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An
albatross on Santiago’s neck
Schools
in the capital town commemorated Liberation Day
last week by holding separate ground activities.
And not to be outdone, Gov. Sanchez and company
“liberated” the Catanduanes National High
School, coming in full force, backed up by two
vehicles overflowing with security men armed to
the teeth as if to do battled with the Japs!
“An
sakit magpakaon kan mga armadong security ni
gobernador ta sobrang cadacul” says the school
host who fed Sanchez and company. The host added
“dai na nimi kukumbidahon an ta magastos sa
pagcaon”. Some teachers at the CNHS were
overheard saying “ngata man nakikiiba diyan si
Joseph Santiago sa grupong bag-ing pirmeng
makigiyera?”
Congressional
candidate Joseph Santiago was with Sanchez that
day. Now, people are beginning to curse Santiago
for taking Sanchez as his teammate. After all,
we were right when we said that Sanchez will
only be a liability, not an asset that would
boost Santiago’s candidacy.
”Siguradong
bubotongon an pababa” is the usual comment one
will hear from those who care for Santiago’s
victory.
Many
right-thinking people here in Virac really do
not understand why the former Commissioner has
gave in to Sanchez’s pleadings to take him in
as a teammate.
Previous
to their alliance, he was sure to get the
congressional seat. Now, many of his admirers
and supporters are dropping him like a hot
potato because of the Sanchez factor.
His
running or teaming up with Sanchez has greatly
boosted the chances of Natsy Verceles. Without
the Sanchez factor, the Natsy-Joseph fight could
have been very colorful. Very tight.
But
with Sanchez in the camp of Joseph, Ate Natsy
has heaped a beautiful sigh.
Consider
this! The beautiful Natsy is the official
candidate of Lakas-NUCD, the administration
party. The Africas, parents of Mrs. Verceles,
are longtime friends of the Macapagals.
Does
President Gloria Macapagal-Aroyo know about your
running for Congress?
“Oh
yes, she knows. I told her,” Mrs. Verceles
said.
As
a lawyer-CPA, and a well-informed and reasonable
man, Santiago knows that people not only dislike
but also hate Sanchez for having done nothing
concrete to alleviate the poor, for having
courted so many enemies, for his pro-gun
attitude, for his dismal failure as chief
executive, for his violent tendencies, for his
questionable deals in government, and many more.
Yet,
despite these glaring defects, Santiago took him
in. What was Santiago’s motivation? Many say
many unkind words. They theorize that Joseph has
no money, with the fall of President Erap and
Danding Cojuangco’s support to Pres. Macapagal-Arroyo.
The most that Danding could give is P3-M.
They
say that Joseph is too naïve for believing that
Sanchez has money despite the fact that the
latter has, until now, an unpaid balance of
about P26-M for the Monte Cielo beach resort.
Many believe that Sanchez may do a “Lizaso”
in the eleventh hour.
And
the worst comment ever was that Santiago “may
only use the money of Sanchez”. That is on the
assumption that Sanchez has really money.
Joseph
has a lot to explain to the people. A lot to
explain to the DPWH people who were
unceremoniously kicked out by Sanchez from the
capitol grounds, complete with a platoon of
fully armed men.
Will
Joseph be able to convince these people? Us?
While
this item is being written, Sunday morning,
former Gov. Alcantara said his son, Junior
Severo, has declined to run for Vice Governor.
And so with Cesar Sarmiento, who was supposed to
replace the young Alcantara. That means at the
moment, Sanchez has no running mate yet.
The
former governor said the Santiago group might
field PBM Tanael or Atty. Concepcion for the
vice gubernatorial post. But these two are weak
for the position. Tanael is a sure winner for
PBM but extremely hazardous, if not disastrous,
for the second provincial post. A Sanchez-Tanael
or Concepcion team is no match for a
Verceles-Aquino tandem. This is a cold fact, not
a fancy.
For
Santiago to have a fighting chance, the best
formula is for him to do it alone. To run not in
the company of Sanchez. For if he does not
listen to sound judgement, he is courting
disaster.
Wednesday
last week, PNP provincial director Freddie Panen
called for a presscon in his office.
He
told mediamen, print and broadcast, that he has
launched campaigns against illegal gambling,
illegal fishing, illegal logging and on drugs.
As to the actual specific results, he failed to
enumerate in details. He said however that Engr.
Popa paid him a visit (“I did not invite
him”) and promised to stop his illegal trade.
“He is a kind man, and I was grateful,” he
said.
He
told us that the patrol seacraft is
inoperational, hampering the fight against
illegal fishing. Dynamite fishing is easy to
contain because the evidence of the act is very
clear while cyanide fishing needs laboratory
tests. “And
we don’t have a laboratory to test fish caught
via cyanide. The specimen has to be sent to
Manila,” he said with regret.
Col.
Panen also disclosed that he has reprimanded
eight town chief of police for various light
offenses. "In the third offense, we will
throw them the book,” he added.
We
punish the bad and award the good, that’s
Panen’s guiding principle.
In
a nutshell, the good colonel sought the
cooperation and help of the local media to
effectively enforce the law. It would do Col.
Panen good if he could ape Col. Manaois during
his tour of duty here. Manaois then always read
the local papers, conducted investigations on
whatever was printed and it helped him a lot. He
used to tell us about this.
Col. Panen should
remember that we write what we ACTUALLY see,
what we hear from reliable sources made credible
upon confirmation. We really do not have
PERSONAL interest in what we write. Our only
motivation is Public Interest.
With
the kind of personality the good-looking PNP
chief has, and his wholesome relation with the
media, his tour of duty deserves full support
and cooperation. We only hope that he will not
allow himself to be used by politicians.
Good
luck.
Here
are the Lakas bets! Jun Verceles and Al Aquino
for governor and vice governor, respectively.
For
the West board members: Evelyn Gutierez,
Catalino Gabao, Rose Olarte and Fred Gianan, Jr.
(still for negotiation; if not available, former
RTC Judge Honesto Morales)
For
the East: Romeo Tuplano and Roger Pereyra. Two
slots are still vacant.
For
Mayor: Rudy Sarmiento for Virac, Joseph Cua for
San Andres; Lourdes Idanan, Caramoran; Eulalia
Verceles, Pandan; Abelardo Abundo, Viga; Rufino
Aguilar, Panganiban; Tito V. de Leon for
Bagamanoc; Camilo Teope, Bato; Jose Teves, Jr.,
Baras; Edgar M. Tayam, Gigmoto.
Tentatively,
Jun Camano for San Miguel.
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