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The announcement of Senator Franklin M. Drilon that he was no longer in the running for the lone congressional seat in the City of Iloilo did not necessarily put to death a viable challenge to the incumbency of Rep. Raul Gonzalez, Jr.

For a number of weeks now, the political opposition in the city has been deadlocked by the question of who among them should rise to the occasion and unsheath the sword to wage war against the monolithic political machinery of the Gonzalez father and son tandem.

Drilon’s sudden about-face initially caused demoralization among opposition leaders but it soon dawned upon them that any one of the alternates —- Joshua Alim, Dan Cartagena, Benjie Gengos and Rex Rico —- stood a great chance to defeat the younger Gonzalez on account of the public’s growing hatred for the father.

Now, nobody among the four seems ready to back out of the race and give way to the others, a situation that is both comic and tragic, because it could destroy the chances of the opposition to achieve victory.

Only Drilon could settle the issue and get the front-runners to get their acts together.

Well, Drilon has scheduled a meeting with the four probable candidates tomorrow and come up with a feasible solution so that only one will run for congressman, while the others could slide down to councilor.

Former city mayor Mansueto Malabor has also been invited, but he said he prefers to be out of the dialogue, not wanting to show his preferences even in the slightest way.

So the answer to this question will be known in a matter of 24 hours. Sit still and wait for the verdict!

An interesting showdown is shaping up in the second district of Iloilo as the incumbent congresswoman, Judy Jalbuena Syjuco, started making preparations to face a worthy challenger, Board Member Celia Hubag Capadosa, in the May 14, 2007 elections.

Mrs. Syjuco, who spent most of her first term traipsing in Hongkong and other foreign capitals, has finally awakened to reality and started going around the different barangays of the second district in a lame effort to make up for her prolonged absences.

Capadosa, a two-term board member, said she is not afraid of the much-vaunted money machinery of the Syjuco couple, proclaiming that hers is a battle to liberate the people of the 2nd district of Iloilo from the perception that they are so gullible and easily bought with money in the elections.

“The Syjucos have not shown any performance during the last six years,” Capadosa said. “The people are sick and tired not only of their poor performance, but the massive graft and corruption charges being attributed to the couple.”

Based on estimates released by Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel “Boy” Mejorada, the Syjucos could not explain where more than one hundred million pesos in pork barrel funds have gone during their last six years in office.

Mejorada has been blunt about his accusations: the money went to the bank accounts of the Syjucos, a charge that they have chosen to ignore despite a massive public outcry.

Judy Syjuco would be an interesting figure to watch during the campaign. She is known to scorn having to go around and campaign, preferring to spend her time either curled up with a book, or shopping in Hongkong or Singapore.

She has never answered questions from media about the alleged anomalies in which her name has been dragged. It is not known if she will agree to take part in the candidates forum, where the bets will have to face the public and answer questions.

One of the favorite issues raised by media is her involvement in the P6.2-million ghost cellphone purchase transaction with the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC).

Her opponent plans to produce a jingle mixing the sounds of cellphone ringtones as a way to raise public awareness about Judy’s involvement in the disappearance of the cellphones.

Capadosa is confident she can beat Syjuco despite the money disadvantage. The Syjucos, she said, may have billions in their bank account, “but I have the people with me.”

Capadosa said the Syjucos, through lawyer Alex Espino, have tried to bribe her into not running for congresswoman. “But I told him that my dignity is my most precious asset, and no amount of bribe will take that away from me,” she said.

Atty. Kune Panes was so sure it would happen that he even danced to the tune of “Boom, ta-rat-ta-rat” when he boasted to friends that sheriffs from the Sandiganbayan would be arriving in Iloilo last Friday to serve a warrant of arrest and 90-day preventive suspension order against Governor Niel D. Tupas, Sr.

This piece of information was supplemented by a barrage of text messages from the propaganda team of Vice Governor Roberto “Obet” Armada about the ultimate downfall of Governor Tupas and the impending rise to power of their master, His Obesity, Obet.

The intensity with which the information was being peddled left little doubt in the minds of most people that a showdown was going to take place once more in the Iloilo capitol.

Will this mean that Governor Tupas will have to step down from office as what his tormentors have long desired?

There wasn’t a hint of worry in the face of Governor Tupas when he reported to the Capitol on Friday. He had a 10:30 a.m. appointment with Ambassador Li Jun Jin of the People’s Republic of China, and he was more concerned about forging new partnerships with China than anything else.

At about noon, the media swamped the office of Governor Tupas and asked him how he felt about the whirpool of rumors forecasting his ouster. “What suspension?” Tupas jokingly returned the question to the reporters.

The sheriffs were supposedly scheduled to come between four and five o’ clock in the afternoon, the text messages from Florence Hibionada and company blared.

Things proceeded normally at the Capitol. There wasn’t a barricade to block the sheriffs. It was a lazy Friday afternoon, and the only thought that occupied people’s minds was to see the clock strike 5 o’ clock p.m. and enjoy the weekend.

After a late lunch, Governor Tupas was back at his desk at 3 o’ clock p.m. The number of people waiting to see him had dwindled to less than half a dozen, allowing him an opportunity to sit down with his key aides and gossip about the so-called suspension.

Everybody cast a glance at a wall clock when it hit 4 o’ clock sharp. Nobody came. The hands of the clock moved: 4:15. 4:30. 4:45. And then it was 5 o’ clock! Still nothing.

If anything happened, it was that the people inside the governor’s office had consumed a lot of “hot pandesal” with sweet “pulot”, with hot coffee to go with it. Everyone had a full stomach!

“When the clock showed 5:15 p.m., I decided to go ahead of the others,” Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel “Boy” Mejorada said. “As I suspected, this was again one of the propoganda ploys of the Armada group to cause confusion in our camp.”

The ploy didn’t bother the Tupas camp a bit, said Atty. Eugenio Original, one of the lawyers for the governor, said. “We knew that we stood on firm legal ground, and there couldn’t be an order for preventive suspension.”

If the Tupas camp braced for a possible showdown, it was because it was fighting an enemy that didn’t play by the rules.

“Armada had acting secretary Raul Gonzalez as coach, and he was ready to bend every law and violate every rule just to remove Governor Tupas from office,” said Pototan councilor Pedro “Indo” Palu-ay.

Armada is determined to get what he wants — the governorship, no matter what the cost. But he doesn’t know that time is running out on him. Before he knows it, elections shall have been held, and he would be booted out of public office.

The Daily Informer, one of the leading newspapers in Western Visayas, yesterday featured the post entitled “Censured” in its editorial space to bring to a wider audience the views expressed in this fast-growing blog.

“I am most happy and pleased that the Daily Informer picked up the post from the blog and share it with its own readers,” said Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel “Boy” Mejorada, who maintains this blogsite.

Mejorada said other news organizations and media professionals are invited to obtain information freely from this blogsite, which has become one of the fastest growing blogs with more than 3,000 hits in a one-month period.

A former journalist, Mejorada has found a new avenue to express his views on current issues and events, particularly in the wake of the infamous Iloilo capitol siege, and the non-stop attempt of political enemies of Governor Niel Tupas to unseat him through unlawful means.

“I guess being a blogger has become a calling for me,” Mejorada said, who spends an average of 30 minutes daily to update his growing audience worldwide about what is taking place in Iloilo and writing his own opinion pieces on issues that might interest them.

Mejorada said his position as provincial administrator gives him a “ringside view” of events, as he is almost always right where the action takes place and enjoys a perspective not even the most enterprising media professional can have.

“This is a good way for editors and reporters to take a peek at behind-the-scene happenings and provide broader perspective to their reporting,” he said.

Technology is opening new avenues for communication, and Mejorada has been quick to take advantage of blogging as a means to reach a bigger audience in cyberspace.

At the moment, he counts Ilonggos now based in the United States, Europe and Asia among his regular readers. Most of the editors of local newspapers also make it a daily habit to read the latest postings to keep abreast of developments in the capitol and the local political scene.

“Even our enemies keep track of our posts,” Mejorada said with a naughty smile.

Stung by the censure made against him by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, vice governor Roberto B. Armada has tried to make light of his embarrassment by issuing a challenge to Board Member Niel “Jun-Jun” Tupas, Jr.

Armada wants to unmask, or so he says, the true self of the eldest son of Governor Tupas, who initiated the conduct of an inquiry into the prolonged absence of the vice governor from the sessions of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Jun-Jun Tupas simply ignored Armada.

That was the right move. First, there was nothing to debate about. Armada couldn’t say he knows the fitness of Jun-Jun Tupas to seek for the congressional seat of the 5th district. He can’t talk about the problems of the 5th district, as he is far removed from the area.

Second, Armada should be ashamed to cross swords with Tupas, Jr. Armada is not even a college graduate. Tupas is a product of the University of the Philippines law school. Intellectual combat is a daily activity for Tupas as a trial lawyer. Armada spends more time at the dinner table.

Third, Armada should be man to accept the censure. He knows he’s in the wrong. He only pretends not to know he’s in the wrong. He’s being assured by Justice acting secretary Raul Gonzalez that he’ll eventually become governor of Iloilo. But Armada is fully aware that whatever means Gonzalez takes would be unlawful. Isn’t he ashamed to be party to an unlawful act?

Elections are only 85 or so days away. Why doesn’t Armada seek a mandate for the position of governor? Let the people speak through the ballot. Afterall, he will get the support of all five incumbent congressmen. Technically, that gives him the upperhand. But the important thing is that we should fight this battle in the arena of legitimate elections, not through plots for a power-grab.

Now that Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel “Boy” Mejorada has withdrawn from the congressional race in the 2nd district of Iloilo due to the legal barrier built by TESDA director general Augusto “Boboy” Syjuco, it can be expected that the latter’s wife, Judy, will feel comfortable about seeking re-election as congresswoman.

According to sources, Judy Syjuco would have turned away from a re-election bid if she had to face Mejorada in the May 14, 2007 election, because she feels that she is much too emotionally fragile to face the issues Mejorada was likely to raise during the campaign.

Syjuco would have preferred to have no opponent for Judy, who hasn’t really shown her face in the 2nd district during most of her three-year term as congresswoman. Immigration records show she spent more time in Hongkong, spending the people’s money, than in her own district in 2005. She is known only by the caricature with husband Boboy in billboards marking the few projects they implemented.

Anyway, Mejorada isn’t about to pack his bags and quit the battle.

“The fight isn’t over,” Mejorada said. “We have succeeded in raising the consciousness of the people, and we have to make sure the collective anger of the people is translated into votes for Cecilia Capadosa on May 14.”

Mejorada said he will campaign for Capadosa, just as he expects Syjuco, with his vaunted hundreds of millions of pesos in the warchest, to go all-out against the group of Governor Tupas in the 2nd district.

With this in mind, Mejorada hurled this challenge to Syjuco: Why don’t we have a proxy fight?

Mejorada said he will be Capadosa’s chief corner man. Syjuco can assume the same role in Judy’s corner.

Mejorada also urged Syjuco against a last-minute substitution of candidates again, as what he had done in 2004 when he saw that he had no opponent.

In this case, Syjuco might see that Judy will be swallowed by the landslide of a people’s uprising against the graft and corruption in TESDA and the 2nd district, and then waive her aside for him to carry on the battle.

The case for indirect contempt filed by Atty. Cornelio “Kune” Panes against Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel “Boy” Mejorada was dismissed by the Regional Trial Court of Iloilo on the ground that petitioner had no legal standing on the case.

In a two-page decision, Judge Danilo Galvez of RTC Branch 24 also noted that “courts most often than not, understand a defeated litigant’s outburst”, describing the angry remarks of Mejorada against a municipal judge who excluded him as voter as “a natural human response.”

Panes, lawyer of TESDA director general Augusto Boboy Syjuco, has filed numerous cases against Mejorada as part of their strategy to politically maim him and remove him as a threat to the re-election bid of Syjuco’s wife, Judy, as congressman of the 2nd district of Iloilo.

One of the cases filed by Panes was this petition to cite Mejorada for indirect contempt for allegedly insulting Judge Victorino Maniba over his radio program, “The Capitol in Action,” concerning the grave errors found in the latter’s decision to exclude him as voter.

“This should teach Panes that his harassment tactics won’t work,” Mejorada said. “He can file more cases against me but that won’t stop me from exposing the anomalies of his boss.”

In dismissing this complaint filed by Panes, Judge Galvez said that the target of Mejorada’s angry remarks had even chosen to keep quiet. Panes had no personal and substantial interest such that he sustained any injury as a result of the complained act, Judge Galvez ruled.

Mejorada expects the other harassment cases filed by Panes before the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutors Office to suffer the same fate.

“In the end, truth and justice will be on my side,” Mejorada said.

Vice Governor Roberto B. Armada was censured by his own peers in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan yesterday (Feb. 19) for his unauthorized absences from its weekly session, the first time a presiding officer, or even a member, has been sanctioned by the provincial legislature.

In an overwhelming 9-2 vote, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan imposed this collective show of displeasure over the continued absences of Armada, who continues to consider himself as the legitimate governor of Iloilo despite the clear pronouncement of the DILG that this isn’t so.

Only his allies in the Sanggunian, board members Bernardo Silla and Dr. Macario Napulan, voted against the measure.

The acting vice governor, Emmanuel Gallar, once again showed his ignorance of procedures and the law when he stepped down from the chair to register his own negative vote.

Because there is a vacancy in the position of vice governor, Gallar has been discharging the function as vice governor for more than a month now. In short, he was barred from voting.

For a month now, Armada has been crying like a baby over the promised governorship, a gift from his patron, Justice acting secretary Raul Gonzalez.

The position was taken away from him just like a toy when the DILG received a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Court of Appeals barring it from implementing the patently illegal dismissal order of the Ombudsman.

Armada should know that the position was never his in the first place. He knows that his patron flexed his muscles to get the Ombudsman to issue a decision despite the procedural imfirmities. The purpose was to get rid of Governor Tupas, who stood in the way to King Raul’s expanding his kingdom to the entire province of Iloilo.

Armada should in fact be ashamed. He is selling the province to King Raul for a few pieces of silver. He is eager and willing to kneel before King Raul and do what the latter demands of him. He has sold his soul to the devil to satisfy his greed for power.

The censure is actually a light slap on the wrist.

But it also places him in the company of Raul Gonzalez, who was also censured by the Philippine Senate for his unwarranted intervention in the Iloilo capitol siege that led to the ugly and brutal use of force by the police.

A hundred years from now, researchers about the political history of the province will dig into the records and find the name of Roberto B. Armada as the first vice governor to be censured by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

That is the legacy Armada will leave in the capitol.

A few days ago, Justice acting secretary Raul Gonzalez suddenly found the time to visit a favorite coffee hub in a busy public market in Iloilo City.

Perhaps it was his way of showing that he’s still one of the boys despite his lofty position as Justice acting secretary, the most feared official in the Arroyo administration, and the most scorned as well.

His arrival was most unwelcome, and this became apparent when the regular habitues of the “kapehan” terminated their animated discussion and started leaving their tables.

Even before he could be served with his hot cup of coffee, “King Raul”, as he is scornfully known in Iloilo “City, found himself lording over a sea of empty tables.

Just then, former City Mayor Mansueto Malabor, or Pre Mansing to his friends and supporters, arrived at the “kapehan”, where he is known to frequent to talk with people and exchange current political gossip.

Malabor and Gonzalez used to be friends and political allies. But their relationship turned sour when King Raul decided to field his own son to run for congressman against Malabor. It appears that King Raul reneged on a promise to support Malabor.

Anyway, King Raul offered his hand in greeting to Pre Mansing as the latter passed by.

Pre Mansing ignored this gesture of friendship.

For him, King Raul is never sincere about his actions. Maybe he’s friendlier now because his son, Raul Jr., is facing a serious challenge in the May 14, 2007 elections.

That’s the right thing to do, Pre Mansing. King Raul deserves that snub.

On Monday morning, text messages have been flying like hordes of bees in almost all directions, supposedly about a plot of the anti-Tupas political forces to force him out of the capitol, by hook or by crook.

The text message was a hoax.

It was just intended to sow confusion and panic among supporters of Governor Niel Tupas.

Governor Tupas arrived at the capitol quite early and went about his schedule as if nothing was amiss.

Indeed, nothing was amiss, as the purported arrival of sheriffs from the Sandiganbayan never materialized. Tupas had known early that it was a false alarm.

According to the rumor, Justice acting secretary Raul Gonzalez had arranged for the Ombudsman to file a criminal case before the Sandiganbayan on five counts of graft charges.

The Sandiganbayan was supposed to have issued a 90-day preventive suspension against Tupas, and the order was to be served by the sheriffs from Manila.

Unfortunately for Armada, no such case had as yet reached the anti-graft court.

In fact, the sheriffs were surprised to learn that they were supposed to be in Iloilo, although they really would have loved to come over for other reasons.

This rumor-mongering scheme is just a manifestation of how badly Armada wants to become governor. He continues to salivate and crave for a position that was never his in the first place. There was error of judgment on the part of DILG. He should accept that.

Armada should stop appearing like a comical clown. He should act like a man and accept the truth. He should not allow Justice acting secretary Gonzalez to fool him. Only fools believe in the justice acting secretary, the man junked by the Commission on Appointments 12 times.