5 days to 'judgment day'
The fate of five comebacking Ilonggo congressmen and sure entry of at least one neophyte hangs on the hands of 226,215 registered voters in Iloilo City and 941,380 in the province.
With five days to go till election day, four of which are last days of the campaign, the congressional battle is at its fiercest and hottest particularly in Iloilo City's lone congressional district, Iloilo's First District, Second District and Fourth District. It is equally fierce and tense in Northern Iloilo covering the Fifth District in what has been a family battle for the coveted seat in Congress with the contenders belonging to the powerful Tupas clan. The fight is between first cousins and would-be first termers Senior Superintendent Enqrique "Col. Boy" Tupas Suplico of the administration and reelectionist governor's son, Niel Causing Tupas Jr. of the opposition.
Sole district that appeared to have a sure winner based on surveys reported in various media organizations is Iloilo's Third District in reelectionist Representative Arthur Defensor. Defensor is running against corporate lawyer and Tupas-backed bet, Zafiro Tirador Lauron.
The City's congressional seat is being fought by reelectionist Representative Raul Gonzalez Jr. of the administration versus two opposition bets lawyer Vicente "Benjie" Gengos, a protégée of Senator Franklin Drilon, and former Mayor Mansueto Malabor.
The News Today (TNT) gathered of a "silent" Gengos-support in city barangays known publicly to be Gonzalez' turfs. On the outside, barangay officials and big clans are said to have professed an all-out support for the administration's slate yet election returns are expected show otherwise.
In the First District, southern towns of Oton, Tigbauan, Guimbal, Miag-ao, Igbaras, Tubungan and San Joaquin with 188,100 registered voters in 420 barangays here are predominantly known to be backing the comeback of Representative Janet Garin. Her opponent is Garin-family erstwhile political foe in retired Police General Gerardo Flores.
Political insiders in the district said the growing sentiment is favored heavily on Garin's reelection though talks abound of "resistance" in Oton, Tubungan and expectedly, in Miag-ao, hometown of Flores and San Joaquin where the mayoralty bets are siblings Ninfa Serag Garin, mother in law of the comebacking solon, and Bastek Serag, candidate of Flores.
In the Second District, what would have been a "peaceful" political scenario here has turned tense and uncertain for reelectionist Representative Judy Syjuco, wife of Secretary Boboy Syjuco, Director-General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). The reason? Latest misdevelopments on the sudden change of heart and mind of Syjuco handler and former aide, lawyer Alex Espino. Not only did Espino left the Syjuco employ but he has apparently pledged his allegiance to the opponent's camp and turned number one critic of the power couple.
Recent media interviews of Espino had him challenging the transactions of the Syjucos exposed as supposedly irregular and highly anomalous. He was also reported to have openly backed the candidacy of Syjuco opponent, Cecilia Capadosa, close ally of the Tupases and one of the two other Ilonggo officials found guilty for dishonesty and ordered suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman.
In the Fourth District, the fight is between reelectionist Representative Ferjinel Biron and Dumangas Mayor Rolly Distura. Money is the central issue in the ensuing media propaganda here said to be really a lot for the Biron camp and not as much for the Distura group.
Will it be "hello again" or "goodbye" to the comebacking solons and "welcome" to the challengers? The decision sealed after the voting ends on Monday afternoon and unsealed by late evening of same day.