By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
EXCUSE me if I use the word “corny” in this column as I dissect the rumor that former Victorias City mayor Wantan Palanca will run for governor in Negros Occidental in the May 2025 elections against incumbent Gov. Bong Lacson.
Question: Is it a sin for Wantan to run for governor?
Even Gov. Bong says he can’t choose his opponents.
Being “rumored” to run for governor means nothing is definite yet. It’s just “street” talk.
Wantan, as barbershop talks continue to mill around, will be ex-President Rodrigo Duterte’s bet under Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP).
But again, it’s just talk with no period or exclamation point yet.
Wantan himself is shying away from media interviews.
Amid this rumor, officials in Victorias City led by Vice Mayor JunB Bantug resigned from PDP.
Call it exodus.
Their reason: They will join Mayor Javi Benitez who will be supporting the re-election bid of Gov. Bong Lacson. Fine.
But what’s like “a barrel of laughs” was the contention that the style of governance of Wantan when he was mayor of Victorias isn’t “swak” at the present time or at the capitol.
Uhmmm…is that so? Pinaglumaan na ng panahon? Why? Is there any standard being observed now in local governance, especially if you’re the chief of executive? I hope JunB or Javi would educate me or the readers of this column as to the standards or template of governance they have in Victorias.
As far as I know, anyone can run and become mayor or governor for as long as you have the money/logistics, a Pinoy political culture that we can’t divorce ‘till now, right?
Questions:
1. Was Wantan a bad mayor of Victorias?
2. Did Victorias become miserable under Wantan’s nine-year watch?
To be fair, let Victoriahanons – not any politician whose interest is just for himself or herself – say something about Wantan.
Here is another weird scenario – Wantan’s son, Derek, the first councilor of Victorias, also joined the bandwagon of JunB. Ganern!?
Oh, c’mmon! Had Derek reflected many times before affixing his signature in that resignation letter of Bantug, et al.?
Is Wantan being publicly and politically disowned by his son?
What if Wantan will bite the bullet and run for governor?
What if Wantan wins?
In Philippine politics, the masa loves the underdog. Kabankalan City’s Mayor Benjie Miranda and Silay City’s Mayor Joedith Gallego are living proofs when we talk about “political underdogs”. They aced the 2022 elections sans money, but only people’s love and support. They made history in Negros Occidental’s political landscape.
Will Wantan be like Benjie and Joedith? Who knows!
It’s in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 1:27: “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weakest things of the world to shame the strong.”
Quite enough to ponder upon.
I now rest my case, ‘till the next page of this “corny piece”./PN
