By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
THE suspense’s over!
Negros Occidental’s Gov. Bong Lacson on Monday, Feb. 28, finally declared he’s “kakampink”. Meaning, he will support, campaign and vote for Vice President Leni Robredo (VP Leni) for president.
Then, there’s a clash of public opinions. Positive and negative comments flooded Facebook (FB). But per observation, the flattering ones outsmarted some of the nasty notes.
And the meaningful amongst: “Gov, you give us hope and faith,” commented a lady netizen.
Indeed, the governor’s announcement of being a pro- Leni (really) rocked Negros and Bacolod. He victoriously earned public empathies. And it only showed that the governor’s integrity/credibility is “contagious” still.
Thus, there’s a puzzle now among Negros mayors. Remember that during UniTeam’s grand rally in Bacolod on Feb. 23, 28 of the 31 mayors (Bacolod not included) reportedly vowed to support the presidential bid of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (BBM).
No less than former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) and her husband Mike, who landed in Bacolod, met with the mayors and endorsed BBM’s candidacy. After BBM’s rally, everybody thought Negros will be solid for BBM.
But with Bong’s latest declaration, it is as if a “tornado” suddenly changed the course of political winds in the province. Truly unbelievable!
So, let’s dissect now the anatomy of Bong’s decision. First thing first: Bong’s mother is reportedly a close friend of Judy Roxas-Araneta, mother of former Interior and Local Government secretary Mar Roxas. Roxas and Robrero were running mates for president and vice president, respectively in the 2016 elections.
Second, the governor, a source said, decided based on the dictate of his moral conscience. That’s why he said, “If people ask me whom I am supporting or voting for, I confirm, it’s Robredo. That’s where I am going right now. I think (my choice) is obvious.”
But among his quotable quotes during a media interview on Monday, Bong was a “standout” on this phrase: “When we face our ballot on May 9, there’s only one question that we should ask ourselves: Who do we trust?”
So simple, but meaningful! It melts someone’s heart. It also sends someone’s soul to the guilty chamber. Behaving well amidst political ruckus made Bong’s “silence” so dignified.
Thus, at the times he opens his mouth, his every word commands respect. And that’s Bong – no more, no less!
‘AGAINST ALL ODDS’
In San Carlos City, Bong’s hometown, there’s this “confusion” now among local officials on who to follow – the governor or Mayor Renato Gustilo?
Mayor Gustilo, in an ambush interview after their meeting with BBM last week, said all officials in their city, including 1st District congressman Gerardo Valmayor and former congressman Jules Ledesma, are pro-BBM. And he said the governor is just “alone” for Leni.
Simply to say: Bong’s “against all odds.”
But that word (alone) irked netizens, thus, they lambasted the mayor on FB.
And to shield Mayor Gustilo from the unstoppable “public attack”, the governor was, somehow, compelled to officially announce his personal choice so to stop the brouhaha on FB.
Lo and behold, it doesn’t stop there. Rather, Bong’s final decision caused a “pink headache” now among Negros politicos.
According to my impeachable source, three congressmen and 18 mayors belonging to “Love Negros” are now “meditating” or in deep thought.
And the “sixty-four-dollar” question: Will they follow Bong, their Love Negros’ titular head? Or will they go with Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer of United Negros Alliance (UNegA), a staunch supporter of BBM?
Quite interesting, and intriguing, of course! But the governor is clear: “I respect everyone’s decision”. He said he’ll never impose his personal choice to any mayor in the province.
Fine! But it’s not the case now after his “pink declaration”. Why? It’s because the governor seems to be the “Darling of Netizens” now. And such has a ripple effect leading to the very basic question: Who’s credible: Bong or the mayors?
‘ENORMITY’
Another “hot personality” in Negros now is Cong. Stephen Paduano or Carapali Lualhati or Cong. Caraps of Abang-Lingkod party-list.
As a former national commander of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army – Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB), Cong. Caraps is known in Negros as an anti-Marcos’ protagonist.
RPA-ABB is the splinter group or breakaway of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
Thus, when Cong. Caraps was still in the underground movement, especially during the Marcos era, his communist ideologies against Martial Law, oppression, torture, among other social ills were “limitless”.
Contention-wise, he has a “superb” logic against the Marcos’ regime. Too, being the mouthpiece of the RPA-ABB endeared him to the press. Thus, anywhere he holds a clandestine press conference before, Negros journos (really) risked their lives just to cover him to catch his quotable quotes.
As proof, Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) reporter, Agong Raymond de la Luna, died in a freak accident while on their way home from Cong. Caraps’ press con held somewhere in Ilog so many years back.
Aside from Raymond, scores of reporters were also injured. That’s how media “loved” Cong. Caraps and his limitless ideologies plus an enormous cause for social change.
That’s why, until now, well-meaning Negrosanons can’t believe that he’ll ally with BBM. At first, it was just a talk. The solons’ supporters debunked such, and dismissed it as a mere propaganda.
But others said it’s appalling and unthinkable to see Cong. Caraps endorsing BBM. However, when everybody saw Abang-Lingkod’s float joining BBM’s caravan from Silay to Bacolod on Feb. 23, many can’t help but exclaimed: Oh, my God!”
Sought for comment via text, Cong. Caraps is still not available.
NO JOKE
Well, political decision-making is no joke. Such is expected to, somehow, further politicos’ self-interest, hence, deemed rational.
But political pressure due to scarcity of political logistics causes politicos to “flip-flop” sometimes. Hope Cong. Caraps is from this reality. Thus, he has no choice but to weather undesirable annotations against his final political decision of joining BBM’s political bandwagon.
And he has to bear in mind that Negrosanons are so keen about his past and present.
The two remaining months prior to the May 9 elections might be critical for Cong. Caraps. If he can’t “bounce back” from the rubbles of “silent hate” due to his “odious” defection to BBM, then, he’s endangering his quest for a third and final term.
Judgment call in his case – Which is which? Communist ideology or political ideology? Both could be similar in theory. So “tricky” to differentiate, but what is clear according to American biologist-cum-writer Edward Osborne Wilson: “Political ideology can corrupt the mind, and science.
Communist ideology, on the other hand, evolves from socialism with plentiful interpretations. And only Cong, Caraps knows what’s best for him and for Abang-Linkod.
One thing is (for) sure, however, he can’t ever escape from the shadow of his past being a communist guerilla warrior against the systemic authoritarian government of the deposed president Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.
Now that he’s with BBM, Negrosanons are really thrilled to hear him justifying his decision.
But if he remains “bulag, pipi at bingi” to people’s supplication, then no doubt Cong. Caraps might suffer from deep political trouble soonest.
This, as Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, once stressed: “Neither the chains of dictatorship nor the fetters of oppression can keep down the forces of freedom for long.”/PN
