The riveting rescue story of a businessman’s scion

Last Monday, Negrenses found themselves riveted for several hours to the search and rescue of Felix Yusay Jr., a 34-year-old scion of hotelier Felix Sr. and Tessie Yusay.

The young businessman disappeared while he was jet-skiing off Lakawon Island of Cadiz City at about 5:30 p.m. last Sunday. His equipment conked out and he drifted away for several hours toward Cebu’s Bantayan Island.

Heavy winds and waves pounded the young man and the current dragged him to deeper waters in the direction of Bantayan, the picturesque Cebu resort.

After drifting for almost 13 hours, Yusay espied a passing fishing boat. He shouted for help, but the crew did not hear him.

Later, after several frantic shouts, the crewmen of the boat owned by Dina Lobaton of Sagay City finally saw him and turned around. They then dragged the weeping young businessman aboard and fed him fresh fish and brought him back to Lakawon, which was four hours away. Actually, Yusay had drifted toward Samar in the Visayan Sea.

Former board member Victor Puey, Lakawon Island resort owner, and sugarman Manuel Lamata, together with the Cadiz Coast Guard station, had organized a search and rescue effort. The Yusay family also contracted two aircraft to join the search for the missing businessman.

Coincidentally, Yusay was rescued by Sagaynon fishermen. His mother, nee Tessie Aguilar, is also from Sagay City.

At least, for several hours, Negrenses forgot all about the Gloriagate scandal and its spillover political imbroglio as they focused their attention on the search for Yusay.

The good luck story provided a welcome diversion.

Unwelcome addition

Not every defection to the opposition is greeted with enthusiasm by everyone. As it often happens in politics, the issue boils down to local politics. Or so it seems often.

The jarring development for the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was when Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas and several local executives joined Senate President Franklin Drilon. This definitely sundered the administration majority which had given GMA an impressive majority in Panay.

The impression generated by Tupas’ defection is that Iloilo is split. Iloilo City remains loyal to the President with City Mayor Jerry Treñas standing firm behind the Chief Executive. So with Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales remaining firm, although the President apologized to Kris Aquino for the slight against former President Corazon Aquino.

Tupas immediately joined the call for the President’s resignation for the sake of the country.

Now, one of the leading opposition figures in the House, Rep. Rex Suplico, called his uncle, Tupas, an opportunist.

That immediately drew a retort from Gov. Tupas that the lawmaker "does not know the real meaning of the word."

The Iloilo governor pointed out that one becomes an opportunist when he jumps from the opposition to the administration camp. But Tupas pointed out to the members of the Iloilo Capitol Press Club that he comes from the administration party to join the opposition.

He immediately expressed suspicions that Suplico’s bristling denunciation of his action may be due to politics. He hinted that Suplico is running for governor of Iloilo in 2007.

Although Suplico is a nephew of Tupas, the lawmaker had opposed the latter’s gubernatorial bid. The reason, according to Iloilo pundits, is that Suplico wants to run for governor of the province.

Well, as they say, not every addition is welcome. And while they may have a common cause now, the two remain at odds with each other.

The Visayas Republic: A ploy

Valladolid Mayor Ricardo Presbitero had remained silent for a long time. But this week, the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino, United Opposition and Konsensiya ng Bayan spokesman came up with the charge that the proposal by Visayan governors to create a Visayas Republic was a ploy to divert public attention from the mounting calls for the resignation of President Arroyo.

Presbitero said Malacañang is pressuring the governors to discourage those asking for presidential resignation by holding up the prospects of their breaking away from the republic.

That also prompted a rejoinder from Rodolfo Parreno of the FPJ movement that the Visayas Republic is a "knee-jerk reaction to the present situation."

"Does this mean that we will secede from the country and instead of being under imperial Manila, be faced with an imperial Cebu?" Parreno asked.

Instead, Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson (third district) said he favors a federal, unicameral and parliamentary system. Even Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon said that since it is not likely that President Arroyo will be ousted through unconstitutional means, the establishment of a Republic of the Visayas remains farfetched.

Federalism also remains the choice of Presidential Adviser for Western Visayas Rafael Coscolluela, although he admitted that the Visayas Republic proposal "reflects the growing disenchantment with imperial Manila and the clamor for local empowerment."

Last week, the Visayan governors, headed by Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, formed a technical working committee to study the mechanics of the proposed Republic of the Visayas. The governors of Mindanao have discussed a similar plan. North Cotabato Gov. Manny Piñol pointed out that it is not designed to protect Mrs. Arroyo but to seek justice for Mindanaons.

Bukidnon Gov. Jose Zubiri passionately cited the disparity in the sharing of taxes between Manila and the Mindanao provinces in justifying the call for Mindanao’s secession.

For the moment, it may be a political ploy. But leaders must watch out for the movement to gather momentum. That could mean fragmentation of the Republic.

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ADDENDA. Both outgoing Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and newly appointed Secretary Domingo Panganiban reportedly ordered the demotion of Region 6 director Ricardo Oblema to the equivalent rank of assistant regional director. He was also transferred from Western Visayas to Cebu as head of the technical services of the DA regional office there. Jindra Demetrio, former chief of staff of the DA secretary in Quezon City, was named officer-in-charge of the Region 6 DA office... Meanwhile, five governors of Western Visayas, headed by Antique Gov. Salvacion Zaldivar-Perez, signed last week their unequivocal and unwavering support for constitutional democracy and the rule of law. Perez chairs the Region 6 Regional Development Council. The local executives were Governors Carlito Marquez of Aklan, Vicente Bermejo of Capiz and JC Rahman Nava of Guimaras, Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco who represented Gov. Marañon of Negros Occidental, and Vice Gov. Roberto Armada of Iloilo. Armada earlier had explained that while the Iloilo provincial board members supported Drilon, they opted to bat for the constitutional process instead of forcing the President to resign... The Oriental Negros provincial government received last week about P5.4 million in royalty fees from the Philippine National Oil Co.-Energy Development Corp. This represented the provincial share of the utilization of the geothermal energy in Valencia town... Bayawan City (Oriental Negros) Mayor German Sara Jr. said North Cotabato Gov. Piñol will visit Bayawan this month to start the groundwork for the establishment of the rubber tree plantation that will straddle five of the city’s barangays. The city government, Sara said, has earmarked 20,000 hectares for the rubber plantation, but will initially tap 10,000 hectares in Kalomboyan, Hagka, Tabuan, Dauis and Banay-Banay.