Iloilo political rivals shake hands, share seats in rare occasion
Board Member-elect Richard Garin shakes hand
with outgoing Miag-ao Mayor Gerardo Flores while
his wife Mayor elect Julieta Flores looks on.
Noted political rivals in the province of Iloilo gathered in one venue yesterday, again proving the age-old cliché, "in politics nothing is impossible."
The gathering was the oath taking of Vice Govenor-elect Rolex Suplico and the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Iloilo administered by Senate President Manuel Villar.
Sources say the activity was organized by Suplico and Board Member-elect Richard Garin of the first district.
In the afternoon of the same day Governor Niel Tupas Sr. also organized an oath taking and a welcome party for the incoming board members, as well as a farewell party for the outgoing ones.
The two separate activities bolstered a belief among the media and political observers that it could draw the line between contending camps—the administration and the opposition.
But everybody inside the Suplico-initiated oath taking venue was surprised with the presence of Governor Tupas minutes after Villar's arrival.
Tupas entered the hall shaking hands with several municipal mayors present most particularly husband and wife former Mayor Neptali Salcedo and Mayor-elect Ermelita Salcedo.
Tupas hurled scathing statements against the Salcedos after the recent elections for getting zero votes in several barangays of Sara, Iloilo, bailiwick of the Salcedos.
Tupas was invited to sit at the presidential table along with Suplico, Villar and other officials. While about to go to the presidential table Tupas then chanced upon his nephew Suplico with whom he shook hands. Both then gamely pose for media cameras holding each other's hands.
It is public knowledge that Suplico and Tupas had strained relations even before the elections.
"Nothing personal, it was just politics," Tupas said when asked by the media about his feud with his nephew.
"Well, we are here to serve the public," answers Suplico when asked by the media if their meeting could be a sign of reconciliation.
Later, Governor Tupas's wife Myrna and their son Congressman-elect Niel Tupas Jr. also arrived. Myrna sat beside San Joaquin Mayor Ninfa Garin, wife of former Congressman Oscar Garin, whom Tupas defeated in 2004.
Tupas Jr., on the other hand, was called to sit on the presidential table where he also shook hands with his estranged cousin Suplico.
Tupas Jr. defeated Suplico's younger brother Enrique in the race for congressman in the fifth district.
Also seen in the affair was defeated first district congressional candidate Miag-ao Mayor Gerardo Flores whose hand was reached by board member-elect Garin when he entered the hall.
It was also noteworthy that Mayor Ninfa Garin posed side by side with Miag-ao Mayor elect Julieta Flores during the picture taking.
Even board members allied with Governor Tupas, namely June Mondejar and Rodolfo Cabado, joined the oath taking with Senator Villar.
"We would like to assure the people that we in the new provincial board will have a good working relationship although we are of different political leanings," said Mondejar who admitted that he took oath in front of Senator Franklin Drilon along with Gov. Tupas recently.
"There's nothing wrong if we take our oath three or even five times," said Cabado who also took his oath with Sen. Drilon.
Also in attendance were representatives Janet Garin, of the first district, and Ferj Biron, of the fourth district, and the over thirty Iloilo municipal mayors including Isabelo Maquino, Romulo Cabana and Ramon Yee of Sta. Barbara, Leon and Cabatuan, respectively, who are known Tupas allies.
At the Capitol affair in the afternoon, all the board members present in the Villar oathtaking attended the "bienvenida-despedida for incoming and outgoing Board Members" hosted by Governor Tupas.
They again took their oath of office as administered by Regional Trial Court executive judge Roger Patricio.
Vice Governor Roberto Armada and defeated board members Bernardo Silla and Manny Gallar were not present in the affair.