Allies turn bitter foes in Cagayan politics

MANILA, Philippines - For the second time, the still politically influential Dy family makes another bid to reclaim the governorship of Isabela against the one who unseated them from the province’s top post which they had held for more than three decades.

This time, the Dys have pitted third district Rep. Faustino “Bogie” Dy III for the governorship against Gov. Grace Padaca, who, at the last minute, had decided to push through with her third and final term as governor amid offers from the Liberal Party for her inclusion in its senatorial slate. The Dys bid of reclaiming the governorship of the country’s third largest province was further strengthened with their alliance with the Albanos who had outgoing first district Rep. Rodito Albano as the young Dy’s running mate for vice governor.

Dy’s elder brother, NPC national chairman Faustino Dy Jr., was defeated by Padaca in a landslide fashion in the 2004 elections, ending the Dys’ political dominance in Isabela politics.

Likewise, board member Ana Go (NPC), another Dy ally, will be going against Uy’s brother Edgar Uy for Isabela’s second congressional district.

Other Dy allies, Isabela’s fourth district Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao (NPC) and former Energy Regulations Commission chairman Rodolfo Albano (NPC), who is seeking to replace his son, Rodito for the province’s first congressional district post, were said to be shoo-ins in their respective bids against politically lesser known rivals.

Rivals in Quirino

The Cuas and Bacanis’ long years of political partnership finally ended the other day after their own patriarchs, outgoing Rep. Junie Cua (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) and former three-term governor Pedro Bacani (NP), found themselves in a bitter matchup for Quirino province’s gubernatorial post. Cua’s son, incumbent Gov. Dakila Cua, probably the country’s youngest elected governor in 2007, is facing former senior board member Eleazer Balderas for the older Cua’s current post. With Bacani’s support, the young Cua, in tandem with Bacani’s daughter, Pacencia, defeated Balderas for the governorship then vacated by Bacani in 2007.

Moreover, in the country’s northernmost mainland Cagayan province, it would be a rumble between outgoing third district Rep. Manuel Mamba of the LP against second term-seeking Gov. Alvaro Antonio of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD for the governorship.

A known ally of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Antonio and Mamba were former allies against then governor Edgar Lara of the NPC in 2007 but their relationship turned sour over provincial government policies which Mamba had been critical about.

Lara, who lost the governorship in 2007 to the Mamba and Enrile-backed Antonio, will be seeking to regain his old seat in Cagayan’s second congressional district, this time with the backing of the Mambas against third term-seeking Rep. Florencio Vargas of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

Three-cornered contest

Moreover, Nationalist Peoples Coalition stalwart Raul Molintas, a former governor of Benguet completed the four-cornered gubernatorial contest in Benguet. Dousing in what could have been only a one-on-one battle between incumbent Gov. Nestor Fongwan (Kampi) and graduating congressman Samuel Dangwa, Molintas filing his bid several hours before the Comelec closed its doors on Tuesday said, his “experience as governor will make a difference for Benguet.”

Molintas said, he wants to regain his old post to continue rendering public service. “I believe that with my experience in the many responsibilities in government, I can, to the best of my ability, provide the service required. He also said he wants to end the long-time animosities with relative-rival Ronald Cosalan. “Family is the most important consideration. Politics should take the back seat for the sake of family unity,” he said. – Charlie Lagasca, Artemio Dumlao