Macias dares Teveses: unity to hit snag?

by: DEMS REY DEMECILLO

The critically-sought alliance between Lakas-Kampi CMD and Nationalist People’s Coalition parties in the province may yet hit a major snag as election season approaches because both party key players and top honchos have not yet reached a final agreement on major issues.

Among the issues to be resolved are: that Gov Macias refrain from fielding and supporting his own mayors in the third district; and in return, Lakas will not field or support any opponent of Gov Macias in the entire province.

The problem is, there are reports that this early, Macias, without admitting to reporters, is already laying the ground work for his own mayors in the third district saying he has “no control” on other people’s political freedom.

But not to be outdone, the Lakas also threatened that if this be so, then Lakas will support a formidable opponent with the possibility of merging with other parties to stop Macias.

Macias will face strong opposition in the first district from the group led by returning ex-Rep. Jing Paras, arch political rival of incumbent Rep. Josy Limkaichong.

In the second district, Macias will also have to deal with Liberal Party stalwarts led by Noynoy people in the academe of this University town, plus BM Mariant Villegas who is running for vice governor under Lakas. Macias’ allies are widely perceived as the seasoned politicians under the Chikiting Sagarbarria-Rommel Erames tandem.

Macias’ ally is Rep. George Arnaiz, who is considered as the foremost political kingpin in the second district, which nobody disputes.

The Liberal Party here will also be led by Vice-mayor Woodrow Maquiling and possibly Councilor Atty. Alan Cordova; plus Bais city’s Hector Tata Villanueva (Lakas) who will work to prevent a Macias win in Bais, Pamplona and Mabinay. Tanjay will be split by the Lawrence Teves group and the Nilo Tam-Salma alliance.

Vice Gov Petit Baldado (Nacionalista Party) who is in Guam with other vice governors will be back tomorrow. Baldado is being courted by the LPs to be Noynoy’s standard bearer here. If not, then there is former city mayor Ipe Remollo who will do the honors for the LPs with Edgar Teves for Vice-Governor. Remollo is not discounting a possible comeback to retake city hall.

The top Lakas chieftain in the province is still former Rep Herminio G. Teves now taken over by his grandson Henry Pryde; and reelectionist Gov Emilio Macias II and Rep George Arnaiz for NPC.

The still-elusive unity hinges on the total Lakas support for Gov Macias NPC without fielding an opponent, and, that NPC will not field nor support its own mayoralty bet in the third district which is represented by Teves.

In the second and first districts, the political economy is a free zone. Any party may cross lines with other candidates even among their own presidential bets, it was gathered. THIRD DISTRICT.

The crucial if not the winning stake in the gubernatorial derby will be in the third disrtrict. Reports say that if Macias will field his own mayors , he will be facing opponents in every town, mostly by incumbents.

But Macias is unfazed and fully confident that he has the upperhand being the king of the highlands. He claims to be the champion of the mountains. But Baldado a lawyer, likewise is said to be the man of the masa.

QUID PRO QUO Not quite. Despite several meetings between the camps of Governor Emilio “Dodo” Macias II of the Nationalist People’s Coalition and former 3rd District Rep. Hermenio “Meniong” Teves of Lakas-Kampi-CMD party, it remains unclear whether the former will agree to the uncompromising stance of the latter that no member of the NPC should run against the anointed bets of Lakas-Kampi in the third district.

Apparently, while Governor Macias is actively courting the support of the Teveses for his reelection bid, he is not about ready to commit that he will crack the whip and prevent aspiring political figures identified with him and his party from openly challenging the third district mayoral bets of the Teveses from Bacong to Basay.

There is even a possibility that the camp of Macias will also come up with a complete slate for the Provincial Board in the said district just to ensure that Macias will have the majority in the legislative chamber as allies.

Lakas-Kampi already has a complete slate for Provincial Board that includes Sta. Catalina municipal councilor and Negros Oriental President of the League of Councilors Peve O. LIgan, incumbent Board Member Roel De Gamo and former Valencia Councilor Atty. Edmund Dy.

Pressed for an assurance, Macias, the NPC provincial chieftain, declared that he cannot forbid any member of his party from running in the third district. On the contrary, he might even be “forced” to support them instead.

Both camps acknowledge that this remains a thorny issue, which is hindering and delaying the planned local coalition that would assure the continued dominance of Lakas-Kampi in the third district and the re-election of Macias, who is facing a credible challenge being mounted by Vice-Governor Jose “Petit” Baldado.

3rd District Rep. Pryde Henry Teves warns that picking up candidates or forming a slate is easy but winning is another thing. He wonders where the Macias camp will get their funds now that Danding Cojuanco is on the verge of endorsing Gibo Tedoro for the presidency.

The Macias’ camp is bristling at the insistence of the Teveses that they should not field their own candidates and sum up their sentiment by declaring that “that the governor has not surrendered his prerogatives as the local chairman of the NPC and is not a subordinate of the Teveses.”

A close confidant of Macias enumerated the following politicians identified with the governor or members of the NPC who are most probably gunning for the mayoral posts in the third district against members of Lakas-Kampi:

Mayor Lenin Alviola (Lakas but now more identified with Macias) versus Dauzin Mate of Lakas; Dauin, former Vice-mayor Frances Araula (NPC) vs. Vicemayor Neil Credo (Lakas); Valencia, Ricky Gonzales (NPC) vs. Doro Olasiman (Lakas); Zamboanguita, Mayor Kit Adanza (Lakas but more identified with Macias) vs. Dodong or Baby Teves (Lakas); Siaton, Mayor Bingbing Arbolado (Lakas) vs. Albert Ator (NPC); Sta. Catalina, Mayor Ruben Melodia (Lakas) vs. exmayor Leon Lopez (NPC); Bayawan City, Vice-Mayor Rene Gaudiel (Lakas) vs. Councilor Bonbon Lim (NPC) and Basay, Vicemayor Nono Amorgiente (NPC) vs. Capt. Edith Vera or Dandilion Abrio (Lakas).

The Capitol source claims that the Teves camp are mulling on fielding Mate for the mayorship since they are uncomfortable of Alviola’s perceived closeness with Macias. Mate is said to be a relative of the Teveses and worked in the office of the 3rd district solon. She has just also taken the bar exams, possible running mate is exmayor Rodolfo Yee who will be gunning the vice-mayorship this time. However, Rep. Teves insists Alviola enjoys their ultimate confidence.

On the contrary Mate and Yee are NPC members.

An insider of the Teves camp said that they have no plans of dislodging Zamboanguita Mayor Kit Adanza by fielding Dodong or Baby Teves even if his father Board Member Marcelo Adanza has thrown his all-out support to Governor Macias re-election bid without consulting Meniong Teves and the party.