Wednesday, December 2, 2009
SEVERAL candidates rushed to the different offices of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Dec. 1 to file their respective certificates of candidacy (COC).
Some of them filed their COCs with fanfare or after attending a mass. Others just went straight to the Comelec office without a coterie of followers.
Lapu-Lapu City saw pomp and pageantry when Mayor Boy Radaza and his wife, Paz, together with their line up, filed their COCs with the city’s Comelec office.
Radaza, whose term ends next year, will run for Congress in the city’s lone district. His wife will run for mayor in his place.
Vice Mayor Mario Amores, meanwhile, was junked by the Radazas.
Councilor Marcial Ycong is Paz’s candidate for vice mayor.
Well-wishers (if you may call them) clad in red and green shirts and holding green and red balloons lined the M.L. Quezon Ave. Tuesday morning waiting for the caravan of Radaza and his party to pass.
The caravan was led by a drum and bugle corps, sexy dancers on board a truck and a horde of tricycles. Radaza walked together with his candidates from the PUJ terminal to the Comelec office near City Hall.
Officials of every barangay in Lapu-Lapu attended the mass and joined the caravan. The parade was like a celebration for the Radazas. The presenter even introduced Radaza as congressman.
A friend estimated the expenses for the entire activity at P5 million. It was a show of force and money. The Radazas sent a strong message to their opponents that they have money and supporters.
Lawyer Eugene Espedido, who was once a Radaza ally, is running for the same congressional post Radaza is eyeing. The mayor’s critic, businessman Efrain Pelaez is pitted against Paz in the race for mayor.
If people criticize President Arroyo as power hungry for filing a COC for the congressional post in her district in Pampanga, what do you call the Radaza couple?
Just like the President, the Radazas said they want to continue serving the Oponganons. That’s why the theme of the mayor for the May 2010 polls is “Diretso” or to carry on (continue).
Well, this is a free country where the exercise of suffrage is almost like a joke. No one can prevent the Radaza couple from “ruling” the island city as mayor and congressman except the conscience of the voters on election day.
New faces in the city’s politics have surfaced for the May 2010 polls. Lawyer Gal Arriesgado Jr. is running for councilor under Espedido’s ticket while lawyer Rico Amores is gunning for Congress as an independent bet.
In Cebu City, even the unknowns in politics are seeking elective office. Among them are retired Police colonel Rico Palcuto, who filed his COC as independent candidate for vice mayor, and Magdalo soldier Ashley Acedillo for congressman in the north district.
While church and civic leaders lashed at Ate Glo when she filed her COC for Congress, some Cebuanos only had oohhs and aahhs when businessman Glenn Soco was named as Governor Gwen’s candidate for vice governor.
Vice Gov. Greg Sanchez, who is running for reelection with lawyer Junjun Davide as his governor under the Liberal Party, appeared amused with the development. It’s going to be pagwapahay ug pagwapuhay (battle of looks), said Sanchez.
At least, coming from the mouth of Vice Governor Sanchez, the governor is gwapa. It goes without saying also that Davide and Sanchez are good-looking.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on December 3, 2009.
