Sangil: Mabalacat politics

THE LONGEST -- City Mayor Marino "Boking" Morales is called by his townmates and friends as the Gabby Concepcion of Mabalacat. You may also want to call him Marco Sison for his melodious rendition of "My Love Will See You Through," which he repeatedly belted in his many campaign trails, and for sure drew votes, according to Deng Pangilinan, his left and right hand man.

More than that, political observers are saying that he is more of a political fox due to his staying power as the longest serving mayor in the country today despite the law on three terms. Supposedly his second three-term service as mayor of the newly minted city will end in 2016. But wait.He is making a public declaration that he will run for reelection in the coming elections. Is he still eligible to run?

MIXED INTERPRETATIONS -- Morales' three terms should have its ending this coming 2016, said his critics. But not what his lawyers are saying. When Mabalacat town became a component city more than a year ago, it should be classified as a new political subdivision. And if there is configuration of its territorial area, then Morales can run. Morales hired one of the best election lawyers in the country, Atty. Romulo Macalintal, and the latter said with so much conviction that his client is not barred by law to seek another term as city mayor.

THE MORALESES -- Mayor Boking Morales comes from "buena familias" of the town. His grandfather Miguel Morales served as mayor in the late 40s until early 50s. His relatives on his mother side were landowners and early entrepreneurs who made their wealth in the real estate development and buy and sell business with American GIs. His son Dwight is now member of the city council, while daughter Marjorie is barangay captain.

In any event, after the expected legal issues to be raised regarding his eligibility for another term is resolved, two leading figures of the town may be in the forthcoming hustings.

THE CONTENDERS -- No doubt, Vice Mayor Christian Halili is today's rising political star of Mabalacat. If a poll is conducted today, according to observers, he will lead the race. He is a chip of the old block, so to speak. He is the son of the late Mayor Wilfredo "Fred" Halili, a well loved leader who served as mayor from 1972 to 1992.

Christian's humility was inherited from his father Fred. In his youth, Fred was a barracks boy and took errands from American servicemen in the nearby Clark Air Force Base. After work, he was a night student pursuing his college education in one of the colleges in Angeles City. Armed with a college diploma, he was hired as personal secretary by then Mayor Ben Fernandez. In the reelection bid of Fernandez in 1971, he got Fred as his running mate. Both won. Fate destined Fred to be mayor of the town when Fernandez was felled by assassin bullets in early 1972. By succession he assumed office and was mayor for almost 20 years.

Another aspirant is provincial Board Member Crisostomo Garbo. In my recent interview with him, he said nobody can stop him this time for wresting control of the Mabalacat City hall. "If I have to face my Kumpareng Boking in the mayoral race, so be it. It will be a friendly fight even if Christian will join the fray," Cris declared.

My Monday Club friend, Atty. Manolo Feliciano, a native of Mabalacat and presently a board director of the state-owned Clark Development Corporation, said "we have yet to see the end of it. With bated breath, the Mabalacatenos are not even interested who will emerge winner in 2016, but are keenly watching if Mayor Boking will be in the running."

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