Old faces, new hopefuls in '07 polls
The issue on whether there will be an elections next year or not has yet to be officially resolved yet in the local political scene, alignments and re-alignments are underway.
With old faces back into the limelight, new hopefuls in various contested seats also began to fill up talks in coffee shops giving veteran political analysts much to work on.
In Iloilo City for instance, former number one City Councilor and defeated Vice Mayor Joshua Alim is certain to make a political comeback. A noted lawyer and former Bombo Radyo reporter, Alim's name is among those flaunted as comebacking City Councilor.
The News Today (TNT) in a latest development, got confirmation that Alim was appointed as provincial and city chairman of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban). Reports also stated that Alim is being eyed as opposition candidate for Congressman in the city's lone district, if and only if, incumbent Congressman Raul Gonzalez Jr. has no opponent.
Alim as PDP Laban Iloilo chair is expected to come up with his own slate. TNT learned that among the early choices would be Alim for Congressman, former City Mayor Mansueto Malabor for Mayor and former City Councilor Benjie Gengos for Vice Mayor. The Alim-Malabor-Gengos team is reportedly out to face-off with the administration's bets, Gonzalez Jr. who is certain to seek reelection, Treñas who is also certain to seek reelection and number one City Councilor Jed Mabilog for Vice Mayor.
Other comebacking city councilors include old faces in the city council, former City Councilor Rita Bascos-Sarabia, veteran broadcaster Eddie Laczi and lawyer Tony Pesina. Also attempting to join the fray is the governor's son, Lex Tupas who has since been most visible and busy in making the rounds throughout the city.
Tupas inches his way in to the city's youth voters amid reports of a 'silent order' from administration bigwigs not to include him in various city sorties with incumbent city councilors.
"Let us show our political maturity," Tupas said in a chance meeting with this writer.
Meantime, it is all talks and (wild) speculations as well in the province starting off with the reported certain re-election of incumbent Governor Niel Tupas. His purported Vice Governor? Fourth District Board Member Domingo Oso, a known Tupas ally. Yet talks continue to abound of a Tupas and (Guimbal Mayor) Richard Garin partnership. Son of his former political opponent in the gubernatorial seat Oscar Garin, the Guimbal Mayor's name has since been flaunted as the next Tupas ally and vice-governor candidate for the administration. Incumbent Vice Governor Roberto "Obet" Armada, on the other hand, has been reported to be the anointed one of Malacañang for Governor.
Reached for comment, Armada neither confirmed nor denied the report while adding that he will remain a good soldier and put up a good, fair fight at the end of the day. Armada has since bolted ruling party Lakas-CMD to become the chairman of opposition Liberal Party (Atienza wing) in Iloilo. It was not clear who Armada wants as vice governor.