MikeLigalig.com

By Boy Guingguing
Sunday Post Publisher

Politicians are like machine guns. In the case of the later, their main characteristic is that they have an insatiable appetite for bullets. Politicians? It goes without saying that they are as voracious for corruptible funds (read: kickbacks and commissions). Tell this BGlante of any politician who is not on the take.

Have you ever noticed why politicians are treating public office like their own private kingdoms? Because there is money in politics and getting rich is part of the agenda. And have money will win reelection. And when reelected, woe unto those who are motivated by public service. You may be the right person for the right position you are aspiring for. But before you know it, you discover later that you are the right person in the right party but in the wrong place and wrong time.

That is the reality of politics. If you do not understand what I mean, then you were just born yesterday.

In this era of political dynasty becoming a badge of honor, there’s no way that you miss the handwriting on the wall. When politicians become so callous and insensitive to cries of corruption in public office, it is because people have short memories. This explains why politicians have developed a sense of security to honorable positions as if they have earned the birth right to hand it down to whoever is next in line of succession—wife, son, daughter, niece, nephew, uncle, etc. Under this milieu, it is as if political positions are so coveted that they turned over by the outgoing like an heirloom to the succeeding generation. 

Notice the scenario evolving like a political rigodon. This early, configurations of political tandems are taking shape two years away from the point of no return of graduating politicians.

You have heard of Cong. Edgar Chatto being paired with Cong. Roberto Cajes for the top elective posts of the province. To his rah rah  boys, they are unbeatable. Both loaded for having completed their three terms in Congress, pound for pound, money for money, any combination pitted against them will look like political toothpicks even if their handlers have been trumpeting them as political timbers. 

A dream team no less, this is the kind of love duet that Gov. Erico Aumentado, still the undisputed baton leader of Bohol’s political orchestra (his three terms ending in 2010 notwithstanding), will not miss a beat.

Ever the skillful power broker, the newly recharged Aumentado (he just arrived from the States for a medical check up), the graduating governor will see to it that he will give Cajes an offer he cannot refuse. Or else the incumbent solon will have a hard time selling his wife, Trinidad Mayor Baby Cajes, as his successor in the second district. Although as always, the governor who he is described by both admirers and critics as slippery as an ell (danglog pa sa halwan), is playing coy of his future political plans, his slip is showing that he is coveting a comeback of his old Congress post. 

Then what happens to the obvious positioning of V-Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera who wants to become a bride this time after a bridesmaid for nine long and agonizing years?

As we have been saying all this time, the Solomonic formula is for Herrera to be handed down the first district congressional plum, of course, in a silver platter. Meaning, he should be unmolested of any pretender to the congressional crown to be left behind by Chatto.

Forget about the yarn that Pureza Veloso-Chatto, the incumbent congressman’s wife, will take over her husband’s Congress slot. For all you know that is Chatto’s way of “killing the monkey to scare the chicken”. With the Pureza card being laid on the table, all bets are off for a Chatto bid undisturbed from the imposturing of Herrera.

Trust Aumentado to do the dirty work. A rabid advocate of so-called win-win solutions, the governor by authority of his party’s mandate, is the mediator of choice in case conflicts arise when one or two contenders are vying for the same elective post. If it worked before, why the hell will it not work in 2010.

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