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The administration-Meralco confrontation has caught Vice President
Noli “Kabayan” de Castro between Scylla and Charybdis. If
Kabayan sides with Meralco, he is certain to be dumped by
pro-administration politicians in the 2010 presidential election.
Should he side with the administration, he will be given the
heave-ho by the Lopezes, believed to be his main political patrons.
The administration is now using its political
clout against Meralco with the concerted move by its allies in the
House against the power distribution giant. Where does this leave
Kabayan, who is closely identified with the Lopezes, owners of ABS-CBN
and biggest shareholder of Meralco? Can he safely navigate between
the sea monster (Scylla) and the giant whirlpool (Charybdis)?
Since his entry into politics in 2001, Kabayan
has been effusive with motherhood statements but elusive on
controversial issues. For instance, I had never heard him state his
categorical stand on the impeachment charges against President
Arroyo. He should stop being like a “Teflon” in whom nothing
sticks because people don’t want a president who could not decide
on vital issues—the Meralco’s gouging of its customers, for one.
In the 1992 elections which I covered for
another daily, then LDP senatorial candidate Jose Concepcion Jr.
sought the help of his friends in Negros Occidental. It turned that
his friends were the political enemies of the LDP leaders in the
province so they junked JoeCon. This is by no means an isolated case
for there is a dictum in partisan politics: “The enemy of my enemy
is my friend. The friend of my enemy is my enemy.” Kabayan is now
in a deep crunch between now sworn enemies administration and
Meralco—and he should make his choice. I don’t envy the position
he is in, but that is the price of leadership.
Power shifts
I predict that Kabayan would be supported by
administration allies should he back the move against Meralco.
Kabayan is perceived to be the only official close to Malacañang
that is high up in the ratings. The ratings, however, can go hang if
Kabayan hems and haws and the administration would go for another
presidential wannabe. Let me note that Kabayan has no political
party at the moment and I don’t think he has a room with the
opposition which already has a deep bench of presidential
contenders. If he decides to run as an independent, then it is
bye-bye Malacañang.
I don’t believe that President Arroyo will
openly endorse any presidential candidate in 2010. With her very low
approval rating, her endorsement would be like an albatross around
the neck of her anointed candidate. However, this should not stop
her political parties, Lakas-Kampi, from picking a presidential bet.
If these parties consider Kabayan too risky because of his close
relationship with the Lopezes, they may opt for Senate President
Manny Villar of the Nacionalista Party. SP Villar is a former
Speaker and he is deeply admired by many congressmen and local
officials. He is also high up in acceptance and performance ratings.
Or, Lakas-Kampi could opt for whoever between
Senators Loren Legarda and Chiz Escudero would be the standard
bearer of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, their coalition
partner. In the 2007 senatorial elections, many pro-administration
leaders supported Loren and Chiz although they both ran under the
opposition. Then, there is Sen. Mar Roxas of the Liberal Party who
remains acceptable to a number of administration leaders. However, a
number of them do not consider MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando a
serious option.
Hanjin housing project ‘miracles’
The Senate investigation of the housing project
of Hanjin Heavy Industries at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority
has raised questions about compliance with environmental laws. It
has been shown that Hanjin, which was in a hurry to start its
shipyard facility, proceded with the housing project for its
executives and felled trees even without any environmental clearance
certificate. For this, it was fined P50,000 by SBMA but its project
was not suspended at all. That’s the first “miracle.”
However, what caught my attention during the
joint hearing presided over by Sen. Pia Cayetano was the bigger
“miracle” on the number of supposed residents to be relocated
from the Hanjin shipyard facility in Subic. An initial survey by
SBMA showed that there were only 282 families living within the
proposed shipyard project area. Hanjin gave P64 million for these
families who opted for cash payment instead of resettlement. Well,
what do you know? A few weeks later, the number of supposed
residentss grew to 403 families, each of whom was demanding payment
as well. Hanjin reluctantly gave P18 million more. At the time of
hearing, peasant leaders are claiming that there were actually 501
families. The miracle of the multiplying loaves of bread has found
its counterpart in the miracle of the multiplying settlers in Subic.
efrendanao2003@yahoo.com
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