San Joaquin mayorship ignites 'war' of town's bigwig-families
Iloilo's southernmost town of San Joaquin is expected to draw the 'fiercest' and biggest political fight in the First District with two of its top political leaders seemingly at war.
Both seasoned politicians with respective solid die-hard supporters and logistics, the protagonists are former mayor Serafin "Bastek" Serag and his younger sister, incumbent Mayor Ninfa Serag-Garin.
The duo is currently embroiled in a 'word war' triggered by the (mis) development in the murder case where the former mayor and other Serag relatives were charged. Further still was the intent of both to seek the mayorship of San Joaquin with ex-Mayor Bastek saying it is time for his sister to go back to Guimbal, hometown of her husband and the Garin family. Mayor Ninfa on the other hand told Ted Francia of Bombo Radyo that she was overwhelmingly supported by the people of San Joaquin in the last elections and she will seek re-election to continue the works she has done here.
Asked for comment on the family squabble, the former mayor said in a Zona Libre interview over same radio station said it is beyond fixing, "beyond reconciliation." He also made an appeal to his sister asking that she leave San Joaquin and 'give it back' to them. The time has come, he added, for her to make good of the earlier agreement that she will only seat for a one 3-year term.
And with the strained relations, ex-Mayor Bastek said he is considering alignment with retired General Gerry Flores, a longtime political opponent of the Garins.
Mayor Ninfa for her part expressed desire to work for the betterment of the situation though while denying insinuations that she or her husband, Philippine Coconut Authority Administrator Oscar Garin had anything to do on the "resurgence" of the murder case of her brother.
The Garins has since provided Serag and other co-accused with a pool of lawyers. Despite the family dispute, Serag expressed continued trust and confidence on his legal defense team amidst questions raised in the media on who these lawyers are now really protecting.
Of late, a former lawyer of the prosecution panel, Pablo Tolentino made a Motion supposedly for the benefit of the victim, his family and the prosecution team yet raised brows particularly after the "press conference" called.
Doubts abound after the victim's wife, former Mayor Daisy Sibya expressed surprise on Tolentino's move and media schedule.
Such then caused speculations that tied the Garins to a purported move aimed at getting ex-Mayor Bastek back in jail if only to ensure an unopposed mayoralty fight in San Joaquin.