The Antique Perspective
By Jun Escalona

What makes Gov. Sally Perez's ‘maverick' man Friday being attacked

In the first century, a carpenter-turned-religious teacher known for his advocacy of peace, enraged by profiteering moneychangers and animal offering traders, chased them out of the temple courtyard, overturned their tables and makeshift stalls declaring:

“Stop making the house of my father a house of thieves!”

A student-biographer attributed to him the fulfillment of the prophecy: This public display of righteous rage against corruption was credited to one man-Jesus Christ

Today, those who dare to stand out among their peers to express righteous hatred against what is believed to be unjust, regardless of the consequences, are an endangered specie. The human tendency is to shrink back for fear of fighting alone with expected backlash.

Three years ago, a provincial official, while acting as executive officer in charge in the absence of the governor, was slighted with what he believed was the presumptuousness of a career official.

As he received other tips from various sources, he initiated a move to audit the foundation of which she had supervision. His peers in the provincial board unanimously supported his attempt. Moreover, an official confided that earlier, he drafted a memorandum order for the governor for the same purpose. Some colleagues lost zest because it was nearing election time.

His courage and dedication to check the abuses in the local government despite the likelihood of incurring the wrath of his Party superior earned him the admiration of the governor and it saw the beginning of a bond between them that is soon to be envied by functionaries in the provincial government.

The audit effort unraveled abuses and irregularities by the management, and were viewed as measures to save the organization. The funding country lauded the effort. Gov. Perez action was vindicated.

The “maverick” legislator from Sibalom town, Eric Otayde, belongs to a class of his own.

A leader and a campus journalist (an Iwag awardee in Journalism) during his high school days in the Antique School of Arts and Trades (now Polytechnic College of Antique) to San Beda and Manuel L. Quezon University law school, Eric has defied setbacks and obstacles. He started government service as member of provincial and later congressional legislative staff.

While still alive, Eric's father, who served as barangay chairman and Sangguniang Bayan member, took pride in his son's maverick stand against irregularities. He had been his number one supporter in all his struggles. Until now, Eric, has all the support he can get from his siblings and in-laws who believed in his principle and potentials.

When he was elected member of the Sangguniang Bayan, he was perceived to be the top performer and the most influential one. His unique character: sensitivity and quick action against irregularities serves as a slap on the wrists of not a few public officials- that a public office is a public trust.

An administrative case resulting to suspensions were slapped on a municipal engineer and a barangay chairman.

He checked “overzealous” mayors, and taught them to view the Sanggunian as their equal. Thus from him they sought legal advises.

A school principal was compelled to apologize to the Sangguniang Bayan members when the latter insulted the body before a meeting. He convinced the Sangguniang Bayan to declare him persona non grata.

He defied his superior in party matters.

Those who found Eric as outspoken also discover the warmth and funny side of the man. He doesn't exempt himself by poking fun at his own imperfection. After his defeat, he cracked a joke.

“I was misled to believe that I was winning because I saw one figure too many”- which elicited laughter from the crowd as they grasped he was referring to his eye defect.

Eric has no qualms in hauling into the coals those who went beyond their authority or privileges. This earned him enemies, but the underdogs- lowly barrio folks, the youth, job applicants who had no padrino, find comfort and defender in him. His peers in the legislatives and in the academe have a high regard of him.

The lady governor of Antique, Sally Z. Perez who declared time and again that she “hates petty corruption” finds a perfect alter ego in him. In fact, there's a banter referring to him as “a chip from the original block.”

Eric's probity and integrity was tested many times when he would return the Party's unspent election money.

Some observers in the New Capitol believe that the media attack against him had bearing with his reflecting the governor's righteous hatred over dishonesty and irregularities in the bureaucracy. Others consider him as the major moral strand of Gov. Perez high-quality governance.

Some who knew Eric's Puritan character could only imagine how it would stir a hornet's nest when ever he would be back in the Capitol as an appointed official. On how true that some officials and employees felt threatened as early as July last year by Eric's frequent presence only the concerned individuals can attest to. With the aid of some media friends, they would launch a preemptive and protracted attack against him.

The attacks became more intense when Eric facilitated the reorganization of the Capitol Press Club which a jilted media man deceitfully ‘abolished.' But who can put down a righteous man? Seemed not farfetched, other would say, when in one occasion one antagonist blurted:

“Who is Eric Otayde, anyway?”

This, reflects the anxiety harbored only by those who resent him in the Capitol.

At first, he could not avoid being irritated. Sensing that the people don't seem to care about the intrigues against him, he began to realize that it only manifested the intensity of his attackers' chagrin and jealousy.

“I am only amused and flattered with all the fuss my critics accorded to my person, when I am now a private citizen. Instead of causing anxiety, it has the opposite effect of myself gaining more weight. Now I feel like I'm a turtle being thrown into the river. I am only amused and flattered and consider myself basking anyhow on free publicity,” Publicity, however undeserved is still publicity.

Commenting on his unique and privileged relationship with the governor, then, now and possibly in the future, Eric commented:

“I am not impressed by title, or authority that goes it, and most importantly the temptation of perks, privileges and gains derived thereof. The reason why I am close to her is I am convinced she is our last hope for Antique, and for Antiqueños. What that hope is, ask the sacadas, the disabled, the students, the prisoners, and plain barangay folk. Gov. Sally has done things for them in a short period where other leaders failed in a much longer timeframe. She therefore deserves my loyalty and support and, the support of all the ‘enlightened and forward-looking Antiqueños

“My experience as a teacher in the Liberal Arts subjects-particularly Philosophy and Ethics perhaps enhanced my level of existence, transcendental and otherwise, from the mundane to the sublime that to me is my real strength and to which my politics is also anchored.” he says.

“I had the advantage which some politicians do not have - built-in check of my excesses and frailties,” he added revealing his facility in the choice of words he is noted for.

One of his close friends observed of Eric:

“Although the governor calls him anytime and talks with him at length, yet he knows his place with regards to giving his opinions and advises when he said, that in the matter of “decisions it is for the higher level and my role is to present all possible options or alternatives, and never to intrude into the realm of conclusions which is the dominion of one seeking counsel or advise.”

Eric has been Gov. Perez' staunchest ally enjoying her impeccable trust since the recall attempt against her in early in 2002. The party decided for him to run in tandem with Perez as vice governor. After his defeat, the rare relationship with the governor remains, and apparently created resentments in some political nook and cranny, thus earning him the moniker- 'little governor.'

An unconfirmed report said Gov. Perez has learned to take the vicious attacks against her staunchest ally with a grain of salt, and has reportedly told Eric that he should be flattered with all the attention given him. A record one for a private citizen to hug the limelight equal if not more than that with the congressman, the governor, and the vice governor.

Are there some career officials in the New Capitol who feel threatened by Eric's perceived no-nonsense administrative style and character if ever Gov. Perez appoints him to a high position? We can only guess. And yet, Eric said his working relationship with the governor will last while she needs him.

“I believe in her kind of politics,” is his only remark.