Infighting among the President’s men

AT the height of the expansion conquests by the Roman Empire in 30 BC, the rivalry between two eminent Roman figures – Marcus Tulius Cicero and Mark Anthony – became more furious and public.

Each of the two noblemen claimed his personal participation contributed to the extent of the new European empire. Lawyer Cicero was a political theorist, while Mark Anthony was a brilliant orator. Their rivalry turned tragic when in 45 BC, the former was assassinated, reportedly on orders of the latter.

This Roman tragedy appears to have some elements existing in today’s political intrigues and bickering in the Palace by the Pasig. While bloodshed is far from the scene, and unlikely to be replicated, the situation has led some protagonists to lose their job and honor.

Nineteen months after their victory in the May, 2016, election, the new administrators are still openly fighting, elbowing each other as to who exudes the most desirable smell to suit the Boss’ olfactory preference.

In layman’s language, they are waging a rabid political intrigue as to who eventually will edge out who to curry the President’s favor.

The most recent and widely covered by media was the rift between PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan and newly appointed member of the board Sandra Cam.

It started when the lady director recently blew the whistle on the “most lavish Christmas party ever held in the agency’s history – costing 16 million!”

GM Alex countered, “It was the Bicolana’s way of eventually taking over the helm of the agency, and its STL operations through her long-time friends who are known gambling professionals!”

PCSO Chairman Anselmo Simeon Pinili resigned in haste, citing failing health as his reason.

A celebrated quarrel happened in SBMA, a government corporate body, between Duterte-appointed Chairman Martin Diño and a career executive lawyer Wilma Eisma early last year. Their contention – who was the legitimate “administrator?”

The agency’s charter favored the latter; the former was just “chairman.” Exasperated, he packed his things up and resigned. A few days earlier, he also quarreled with an Olongapo City gasoline service attendant for not knowing who the official was when the boy was asked.

From media reports, Capt. Diño is reportedly now happy sporting a new title, that of a “USEC” in DILG. That’s his forte, community development.

A raging quarrel that began in late 2016 and, from the looks of it, does not have the prospects of being patched up any time soon, is the one that pits House Speaker Bebot Alvarez and Rep. Tonyboy Floirendo, both from Davao region and equally loyal supporters of the President.

But what makes the quarrel more bizarre was that it was all started by the respective girlfriends of the two politicians!

According to gossipy society columnists, the confrontation that almost led to hair-pulling blew up in a Davao City beauty parlor, reignited while aboard a commercial aircraft and culminated – would you believe? – in a social hall of the House of Representatives.

What are the prospects of settling things over? Very nil. Proverbial emissaries from Davao to Manila, all known common friends of the warring ladies, have given up all hopes

Incidentally, during her last couple of years as CHED chairman, it was the loudest whisper in the agency that Secretary Patricia Licuanan oftentimes exchanged uncomfortable words with the office’s executive director.

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ENGR. OSCAR R. SARMIENTO, 90. A scion of one of the oldest and most revered families – the Rosales clan – of Calbayog City passed away peacefully last January 19. His remains were interred at the Cebu Memorial Park in Banilad District in Cebu City, January 22. He served for many years as city engineer of Calbayog, his hometown, and it was during this tenure that he became a stalwart in the organization of the District and City Engineers League of the Philippines (DACEL).

The likeable civil engineer and businessman left behind a widow, Teresita Sevilla of Iloilo City, and seven children – Kaye, Lawrence, Edgar, Tony, Mel Senen, Jerome, and Alan. One has served in government – Mel was in the Cabinet of the Aquino administration as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government; and another, Edgar, who is now the current representative of the First Congressional District of Samar, serving his second term. The rest of the sons and a daughter are engaged in private business as professionals.

He also founded two construction companies both of which have been given EXCELLENT accreditations by the government.