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Vol. XX No. 51

February 28, 2001

Virac, Catanduanes

Briefly Yours

By Joel Son Panti

Sanchez's faux pas

"My alliance with Gov. Sanchez is the worst decision I have ever made in my life ... I hope the governor can prove me wrong".

This was exactly the statement of lawyer-CPA Joseph Santiago during the governor's birthday party at the capitol, according to SP secretary Ursus de Quiros.

By that, Mr. Santiago means that Gov. Sanchez has to work doubly hard for Santiago to be able to grab the congressional seat.

 

 

Pointing his palm to the direction of senatoriable Winnie Monsod, Gov. Sanchez said something like "ikinagagalak kong ipakilala sainyo ang isa sa mga magaling na kandidato sa pagkasenador, si Liwayway Vinzons Chato!!"

Then "Mareng Wennie," an economics professor at UPbegan her speech by saying "Akala ko kilala na ako sa buong Pilipinas, yon pala hindi ako kilala sa Catanduanes, at gobernador pa. However, I'll forgive you Gov. Sanchez basta i-adopt ninyo ako bilang daughter of Catanduanes."

Almost everybody was embarrassed, perhaps including Atty. Joseph Santiago. And to think that the rally was broadcast over DZGB and DZRC, aside from our local DZVC.

Economist Wennie Monsod added "marahil hindi nanonood si governor ng TV!" Worse, all the ten senatoriables and Vice President Tito Guingona might believe that Catanduanes is a backward province, without a single TV set!

 

 

Vice Gov. Alfred M. Aquino was wondering why the full force of the local PNP was concentrated in and outside the Virac Sports Complex while the second highest official of the land who was with a group at the CSC gym had only 2 or 3 minor officers of the PNP.

I think Aquino's concern is justified. Here's Vice President Tito Guingona having only 2 or 3 minor officers while Gov. Sanchez and company have more than a platoon.

While it's true that Veep Guingona also proceeded to the sports complex, he should have been escorted by the elite force of the command. May we ask PNP Provincial Director Freddie O. Panen?

We dialed his landline number twice, nobody answered. We resorted to his cellphone and the operator said "the subscriber cannot be reached. Please dial later."

This is understandable because we write this column 30 minutes to deadline, every Sunday morning. Perhaps, nobody is in his office, and the good colonel might still be in bed. But somebody must be in the camp even on Sundays. Or perhaps Col. Panen's office might be closed.

"`The perception that Col. Panen is Sanchez-friendly' seems to be validated," Vice Gov. Aquino said. May we hear a reply from the PNP provincial boss?

 

 

Now it is confirmed. Beauteous Evelyn San Ramon will, after all, run for Congress. By the time this issue hits the streets, she might have filed her certificate of candidacy.

This is what we gathered from kins who said that she is arriving Monday, Feb. 26. They said that Evelyn will run as an independent. Informed of the new development, Rep. Verceles said "that's good, the more, the merrier."

A few months back, San Ramon had announced that she will run in tandem with Verceles. However, it appeared that her big boss in Kuwait refused to allow her to go on leave or resign, hence, Verceles decided to court Bro. Rene Velarde.

"But the Velarde family has decided that Rene runs under the party list," Verceles said. "That is why I was forced to field Natsy," he added.

The graduating solon said that whereas Natsy was not born in Catanduanes "she is a Catandunganon by choice because she maried me." He added that Gen. Jaime Echeverria was not born in Catanduanes but his parents lived for a while in Payo. The retired general ran for governor then with Rosalie Estacio as his runningmate.