Rival Ecija political blocs wooing broadcaster’s son

GAPAN CITY — The son and namesake of famed broadcaster Joe Taruc Sr. is now the subject of a political tug-of-war between two political titans in the province.

While Joe Taruc V is being tapped as the runningmate of third district Rep. Aurelio Umali in the 2007 gubernatorial elections, he, too, is being wooed by the Josons and their Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija (Balane) party as their candidate in the fourth congressional district of Nueva Ecija.

A highly placed STAR source said the Josons’ Balane party has been sending feelers to Joe Taruc V, fondly called "Popoy," to run for congressman in the vote-rich fourth district.

Balane’s provincial chairman is Vice Gov. Mariano Cristino Joson, who recently took over the party’s helm from his elder brother, outgoing three-term Gov. Tomas Joson III.

According to the source, the Josons made the offer through an emissary at least four times, the latest of which was some two weeks ago before Popoy went on a trip to the United States. Popoy is set to return early next month.

Popoy, in a text message to The STAR, said there was, indeed, an offer from the Joson camp.

"But I have to verify it first," he said.

The emissary was reportedly one of the Josons’ political lieutenants in the vote-rich fourth district, which covers this city and the municipalities of San Leonardo, San Isidro, Cabiao, Jaen, San Antonio, Peñaranda and Gen. Tinio.

Political pundits said the offer is the latest in a series of political maneuverings and "raiding" of the Lakas ranks by the Balane party, altering the political landscape ahead of the 2007 local elections in politics-crazy Nueva Ecija which the Josons have ruled since the late 1950s.

If successful, this development could pose a major headache to the gubernatorial plans of Umali who has named Popoy as his likely running mate.

Without Popoy, Umali may have to scrounge for a substitute from among his Lakas-CMD partymates.

The two other prospective vice gubernatorial running mates are second district Rep. Eleuterio Violago and his son, businessman Joseph Violago, who hail from vote-rich San Jose City.

However, political observers believe that the prospect of either of the two agreeing to be Umali’s running mate is slim since the elder Violago is already 80 years old and can no longer wage a province-wide campaign.

Joseph, on the other hand, is reportedly keen on running for mayor of San Jose City, whose incumbent mayor, lawyer Alexander Belena, is eyeing Congress once the term of the elder Violago expires.

Belena, son of long-time mayor Amor Belena, is the son-in-law of the congressman. He is married to Marivic Violago.

Joe Taruc Sr. said he was unaware of the offers to his son.

The elder Taruc, also known as Manong Joe, said he is withholding his comment until he has talked with the Josons.

The elder Taruc, manager of radio station dzRH, has been a close friend of Tomas III since the governor was in college.

The elder Taruc recalled that the Josons even offered him the post of congressman in the fourth district, assuring him that he would run unopposed.

But he said he politely turned down the offer, saying, "Magulo ang pulitika (Politics is disorderly)."

The supposed Balane offer to Popoy has also caught incumbent fourth district Rep. Rodolfo Antonino by surprise, although he dismissed it as "pure intrigue."

The offer could mean that Balane is junking Antonino who, although a close ally of the governor, is not in good terms with Mariano Cristino.

The vice governor is close to Jaen Mayor Antonio Prospero Esquivel who, in turn, is openly feuding with Antonino.

Since assuming the chairmanship of Balane, founded by the late Joson patriarch, six-term governor Eduardo Sr., Mariano Cristino has been making some drastic political moves, including a supposed offer to former two-term fourth district congresswoman Julita Villareal, who lost to his brother in the 2004 gubernatorial elections, to be his running mate.

Villareal gave a good account of herself against Tomas III by winning in some known bailiwicks of the Josons.