Parents in pain

"My upbringing is why I am the person I am today. I have very wise parents." Keira Knightley

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- Nothing can bring much sadness and pain for parents than to see their children engaged in a bitter quarrel.
And the pain can be more excruciating if the donnybrook goes outside the domicile and reverberates in public in heart-breaking proportion.
This could be the predicament former Iloilo Gov. Neil D. Tupas Sr. and former Barotac Viejo Mayor Myrna Causing Tupas are in today.
The squabble of their sons--Iloilo 5th district Rep. Neil "Junjun" Tupas Jr. and Iloilo Vice Gov. Raul "Boboy" Tupas--has hogged headlines these past months and divided the hitherto formidable Tupas political empire in the fifth congressional district of Iloilo.
Boboy wants to replace Junjun, who is graduating for his third and last term in the House of Representatives.  

WIFE

Junjun, however, is pushing for his wife, Yvonne Angeli Lee-Tupas.
The feud resulted in Boboy leaving the Liberal Party (LP) and embracing the National People's Coalition (NPC). 
It was Junjun who insisted that his wife, a lawyer like him, fits in the congressional portfolio, not Boboy, who is a Philippine Military Academy (PMA) graduate.
Because he is the eldest son in the family and carries the name of his father, what Junjun wanted Junjun reportedly got.
The decision to field Yvonne Angeli as official LP candidate has been reportedly given imprimatur by the Tupas patriarch to Boboy's consternation.
As a consolation, "majority" of the Tupas children reportedly back Boboy but could not openly defy "Tatay Neil" so as not to douse gasoline into the conflagration.

ENDORSE

Buoyed by his father's go signal to endorse Yvonne Angeli, Junjun has been reportedly "making life difficult" for his younger brother by "excluding" the vice governor in various public activities related to his function as capitol's no. 2 official.
Boboy's supporters viewed Junjun's moves as "a bid to cripple the vice governor's enthusiasm" to pursue his congressional bid.
Unperturbed, Boboy continued to sally forth in the entire district and focused on consultation with his constituents about his plans in 2016 sans approval from the political party he jettisoned.
Junjun denied he was trying to act as Cain, a jealous murderer of his brother, Abel, in the Bible's Old Testament.
Although their hearts are all for Boboy, other Tupas children can't look manong Junjun in the eyes and tell him straight that "blood should be thicker than water." At least not yet.
Efforts to patch up the feud has become increasingly difficult as Junjun and Boboy continued to swap heavy accusations in the media before the filing of the Certificate of Official Candidacy for the 2016 elections.

STRONG

While Boboy was showing strong determination to run against his own sister-in-law, Yvonne Angeli, LP's would-be official candidate, Junjun was stepping up his determination to oppose him.
Amid all the hullabaloo, their parents have remained calm and sober although sources said "they are in pain emotionally."
"It is a common knowledge in Barotac (Viejo, their hometown) that Boboy is well-loved by his brothers and sister (Tweety Tupas-Balleza), most especially by his nanay, Nonoy Myrna," said a source who refused to be named because she is not authorized to speak about the family's political affairs.
"Anywhere you go, it is Boboy who is closer to the hearts of the people. If you open the heart of Nonoy Myrna, you will see the name of Boboy Tupas in all caps there. Nonoy Myrna has been crying privately because she does not want to see both his sons hurting only because of politics."

Let Nava and Gerochi fight; it’s part of democracy

“For good ideas and true innovation, you need human interaction, conflict, argument, debate.” Margaret Heffernan

By Alex P. Vidal

AS long as it is job-related, we have no problem watching flyweight contenders Plaridel Nava and R Leone Gerochi squaring off and transforming the session hall of the Iloilo Sangguniang Panlungsod into a boxing arena.

It’s a big relief though that both city councilors canceled the bout when proverbial coolers heads intervened.

Nava has clarified that his “one-on-one” dare to Gerochi was for a debate and not for a physical engagement.  

Even if it was for a physical duel, for sure Nava and Gerochi, both lawyers, did not mean to swap blows because of personal enmity.

They disputed Gerochi’s request for a copy of Nava’s committee report on the recent 1st Muti-sectoral Transportation Summit.

Nava resented Gerochi's actuation as they both belong in a bloc called "Voltes 5" which supposedly had a tacit agreement not to badger a member who is making a speech.  

The bone of contention was still related to public service.

The paramount concern of our elected officials is public service.

Therefore, the would-be non-title setto was for exhibition only, an offshoot of a boiling blood and hot temper.

Wala personalan. Obra lang. (No personal feud. It’s all work-related.)

Quarreling or engaging in fisticuffs is not an earth-shaking scenario among members of the legislative body.

HEALTHY

In fact, it’s a healthy sign in a democratic institution.

As long as it is not violent and not intended to terrorize people, rational argument should be a perfect venue to ventilate disagreement and grievances.

Even before the age of Youtube, social media and “selfie” technology, we have seen so many violent fracases “live” on TV involving senior state legislators in Taiwan, Turkey, Italy, Japan, Yugoslavia, Greece and other highly industrialized countries.

Fistfights among legislators in these countries would even last for three to five minutes and the melee even involved party mates who joined the fray from the balcony.

In democracy, every individual has the right to agree and disagree and translate the debate into a “one-on-one” brawl if necessary but not mandatory.

Sessions can sometimes be emotional and as tempers flare up, a free-for-all rumble becomes inevitable among the hot heads.

After the negative emotions have been emptied and energies zapped, the protagonists are soon back to normal lives; they shake hands, “bury the hatchet, and let bygones be bygones.”

STATE

In a fascist or communist state, there is nothing to dispute because there are no legislatures in the first place.

It’s a one-man rule.

In a fascist regime like that of Germany’s Adolf Hitler and Italy’s Benito Mussolini, there are no committee reports for the legislators as the latter don’t exist.

In communist rules, Russia’s Josef Stalin and Cuba’s Fidel Castro called the shots and shot the opposition dead. Democracy is dead, too.

Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin and Castro were the heads of their governments as dictators.

No national assembly.

No debate. No freedom to express. No free speech.

No democratic check and balance.

-o0o-

WE smell politics in the decision of Dumangas municipal councilors Jasmin Ocampo, Rene Dela Peña, Almar Marfito, Bert Celeste and Ronaldo Golez not to approve the resolution endorsing the issuance of a development permit to the National Housing Authority’s (NHA) resettlement project here for residents displaced by super typhoon “Yolanda” or Haiyan during their regular session on February 18.

The five are known political enemies of Mayor Rolando “Rolly” Distura, thus some people suspect politics was behind their lackadaisical attitude.

Distura said the NHA will be building over 7,000 housing units totaling around P2.1 billion.

But Golez, who lost to Distura for mayor in the recent local elections, insisted “they wanted more time to scrutinize” the housing project.

While they were dilly-dallying the resolution, some 1,000 irate housing project beneficiaries were getting restless outside the municipal hall.

The beneficiaries, mostly residents of identified danger zones in Dumangas areas frequently flooded such as river banks and low-laying areas, didn’t care about the political bickering among municipal officials.

They wanted a decent housing and safe environment. That’s all.

They didn’t want to be caught in the middle of the conflict between Distura and the opposition municipal councilors.

We hope warring Dumangas officials will set aside their animosity first for the good of the people.

Iloilo leaders ready to secure embattled P-Noy

“Life is not a solo act. It's a huge collaboration, and we all need to assemble around us the people who care about us and support us in times of strife.” Tim Gunn

By Alex P. Vidal

ILOILO appears to be the safest haven for the country’s highest official during political upheavals in a nationwide scale.

Ilonggo leaders have always been quick and firm in making a political stand.

They are aware that President Simeon Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III draws strength from them.

President Aquino is aware, too, that the Ilonggo leaders are willing to sink and swim with him.

After all, he feeds them well.

Ditto for the police and the military.

If he can’t stand the political and military heats in Metro Manila, President Aquino can transfer the Malacanang Palace in Iloilo where almost all the local leaders here don’t want him to step down amid rumors of coup d’etat.

Mr. Aquino will be safe in Iloilo as long as Gov. Arthur “Art” Defensor Sr., Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, Iloilo City Rep. Jerry P. Treñas, among other local chief executives and representatives are in power.

While other political leaders in the country have been mum over the simmering calls from various sectors for the president to relinquish his post in the heels of the “Mamasapano 44” debacle these past weeks, Iloilo leaders have rejected calls for Aquino’s resignation.

Negros Occidental leaders also joined those who want the president to finish his term until 2016.

SHIELD

It’s the people and the leaders in the entire Western Visayas who are willing to shield the president from those agitating for his resignation.

The Ilonggos also sneered at the call to impeach Mr. Aquino if he won’t step down.

They fear political destabilization and economic meltdown once the president has been removed or forced to resign.

Back in July 2005, Senate President Franklin Drilon asked then President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to relocate the seat of power in Iloilo while the president’s enemies were ganging up on her for the “Hello Garci” fiasco.

Drilon, however, turned his back from Mrs. Arroyo several days later and joined those who wanted her to yield the presidency to then Vice President Noli De Castro.

Drilon wanted to be the next vice president via the rule of succession.

There are no signs that Mr. Aquino’s Iloilo allies will abandon ship and surrender him on a silver platter to the enemies.

They are four square behind the president.

“The Moro rebels are Filipinos, too. They are under our laws so they should also be held accountable for any violations of our criminal law,” Defensor announced recently.

“Let the Board of Inquiry investigate the incident. Let the Senate and the House (of Representatives) investigate it, better under a joint investigating committee. Let’s all wait for the result. The peace process should not prevent the government from seeking justice for the 44 killed SAF members.”

GRAB

Treñas also tagged as a “call for grab power” the move to compel the president to resign and to be held accountable in the tragic massacre of the 44 elite cops.

The congressman said: “What happened in Mamasapano is one of the darkest chapters of our history. But what’s even more lamentable is the fact that some people cannot simply resist the urge to use the misfortunes of our nation for their own selfish agenda. This call for President Aquino’s resignation is a nothing but a call for power grab.”

Mr. Aquino can sleep tight while under the watchful eyes of his Western Visayas allies.

The 34-member Visayan bloc led by Treñas and Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez have already issued a manifesto of support for the president come hell or high water.

For these Visayan allies, the accountability and criminal liability should only fall on those who planned and implemented the operation against Marwan, a terrorist killed during the January 25 raid in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The manifesto read: “We…commiserate and empathize with the families of the 44 members of the SAF who died during the said Mamasapano operation. We demand accountability for those who planned and implemented the debacle and the imposition of criminal liability for those responsible for the massacre.

SOLUTION

“Change in administration should be the farthest solution to what happened in Maguindano and should not be our response to our currently hurting nation….The Mamasapano incident should create unity and strong front among us Filipinos instead of discord.”

They stressed that “The nation and our colleagues in the Philippine Congress to focus on the investigations and call for swift and thorough deliberations on what happened in the Mamasapano operation.

“The probe should immediately identify those who should be accountable for what happened, ensure that perpetrators of the massacre suffer the full force of our penal laws, and develop remedies that would prevent another incident from happening in the future to the men in uniform who are only fulfilling their vows to promote peace and order in the country.”

Councilors act like spoiled brats

“Leaders who are kind of insecure or egocentric, they basically sabotage themselves.” John C. Maxwell

By Alex P. Vidal

THE acts by the city councilors of boycotting regular sessions and refusing to acknowledge their presiding officer since November 2014 have become inimical to the interest of the people of Roxas City, Capiz.

They’re tantamount to sabotage.

The Roxas city council has not officially passed several important measures since that period because of their refusal to attend the regular sessions.

Dadivas could not convene a regular session for lack of quorum.

Just like a father who can’t start the dinner because his children aren’t yet around to occupy their seats in the long table.

Citing “loss of confidence” in Vice Mayor Ronnie T. Dadivas, Councilors Julius L. Abela, Erwin B. Sicad, Cesar S. Yap, Erlynne B. Lim, Jennifer Anisco-Poliran, Matthew James Viterbo, Trina Marie Almalbis-Ignacio, Jose Agdalipe, and Virgilio A. Santos Jr. have refused to attend regular sessions as long as Dadivas is the presiding officer.

“Loss of confidence” is actually an oxymoron in this circumstance since both the vice mayor and city councilors are elected officials.

Sentiments are mere expressions and can’t be enacted into a law or ordinance.

TRANSLATE

Sentiments can’t be translated into a bellicose act that would jeopardize basic social services.    

They can’t be used to sabotage an official proceeding or regular session.

Appointed or co-terminus officials in the executive department can go anytime for loss of confidence from their appointing official, in this case either he is the mayor, the governor or the president.

Ironically, their rebellious acts began after Dadivas had a falling out with Mayor Angel Alan B. Celino, an ally of these brats.

In other words, politics or political bickering.

Because of politics, these city officials don’t give a damn if they will sacrifice the good and welfare of the people who elected them.

To add insult to taxpayers’ injury, they reportedly held a “session” inside the office of Mayor Celino on January 3, 2015 without Dadivas.

The city councilors did not only breach the separation of power between the executive and legislative branches, but they also yielded to the city mayor the city council’s jurisdiction as a co-equal branch.

A case of a lightning that strikes twice: their recalcitrance or continuing defiance to attend the official or regular session, and their deliberate move or brazenness to “convene” a session and “passed” resolutions with the presiding officer in the executive territory.

Only members of the city mayor’s cabinet are supposed to hold “sessions” inside the executive foxhole, not members of a legislature with the same electoral mandate.

Politics must have reared its ugly face early last year when the city councilors tried to unseat Dadivas as presiding officer in a special session on Nov. 20, 2014.

DECLARE

They approved a resolution declaring loss of confidence in Dadivas.

They were, however, stopped in their tracks by Regional Trial Court Judge Ignacio Alajar who issued a TRO against the city councilors after Dadivas sought a temporary restraining order (TRO)/injunction with the court.

The court prohibited them from holding sessions without the knowledge and authority of the presiding officer.

Dadivas has filed charges of usurpation of authority, grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of public officials, and dereliction of duty against the city councilors before the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Dadivas was contemplating also to file a petition with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to declare their position vacant.

A special election may be called if the Comelec will take cognizance of the vice mayor’s petition “because they--with malice aforethought--abandoned their duty as elected councilors of Roxas City.”

The city councilors, however, remained unfazed.

It’s so sad that politics has become the biggest stumbling block in the city’s march to progress and unity.

They have become fragmented politically.

No less than Capiz-pride DILG chief Mar Roxas has repeatedly enunciated the need for people of the city and province to unite because of the “bigger battle” they will face in 2016, whatever that means.

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. 

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.

No ‘movement’ for cold Frank Drilon

“Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed.” Mao Zedong

By Alex P. Vidal

THE LAUNCHING of several “for president movement” slogans in and outside the social media has become a fad among political organizers from various regions nowadays.

The Ilocanos have launched the “Bongbong Marcos for President Movement”; “Jojo Binay for President Movement” for the people of Makati; “Rudy Duterte for President Movement” from Davao; and “Mar Roxas for President Movement” for the people of Capiz, and so on and so forth.

But we have yet to hear the Ilonggos mount the “Frank Drilon for President Movement” battle cry.

Some remnants of the People’s Reform Party (PRP), however, have started to inch their way to various universities and colleges and re-echo the “Miriam Defensor-Santiago for President Movement”.

Defensor-Santiago and Drilon are two of the most battle-scarred and prominent politicians from Iloilo touted by experts as “presidentiables” or potential candidates for the highest office of the country.

Only Drilon, however, does not have a known “movement” or group of supporters pushing for his presidential candidacy in 2016.

MYSTERIOUS

We remember a mysterious “movement” that emerged several years ago when Drilon was still the labor secretary and subsequently the justice secretary under the Cory government.

This was the “Movement Against Drilon” or MAD.

Whatever its objective, how it all started and who were its organizers, it failed to derail the senate big man’s meteoric political rise.

Drilon is supposed to be the most senior among politicians queuing for the presidency.

The senate president is supposed to be among the closest to President Benigno “Nonoy” Aquino III.

Long before DILG boss Mar Roxas earned President Noynoy’s trust and confidence, Drilon was already working with the Aquino clan during the post-EDSA Revolution.

On July 28, 2005, Drilon’s fellow “Hyatt 10” mutineers were already prepared to hand him the vice presidency on a silver platter and install then Vice President Noli De Castro as president.

This was when they called for then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s resignation in the heels of the “Hello Garci” scandal.

Drilon has served as cabinet official for five presidents in a row, and must have also been salivating for the presidency ahead of Roxas and Binay.

Only Drilon himself can confirm if he is really interested to run for president or vice president.

INTEREST

Ideally, the interest to run should come first from Drilon himself, not from any “movement”, in the event there is one.

But Drilon has been incoherently passive.

Even his body movements are formless in as far as the presidential derby is concerned.

Although both Marcos and Duterte have not yet confirmed they were interested to eye the presidency in 2016, their respective ”movements” have already started juxtaposing and combing the entire archipelago at fever-pitch these past months.

The Ilonggo votes are a force to reckon with in the national elections.

We are the third biggest voting population next to Luzon and Cebu.

There is an age-old political wisdom that says if you want to win a national office–for president, vice president and senator—you must win first in Western Visayas.

With all the support of political bigwigs in Western Visayas allied with the ruling Liberal Party, we are puzzled why until now no “movement” has snowballed to endorse Drilon’s bid in 2016.

If he is not really interested to run, no “movement” is necessary to push him.

Politics is not a game of coercion.

We can bring the horse to the river, but we can't force it to drink.