Dismissing the Governor: Then and Now
The fate of dismissed Governor Niel Tupas Sr. is not a first in the history of the Iloilo Provincial Government. What made his situation 'the first' was the double dismissal penalties from two Anti-Graft cases that found him guilty of grave misconduct.
Looking back in the pages of Iloilo's political history, the historical first was in October 7, 1930 when then Governor Mariano Arroyo was ordered relieved from his post amidst corruption charges and scandal generated by the jueteng issue.
The order then came from American Governor General Dwight F. Davis. The order now came from Tanodbayan Ma. Merceditas N. Gutierrez and ultimately, Secretary Ricardo Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Dismissing the governor then gathered supporters who staged protest rallies as an attempt was made for a political comeback. Dismissing the governor now still had the same scenario albeit with more pompous protests such as the performance of a band that kept rallyists in the upbeat and dancing mood for hours.
Dismissing the governor then pitted him against the media and in Arroyo's case, the El Tiempo local paper. Dismissing the governor now accorded him all the attention he can get from all the local media.
Gonzalez the 'berdugo' or 'People's Champ?'
In the center of the Tupas dismissal though are key officials of the national government starting off with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to Iloilo's very own Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez.
This, as direct links were made to Malacañang with supporters of the dismissed governor claiming the Ilonggo nation is being robbed of their dignity and pride and bullied by those in power with the guilty verdicts on Tupas.
The Ilonggo Secretary meanwhile bore much of the blame and credit, an 'aftershock' that he shrugged off.
"It's alright with me, it happens because I am closest to the President (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) and the highest Ilonggo official," Secretary Gonzales said when reached by radio reporters for comment while adding in jest, "bisan kagton na siya lamok ako man na gihapon ang may sala (even if he gets bitten by a mosquito it is still my fault). And that is an act of desperation from Tupas that he now wants to blame anybody. I have nothing to do with the case. The President has nothing to do with the case since it was an Ombudsman decision that not even the President has control of."
And it did not stop there. With the advent of world wide web, the personal attacks and criticisms against the Justice Secretary has gone global.
Manuel "Boy" Mejorada, top Tupas aide hired as the administration's Provincial Administrator minced no words in expressing his disgust on the sour turn of events for his boss, himself and his group.
Via http: //iloiloupclose.wordpress.com/ Gonzales was dubbed "berdugo" by Mejorada in a scathing blog after blog of sentiments.
In contrast came the outpouring of support from the Gonzalez die-hards particularly barangay captains in the city who maintained that the Justice Secretary is far from the "berdugo" portrayed by Mejorada but a "People's Champ."
City Proper barangay captains led by Bobby Divinagracia, Irene Ong and Boy Castillano openly congratulated the newly-installed Governor Roberto "Obet" Armada hours after the DILG administered the oath of office.
Meantime, a vigil is held in the Capitol with Tupas declaring himself as the rightful governor of the Iloilo Provincial Government.
Meantime too, Governor Armada makes an attempt to put order in the affairs of the Capitol starting off with the issuance of Executive Orders No1. for his assumption into office and No.2 for the specifics to be noted by various office chiefs.
Dismissing the governor then and now. No easy task as Iloilo and the Ilonggos mark yet another milestone in its history.