Eye Opener
Battle of titans in Iloilo
Gov. Niel Tupas and Vice Gov. Obet Armada's gubernatorial battle is billed by independent analysts as the fight of the millennium. Vice Gov. Armada has a good chance to beat Gov. Tupas should Pres. Gloria Arroyo campaign personally for the Armada- Suplico tandem and entice all Lakas- Kampi- Liberal Party (Atienza wing) mayors, vice mayors, councilors and barangay officials to vote for her anointed gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial bets. GMA has all the resources, power and influence at her command to make her candidates win the coming May 2007 elections. Former Congressman Oscar Garin, the undisputed political kingpin of the 1st district of Iloilo can give Armada-Suplico ticket a resounding victory in his district.
Congresswoman Judy Syjuco and TESDA Chief Boboy Syjuco of the second district of Iloilo can give Armada an overwhelming vote in their district. The Syjuco couple are the acknowledged leaders in the 2nd district and have never been defeated in their electoral bids.
Congressman Arthur Defensor of the 3rd district of Iloilo is confident that the Armada- Suplico tandem will garner the landslide majority votes in his district. The vice governor hails from the 3rd district and vote-rich Janiuay, Pototan and Calinog towns will no doubt give their favorite son Obet the lion's share majority votes.
Rep. Ferj Biron, the favorite and wonder boy of the 4th district has pledged to the Armada-Suplico ticket a resounding victory in his district. Biron won in the 4th district congressional fight in the last election even with the strong support of the late "Goodah" Monfort and majority of the 4th district mayors. At present Biron has literally won almost all mayors and municipal officials in the district. The charismatic Iloilo solon has all the round coins in his pocket to let Armada-Suplico ticket taste the sweet victory in his domain.
In the 5th district of Iloilo, Gov. Tupas is still considered by politician forecasters as the man to beat in his bailiwick district. Tupas in two past gubernatorial elections, garnered majority votes sufficient to cover his deficiency in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd districts. Tupas drumbeaters are confident that the governor might still convince his long time and closest friend Oca Garin to lie-low as far as the gubernatorial race is concerned. Tupas is supporting Mayor Gerardo Flores of Miagao as his best bet against Oca Garin's daughter- in- law Congresswomen Janette Garin. But Oca in a recent press release is silent on his all-out support for Vice-Gov. Armada. In the last gubernatorial race, Armada won a landslide victory in Garin's country. Armada and Suplico should campaign hard in the 1st district and the duo might finally get Garin's unqualified support for their candidacy. Tupas is confident that he will win in the 2nd district as he has reportedly five to six mayors behind his candidacy including many incumbent municipal vice mayors and councilors. The completed Cabatuan-Sta. Barbara new airport of International Standard will no doubt be a plus factor for Tupas-Oso candidacy. The fight between Tupas and Armada in the district is deemed sensational considering that Tupas diehards are working tooth and nail to have their favorite governor victorious in the coming gubernatorial race.
In the 4th district, Passi, Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas and two other municipal mayors are veering towards the Tupas-Oso candidacy. Board Member Oso is the illustrious son of Barotac Nuevo and the vote-rich town may give Gov. Tupas the majority votes he needs to cover up Armada's sizeable votes in the district. Biron the reported millionaire congressman will throw his resources and influence on the candidacy of Vice Gov. Armada and Congressman Suplico. With the said incident that took place last January at the new provincial capitol where the black-shirted police reportedly stormed the governor's office, pushed supporters of Tupas in the lobby and smashed the expensive glasses still fresh from the minds of the voters in the 42 towns and one city, may sway their votes behind the incumbent governor. Although the Ombudsman had given Tupas and two of his board members a dismissal order, the timely issuance of the TRO of the Cebu Court of Appeals saved Tupas from arrest.
Tupas won decisive victories in two gubernatorial derbies in 2000 and 2004, many still believe that the incumbent governor has a strong political machinery. Should Senator Franklin Drilon go out in GMA's municipal bailiwicks in Iloilo and campaign hard for Tupas, the incumbent governor may still come out victorious. The danger of Gov. Tupas's impending victory is the unceasing flow of money two weeks before the May 2007 elections. Many of Iloilo's poor voters can still be enticed with money in exchange for their sacred vote. The P500 each gullible voter will get from the candidates will last only for a day or two but the consequences of their being "Judas" on election day may return to them in the form of misery and hardship of life. Candidates and supporters loyal to GMA can become an overnight "millionaire" so to say. GMA is still President after the May elections and she can appoint supporters to the Cabinet posts, USEC, Directors and Board Members of corporations, Ambassadors, Consuls and other position in the government and private owned and controlled government corporations.
The fight between Tupas and Armada is interesting to watch considering that no less than the President of the Philippines is behind the Armada-Suplico candidacy.