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Same
Old Faces Rule Northern Philippine Politics
 Just
like in other regions of the country, political dynasties try to retain their
powerful elective seats . With political neophytes finding it hard to beat them,
the dynasties may yet extend their reign for a longer period.
By
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat.com
BAGUIO
CITY – While the Philippine Constitution enshrines a provision against
political dynasty, reality shows otherwise – especially so in the absence of a
law to implement this provision.
In
the northern Philippine regions of Ilocos, Cagayan, and the Cordillera, the
current crop of candidates for the congressional, gubernatorial, mayoral and
other elective positions show that politics is dominated by the same families
who have lorded over elective positions since election was introduced by the
American colonizers in the country at the turn of the 20th century.
Ilocos
region
In
Ilocos Norte, the children of former President Ferdinand Marcos still dominate
the local politics since they threw their hats into the political exercise after
returning to the country from exile in Hawaii.
Gov.
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos is seeking reelection while his sister Imee is
on the same trail of retaining her congressional seat in one district of the
province. Bongbong, who was charged of being an absentee governor, is being
challenged by another member of a well-known political clan, Mayor Roger Fariñas.
In
Ilocos Sur, anti-jueteng whistle blower Chavit Singson might regain his former
post as governor. He is assured of his seat as the opposition is divided with
two contenders vying for the same opposition. The latter two are considered
newcomers in the electoral politics in the province which for years had been
ruled by Chavit. Other relatives of Singson are vying for various positions in
the province.
The
Ortegas, on the other hand, still control if not monopolize politics in the “bangus” (milkfish) La Union province. Victor Ortega is the
incumbent governor, his wife Mary Jane is the mayor of San Fernando City, and
his brother Manuel is the representative of first district. All of them are
vying for re-election. Other Ortegas are running for various positions.
Elective
positions are also passed on from one family member to another. A position
vacated by a family member after serving his or her terms will be filled in by
another family member in an election. This is likened to a crown being passed
from one generation to another.
For
instance, in Luna, La Union Mayor George Pinzon is running for reelection.
Before he was elected mayor in 2001 he served as a three-term mayor of Bangar,
in the same province. Pinzon made sure his son took the position in an election
while he established a new residence in Luna on his way to the town’s
mayorship.
Because
his term as Pugo mayor ends this June, Orlando Balloguing has fielded his wife
Noemi to take his place. In Sto. Tomas, incumbent Mayor Severino Carbonel is
running against come-backing former Mayor Adolfo Estonactoc. Carbonel defeated
Estonactoc’s wife Aida in the 2001 local election.
In
vote-rich Pangasinan province, the Agbayanis dominate the local politics. Gov.
Victor Agabayani is seeking reelection. His brother-mayor Luis is running as
House representative.
Cordillera
region
In
this City of Pines, Rep. Mauricio Domogan is assured of his position as he slugs
it out against political neophytes vying for his seat. A close political ally,
former Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) manager and Marcos loyalist Engr.
Bernardo Vergara, is also gunning for reelection as city mayor. Vergara ended
his three terms as mayor in 2001 and exchanged position with Domogan, also an
ex-mayor.
The
Domogan-Vergara tandem – also known as the Timpuyog group - has been branded
by progressive sectors in the city as pro-corporate interests as they allegedly
facilitated the passage of local legislations favoring Jadewell Corporation to
collect fees for road parking, the opening of a casino at the Club John Hay (a
former U.S. R&R airforce base), among others. Residents of Baguio are aware
that Jadewell executive are rooting for the Timpuyog group.
In
Benguet province, longtime political protagonists – the Dangwa and Cosalan
clans – have historically been contesting the lone congressional slot. For
decades, the position has been occupied alternately by the two families. Former
congressman Cosalan, who lost to Samuel Dangwa in 2001, is giving way to his
relative Gov. Rocky Molintas for the congressional position. Dangwa is a Kanakaney
while Cosalan and Molintas are Ibaloi.
In
Mountain Province, former Rep. Victor Dominguez is going against three
candidates – former National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) chairman
lawyer David Dao-as, Vice-Governor Anthony Wooden, and incumbent Rep. Roy
Pilando, a relative of Dominguez. Local observers believe that with a
four-cornered contest for the legislative district, Dominguez can reclaim his
former position.
Dominguez,
who had held the district representative position since the Marcos years, pushed
his wife Josephine for the position in 1998 after three terms. Thus Mrs.
Dominguez won with a slight margin against Pilando. Three years later, Pilando -
penniless and without machinery - won the congressional seat only because he was
backed by sectoral party Bayan Muna. After allegedly failing to implement
people-oriented programs, Pilando is now left in a limbo and is uncertain
whether he will be supported again by Bayan Muna-Mountain Province in the May 10
polls.
Dominguez
has other relatives seeking for elective positions. Among them are Harry who is
running for governor; Dr. Dominguez for vice-governor; and another Dominguez who
is seeking reelection as mayor of Bauko.
New
politician Rep. Solomon Chungalao is trying to keep his seat in Ifugao against a
seasoned politician member of the Paredes clan. Kalinga Rep. Laurence Wacnang is
trying to maintain his seat for the third time against vice-governor Delson.
Farther
in Apayao, the Bulot – Elias Jr. and Elias Sr. - are trying to retain their
congressional and gubernatorial posts. After finishing third terms in either
position, the two would exchange places. The Bulots have been a political
kingpin since Apayao sub-province was made a regular province.
In
Abra, the same personalities dominate politics. Former congressman and now Gov.
Vic Valera is vying for reelection while his wife Marian Zita is up for
reelection as Bangued mayor. Luis P. Bersamin Jr. is also for reelection as the
representative of the lone district of Abra. The Valeras and Bersamin are sure
winner for the local elections, many Abrenians believe.
Cagayan
region
In
Cagayan, the Enriles have been monopolizing politics in the province since the
Marcos years. The daughter of former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile is the concrete
expression of latter’s control of politics in the area. Jacky Enrile is
seeking reelection as a representative.
In
Isabela, the children of Faustino Dy, Sr. have been dominant politically for
many years since the latter’s death in 1993. From father to children, the Dys
are elected either as representative, governor, or mayor.
Faustino Jr. is seeking reelection while his brother Faustino III is
running for representative. Their brothers, Alexander and Caesar, are also
running for reelection as mayors of San Mariano and Cauayan, respectively.
Caesar was instrumental in the closure of Bombo Radyo. A nephew, Benjamin Jr.,
is running for mayor of Angadanan.
Still
a politics of 3Gs
The
northern Luzon politics is traditional, dominated by those who have the three Gs
(guns, goons, and gold).
Particularly
in the Cordillera region, the state politics assimilates or disregards the
indigenous socio-political systems (ISPS) such as the dap-ay
and the bodong (peace-pact system).
The state political and electoral systems have been a factor in the
disintegration of these systems.
With
the character of the election, the Cordillera is not spared from the effects of
the three Gs. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Cordillera has
recommended to its national office en banc to declare five municipalities of
Abra (Lagayan, La Paz, Dinglas, Tineg, and Bangued) and four municipalities of
Kalinga (Pasil, Lubuagan, Tanudan, and Tinglayan) as hot spots.
Officials
of Comelec-Cordillera claimed that the towns are considered hot spots due to the
presence of NPA guerrillas, armed goons and private armies. Many candidates in
these areas have a history of election-related violence, the poll body also
said. Arthur L. Allad-iw for Northern Dispatch / Posted by Bulatlat.com
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