A deluge of candidates and musical chairs

In most areas of the country, the game of musical chairs has been going on among political families. This has become evident with the filing of the certificates of candidacy of local political bets.

Offices of the Commission on Election were filled with throngs of candidates and their rooters who tried to beat the deadline for the filing of COCs.

There were only a few surprises. In most instances, the protagonists had already been known. It’s just a question of the official proclamation and the hoopla that accompanies the filing of intent.

As they point out, it is family politics or family in politics. With the anti-dynasty law still not passed, everyone seems to be enjoying the privilege of doing it with gusto.

In Negros Occidental, the Marañon clan, led by Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon, is fielding five family members. His brother, Alfredo Jr., is running for mayor of Sagay City. His son, Alfredo III, is seeking re-election as congressman of the second district, while Joseph’s son, Joseph Gerard, is running for councilor of Sagay City. Marañon’s nephew, Leo Rafael Cueva, is also running for vice mayor of Sagay City.

In short, it’s just a question of perception. If the public believes that the members of a family do their jobs right and are competent, they will be elected by the people in a free election, pointed out Gov. Marañon.

In Don Salvador Benedicto town in the first district, incumbent Mayor Cynthia de la Cruz, already on her third term, will run for vice mayor. Her son, Marxlen, now the vice mayor, will swap places with his mother. Her husband, former mayor Nehemias Sr., is running for provincial board member while another son, Nehemias Jr., will run for councilor of the upland town.

In Escalante City, wife Alicia is running for mayor vice third-termer Santiago Barcelona Jr. In fairness to Barcelona, never had Escalante had a mayor as dynamic as he was in his three-term service as mayor of the northern Negros Occidental city.

In Sipalay, Mayor Oscar Montilla will slide down to run for vice mayor. His mother, Soledad, former mayor of the city, will run in his place.

There are more. In Candoni, Mayor Jerry Tabujaa is running for vice mayor, while his son, John Rey, is running for mayor. Another son, Henry, is running for councilor.

Also in the sixth district, former Rep. Genaro Alvarez is staging a comeback to replace his son, Rep. Genaro Rafael Alvarez. His daughter-in-law, Joyce Alfarez, is running for mayor of Ilog town in place of John Paul, her husband.

In Pontevedra, there is the unique spectacle of Jose Benito Alonso running for mayor in place of Jose Maria, his identical twin.

But while old guards are expected to have imbibed a more discreet attitude toward the dynasty issue, it seems that even former governor Daniel Lacson was also bitten by the bug. His son, Patric Lacson, resigned as executive assistant of Marañon to run for board member of the third district.

Even the son of former governor Rafael Coscolluela, Chino, is running for councilor of Talisay City.

Lozada vs Arroyo

The most interesting development was the decision of former Rep. Apolinario Lozada to contest once more the fifth congressional district from Rep. Ignacio Arroyo, the presidential brother-in-law.

Lozada filed his certificate of candidacy in the provincial Comelec office in Bacolod yesterday. It was expected, but few had anticipated that Lozada would take on the better-funded Arroyo.

Lozada, a foreign service officer and an economist, served as congressman of the district before he got trounced by Arroyo in 2004.

"I welcome Lozada’s entry into the race. At least, the people will have the chance to make their choice," was Arroyo’s reaction.

In fairness to the presidential brother-in-law, Lozada said he will not comment on the personal problems of Arroyo during the campaign.

"I respect his personal life, and I don’t like to take advantage of that," stressed Lozada to Negros mediamen yesterday.

Another interesting development was the entry of Jorge Araneta-Camposano, 60, as Kilusang Bagong Lipunan congressional bet for the fourth district. He will be pitted against La Carlota Mayor Jeffrey Ferrer to fill up the seat to be vacated by Rep. Charlie Cojuangco who declared that he will not be running this election. Mrs. Gretchen Cojuangco, earlier rumored to take Charlie’s place, recently declined to run.

Camposano is a certified public accountant who had worked abroad and returned later to Bago where he has a farm and a beach resort.

Yesterday morning, Gov. Marañon and Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco filed their certificates of candidacy with the Comelec provincial office.

Incidentally, Zayco is Lakas chairman of the province, while Marañon is head of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

But if it is any indication, among those who accompanied them were Alfredo Marañon III, Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson (Lakas) and Rep. Ignacio Arroyo (Kampi) and the candidates for provincial board seats.

Last Tuesday, Marañon incidentally swore in to the NPC Bacolod Vice Mayor Renecio Novero in the presence of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and councilor Jude Thadeus Sayson. The latter is to be the running mate of Leonardia. Novero, on the other hand, will vie with re-electionist Rep. Monico Puentevella in the lone congressional district of Bacolod.

Leonardia bared his slate for the May 14 elections. Aside from Sayson and Novero, his candidate for the Bacolod congressional district, his council ticket include the following: councilors Homer Bais, Napoloen Cordova, Al Victor Espino, Greg Gasataya, Dindo Ramos, former councilor Bobby Rojas, and former GAB commissioner Alex Paglomutan. The new faces are Chuck Estrella, Wilson Gamboa Jr., Cesar Leonardia (the mayor’s brother), and Ronerto Kaishek Tan, brother of Transportation Assistant Secretary Ricardo Tan.

Iloilo City and the province

In Iloilo City, Mayor Jerry Treñas was joined by 10,000 supporters in hearing Mass at the Santa Maria Church and marching to the Comelec office to file his certificate of candidacy. It was more of a triumphal march than anything else.

Treñas said the city’s administration ticket is headed by Rep. Raul Gonzales Jr., himself, and councilor Jed Mabilog for vice mayor.

The councilor bets are Edwin Plagata, Jose Espinosa III, Armand Parcon, Ely Estante, Jeffrey Guanzon, Julienne Baronda, and Eduardo Peñaredondo, lawyers Antonio Pasina and Eldrid Antiquera, barangay captains Roberto Divinagracia, Lydon Acap and barangay kagawad Edward Vee.

Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas also filed his certificate of candidacy, accompanied by a big group of supporters.

Earlier, he proclaimed the mayoral bets in the second district under the Liberal Party-Drilon wing. Among them were Sta. Barbara Mayor Isabelo Maquino, Zarraga Mayor Rigor Brazas, San Miguel Mayor Gregorio Villarico, Alimodian Mayor Juanito Alipao, Nuevo Lucena Mayor Jun Monedjard (running for provincial board member), Leganes Mayor Adolfo Jaena, Leon Mayor Romulo Cabana, and Pavia Mayor Aracdio Gorrecita.

The game is now on. And the May polls will determine who will actually be the new leaders of their respective constituencies. The battle is on.