Boy Ex Javier is not Art Defensor

“Working hard and working smart sometimes can be two different things.”  Byron Dorgan

By Alex P. Vidal

A VIDEO can be cruel if its entire episode is not seen.

The video of that ugly microphone-grabbing incident at the E. B. Javier Freedom Park in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique last Monday morning immediately elicited sympathies for ousted Antique governor Exequiel “Boy Ex” Javier after it looked like he was being bullied by supporters of newly-installed governor Rhodora Cadiao.

The scene where lawyer Kune Aldon forcefully snatched the microphone away from Javier’s grip was so distressing as Javier’s face suddenly turned pale like Winnie the Pooh frightened by the turn of events.

Upon realizing he was surrounded by Popeye, Bart Simpson, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Fred Flintstone and Wile E. Coyote, scared Winnie the Pooh obediently left the slaughterhouse after being whisked away by a lone aide.

Winnie the Pooh didn’t put up a resistance.

Aldon or Popeye later explained that he only grabbed back the microphone which Javier had allegedly taken away from Cadiao before the flag ceremony.

That scene where Javier allegedly grabbed the microphone from Cadiao was not seen in the video downloaded in the social media.

The incident would have been avoided if Javier only followed what ousted Laguna governor EJ Ejercito did.

Ejercito, who was also disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for campaign overspending, did not anymore wait for the writ of execution from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Javier was disqualified for illegally suspending Valderrama mayor Mary Joy Roquero before the May 2013 polls. 

Ejercito vacated the Laguna capitol after Manila mayor Erap Estrada, his uncle, convinced him to leave.

INSTALLED

Cadiao was formally installed as the new governor after the DILG and Comelec served the writ of execution on February 3, after a week of leadership tug-of-war.

Javier is not actually doomed politically.

His ouster does not disqualify him from seeking another term for governor in 2016 which is 15 months away.

If Javier decides to run again, he will be up for a possible collision course versus Cadiao, who, by that time, must have already solidified her hold among barangay officials and municipal mayors.

It remains to be seen, however, if Antiquenos will revert back to the old politics that has stalled the growth of the province by electing Javier once again.  

Javier has been in power since the post EDSA revolution.

Because of the memory and legacy left behind by his martyred brother, former governor Evelio, he cruised to an unprecedented three terms in congress.

His son, Paolo, has replaced Javier in congress.

Javier father and son have been lording over Antique politics like a dynasty.

Javier’s ouster as governor via disqualification was a bitter pill to swallow for a politician who has become a myth in his province.

Behind his mouth-watering winning streak as congressman and governor, however, was a protracted and unresolved conflict with the Pacificadors.

When Board Member Arturo “Turing” Pacificador died last month, Javier failed to put an exclamation point to their ugly political rivalry started by the late Evelio that dated back during the Martial Law years.

RIVAL

To compound the matter, Javier also had a falling out with former governor Sally Perez-Saldivar, who also became his arch-rival in Antique politics.

Despite his seeming invincibility, Javier is far from being a legend if we review the growing list of leaders in the province who have become dissatisfied and disillusioned with his brand of politics.

He is far cry from IIoilo Governor Arthur “Art” Defensor Sr., who still commands the respect of both his rivals and supporters even if he has been in politics before Martial Law.

As a former assemblyman, Defensor was already a national figure long before Boy Ex Javier became a by-word in Antique.   

Defensor also became Boy Ex’s colleague in the House of Representatives, serving the third district of Iloilo from June 30, 2001 until June 30, 2010.

When Defensor first became governor in 1992-1998, he beat future governor Neil D. Tupas, Sr. in one of the hottest gubernatorial contests in history.

Like Boy Ex, Defensor also swept his rivals and was never defeated.

The only difference is Defensor was never hated as a politician.

Instead of waging an Armageddon against Defensor, his former political rivals admired him and saluted the political paradigm shift that he has introduced in Iloilo.

Bruised ‘Boy Ex’ still waiting for Michael Buffer

“Patience is not simply the ability to wait - it's how we behave while we're waiting.” Joyce Meyer

By Alex P. Vidal

EXEQUIEL “Boy Ex” Javier knows he had been knocked out.

The referee had already ruled him unfit to continue.

But he refused to accept defeat saying he would only go down and leave the arena if the ring announcer has officially declared his loss.

In this scenario, Antique governor Javier is the dethroned pugilist.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is the referee.

The Supreme Court is the ring announcer.

Javier said while he “will respect” the decision of the Comelec, only the Supreme Court can oust him.

A case of a defrocked prizefighter refusing to leave the ring even if the referee has already rendered an official verdict, because the ring announcer was still waiting for the jury to hand over him the official result of the contest.

Amid the conundrum, Rhodora Cadiao raised her hand in victory and strapped the championship belt around her waist.

“But I’m still the champion,” protested the blooded Javier. “The crown has not been vacated.”

Ignoring Javier, newly-crowned titlist Cadiao prepares to announce her first defense of the title and didn’t wait anymore for Michael Buffer or Jimmy Lennon Jr. to declare “And the winner is…”

-o0o-

FORMER Iloilo first district Rep. Oscar “Oca” Garin Sr. became both the singer and the song.

He intended only to disabuse the minds of doubting Thomases that he was behind the illegal gambling activities in the first district of Iloilo.

He only wanted to expose an evil and send a chilling reminder that he didn’t tolerate it.

But Garin, the singer, ended up disastrously singing a different song.

Instead of telling pessimists directly that he had no hand in illegal gambling activities in his district, Garin went haywire and machined-gunned municipal mayors and police chiefs in the district, accusing them of receiving a monthly payola or protection racket from gambling lords.

The title of his song should have been: “I’m Innocent.”

Because “he is innocent” or has nothing to do with illegal gambling activities, Garin exhorted the cops to apprehend all those involved.

But in his haphazardly-prepared concert, Garin erratically sang: “You’re on the take.”

No names. No evidence. No nothing except banter and cavalier sermon.

When the tide of media criticism, as well as the cavil of the police chiefs and the municipal mayors concerned, turned against him, Garin’s new tune became “Don’t blame me!”

The singer and the song goofed because he beat around the bush!

-o0o-

ILOILO second district Rep. Arcadio “Cadio” Gorriceta said he agreed with Iloilo Gov. Arthur “Art” Defensor Sr. when the governor told him in one of their discussions that the true measure of a brave and durable ring warrior is his capacity to mount a comeback and survive after he has been floored on the same bout.

“He is a brave and durable warrior if, after having been rocked by solid blows and got knocked down, he is still able to recover, absorb more punishments, and continue to attack his opponent,” said Gorriceta.

Gorriceta cited Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez, the hard-hitting Mexican who knocked out in six Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao on December 8, 2012 in Las Vegas.

“Marquez suffered knockdowns several times in all his duels with Pacquiao. In their last fight, his nose was already blooded and Pacquiao was ready to finish him off when disaster struck: Pacquiao went down from Marquez’s lucky punch and was counted out,” the congressman recalled.

Rep. Gorriceta talked about Marquez after we met accidentally during the lunch for the birthday of fellow journalist Herbert Vego at Hotel del Rio on January 31, where he asked whether the fight between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will push through. 

Antique on brink of chaos as Mar Roxas dilly-dallies

“A perfection of means, and confusion of aims, seems to be our main problem.” Albert Einstein

By Alex P. Vidal

INSTEAD of an ounce of prevention, a pound of cure is now needed to solve the leadership crisis that hit Antique, which now has two governors.

With two governors—Exequiel Javier and Rhodora Cadiao—jockeying for the post, Antiquenos are now in a state of confusion as to who they will recognize.

Even supporters of the two governors are starting to get restless and irritated by the perplexing turn of events.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) led by Secretary Mar Roxas hasn’t intervened.

If Roxas was decisive enough, the political standoff in Antique would have been prevented earlier.

Antique needs a win-win solution to its problem at the capitol.

A phone call to Javier convincing him to step down over the weekend would have been enough to avoid the leadership crisis.

Roxas would have reminded Javier that in Laguna, Governor ER Ejercito left capitol peacefully in May 2014 after being convinced by his uncle, Manila Mayor Erap Estrada, thus averting any violence.

Ejercito was also disqualified by the Comelec for election overspending.

DILG was supposed to serve the writ of execution issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which earlier disqualified Javier for violation of Omnibus Election Code.

A week had passed since a transition of power was supposed to take place at the Antique capitol when Javier failed to secure a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Supreme Court, but the DILG didn’t show up to install Vice Governor Cadiao as the new governor.

CENTRAL

The writ of execution was still in the DILG central office in Manila and was not yet transmitted to the regional office as of press time, it was reported.

Meanwhile, Cadiao took her oath of office at the session hall of the Provincial Board in the old provincial capitol around 4:30 p.m. Thursday, January 29 administered by Atabay, San Jose Barangay Captain Jay Aster Hiponia.

After the oath-taking, Cadio declared: “I am both humbled and honored by this great task of assuming the leadership as governor of our province in this time of great crisis. Twenty-seven years ago we lived in a shadow of fear and despair. Today, we start a new day to live in the sublime sunshine of hope and change.”

Javier asserted that there was no vacancy in the governor’s office insisting that only the Supreme Court can oust him.

Comele Chairman Sixto Brillantes, however, declared that Javier’s disqualification was final and executory.

Javier’s Waterloo came after he suspended Valderrama Mayor Joyce Roquero in January 2013 in violation of the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits the suspension of local elected officials within election period.

REFUSE

Javier has refused to step down and his supporters continued to mass up in the capitol ground in San Jose de Buenavista to show support after he exhorted them earlier to “protect your votes” insisting that the Comelec ruling “is only temporary.”

With two governors, department heads are now in quandary.

If banks can’t decide which signature to acknowledge in capitol-issued checks, basic services will be hampered.

Once the writ of execution will be issued by the DILG regional office anytime, there is still no guarantee that Javier will relinquish his post.

He earlier said he would respect the decision of the Comelec.

But now, Javier said he will only obey the decision of the Supreme Court.

The events that will unfold in the next three weeks are worth watching.

The gods 'angered' by Gov. Javier’s hubris

“Whenever I've had success, I never learn from it. Success usually breeds a degree of hubris. When you fail, that's when you learn.” Moby

By Alex P. Vidal

ANTIQUE Gov. Exequiel Javier will only have himself to blame if he loses his position for disqualification.

Like Sisyphus, whom the gods condemned to ceaselessly roll a rock to the top of a mountain, whence the stone would fall back of its own weight, Javier had it coming.

Like Prometheus, the governor’s hubris did him in.

They make mad first whom the gods wish to destroy?

The younger brother of the late ex-governor Evelio, a national hero, had been warned that his Executive Order No. 003 dated Jan. 23, 2013 preventively suspending for 30 days Mayor Mary Joyce Roquero of Valderrama, was illegal.

It violated the Omnibus Election Code that prohibits the suspension of any elective local executive within the election period.

The previous election period started on January 13, 2013 until June 12, 2013.

But he ignored the law, nay the warning.

The governor, who had served as congressman for three terms, probably underestimated the enemy.

In fact, Javier said he was “willing to face the music” (in fairness to Javier, he actually said he would respect the Comelec decision).

GROUND

Javier’s act was a ground for disqualification under Section 68 of the Omnibus Election Code, Brilliantes explained.

But Javier was unfazed.

Upon the recommendation of the Provincial Board, he suspended Roquero, who was facing administrative case filed by her vice mayor, Christopher Maguad.

The vice mayor charged Roquero for gross misconduct, dereliction of duty and abuse of authority for reportedly allowing the alleged illegal operation of a gasoline station.

It was a simple case of conflict between a town mayor and vice mayor that turned into a tsunami.

For agreeing with the Provincial Board, Javier’s eyes were zapped by the tiniest mote of dust.

If he did not implement the Provincial Board recommendation, there would have been no disqualification case filed against him.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, Antique will have a new governor starting Monday, January 26.

INSTALL

Rhodora Cadiao, the incumbent vice governor, will be installed as governor by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) after the issuance of the writ of execution by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

This became apparent after the Supreme Court did not grant Javier’s petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop his disqualification.

His ouster was final and executory, according to Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes.

Interestingly, Javier’s political opponent, the late board member Arturo “Turing” Pacificador, will be buried on January 24 in Lapaz, Hamtic, Antique.

Pacificador, who spent years in jail for charges that he conspired to murder Evelio before he was acquitted, died on January 11, 2015, a day before the Comelec ordered Javier’s ouster with finality.

Beloy, Turing now gone but Antique is still wounded

“Look around. There are no enemies here. There's just good, old-fashioned rivalry.” Bob Wells

By Alex P. Vidal

THE political wound in Antique was never healed.

Now that both Evelio “Beloy” Javier and Arturo “Turing” Pacificador are gone, the chances for remnants of both camps to bury their hatchet appear to be nil.

Javier, a former governor, was assassinated on February 11 1986 after the snap presidential elections. He was 44.

Pacificador, a former assemblyman, succumbed to cardiac arrest on January 11, 2015 at the Antique Medical Center in San Jose de Buenavista. He was 84.

The intense rivalry of both political titans during the Marcos era placed Antique on the map.

Both outstanding public servants were so popular that when one of them was defeated in an electoral contest in the province, Antiquenos didn’t give a damn.

History was so unkind to Pacificador, a provincial board member before his death, because he was implicated in the Pangpang massacre and in Javier’s murder that helped spark the EDSA Revolution and toppled then President Ferdinand Marcos.

The death of Javier, a top ally of the late former President Corazon Aquino, signaled Pacificador’s decline in politics as he became a fugitive for 18 years.

ACQUITTED

He was, however, acquitted in both controversial cases: in the Pangpang massacred by Judge Nery G. Duremdes of the RTC Branch 11 in February 2001; and in the Javier case by Judge Rudy Castrojas of the RTC Branch 12 on October 12, 2004 both in San Jose de Buenavista.

Pacificador and the remaining members of the Javier clan led by Gov. Exequiel, Evelio’s brother, failed to heal the wound that polarized the province since the Cory administration.

Gov. Javier still apparently harbored bitterness toward the Pacificadors.

The Javiers remain unconvinced of Pacificador’s innocence in Evelio’s murder especially that some of those who remained in jail are Pacificador’s close allies led by lawyer Bob Javellana.

Even while he was in jail, Pacificador was hell-bent of recapturing his old glory in politics.

He was defeated by Salvacion Perez in the May 2001 gubernatorial contest.

Pacificador tried his luck anew for vice governor in the May 2004 elections but was put away by Rhodora Cadiao.

Remnants of the Pacificador and Javier clans continue to elbow each other in the political arena, and their conflict has even escalated now that loyal upstarts have risen and are determined to follow their footsteps in public service.

DISQUALIFY

Gov. Javier himself has been disqualified by the Commission on Elections after he suspended a municipal mayor in violation of the Omnibus Election Code.

His suspension is under appeal as of press time.

It remains unclear if offspring of both political clans can finally settle the animosity that began more than 40 years ago.

The quarrel has not helped Antique in terms of development.

There are certain parts of the province that need repair, rehabilitation and attention from the national government.

The Javiers have enjoyed the blessings of at least four presidents in the past since Marcos fell: Mrs. Aquino, Fidel V. Ramos. Joseph “Erap” Estrada, and now President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.

Pacificador will be laid to rest on January 24 in his hometown in Lapaz, Hamtic, Antique.

Let’s hope that the remaining members of both clans can finally forgive each other, let bygones be bygones and work together for the development of Antique.