SOMETIMES in our period of reflection, we asked the good Lord why He put so many politicians in government and majority of them are crooks? God is in control, isn’t He? This is no swift accusation, but many of our governors, congressmen and mayors, though not all, are there in their offices because they simply bought their seats to the offices where they were elected. Talent, good intention, sincerity, honesty and all the good virtues in a man are no match against a politician whose pocket was lined up with money, which are fruits of his or her own corrupt ways. And sad, people tolerate it by way of repeatedly voting them into office.
May I remind everyone that in few weeks, it will be year 2018. And in October of the coming year, we would know who will be in the running for different political positions. At this early, national and local politicians are already positioning themselves what's next for them. House of Representatives Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez already announced names that will be fielded in the senate race, among them the pretty blogger/dancer Mocha Uson and presidential spokesman Harry Roque.
Here in Pampanga, two names already surfaced, and it is expected that fourth district Congressman Paolo "Rimpy" Bondoc is aching to take over the Capitol as the well loved Governor Lilia "Nanay" Baby Pineda finishes her third and last term. But Rimpy has to hurdle past Vice Governor Dennis "Delta" Pineda. The young Pineda has his own legion of followers. I don’t think Dennis parents will just watch on the sidelines. Mother knows best for his son.
As it is, the second congressional district is a Pineda domain,( Porac, Sta. Rita, Guagua, Sasmuan, Florida Blanca and Lubao) and Bondoc supporters are saying the fourth congressional district is Rimpy’s turf. (Macabebe, Masantol, Apalit, Minalin, Sto. Tomas, San Luis and Candaba). The battleground will be the third congressional district. So it is expected that their pick on who will be in tandem is clearly coming from the third congressional district (Bacolor, San Fernando, Mexico, Sta. Ana and Arayat). Senior Board Member Ferdinand ‘Dinan’ Labung is most likely the choice for Pineda. He is quite popular not only in the third district but in the province as well. There’s no name yet surfacing who could be Bondoc’s possible running mate.
In Mabalacat City, Mayor Cris Garbo hit the ground running as soon as he took over from erstwhile Mayor Boking Morales. He has been making the rounds, dispensing favors. He is gaining success and his popularity is soaring high. On the other hand, the latest news about Morales is that he is not ready yet to hang his political gloves. If he will engage again Garbo remains to be seen.
rMost interesting to watch is the political development in Angeles City. Incumbent Mayor Ed Pamintuan finishes his final and last term. Vice Mayor Bryan Nepomuceno is a breath away but it seems he will face tough opponents in case he will make the run. I remember talking with the former Congressman and Mayor Carmelo "Tarzan" Lazatin and he emphatically declared that one of his juniors will be in the mayoralty race. Then there is Alexander "the great" Caugiran, now top honcho of Clark International Airport Corporation. He is dead serious in gunning for the mayorship, and he can be considered a front runner if he gets the support of Edpam, his long time political partner. Looming as a dark horse is Irineo "Bong" Alvaro, former councilor and city administrator during Francis’Blueboy’ Nepomuceno’s administration. He is now a successful businessman running a casino and on line gambling operation. It is getting interesting by the day.