‘Lobotomy’ in Davao del norte
nO one could ever explain the sudden turn-about of some political characters in Davao del norte. The late Inting Pichon who has a penchant for inventing funny but piercing jargon calls it “lobotomy”. It refers to a treacherous often political act of betrayal where team mates would drop from an agreement and take a different path and often against a comrade he or she vows to support in sickness and in health, in richer or poorer.
In the Island Garden City of samal, days before the filing of certificates of candidacy, the Liberal Party of incumbent Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario and Kusog Baryohanon of Tonyboy Floirendo had sealed an agreement that the governor runs as City Mayor and al David Uy to be his running mate.
al David had in the past telegraph his intention to vie for mayor but some partymates are not too comfortable with the chances of victory. since Dolfo was about to finish his last term as governor talks were rife of a possibility that he might take a less taxing post. actually it’s either him or Rodney his son. Rodney was months ago being eyed for governorship but the family decided that it is not politically correct because he never held any political post in the past. Besides his younger brother, anthony del Rosario, is incumbent congressman of the 1st District of Davao del norte. and there was Vice Gov. Baby suaybaguio wishing to have a crack either as governor or congressman of the province.
Because Kusog and LP entered into a strategic alliance “for the good of Igacos.” Through the years the island city had been eyed to be a prime tourist destination of the country but ever since its creation as a city (authored by the governor when he was congressman) the leadership of the antalans was of no help at all. Thus, it came to pass that Kusog and LP decided that RDR and al David run for mayor and vice mayor respectively and for the entire council slate of Kusog to be adopted. Last October 14 the formal launching and filing of COC of the merge party took place with a lot of hoopla.
even before the Igacos repositioning and organizing happened and long before Kusog Baryohanon get to decide who will run for Vice Governor and as board members in the 2nd District, the plan as to who will run for governor and congressman in the 1st District was already a done thing. In a series of meetings called by Governor del Rosario with Baby suaybaguio and the LP stalwarts, they, suaybaguio included, gave the governor the blanket authority to choose who, between aGR and Baby, will be fielded for governor and congressman. aGR actually wanted to stay on as congressman and he said so quite bluntly, in one meeting at the governor’s residence in Tagum City where I was present and eaves dropping, that he wants to stay put as congressman because he has unfinished agenda to pursue.
What could be the fault of Governor del Rosario was to submit the choice of who will run for the gubernatorial and congressional representation before the LP caucus. Which actually was the right thing to do given the fact that aGR is his son. The LP leaders chose aGR for governor and naturally the congressional seat went to Baby. I was told that during that final caucus, Baby was not present because he was admitted in a hospital.
I could only surmise that aGR grudgingly accepted the decision and Baby himself obviously felt satisfied. But Baby has a problem. He is the only one in the LP slate in District 1 who was facing some formidable opponents a fact which I think he refused to accept. He was fed the information but he merely stonewalled it.
Maybe it was because he is confident he will win. I myself knew that Bebot alvarez, a former congressman of the 1st District is going to run because, as a core member of the Duterte for President movement, he will rally for Digong. I knew too
that there were others who will contest Baby in any position he opts to run but the informants will not reveal their names.
I suspected that they must have considered Baby as the weakest link. The dossier about aspirants to Baby’s post only surfaced on the last day and final minutes of filing of COC. Aside from Alvarez, another ex-congressman of the district, Ariel Olano and popular lawyer Manny Mahipus of Asuncion did. If you are going to ask me these are not lightweights and Baby has a veritable problem.
But Vice Governor Suaybaguio apparently was ready and prepared for another option. In the last few minutes before the clock strikes 5 he pulled out his COC for congress and filed another COC for Governor. In his lieu his nephew Nickel Suaybaguio filed a COC for congress.
Speaking of Alvarez, it is no secret that he is a friend of Tonyboy but it is crazy to fault the latter for the ambition of a friend as if to say that Alvarez has no mind of his own and the wherewithal to run a campaign. Besides Tonyboy is from District 2 and just happened to be in the office of the Provincial Comelec because those who were running for governor and congress were to file their COCs there.
What happened in Tagum, in the provincial race, was duplicated in Igacos. Al David withdrew his COC four minutes before the clock strikes 5! These coincidences can really be intriguing. Unfortunately for Al David, walls have ears and a certain Amit who was tasked by Governor del Rosario to look after other details in Igacos Comelec office heard of the last minute decision of Al to bolt the unity ticket.