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PPC
RALLY SIDELIGHTS
Local
squabble splits
PPC `senatoriables’
Nine
of the 13 senatorial candidates of the
People’s Power Coalition must have shook their
heads in disbelief. They were met by two sets of
hosts – the Aksyon Demokratiko faction led by
longtime Roco ally Dr. Tony Zantua and the
alleged PPC coordinator and recycled Lakas
member Rep. Jun Verceles.
Even
before the arrival of the two propjet planes
from Legaspi City, a row had already erupted
over parking privileges. Overnight, “No
Parking” signs mushroomed in front of the ATO
building, probably made to deny opponents use of
the strip of road even as the Verceleses
occupied the limited VIP slots at the regular
parking area.
It
was of no use, as the SSS caravan muscled its
way to park beside the signs and did not budge.
Chronicle columnist John Torres joined Gov.
Sanchez in a verbal tussle with the tag team of
Bic Abundo and Mayor Tony Romano, whose wife was
helping at the side.
Even
Natsy Verceles joined the fray, planting her
dainty feet in the path of Sev Alcantara’s
luxury car with plate number SED-888 to allow
the congressman’s vehicle to partly block the
former.
The
former model was overheard telling a PPC
coordinator, “It’s so exciting, `di ba, my
first foray into politics!” Madam, it’s
going to go beyond exciting, particularly when
they start quarreling over more serious matters!
Of
the nine visitors, Flavier, Drilon, Monsod,
Arroyo, Villar and Rector were the most familiar
to local residents. Liwayway Vinzons-Chato,
Sergio Osmena III and Ernesto Herrera did not
join the Catanduanes leg of their Bicol sortie.
Kiko
Pangilinan’s substitution of his brother John
probably didn’t work as one Sharon fan at the
airport was overheard saying, “Baco man na
photogenic si Kiko!” The sunlit noon also made
Vice President Tito Guingona look fearsome to
some people, who remembered him for the fierce
glare he gave Sen. Enrile during the impeachment
trial.
Ralph
Recto may be a shoo-in for the Senate but he
called Mrs. Verceles “Nitsy” twice during a
speech on family matters. Flavier trotted out
his worn-out 6’-2” and 4’-11” joke and
bragged that he was the principal author of the
Solid Waste Management Act.
The
chubby Frank Drilon recalled some seawall
projects he gave for Bato and Caramoran while
the gentle Magsaysay remembered that his late
father had a Bicolano pilot who gave up his seat
for a general during that fateful flight that
ended in Mt. Manunggal in 1957.
Three-time
visitor Obet Pagdanganan said his programs
include finding new uses for coconut oil,
automatic release of IRAs to barangays and
retirement benefits for barangay officials.
Manny Villar, who’s not impressive physically
despite his height, harped on his days as a fish
vendor while the veteran freedom fighter,
Wigberto Tanada, remarked that “dapat matauhan
na ang lahat na nanunungkulan sa pamahalaang
nasyonal at lokal na ang public office ay public
trust. Itigil na ang katiwalian!” We’re not
sure whether our local officials were listening.
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