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| Vol. XX No. 46 |
January 24, 2001 |
Virac, Catanduanes |
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The Catanduanes Tribune Rawis, Virac Catanduanes, Philippines - 5001 Tel. No.: (052) 811-1267 or 811-2640 Fax No.: (052) 811-1267 E-mail:
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Publisher-Editor Edwin A. Gianan |
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Advertising- Circulation Manager Simeon G. Cueno |
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Web Master: Calgary, Canada |
INSIDE PAGE
by Fernan A. Gianan
Reversal
of fortunes
Eight
days ago, before that historic vote that launched our Senator Kit Tatad
into prominence as one of the most hated politicians of the year, Rep.
Leandro B. Verceles, Jr. still had no candidate for congressman.
NTC
Commissioner Joseph Santiago had no viable opposition, with the reported
withdrawal of Bro. Rene Velarde. Gov. Hector Sanchez was still going after
the El Shaddai heir.
All
that has changed. Verceles’ gambit to ally himself with those seeking
Estrada’s ouster has paid off. With the Lakas-NUCD now lording it over
Malacanang, Verceles will be the governor of this province on June 30,
2001 whether we like it or not. Former Gov. Sev Alcantara will be a worthy
opponent but concerns about his health and stamina to last the entire
campaign will make any voter think twice. There is not anybody out there,
at least here in this island, who can put up a decent fight.
But
the outgoing solon’s victory in the May 14 polls, observers are afraid,
cannot be transferred to his party’s candidates. The acrimonious proxy
war between the congressman and the governor has so bloodied the
Sangguniang Panlalawigan that most of its members are not expected to
survive the wrath of their neglected constituency, who has had to suffer
stale and inadequate budgets, aside from unimplemented projects, for the
last two years.
The
separate battles for mayoral posts, however, are a different matter. In
Virac, the margin separating victory from defeat would be so thin as to
deny anyone of Cito Alberto and Ribong Sarmiento bragging rights. Both
have baggage from their patrons on their shoulders – for Cito that of
Erap’s ouster, for Ribong the dirtied image of his Manoy Kit. Consider
also the news that heavyweight Raul Panti has backed out as Cito’s
running mate and going it alone for a three-way fight reminiscent of 1998.
But will he still tell voters to switch to Cito if they cannot vote for
Panti? This question will weigh heavily in the minds of the electorate
during the campaign.
The
other week, before the Smart people arrived for the inauguration of the
San Miguel PCO, NTC Commissioner Joseph A. Santiago revealed some
background info about the satphone consortium.
He
said that the Asian Cellular Satellite International Ltd. was first formed
by the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), Pasefik Satelit
Nusantara of Indonesia, and Jasmine International Overseas Company, Ltd.,
with each holding a third of ACeS. Jasmine is part of Thailand's biggest
communications conglomerate owned by Thaksin Shinawatra, who was recently
elected as prime minister despite charges by an anti-graft commission that
the tycoon failed to declare extra income (shades of Erap's woes).
Their
ambitious plan to set up a regionwide satellite phone network, however,
foundered in the mid-90s when the economic crisis hit Asia. Funds dried up
and they were unable to pay satellite manufacturer Lockheed Martin Global
Communications. As a result, the stock ownership of ACeS had to be diluted
to enable Lockheed Martin to convert AceS' debt into stock equity.
PLDT
is represented in the four-company consortium by its subsidiary ACeS
Philippine Satellite Corporation and has its own satellite gateway
facilities at Subic Bay Freeport Zone and other ground infrastructure.
During the last quarter of 2000, ACeSPhil linked up with Smart
Communications, Inc. for SMART ACeS, the country's first satellite and GSM
handheld mobile phones.
”We
must change the character of our politics, in order to create fertile
ground for true reforms. Our politics of personality and patronage must
give way to a new politics of party programs and process of dialog with
the people,” thus said Gloria Macapagal Arroyo upon her assumption of
the presidency.
Forgive
me for being pessimistic, but this dream would prove to be too high for
GMA’s stature. It would require a real sacrifice from GMA, a break from
her party, the Lakas-NUCD, which has by tradition engaged in all tricks
from vote-buying to illegal fund raising, like the other political parties
this poor country has seen.
It
would mean forsaking partymates, friends, supporters and hangers-on who
expect her to repay their support in kind – contracts, juicy positions
and cash. It could mean their withdrawal of support and the start of petty
wranglings that deteriorate into a situation where similar Singsons will
arise and raise hell for GMA.
A
more problematic issue would be how “to promote a new politics of true
party programs” when the parties we have, save for left-leaning ones,
are run not by party rules but by the sheer force and egos of
personalities running them. For example, can you give me a youth or an
adult who can honestly say that he is a member of Lakas
or LAMP and believes in its party platforms? There is none.
We
still love being led by the nose and kicked on our butts by trapos. And as
long as the same old characters run these tired old parties, as long as we
continue to be in their party membership lists by virtue of our accepting
bribes come election time, this “new politics” is nothing but press
release.
