Holy Week and politics don’t mix

Two major protagonists in Bacolod City’s political war started off with the usual parade and rhetorics on Saturday. But that lasted only a few hours.

Prior to that, the performance team, headed by Rep. Monico Puentevella, went to the city hall with mayoral candidate former Mayor Joy Valdez and shook hands with city employees.

Even City Legal Officer Allan Zamora appeared discomfited when Puentevella extended his hand to his most formidable critic who had filed charges against his (Puentevella’s) sons for, among other things, forgery in connection with their application for mayor’s permit for their bingo games parlor at the SM Mall.

The bingo operation was closed on orders of Zamora for failing to comply with the requirements, especially the mayor’s permit.

The sight of Puentevella and Valdez shaking hands with city employees sort of buoyed up the hopes of Bacolodnons that political campaigns are changing course.

However, as I said, it lasted only a few hours. As one observer pointed out, it was like the Mardi Gras, one last gasp before fasting during the Holy Week.

Both the ticket led by re-electionist Mayor Evelio "Bing" Leonardia and Vice Mayor Renecito Novero, the NCP bet for Congress, roared off early in separate caravans around the city.

While the Puentevella group held their proclamation rally at the Bacolod Plaza downtown, the camp of Leonardia held its rally in Barangay Villamonte.

Sen. Ralph Recto, who is seeking re-election, was seen fleeting from one affair to another. He ended up signing autographs for supporters. He was also badgered here and there by small groups of friends and acquaintances who wanted their pictures taken with the senator.

The name-calling started when Puentevella cited how Bing Leonardia and his boy had allegedly launched a personal campaign against him through the Happy Bingo issue that deprived his three sons of returns on their bingo investment.

And of course, CEO Allan Zamora had filed several charges against them for forgery in connection with their application for mayor’s permit.

The bingo parlor at the SM-Bacolod was ordered closed shortly after the disclosure that the bingo business did not have the mayor’s permit, despite assurance that will get it at a specific date.

There were a few minor surprises. The Leonardia team suddenly produced two additional candidates for councilors — former CENECO president Ed Guillem and resigned GAB commissioner Alex Paglumotan. Guillem said he returned to Bacolod after a brief vacation in the US because he wants to prove his merit to Puentevella, who, he claimed, had initiated his ouster at the National Electrification Administration.

Paglumotan, the former point man of Puentevella in the 2004 campaign for Congress, with former Rep. John Orola Jr. as his rival, claimed that "Newks," as he is known in Bacolod, virtually abandoned him after the election until he was rescued by President Arroyo.

Paglumotan launched a series of exposes of (Newks) during his stint as member of the House of Representatives.

On the other hand, the most telling criticism on the Leonardia administration was the issue on the controversial government center, which former vice mayor Ramiro Garcia, an architect, had expounded on stage. And he had documents to support his claims of overpricing.

Incidentally, although he is not running for any position, Rick’s wife, ex-rotary governor Nanette Garcia, is a candidate for the city council.

It is good that Palm Sunday has interrupted the mudslinging among politicians here. At least, for one week, people can introspect and listen to the Lord.

Solve the oil mystery

Mark Phibbs, head of the Allied Shield team that conducted the retrieval of oil from the sunken tanker Solar I off Guimaras, declared yesterday that very little oil remains in the 10 tanks of the sunken oiler.

"As of today, we are finished and we can guarantee that there is no more oil left on Solar I," declared Phibbs.

That supposedly allays apprehensions about the prospect of more oil spilling to the Guimaras Strait and put at ease the fears of environmentalists and scientists, including of course local officials.

The problem, however, is nobody can seem to explain the disappearance of an estimated 900,000 liters of oil in the holds of the sunken tanker.

Allied Shield is owned by SonSub, an Italian firm that specializes in deep water operations. It was contracted by the Protection and Indemnity Club, insurer of Solar I, to retrieve the oil from 2,100 feet in the Guimaras Strait.

Initially, some 150,000 liters of oil reportedly spilled from Solar I. And there was a tremendous outcry for the retrieval of the remaining oil before these could spill into the sea again.

What is intriguing was the report that the Philippine Coast Guard early on had started looking into reports that Solar I went down because there was another vessel, which was taking oil from it. But that was terminated shortly after.

Now, that possibility looms large because of the discovery of the reported disappearance of oil in the holds of the tanker.

Phibbs, himself, said as far as he and his team knows, the seals on the tanks were intact and there was no indication of tampering.

He declined to speculate whether or not there were cracks at the bottom of the tanks. "We could not see underneath because the wreck was deeply buried in the mud," he added, but said there may be cracks below.

But that’s the mystery. Where did the 900,000 liters go? How did it just vanish into the air?

That’s a major mystery for the authorities to solve.

ADDENDA: Although the Holy Week is not a good time to discuss politics and local developments, one can’t just escape it. For example, in Iloilo, voters found themselves jolted by the bid of former fifth district Rep. Rex Suplico for vice governor. It was not clear under which ticket he is running. Earlier Suplico had been invited by third district Rep. Arthur Defensor to run as administration standard-bearer in the provincial election. Suplico is a nephew of Iloilo re-electionist Gov. Niel Tupas. Board member Domingo Oso is the running mate of Tupas. There were speculations that Guimabal Mayor Richard Garin, is eyeing the possibility of replacing Margarito Toledanes Clavel, the third vice gubernatorial bet who filed his certificate of candidacy as Kampi member. However, there were talks that he may ultimately give way to Mayor Garin. This was admitted by Armada. Well there were still a lot of things that can happen in Philippine politics. One of the most disturbing is the possibility that the death toll may rise much higher than had previously been anticipated.