With less than 8 months to go til the May 2007 elections, political alignments are slowly firming up in Western Visayas. Ilonggo politicians are starting to "project" and "position" themselves with their respective publics and local news are rife with rumors of who will be running against who for what position. So here are the most exciting political developments in our region to date:
Antique. A retired PNP general, Robert "Bebot" Delfin, will be running for the province's lone congressional district, setting the stage for an exciting "battle-royale" with the unsinkable Congressman Exequiel "Boy X" Javier. Delfin will be running under the slate of Governor Salvacion "Sally" Perez-Zaldivar (Liberal Party-Atienza Wing). Governor Perez has also enlisted third-termer Mayor Mary Jean Nicopior to be her Vice Gubernatorial running-mate.
Capiz. Only last week, the Provincial Liga ng mga Barangay passed a Resolution requesting the political kingpin of Capiz, Senator Mar Roxas, to “approve” the candidacy of third-termer Governor Vicente "Vic" Bermejo for the first congressional district. Should Senator Mar "give in" to their request, this will effectively leave the current Representative, Rodriguez "Roging" Dadivas, out in the cold. Capiceños are wondering what will happen to the soft-spoken and self-effacing Roging who, since the last time I checked, still professes eternal loyalty to Mar. But there are unconfirmed reports that he had already aligned himself with the pro-administration Liberal Party-Atienza Wing. Capiceños are quite excited to see whether Roging would dare "disobey" and challenge his political betters in Capiz.
Over at the 2nd District, things are hanky dory for Congressman Fredinil “Fred” Castro. With Joc Joc Bolante far away in jail, Congressman Castro can look forward to an easy win this coming elections.
Over at Roxas City, the incumbent Mayor Tony del Rosario is on his third term and talk has it that he will be running for Governor. Four individuals (who are incidentally trusted lieutenants of Mar) are being groomed to him, namely: old-time Roxas loyalist Tawe Billones, City Administrator Em Losanta, youngish lawyer Blas Viterbo and Suzette del Rosario, the wife of incumbent Mayor Tony del Rosario. Whoever will be chosen among the four will be facing the opposition team of Councilor Alan Celino and Eleazar Almalbis.
Iloilo. So far, there is still no clear administration party candidate who has surfaced to challenge the incumbent Niel Tupas (Liberal Party-Drilon Wing) for the gubernatorial post. Although the names of Vice Governor Armada, third-termer Congressman Rolex Suplico (who is an estranged nephew of Governor Tupas), 1st District Congresswoman Janette Garin and presidential sister-in-law Marilou Arroyo-Lesaca have been "floated" at one time or another, things are uncertain yet. For example, Suplico is said to be planning to make a run for the Senate while Lesaca purportedly said that she wants just to be Congresswoman first and feels that running for Governor is "too sudden" a jump for her considering that she is a newcomer in Iloilo politics.
Over at Iloilo City, the Gonzalez-Treñas leadership will be hosting a party convention on October 1 to decide their slate. During the gathering, the City's barangay captains and ward leaders will choose who their party candidates will be from Congressman down to Councilor. Of course, everyone more or less already knows who will be nominated for Congressman (Raul Gonzalez, Jr.) and Mayor (Jerry Treñas). What actually is “up for grabs” is the position for Vice Mayor (toss up between Councilors Mabilog, Espinosa and former Councilor Pesina) and Councilor seats. Since the incumbent Vice Mayor Guilling dela Llana is already retiring, some say that Secretary Gonzalez and Mayor Treñas wanted to avoid a potential "flashpoint" in their relationship and decided to just leave their barangay leaders to choose whom they want as their next Vice Mayor. Councilor Espinosa you see is Treñas's brother-in-law while Gonzalez is pushing for Attorney Pesina to be the Vice Mayor. As for Councilor Jed Mabilog, he is being considered because he is the current no. 1 councilor and is quite popular with the barangay captains too.
Negros Occidental. The beautious Gretchen Oppen Cojuangco, wife of San Miguel Corp. head Danding Cojuangco, will run for the 4th Congressional District replacing his son Charlie who is on his third and last term. After a lackluster stint in Congress, Charlie Cojuangco is being groomed by Danding for the mayorship of Bago City.
So far, no strong contender has come up to challenge Governor Joseph Marañon's hold on the Provincial Capitol. There where reports that Congressman Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo is planning to run for governor but Iggy has already dismissed the rumor as "intriga" designed to put a wedge between him and the governor.
The fight for the Mayorship of Bacolod City promises to be more exciting, what with three individuals being rumored to have a moist eye for Mayor Leonardia's post. They are, namely; retired PNP Sr. Supt. Ponteras, former Mayor Valdez and DOTC Assistant Secretary Cano Tan.
Guimaras. During the recent visit of President Arroyo, people were surprised to see their former Representative, Emily Relucio-Lopez, accompanying her in overseeing the oil spill relief operations. After losing to Nava for Governor 2 elections ago, the charming socialite made herself scarce in Guimaras and people have not seen her for quite some time up until the oil spill tragedy. Naturally, talk began that Emily Lopez is once again interested in running (either for governor or representative) or "nagpaparamdam.." Appointed by President Arroyo as our Ambassador to Italy, Emily Lopez's appointment is being opposed at the Commission on Appointments by Senator Serge Osmeña.
Dr. JC Rahman Nava is now on his third and last term as Governor and is rumored to be running for the island province's lone congressional district. His nemesis, Congressman Edgar Espinosa, is said to be planning to replace him at the Capitol.
Antique. A retired PNP general, Robert "Bebot" Delfin, will be running for the province's lone congressional district, setting the stage for an exciting "battle-royale" with the unsinkable Congressman Exequiel "Boy X" Javier. Delfin will be running under the slate of Governor Salvacion "Sally" Perez-Zaldivar (Liberal Party-Atienza Wing). Governor Perez has also enlisted third-termer Mayor Mary Jean Nicopior to be her Vice Gubernatorial running-mate.
Capiz. Only last week, the Provincial Liga ng mga Barangay passed a Resolution requesting the political kingpin of Capiz, Senator Mar Roxas, to “approve” the candidacy of third-termer Governor Vicente "Vic" Bermejo for the first congressional district. Should Senator Mar "give in" to their request, this will effectively leave the current Representative, Rodriguez "Roging" Dadivas, out in the cold. Capiceños are wondering what will happen to the soft-spoken and self-effacing Roging who, since the last time I checked, still professes eternal loyalty to Mar. But there are unconfirmed reports that he had already aligned himself with the pro-administration Liberal Party-Atienza Wing. Capiceños are quite excited to see whether Roging would dare "disobey" and challenge his political betters in Capiz.
Over at the 2nd District, things are hanky dory for Congressman Fredinil “Fred” Castro. With Joc Joc Bolante far away in jail, Congressman Castro can look forward to an easy win this coming elections.
Over at Roxas City, the incumbent Mayor Tony del Rosario is on his third term and talk has it that he will be running for Governor. Four individuals (who are incidentally trusted lieutenants of Mar) are being groomed to him, namely: old-time Roxas loyalist Tawe Billones, City Administrator Em Losanta, youngish lawyer Blas Viterbo and Suzette del Rosario, the wife of incumbent Mayor Tony del Rosario. Whoever will be chosen among the four will be facing the opposition team of Councilor Alan Celino and Eleazar Almalbis.
Iloilo. So far, there is still no clear administration party candidate who has surfaced to challenge the incumbent Niel Tupas (Liberal Party-Drilon Wing) for the gubernatorial post. Although the names of Vice Governor Armada, third-termer Congressman Rolex Suplico (who is an estranged nephew of Governor Tupas), 1st District Congresswoman Janette Garin and presidential sister-in-law Marilou Arroyo-Lesaca have been "floated" at one time or another, things are uncertain yet. For example, Suplico is said to be planning to make a run for the Senate while Lesaca purportedly said that she wants just to be Congresswoman first and feels that running for Governor is "too sudden" a jump for her considering that she is a newcomer in Iloilo politics.
Over at Iloilo City, the Gonzalez-Treñas leadership will be hosting a party convention on October 1 to decide their slate. During the gathering, the City's barangay captains and ward leaders will choose who their party candidates will be from Congressman down to Councilor. Of course, everyone more or less already knows who will be nominated for Congressman (Raul Gonzalez, Jr.) and Mayor (Jerry Treñas). What actually is “up for grabs” is the position for Vice Mayor (toss up between Councilors Mabilog, Espinosa and former Councilor Pesina) and Councilor seats. Since the incumbent Vice Mayor Guilling dela Llana is already retiring, some say that Secretary Gonzalez and Mayor Treñas wanted to avoid a potential "flashpoint" in their relationship and decided to just leave their barangay leaders to choose whom they want as their next Vice Mayor. Councilor Espinosa you see is Treñas's brother-in-law while Gonzalez is pushing for Attorney Pesina to be the Vice Mayor. As for Councilor Jed Mabilog, he is being considered because he is the current no. 1 councilor and is quite popular with the barangay captains too.
Negros Occidental. The beautious Gretchen Oppen Cojuangco, wife of San Miguel Corp. head Danding Cojuangco, will run for the 4th Congressional District replacing his son Charlie who is on his third and last term. After a lackluster stint in Congress, Charlie Cojuangco is being groomed by Danding for the mayorship of Bago City.
So far, no strong contender has come up to challenge Governor Joseph Marañon's hold on the Provincial Capitol. There where reports that Congressman Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo is planning to run for governor but Iggy has already dismissed the rumor as "intriga" designed to put a wedge between him and the governor.
The fight for the Mayorship of Bacolod City promises to be more exciting, what with three individuals being rumored to have a moist eye for Mayor Leonardia's post. They are, namely; retired PNP Sr. Supt. Ponteras, former Mayor Valdez and DOTC Assistant Secretary Cano Tan.
Guimaras. During the recent visit of President Arroyo, people were surprised to see their former Representative, Emily Relucio-Lopez, accompanying her in overseeing the oil spill relief operations. After losing to Nava for Governor 2 elections ago, the charming socialite made herself scarce in Guimaras and people have not seen her for quite some time up until the oil spill tragedy. Naturally, talk began that Emily Lopez is once again interested in running (either for governor or representative) or "nagpaparamdam.." Appointed by President Arroyo as our Ambassador to Italy, Emily Lopez's appointment is being opposed at the Commission on Appointments by Senator Serge Osmeña.
Dr. JC Rahman Nava is now on his third and last term as Governor and is rumored to be running for the island province's lone congressional district. His nemesis, Congressman Edgar Espinosa, is said to be planning to replace him at the Capitol.
5 comments:
Your report on Capiz politics is both true and sad.True, because in Capiz it seems that the voice of Mar is the voice of God.Sad, because it seems that the people seems to be sleeping for a long time already. Sad, because it seems that people don't have a say at all. Sad, because after all these years that the Roxases are reigning over the kingdom of Capiz, the subjects are caught in the quagmire of poverty and ignorance.Capiz has just recently earned the distinction of being the only province in Western Visayas to receive the "food for school" program of the Dept. of Education, because they deemed that the children in Capiz are the most vulnerable to hunger. Sad....
Tanong ko lang?
Bakit wala ang AKLAN?
Syangapala, ang Capiz at Aklan ay iisang probinsya lang noon. Kaya hindi dapat maguluhan ang mga mambabasa dito.
Para din sa kapakanan ng mga Akeanon.
At isapa, noong mga nakaraang buwan dito sa blogspot ni Iloilo Boy ay nakalagay na "WESTERN VISAYAS" kasama ang Palawan , Aklan , Antique , Capiz , Guimaras , Iloilo at Negros Island.
Bakit ngayon ay wala na at hindi na kumpleto ang Western Visayas niya?
Sana ay liwangin ninyo kung Negrense , Panayeño at Palaweño. Para pag dating ng panahon ay hindi mahirapan sa paggawa ng domain name tulad ng ".wv" para sa Western Visayas?
"Ro anwang gaeugaeog sa euganeogan" --naguguluhan pa rin ako dito
Sadly, I have no political info on Aklan and Palawan at the moment.
we find this as very interesting page, very informative and concise. please publish ther complete list of mayoralty, vice mayoralty and sangguniang bayan candidates in the province of capiz especially in the second district namely in the municipalities of Dumarao, Tapaz, Cuartero, Dumalag, Sigma,Dao, Jamindan, Ivisan, Sapian and Mambusao. We would be most grateful for the favor. Madamo gid nga salamat . Mabuhay . sa guihapon- Nonoy Rubrico
Many are happy that Mar Roxas lost to Binay, a more agile, seasoned, and witty politician.Roxas was just too confident to win and kept his money instead in preparation for the future. . Presidential elections, now , to my mind, a thing of the past.Good for you Mar Roxas who pretends to own Capiz. I am your blood relative but i just don't like you personally. What have your family done for the Province, which you brag to be the Seafood Capital of the Philippines??? There's no seafood to order in a Roxas City restaurant. Funny and a big joke. Next time you will see me running against you in the Province to give you a lesson in politics.You have to learn more in politics Mar Roxas. We belong to Anastacia Roxas, the only sister of your great grandfather who had Gerardo Sr., as his son. I have your bood running in my veins too. Your answer will probably be.. so what?
Post a Comment