By Leonardo Micua

 

I have it from good sources that Gov. Monmon and his group now appear to be running scared over the declaration of war by former Governor Pogi Espino in his quest to wrest back the provincial capitol.

There is reason to be nervous as Pogi declared in his news conference that he is confident on retaking his old post from the incumbent.

Could his strong confidence been bolstered by Comelec’s choice of Miru as technology provider in the May 2025 elections, replacing the scandal-ridden Smartmatic?

I’ll leave the question at that.

Our sources said the capitol, with the official campaign period still months away, is now on a buying binge for slots in different radio stations and had also arranged for ad placements in a bid to prop up the image of the provincial administration and its officials before Pangasinenses vote next year.

Guico’s wife Maan, who is running for mayor of Urdaneta City, already has an ad running on One North-Central Luzon of GMA TV station.

This is not a surprise at all because the Guv’s wife really needs introduction as she’s a total stranger in Urdaneta.

Urdanetans are generally clannish and are more likely to support the town’s son, Mayor Rammy Parayno, over a total stranger.

Rammy has been suspended for 90 days by the Guico-led provincial government for what could be considered a mundane issue — and the people of Urdaneta will not let this matter just pass.

As to the Guv, I think he should get more exposure from the mainstream media in Pangasinan. That social media outfit that he had lavishly awarded with a multi-million peso contract since day one of his administration is not from the province, and they seem incapable of helping him win another term.

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Political dynasties are way too common in the Philippines.

 It is no different in Dagupan City, and here there is one family that is eyeing to expand their dominion. 

There used to be only three Lims running and standing in the same platform at the same time in the past, but this time, they tagged along a nephew of the matriarch.

 Celia, the Lim matriarch, is running for mayor; her son Brian for vice mayor; the only daughter of the family, Irene, is running for reelection as city councilor; and for the first time, they tagged along a nephew of the matriarch, Christopher Chua, to test his mettle and run for councilor.

 It’s as if they’re already in a kind of make-or-break situation that getting elected to a public office is their only recourse to go higher and accumulate more wealth. Or is it? 

 Note that these are all businessmen and women who are raring to shift to full gear to public service, which everybody knows is a thankless job that does not pay much, and a different kind of environment calling for self-sacrifice for the benefit of the people.

 Would you find it strange if the four, instead of leaving just one or two to keep their Magic empire business going, would be campaigning side by side or not campaign at all and let their money do the talking for them?

 No one can forbid the Lims and their kin from running at the same time in an election in Dagupan City as Congress has yet to pass a law that will put a ban on political dynasties. 

 But many said that if they have a conscience, they should have let their loyalist Red Erfe-Mejia or Alfie Fernandez run for vice mayor instead, in tandem with Brian for mayor, and just let Celia run for reelection with Irene. 

 Pardon, but at the rate they are going, it appears that the Lims are merely shooting from the hip in this election without any plan or preparation at all. 

 In that case, Belen and her group can easily beat them to the draw.

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