudes and his legendary rise to power as a lowly urban-based middle-class intelligentsia, it is improbable that he would concede to any opponent or just leave his people behind and vanish to a sort of a lost horizon.
As a native Bacolodnon with full grasp of the city's structure, culture, history and dynamics of power, and one who played a bigger and important role to what the city is now, Mayor Bing will certainly defend the fortress at all cost and by all means.
Mayor Bing is fully cognizant that his challenger and back up partisans are the leading landed elites, seasoned traditional politicians in the province who have practically turned their municipalities and cities as if it is their feudal fiefdom, extension of their sugar haciendas and agro industrial farms. And they will not just surrender at anything because of their capacities to get whatever they want.
Mayor Bing may not be able to equal Albee’s resources, but he can and will fight as a ferocious warrior, like Omak Muhktar of the lion of the desert, or Rommel the desert fox.
Mayor Bing is not a numbers game expert nor a landed elite who decides deliberately and emotionally on the basis of fire, might and gambler’s instinct, but on science, principles, agenda and governance experience he believes and practices.
Albee would likewise give his best cards forward in the course of battle, and finish it with alas and winning combinations.
If the “engkwentro” would indeed happen, it could truly be a battle royale to be known as the legendary battle of Bacolod, where both the victors and the losers would have their respective distinct place in the hall of legends and in Negros political history, and the partisans of both camps would have new education in the art of political war. But please don’t turn the city upside down and its streets littered with innocent blood.