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[av_heading heading=’Biron, et al., outside Duterte’s ‘kulambo’’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY HERBERT VEGO
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January 16, 2018
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THE WEBSITE MindaNews yesterday quoted President Rodrigo Duterte as having said that “there will be no suspension of elections and there will be no term extension, especially for me.”
Unless he was lying, it means that regardless of the proposed revision of the Constitution, the next mid-term election would proceed as scheduled in May 2019. Is that why local allies of Duterte are now buckling down to get appointments and “anointments” within the administration party PDP-Laban?
Now showing on our viewfinder is the forthcoming mass oath-taking before Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez (representing PDP-Laban) of Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. as provincial chairman, Cong. Arthur Defensor Jr. and many other political leaders of the 3rd District of Iloilo as party members on Thursday, Jan. 18. If it’s not quid pro quo for Art the son’s candidacy for governor, then I don’t know what is.
We can only presume that another LDP gubernatorial wannabe, somebody surnamed Garin, would give way to Art Jr. The Garin family has had enough of damage to reputation brought about by the P3.5-billion Dengvaxia scandal that still haunts former Health secretary Janette Garin.
Then, too, there’s Rep. Ferj Biron (4th District), a Duterte ally who aches to be anointed candidate for governor. One of his recently published pictures shows him posing with the President in Malacańang. If he does not get his idol’s blessing, would he still run for governor without breaking his loyalty to the party?
Wrong question. Not having taken his oath at PDP-Laban, he still belongs to the Nacionalista Party (NP), under which he was re-elected congressman in 2016. And as a “graduating” one, he could only boost the Biron dynasty by moving up to the provincial level and by having one of his two young sons – either Mayor Braiden John Biron of Barotac Nuevo or Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Bryant Paul Biron – aspire to take over their father’s House seat.
As millionaire owner of a pharmaceutical company, Biron has the money to bankroll not only his own but also the candidacies of his children and other Iloilo-based candidates who would support him. In fact, he has already spent a fortune for foreign travels of incumbent mayors from districts other than his 4th District.
The PDP-LDP scenario in Iloilo City also sees no room available for interlopers. It’s now Rep. Jerry P. Treñas – formerly with the Liberal Party (LP) – who’s in charge, having already taken his oath with the administration party. Although he once told the media he would quit politics, he might change his mind and run for mayor. His bilas Joe Espinosa III, the incumbent mayor, could be prevailed upon to run for congressman.
Joe III, by the way, ran and won for vice mayor in 2016 but took over the mayorship a few months ago in the wake of the Ombudsman’s decision dismissing Mayor Jed Mabilog. The No. 1 councilor, Jeffrey Ganzon, likewise moved up a step higher.
Yes, what about Vice Mayor Jerffey Ganzon? Once heralded as the “point man” of Duterte in Iloilo City over a newspaper picture showing the two of them, there is no indication of that now. If he intends to run for mayor next year, he would then have to represent the opposition.
What about Dr. Marigold Gonzalez, daughter of the late Justice secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr.? She had been photographed taking her oath as chair of the PDP-Laban in Iloilo City before Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel Jr., but to no avail.
Well, why be where they are misplaced? Mama Monchang, paki-explain. (hvego31@gmail.com/PN)
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