Here and There
Bracing up for the May polls
By Gerry Garcia
EVEN if extreme political violence is seen to be seething in the provinces of Abra, Batangas, Iloilo, also in Pasay City in Metro Manila, including nearby Muntinlupa, it probably will not spill over to Pangasinan, despite Provincial Elections Officer Reddy Balarbar’s tagging of six towns and one city as “possible” hot spots in the incoming May elections like San Nicolas in the sixth district where a former mayor was slain after the ’04 polls, including a militant farmer leader. In the same elections too, some leaders and followers of then protagonists Mayor Leoncio Saldivar and former Mayor Christopher Rodrigo were killed.
Balarbar now sees Binmaley, San Fabian and San Carlos City as having “hot spot” potentials. Why?
Well, he says, in Binmaley there’s expected clash between incumbent Mayor Sammy Rosario and former 3-term Mayor Roland Domalanta who lost when he ran for vice-mayor in the last elections.
While in San Carlos City come-backing former Mayor Douglas Soriano will be in confrontal clash with Jolly’s son “Ayoy” who is also running for mayor. In the congressional race, Gallant Soriano, Dong’s brother in the Bureau of Customs, will be Mayor Jolly’s rival. This could be an encounter hotter than expected.
In San Fabian, however, the poll duel between two-termer Mayor Libunao and Liga ng mga Barangay president Roland Villegas is not seen as hot on the same level as San Carlos City’s.
Local COMELEC boss Balarbar is thinking of imposing control on at least one town. He didn’t say which city.
* * * *
Eva V, our correspondent and also Phil Star’s, tells us Balarbar has also recommended to COMELEC chair Ben Abalos the reshuffling of 35 election officers in the province to ensure clean, honest elections here, especially those who have stayed 4 years “over-time” in their posts . . . and those affiliated with poll aspirants either by affinity or consanguinity.
(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/here-and-there/)
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
