UNA’s ‘3 kings’ and their political maneuvering and posturing

UNA introduces its senatorial candidates during their first campaign salvo at Cebu City’s Plaza Independencia

We are now in the thick of political maneuvering and posturing for the coming May elections and nothing can beat the way the United Nationalist Alliance’s (UNA) ‘three kings’ are doing it.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, former President Joseph Estrada and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who have been given the moniker ‘3 kings’, brought the UNA senatorial candidates to Cebu and introduced them to the Cebuanos, hoping that they would be able to get the nod from the richest voting population in the entire Philippines, recorded to be 2.5 million voters, coming mainly from Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City and the other urbanized cities.

Whoever christened the UNA political stalwarts as ‘3 kings’ may have thought that using this political gimmick may entice the electorate to support UNA’s senatorial candidates.

Unfortunately, the moniker carries a negative connotation, for they are no kings at all by any stretch of the imagination, but, on the contrary, all are veterans of political maneuverings and political posturing.

While they have forged an alliance, it cannot be denied that each has a hidden agenda in doing it, for the purpose of using each other for political expediency leading to the presidential elections in 2016 and onwards.

But, what is unbelievably absurd is the  ‘3 kings’ political posturing of creating a nirvana or a Shangri-la, if you will, if the people will take the “daang maganda” or “beautiful road”.

“Daang maganda” tends to signify what UNA is all about and, for the moment, equates to votes for their senatorial candidates.

The catchphrase, a brainchild of Enrile, obviously is a derision of President Benigno Aquino’s (PNoy) “Daang matuwid” or “Straight path or road” slogan.

The wily Enrile has criticized PNoy’s slogan as no longer working because, he says, the road is already narrow, dirty and full of “mandarambong” (crooks).

It’s not about the road per se, for Chrissake, but for the positive efforts that the PNoy’s administration is doing in initiating a clean up of corrupt officials in government.

Has Enrile forgotten of his role in convicting former Supreme Court CJ Renato Corona? Is he suffering from amnesia not knowing where former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is now and why the third of the UNA ‘kingship’ was booted out from Malacañang?

I wish I could show respect to the ‘three kings’, but is coming to Cebu and giving support and comfort to Gov. Gwen Garcia, who has defied suspension orders from PNoy and barricaded herself inside her office, and much later found guilty by the Ombudsman for grave misconduct when the anti-graft body found that she approved the purchase of the 24.9-hectare parcels of lot in 2008, of which a large portion of it was underwater, makes their advocacy of “daang maganda” right?

Isn’t “daang matuwid” “daang maganda” in actuality?

For Binay to accept and mouth Enrile’s catchphrase is nothing but an exercise of hypocrisy. He knows very well the good intentions of PNoy for the people and for this country. Never has he criticized PNoy’s governance.

Fact of the matter is that Binay has been campaigning for the presidency since he became Aquino’s vice president.

Let us be candid about it.

The ‘3 kings’ are not out there making sacrifices for the people.

The ‘3 kings’ are out there making sure that their dynasty lives on.

A sigh of relief that Gwen is out of Capitol

A door being chained and padlocked

I do not know if suspended Gov. Gwen Garcia realizes this, but her not being able to get back to his office after sneaking out and attending a function in Oslob,  a town 117 kilometers south of Cebu, is making countless Cebuanos heave a big sigh of relief.

Indeed, it was not the most pleasant of sights seeing employees under provincial administrator Eduardo Habin chaining and padlocking doors and even nailing wooden slabs on entrances, but if this is the only way to maintain peace and order at the Capitol, then so be it.

More than peace and order, however, what was needed was sanity from the suspended governor, whom people think have gone beyond the bounds of propriety.

Not only has she continued defying with impunity a lawful order coming from no less than the President of the Philippines, but she also unscrupulously went on defiling the sanctity of the Capitol building as seat of power and authority and making it a lowly board and lodging facility for her and her supporters.

Suspended Gov. Gwen Garcia with brother Rep. Pablo John Garcia (l) and father, Rep. Pablo Garcia

Why can’t Gwen, her family and supporters accept the fact that unless and until her case is resolved in her favor, she has momentarily lost her moral ascendancy to govern, much less continue staying at the Capitol, now that power and authority has been vested on Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale and orders emanating from her, in the course of her governance, are being accepted, followed and executed

Nobody is denying that Gwen is the elected governor, but if ever Magpale was named Acting Governor, it was not her choice, but her fate, and the position was given to her under legal grounds.

One cannot say, therefore, that Magpale is hungry for power, as Gwen’s brother Pablo John alleges. If ever there is one that hungers for power, it is the arrogant suspended governor, who thinks she is above the law.

“If the operation in the Capitol is normal, if there are no disruptions, if there is no standoff, why was it necessary to padlock the governor’s office,” asks Pablo John. “(It is because) she (Magpale) is greedy for power. She even wanted to be called governor, not only ‘acting’ (governor).”

The whole brouhaha is not about power. It is about respectability.

It is putting a stop to ones insanity and selfishness and replacing it with sound and rational thinking of an individual who has the selfless interest of the province first and foremost.

Political and religious leader’s improprieties

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma talking to Rep. Pablo Garcia, while suspended Gov. Gwen Garcia looks on. This was during one of the prelate’s visit to Gwen’s office where she is holed up.

Recent events in the province of Cebu were not only about political turmoil brought about by Gov. Gwen Garcia’s defiance of her suspension and her decision to barricade herself in her office, but equally a religious fervor in anticipation of the Sinulog festival honoring the Sto. Niño de Cebu led by Archbishop Jose Palma.

I was hoping that with the successful celebration of the Sinulog, that Gwen’s political dilemma would have ended, too, having decided to dance in the streets, which has been her way of honoring the Sto. Niño the last eight years she has been governor.

She kept the Cebuanos guessing whether she will get out of her sanctuary, dance and not come back anymore, like a sane person should do, and let justice take its normal course.

To the dismay of many, however, after her participation in the grand parade she went back running to the Provincial Capitol where her parents were said to be waiting for her.

At the outset, Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale assured her and the public that there was not going to be any takeover, meaning that she was free to come back, yet she showed skepticism, for how else would you interpret it when she had her parents looking after her den when she went out.

This is what adds to the dismay, when you have brilliant lawyers in the family, one which happens to be Gwen’s father, who instead of teaching his daughter to be an upright person and an exemplary leader, has advised her, instead, to err, to be irresponsible and to be above the law.

I have criticized the suspended governor for defying a lawful order coming from the President, and I will continue denouncing her for taking for granted the sanctity of the Capitol building as seat of power and authority and making it a lowly board and lodging facility for her and her supporters.

Gwen, her family and supporters should realize that she has lost all moral ascendancy to govern, much less continue staying at the Capitol, now that power and authority has been vested on Magpale and orders emanating from her, in the course of her governance, are being followed and executed.

Everyday that Gwen finds herself ensconced in her former office becomes a day of shame and impropriety.

Another person also that seems to be going against the grain of conventional wisdom, harboring an ill-feeling and defying the majority decision relative the Reproductive Health (RH) bill is CBCP president and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.

I could not believe this high ranking man of the cloth, instead of showing irreproachable attitude in his homily during the Pontifical Mass in honor of the Sto. Niño, had interjected politics and his misgivings on the passage of the RH bill, the coming elections, and subtly insinuated to repudiate those who supported the bill, while at the same time thanking the politicians that supported the Church stand.

But, what is even worst is that Palma went beyond the bounds of propriety, decency and respect for the law when he crossed the realm of politics inciting those in attendance to have more children if they want to, even with the passage of the bill.

“Even with the passage of the RH law, those who want to have children, not just one, not two, but three or four, should put their trust in the Lord,” Palma exhorted.

Tell it to the rich, yes, but it’s easy for him to say that because, after all, it is the State that takes the burden of caring for the poor and destitute.

Why can’t Palma just keep his mouth shut and let the law function as it is intended to work. Give it a year or two and if it is not working or there are violations committed then have the Church mount a crusade.

But, until then, Palma and his ilk should stick to their religious and spiritual endeavors, which is what they are there for.

Cebu governor defies suspension order

Defiant Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia

Defiance seems to be an attitude that Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia learned to apply adeptly in politics.

This attitude that Gwen possesses is what defines her as a person, a politician and a leader.

Unfortunately, this attitude that she is so identified with is what has brought her to her present predicament.

That the governor committed grave abuse of authority when she herself hired employees of the Office of the Vice Governor and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan although the appointing power is lodged with the Office of the Vice Governor, is clearly defying the rule of law.

That she refused to release the budget of the complainant, the late Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr., only to give it to his successor upon his death, is definitely rudeness and defying the sense of propriety and sensibility.

Gwen has also shown utter disrespect and brazen defiance of authority when she, reportedly, appropriated tax payer’s money and ordered surreptitiously the refilling of the controversial Balili property to make it appear now that it is dry land that the provincial government bought instead of seawater submerged land, notwithstanding that the case against her has already been filed in the Sandiganbayan and the property in question should have been left unchanged.

And now, she is defying Malacañang’s order for her suspension, daring authorities that forcibly removing her could only happen “over my dead body”.

Blame the suspension orders to politics and whoever else, and for whatever reason more, but can’t Gwen be sensible and reasonable enough to respect the rule of law, if indeed she is a worthy leader, which she claims to be?

It is not as if she is being penalized and not being given the chance to clear herself from the accusations that resulted to her suspension.

Gwen says the suspension was ill-timed. Why, would her attitude been different had the suspension order been issued a month before or after the holidays? As the well known cliché goes – hard to teach old dogs new tricks.

Power and arrogance makes a person defiant, no doubt about it. It’s a combination that makes for a despotic leader.

Power has corrupted Gwen’s mind and arrogance has negatively modified her attitude.

The two quotations below, relative to arrogance, can very much apply to Gwen.

“Arrogance is a creature. It does not have senses.
It has only a sharp tongue and the pointing finger.”
― Toba Beta

“Arrogance is in everything I do. It is in my gestures, the harshness of my voice, in the glow of my gaze, in my sinewy, tormented face.”
― Coco Chanel

Gov. Garcia suspension and Cebu politics

 

Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia defies suspension order

With the suspension of Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia for grave abuse of authority, Cebu politics and politicians have suddenly been put under the spotlight.

This act of Malacañang has made it even more interesting and intriguing for the nation to watch not only because the order was issued with elections only five months away, but mainly because the fiery lady governor is defying it, calling the directive “politics at its dirtiest.” She also described it as “political harassment” and “political persecution.”

Look who is talking?

Aren’t these phrases the same weapon she uses against those who don’t toe the line of her own whims and caprices?

Being too familiar with reports of Garcia’s autocratic and coercive ways as governor, not to mention her sudden outbursts, one finds it absurd that now, finding herself at the receiving end of a negative political process, she is hanging tough and challenging it.

We all know that sooner or later the ax would fall on Garcia because of the gravity of the complaint filed against her by no less than the vice governor at that time, the late Gregorio Sanchez Jr.

It had to do with Garcia hiring employees of the office of the Vice Governor and the Provincial Board (PB), when it should have been Sanchez himself doing it.

Also, it had to do with Garcia entering into 19 consultancy contracts without prior authority from the PB.

If these are not clear and blatant arrogation or usurpation of authority, then what is?

We are not even mentioning here yet the latest flaunting disregard of authority committed by Garcia, when she ordered the backfilling of the Balili property, despite the pending case before the Sandiganbayan, so that it will appear that the property is no longer under water, which made the costly purchase of the area questionable.

Clearly, the ax has fallen because it was time to correct the wrong and for justice to prevail.

It is not about giving due advantage to Cebu LP gubernatorial bet Hilario Davide III against Pablo John, Gwen’s brother, as the latter’s followers claim. It is simply that the time has arrived to act.

Now, questions are being raised if the same could happen to Mayor Mike Rama, an ally of Gov. Garcia, who is running for re-election against Rep. Tomas Osmeña in 2013.

This is an equally interesting and intriguing scenario especially that Osmeña is supported by the Liberal Party (LP).

Lest President Aquino’s LP be branded as political mercenary employing dirty politics to stay and perpetuate their party in power, it would be best for Malacañang and the party’s image to stay out of Cebu City politics so nothing more detrimental can be said.

 

Ax finally falls on Cebu Gov. Garcia

Cebu suspended Governor Gwen Garcia

One can call it political harassment or political persecution, but if the suspension of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia for six months has been finally served for alleged grave violation of authority, then it could never have come in such an opportune time.

President Benigno Aquino is just being true to what he wants the public to perceive him, nay, believe him to be, and that is to shape up and follow the straight path of governance or the administration will run after you.

Aquino’s administration is embarking on a mission that would make public servants accountable for their actions. Hard as it may seem to be, he has shown his commitment and determination when the law got former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo arrested and former SC Chief Justice Renato Corona impeached.

Now, not because the complainant against Gov. Garcia is already dead, as Garcia defiantly asserts, that the case against her should not be pursued anymore. On the contrary, if the case hasn’t been swept under the rug, it only proves how compelling the case is to be pursued and how significant for justice to prevail because it deals with the honesty and integrity of a public servant.

The suspension order stemmed from Garcia’s alleged refusal to release the budget of the late Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr, who died in April 2011, and she allegedly sat on request for renewal of contracts of 57 casual and contractual employees of the vice-governors office.

Ironically, Garcia released the funds to successor Agnes Magpale, an ally then, as soon as Sanchez died, the suspension order said.

It is just too bad that then DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo met his untimely death and the investigation he conducted on this anomaly was not immediately submitted to Malacañang, thus, no action was taken against Cebu’s governor.

Even before this, Garcia already had committed an indiscretion by wielding once more her abusive power of initiating the purchase of Balili Estate in Naga City, Cebu for 99 million in 2008 for a housing project. It turned out that 19 hectares of the 24.9 Balili Estate were under water.

For this, the Office of the Ombudsman charged Garcia with two counts of graft and one count of illegal use of public funds at the Sandiganbayan.

As everybody knows, Garcia is Cebu’s first woman governor. She was first elected in 2004, re-elected in 2007 and is now a candidate for a congressional seat in Cebu’s third district under her own One Cebu party, after she decided to forgo her senatorial bid.

There is no doubt the Garcias have political clout in Cebu, but it would have been a different thing if power has not corrupted her.

Look at what she did to the Balili property. Despite being the subject of a graft case in the Sandiganbayan, Garcia had still the gumption to alter the area’s topography by spending government money to fill up the submerged land with limestone. So, who says the Balili property is under water?

She calls it restoration.

I call it tampering of evidence in a place considered a crime scene.

Her means of surreptitiously backfilling it with limestone to make the Balili property a special economic zone, as she claims it, does not justify the fact that the acquisition cost for a badly bought property was simply staggering.

The ax has fallen on her because of this and it is encouraging that it has found its mark.

Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia’s senate run may be disastrous

Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia and her brainchild: Suroy-suroy sa Sugbo

Not because the Estrada-Binay led United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) has drafted Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia in its senatorial slate for the mid-term elections in 2013 does it mean that her inclusion will assure her of instant victory.

UNA may be a party to reckon with, as it builds itself to becoming the opposition party that will be contesting against the Aquino-Roxas Liberal Party (LP) in 2013 and the presidential elections in 2016, but its strength is only as formidable as the sum total of political prowess each of the selected candidate brings in to the party.

I am not saying that Gwen does not have the ability to be in the senate, for the truth is that she is more than qualified than many of those who now carry the title of senator of the realm.

But this is a national election, and where will she draw strength in her bid for the senate when she is only known in Cebu and, perhaps, in Ilocos because of her close friendship with Gov. Imee Marcos?

She may be bragging about her accomplishments in Cebu province, but who cares? In the same manner that she will be painting a nice picture on how she has seemingly transformed the province into a tourist destination because of her periodic ‘Suroy-suroy sa Sugbo’, she has also to fend herself from attacks about her unsavory participation in the anomalous P98.9 million purchase of the Balili property.

It is bad enough that she is not well known outside of Cebu, but it is even worst that not all Cebuanos will vote for her.

What makes her senate run disastrous even more is the result of senatorial surveys where she is nowhere close to the magic 12 perceived winners in 2013 elections. Of the 24 seats in the senate, only 12 seats will be up for grabs.

How could Gwen make it when there are many running for re-election from both parties with good name recall, has done outstanding job in the senate, and are sure to win? There are also those that are making a comeback whose name and previous performance have been appreciated and are sure to get the voter’s nod. Others are Congressmen who are aspiring to become Senators and are who worthy of their names. Still some, like Gwen, are enticed to run by the opposing parties because of their famous lineage and their strong chance of winning.

All these circumstances are putting Gwen in a disadvantageous position. This is where she miscalculated her potential to win. It is not about the Garcia name, no matter how many are you in politics.

In this country, you have to make a name of yourself in the national scene so people will get to know you. Otherwise, coming from a province in the Visayas region, you will find yourself at the tail-end of the race conducted nationwide.

But Gwen can still avert her disastrous decision to run for the senate now and realize her dream later. And it is not too late.

Since she has transferred her voter’s registration from Dumanjug town in the 2^nd district to Barili town in the 3^rd district, then her best option is to run for congress.

Surely, it will be no contest, and from there she could start dreaming again for her ultimate senate run.

 

Sandiganbayan case a setback for Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia

Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia

With the filing of graft and technical malversation charges by the Sandiganbayan against Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia in connection with the purchase of submerged land that was part of the Balili property that was bought by the provincial government for 98.9 million pesos, it could no longer be said that “it is much ado about a little thing.”

This statement was uttered by Rep. Pablo Garcia sometime in 2011, when he came to the rescue of her beleaguered daughter who was deeply embroiled in the controversial purchase of the property.

The buck has to stop where command responsibility starts. This is the simple doctrine of hierarchical accountability. And it simply happened that Gov. Gwen was the authorized person to approve the purchase of the Balili lots.

Sensing that Gwen was being put in a tight spot, the Deputy Speaker joined the milieu, both as father and a lawyer, to save his daughter from ignominy.

What we thought was a gaffe in judgment has now been converted to an argument using the language of the law.

The father dismissed the charges that his daughter had failed to exercise due diligence before signing the agreement that made Capitol the owner of a 25-hectare lot that is largely submerged in water simply because the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) failed to give notice about the encumbrances of the titled property.

The blame has now been, seemingly, shifted to DENR for the law, according to Rep. Garcia, only requires that the buyer, in this case, the Capitol, inspects the title and not the lot itself.

He further said that the law does not require inspection as it operates on the premise that titles are presumed valid unless they are encumbered and that the law even has an assurance fund set aside to protect buyers against the failings of the land registration system.

Moreover, he said, the law also operates on the premise that property buyers are not expected to understand the technical descriptions of lots as indicated in the titles.

Appropriately, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales did not see it that way. To her it was much ado about significantly big that needed to be brought to court.

For somebody who thinks so highly of herself, and who is vying for a senate position in the 2013 elections under the Binay-Estrada United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) party, this new development is a setback to her political aspirations.

Unless she will be able to clear her name, her case before the Sandiganbayan will very much define her political future.

Osmeña out-maneuvers Rama

 

The way it looks for Mike and Tommy in 2013 mayoral contest

What Rep. Tomas Osmeña did in being among those present during President Benigno Aquino’s visit to Danao City for the signing of the alliance between Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III’s  Bakud Party and the LP headed by Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas, could only be described as a successful coup against rival, Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama.

At the height of Osmeña’s resentment and perceived heated disagreement with Roxas, when the latter was sent by the President in February to meet with Cebu’s political allies, one would think that he was severing his ties with the LP and run for mayor in 2013 without the support of the party.

Not only did Osmeña thought then that Roxas and his LP has done nothing for Cebu, despite the one million votes delivered for him in the 2010 elections, but what got his goat was Roxas’ special mention of Mayor Rama being present in LP activities, which Osmeña does not normally do.

“So what do you want? Kick me out?” Osmeña was overheard telling Roxas.

So piqued was Osmeña that he had this to say: “We would not even care if LP supports Mike’s candidacy,” he said, referring to Cebu City Mayor Rama, who is seeking reelection.

But that is water under the bridge now.

Realities are that the way politics is played in this country, political animosity does not have a place, when out of political necessity, political patronage is being sought after. And there is no bigger and richer patronage that is beneficial to any politician for ensuring his victory than the one offered by the administration party.

With Osmeña’s BOPK developing cracks, he can no longer depend anymore on his own party to deliver him the votes and for him to be able to reclaim Cebu City’s mayoral seat.

Thus, Osmena’s presence with the LP stalwarts in Danao is a prelude to BOPK-LP alliance. This is a must-do for the former mayor, not so much for defeating Rama, as it is for saving his baby, the South Road Properties (SRP), from being taken away from him and ‘fathered’ instead by his political enemies.

Surely, Osmeña has out- maneuvered Rama, leaving the latter in quandary now.

Poor Mike. But, he can always follow where his friend, Gov. Gwen Garcia, has gone.

Osmeña in dilemma over Rama

Cebu south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña

One does not have to wonder anymore why Cebu South district Rep. Tomas Osmeña has been dominating the pages of the local dailies lately. He simply wants people to know that he is on a warpath to topple Mayor Mike Rama and reclaim the leadership of what he has regarded all these times as his bailiwick, Cebu City.

It will be noted that Osmeña has served as city mayor for five terms from 1988 to 1995 and from 2001 to 2010.

As far as Osmeña is concern, Rama, his erstwhile disciple and political ally, has grown too big for his britches and has turned into a political menace that is threatening is leadership and political hold of the city.

And so the time has come when Osmeña sees fit to start tightening the screws on Rama, making him irrelevant, incompetent and impotent in what he does and says, as far as the affairs of the city is concern.

It is now or never, or forever Tomas Osmeña will lose ‘fatherhood’ of his perceived family fiefdom, Cebu City, and his beloved ‘baby’, the South Road Properties (SRP).

Perhaps, Osmeña has been swearing at his naivete then, thinking that after making Rama win the mayoralty contest in 2010 under BOPK, that the latter will be beholden and continue to be a compliant ally, while he has his congressional district to attend to.

Such, did not happen, however, to Osmeña’s dismay.

No sooner than Rama found himself in the seat of power, he started to be recalcitrant and with his new-found political clout, Rama started behaving like his own man, or so many thought he was, going against Osmeña in contentious issues and making decisions that slowly alienated himself from the BOPK-dominated council.

Worst of all, Rama started getting too comfortable in the company of Osmeña’s political enemies, one of which is the very notable lady Gov. Gwen Garcia and this, definitely, did not sit well with Osmeña knowing how ambitious, controlling and influential she could be on Rama.

Needless to say that Osmeña has always been apprehensive that one way or another, through servile Rama, the imperious Garcia will start meddling in the affairs of the City and most especially the development of the South Roads Properties (SRP).

It is perceptibly for this reason that Osmeña is moving heaven and earth, and doing everything in his power to attack Rama at everything he does and says because he simply will not and cannot allow Rama and Garcia to touch his brainchild that is the SRP.

No doubt Osmeña is hell-bent on destroying Rama and marginalizing him in Cebu City politics come 2013 elections, when he will run again for mayor.

There is nothing more important to Osmeña , in his age and health, than to save the SRP from falling into the hands of his arch enemies. Rama could not be trusted anymore.

That “the SRP belongs to all of us”, as claimed by Mayor Rama in his SOCA, is true, but, Osmeña is making sure that it will not happen in Rama’s time and terms.

With Osmeña’s reclaiming the mayoralty seat in 2013, and having a controlled city council, he shall have realized his dream of making SRP his legacy to the city of Cebu.

After all, it is the Osmeña pride and honor that is at stake.