The Philippine mid-term election race has finally culminated
with the proclamation of the 12 winners for the Senate from among the more than
33 candidates who filed their candidacies for the national posts.
Nonetheless, the election campaign was still dominated by traditional politics
where dirty tactics are employed such as character assassination, voter’s
intimidation, religious sector intervention, vote buying and fraud.
Obviously, the dispute and junking of party-mates at the
provincial and local levels worsened from bad to worse where powerful
personalities and political clans dominated the local election. The national
alliance of the Liberal and NPC parties is definitely self-serving for the
Aquino administration. Consequently, the temporary coalition sowed confusion
among the national and local candidates that resulted in the defiance of local
LP parties to respect the partnership since most opponents for local positions
come from the NPC party.
It is without doubt that the 2013 mid-term election is not only
an acid test for the sustainability of the Aquino administration in its
economic achievements but most importantly serves as a prelude to the next
presidential derby in 2016. The formidable victories of the administration and
coalition candidates in the Senate definitively assures President Benigno
Aquino III of a majority in the legislature needed to pass legislation for his
programs legacy before he leaves office in 2016.
The domination of both the Senate and House of Representatives
by the President’s allies may serve as too strong a temptation for the
President to amend the Constitution in lifting the Presidential term limits in
order to extend his term of office to access to absolute power. While this is
only a food for thought, it is dreadful to even contemplate on the realization
of this event which is not impossible.
Bewildering Victories of
“Underdogs” Grace Poe and Nancy Binay
Despite the harsh criticisms and negative pronouncements of the
candidacies of Grace Poe and Nancy Binay from the tri-media, the victory of
aforementioned neophyte female candidates is in itself a unique consequence of
the election. More than that, with Grace Poe topping the list of the 12 winning
Senatorial victors with more than 20 million votes, her win distorted the
professional prediction of every political analyst and tactician in the
country.
This is the same case with Nancy Binay who was chosen as a
substitute for an UNA candidate who withdrew before the campaign started and
given almost a nil chance to win the election. Is this the election year of the
“underdogs”?
Widow of Late Sec. Jesse Robredo Won Over a Political Dynasty
Stalwart
Atty. Leni Robredo, the widow of well-loved former Naga City
Mayor and DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, won as congresswoman of the 3rd
district of Camarines Sur. The humiliating defeat of a stalwart of a political
dynasty in the province, Nelly Villafuerte, the wife of incumbent Rep Luis
Villafuerte Sr ended the Villafuertes dynastic family’s reign for more than 4
decades. Atty. Robredo obtained 102,694 votes as against Villafuerte’s 31,364.
As reported by a national daily, the recent victory of Atty.
Leni Robredo, widow of the late Jesse Robredo has once again evoked memories of
the late DILG Secretary and Mayor of Naga City. Despite the vote-buying that
occurred in their district in Camarines Sur, Atty. Robredo still won by a huge
margin which was caused mainly by the overwhelming desire of her constituents
to finally put an end to the Villafuerte political dynasty that has ruled their
district for more than 20 years.
Philippine Local
Election Winner Decided by a Coin Toss
 |
| Courtesy of blog.republicofmath.com |
In a small municipality of San Teodoro in Mindoro Oriental, the
2 political mayoralty candidates, Marvic Ferarren and Boyet Py, both received
identical 3,236 votes after the canvassing. In order to break the tie, the
Commission on Election suggested for the two candidates to flip a coin five
times each, which is allowed under the country's Election Code. After the first
round of the coin toss, they tied again. However after the second round,
Ferraren won the coin toss and was declared as the elected Mayor of San
Teodoro. "Both of them accepted the result. They shook hands and
embraced," COMELEC Official Pagilagan said. What country in the world can
beat that?
Ex-Convict Former
Philippine President Elected Mayor of Manila
Joseph Estrada, ousted President after the 2001 anti-corruption
revolution, was declared the winner of Manila's Mayoral election defeating
incumbent Mayor Lim.
Estrada was elected President in 1998 with a wide margin of
votes separating him from the other challengers, and was sworn into the
presidency on June 30, 1998. However, allegations of corruption resulted to an
impeachment trial in the Senate, and in 2001 Estrada was ousted by "People
Power 2" after the prosecution walked out of the impeachment court when
the Senator Judges voted negative in the opening of the second envelope.
In 2007, he was sentenced by the special division of the
Sandiganbayan to “life sentence” for plunder, but was later granted pardon by
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He ran for president again in the 2010
presidential election, but placed second behind Senator Benigno Aquino III.
Estrada, 76, capitalized on his movie-star popularity,
particularly among the poor, and promised to reverse urban decay of the
historic capital along Manila Bay. Manila was once a lively tourist spot, but
the streets have become neglected and many residents complain of crime.
People’s Champ
Re-elected as Sarangani Congressman, Wife Jinkee Won as Vice Governor
 |
| Courtesy of bleacherreport.com |
A National daily reported that” Manny Pacquiao, current WBO
welterweight boxing champion and seven-time title holder scored the most
personally satisfying win of his life in his birthplace in the country's
national elections early Tuesday morning, soundly defeating a heavily
favored candidate, Roy Chiongbian, from an entrenched billionaire clan to win a
seat in the Philippines Congress representing the province of Sarangani in
Mindanao. Pacquiao, along with other Sarangani candidates running on his
People's Champ Movement (PCM) party ticket, won landslide victories in the
province, including his wife Jinkee Pacquiao as Vice Governor.”
Murder Fugitive
Candidate Elected Mayor
Leodegario Alayon Labao Jr, a fugitive wanted for the murder of
Abel Martinez, Vice Mayor of Mambusao, Capiz last year has been elected
as the Mayor of the said municipality. The final, official result from the
Commission on Elections in Capiz showed Leodegario “Jun” Labao Jr., garnering
12,117 votes to his rival Sharon Grace Martinez Martelino’s 7,109, a daughter
of the murdered town official.
Until his election, Mayor-elect Jun Labao, tagged as the brain
of the assassination of Martinez, is still being hunted by the police
authorities in connection with the murder of the slain official. More than a
month before the election, Labao was confined at Iloilo St. Paul's Hospital for
high blood pressure but managed to elude police who went there to serve the
warrant for his arrest. Police believed he has gone into hiding after Judge
Daniel Antonio Gerardo Amular issued the arrest warrant. Labao, however, cannot
be proclaimed because of a pending petition to disqualify him for alleged
involvement in the murder of Martinez, according to Rutchell Calixterio,
Mambusao municipal election officer.
The petition for disqualification was filed against Labao on May
8 at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) central office by Ludovico
Martelino, the husband of Labao’s opponent, Sharon. Ludovico urged the Comelec
to hold in abeyance the proclamation of Labao “considering that the evidence of
his guilt is strong.” Police authorities said Labao was considered “dangerous”
because he had 8 licensed firearms, including four M-16 and two M-14 rifles,
and two handguns. The gun permits have been revoked by the police after the
murder case was filed against him. “We have tracker teams composed of
intelligence units locating him but we are appealing to him through the media
to surrender and face the charge,” the official told the Inquirer. A fugitive
candidate won as Mayor? Only in the Philippines! So what now?
Stranglehold of
Political Dynasties in the Country
The just-concluded May mid-term national elections were
dominated by familiar names of political dynasties and celebrities.
However, despite the passionate exertions of several
socio-political groups to raise the level of public disapproval of political
dynasties, the results of the election provided strong indications that
political clans will continue to dominate the political landscape, from the
national and local elections in the country.
Here in the Philippines, such dynastic political families
existed as far back as the Spanish colonial times in the late 1800s, and on to
the American occupation, to the Commonwealth government years in the 1930s, the
Japanese occupation in the 1940s, to the post-World II War years of
independence until this day.
Even though political dynasty is prohibited under the 1987
Constitution, there are over 250 dynastic families that have monopolized
political power all over the country. The Philippine Congress has long been
controlled by members of political clans and the current President Aquino III belong
to a dynastic family in Tarlac, a similar case of other former Presidents.
Marcos Political Dynasty
More than 2 decades after a public revolt ousted her
dictator President husband, Imelda Marcos was re-elected as Representative of
the Second District of Ilocos Norte. Almost 84 years old, she is nearing the
final chapter of a tumultuous political life in which she once astounded the
world by amassing a mammoth shoe collection as first lady of the impoverished
country. Never showing any remorse for her past, she has against all odds
succeeded in orchestrating the rebirth of a political dynasty tainted by
allegations of corruption and abuse during her husband's rule.
Her daughter, Imee Marcos won as Governor of the Ilocos Norte
while her son, Ferdinand Jr. is an incumbent Senator of the country.
Fariñas
Political Family of Ilocos Norte
Rodolfo “Rudy” C. Fariñas, a widower who was married to former
beauty queen, Miss Teen Philippines Maria Theresa Carlson was re-elected
Representative the 1st District
of Ilocos Norte unopposed. He held the same position from 1998 to 2001
and was also Governor for 9 years, from 1988 until 1998. At the young age of
27, he was elected Laoag City Mayor for 2 terms, from 1980 to 1986.
Roger C. Fariñas, elder brother of Rudy, was elected Laoag
City Mayor for 3 terms, from 1995 to 2004. In the last election, as an
independent candidate, he lost the City Mayoralty race to the wife of his nephew,
Michael Fariñas.
Michael Fariñas, son of Federico Fariñas and nephew of Roger and
Rudy was elected as City Mayor of Laoag City for 3 terms, from 2004 to 2013. In
the last 2013 election, he ran and won as Vice Mayor of Laoag City while his
wife Chevylle Fariñas won as City Mayor. She was formerly Laoag City ABC
President from 2010-2013.
Ironically, Carlos Fariñas, son of Rudy Fariñas ran and lost
against his cousin, Laoag City Mayor Michael Fariñas who won as Vice
Mayor of Laoag City.
Ria Fariñas, daughter of Rudy Fariñas won as Provincial
board member of the first district of Ilocos Norte. Rodolfo Fariñas Jr.,
son of Rudy Fariñas is the incumbent SK Federated President of Ilocos Norte
while another son, Rudy Ceasar Fariñas is a former SK Federated President
and incumbent Barangay Chairman of Barit, Laoag City.
Ampatuan Clan of
Maguindanao
It was a fearsome national issue when leaders of the Ampatuan
family and their gunmen were accused of an ambush-massacre killing 58 people,
including 32 journalists, in the southern province of Maguindanao more than
three years ago in a plan to stop a rival's challenge to become governor.
In the last Mid-term election, there were at least 23 members of
the Ampatuan family who ran for different posts in the province of Maguindanao
and secured big wins in the local elections. The wives of 3 senior clan members
who are on trial for the murders were re-elected Municipality Mayors in
Maguindanao. At least 16 other members of the Ampatuan family were elected or
re-elected as town mayors, vice mayors and councilors in the province,
according to the Commission on Elections website.
The election results were satirical in the sense that it can and
dash the hope of the victims’ families and sow fears in them with the
impression that justice may never be obliged on the perpetrators of the
massacre.
Other Political Dynasties
Aguilar Villar of Las Piñas, NCR
Cynthia Aguilar Villar, won as Philippine Senator
Mark Aguilar Villar, son of former Senator Manny Villar and Senator-elect
Cynthia Villar, won as Representative of the Lone District, of Las Piñas NCR
Vergel Aguilar, brother of Senator-elect Cynthia Villar was
re-elected as City Mayor of Las Pinas.
Angara Political Clan of
Aurora Province
The Angaras have dominated Aurora since post World War II when
Sonny Angara’s grandfather, Juan C. Angara, became mayor of Baler, Aurora in
1945.
Juan Edgardo Angara, son of former Edgardo Angara and nephew of
Bellaflor Angara- Castillo, won as Senator of the Philippines.
Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, sister of and aunt of Senator-elect
Juan Edgardo Angara was re-elected as Representative of the Lone District
of Aurora. She was also a former 3-term Governor of the province.
Arthur Angara, brother of former Sen. Edgardo Angara and
Bellaflor Angara-Castillo lost the governorship of Aurora to former Vice
Governor Gerardo Noveras. He was the outgoing Mayor of Baler for 3 terms and an
uncle of Senator-elect and 3-termer Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara.
Rommel Rico Angara, nephew of former Sen. Edgardo Angara and
Rep.-elect Bellaflor Angara-Castillo Won as Vice-Governor of Aurora. Rommel is
a cousin of Senator-elect Juan Edgardo Angara.
It will take many pages to write about the numerous political
clans in the Philippines that include the Arroyos, of Pampanga, Belmontes of
Quezon City, Binays of Makati, Cayetanos of Taguig, Cojuangcos of
Tarlac, Defensors and Garins of Iloilo, Dutertes of Davao,
Dys of Isabela, Ecleos of Dinagat Islands, Ejercitos of San Juan
and Laguna, Escuderos of Sorsogon, Espinas of Biliran,
Singsons, Marcoses and Fariñases of Ilocos, Ortegas of La Union, Fuas of
Siquijor, Osmeñas, Ramas and Garcias of Cebu, Gordons of Olongapo
and Zambales Hagedorns of Palawan, Jalosjoses and Lobregats of
Zamboanga, and a rising political clan, Mangudadatu in Maguindanao. And
the 2-arms long list goes on and on.
For a lot of reasons, the 2013 mid-term election is
exceptionally weird and that can only happen in the Philippines. Prototyped by
a PhilippineTourism ads, “Its more fun in the Philippines”, it is indeed real
that the “Political election
is more weird in the Philippines”.
June 4, 2013
Fresno, California USA
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