Perez: Javiers are Ampatuans in the making
As the election fever heats up, Antique Governor Salvacion Zaldivar- Perez expressed that she is not shaken by any opponent... even, if it means going against the equally powerful Javier clan.
Yesterday, Perez likened the Javiers to a political dynasty.
“We have an Ampatuan in the making because they are also father and son who are into politics. Bal-an mo kung may dynasty, it is a cause of abuse... wala na sang check and balance,” she explained.
The Ampatuan clan is one of the most influential political clans in Mindanao, particularly in the province of Maguindanao. Before the controversial Ampatuan massacre, which killed 57 people, several members of the Ampatuans hold elective positions in the local political scene.
“That’s why, amo na na ang ila (Javiers) nga waterloo. Mapierde na ina sila sa amon. Antiqueños don’t like dynasty,” Perez pronounced.
Perez will be running against Paolo, son of incumbent Cong. Exequiel Javier, in Antique’s lone congressional seat.
The older Javier, who is on his third term now, will be gunning for governorship against incumbent Vice Governor Rhodora Cadiao.
Despite the heated political conflict, the lady governor said that the province is generally peaceful.
When asked about the existence of partisan armed groups (PAGs) in Antique, Perez said that they have not monitored any.
“We have been monitoring that pero daw wala pa man private army,” she claimed.
She pointed, though, to reports of a political candidate in Libertad town who could be keeping a private army.
Meanwhile, Perez bantered that the real terrorists in Antique are the politicians themselves.
“It’s the politicians who bring in goons. That’s why, amo na ang ginahambal ko nga sa amon, bantayan gid sila kag dakpon if they are carrying illegal arms,” she said adding, “My guards are in uniform. That’s why they could carry their guns.”
Further, despite earlier reports of some towns which are placed in election areas of concern, Perez said that she has not monitored any conflict for now.
“Well, nagsiling sila nga may hotspots kami this election, pero sa akon panilag daw wala man. But we are always monitoring pero daw wala man,” she added.
She added that they are just keeping watch on northern towns like Culasi and Sebaste where there are rebel-affected barangays.
Earlier, Police Regional Office (PRO) VI considered 48 towns and component cities as election watchlist of areas of concern in Western Visayas.
In Antique, deemed as election hotpots are Anini-y, Barbaza, Libertad, Lauaan, Valderama, and TIbiao that belonged to Category 1; and San Remegio and Sibalom in Category 2.
An area is considered Category 1 if it has high possibility of election-related violent incidents (ERVI) while those at Category 2 area areas with history of ERVIs, intense political rivalries and active movement of armed rebels.
