Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Matè Espina

Social media is abuzz after former Board Member Patrick Lacson posted an unsolicited endorsement for Rep. Albee Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3 rd District) to be the province’s next governor.

Patrick, of course is one of Albee’s rah-rah boys and with reason I guess, since the congressman never failed to take care of his own – that is, delivering a lot of services in his district where Patrick used to serve as provincial board member and who backed him up during the last election when he ran for mayor for EB Magalona.

In a short time, Patrick’s post generated almost 170 likes and 11 shares and some discussions on who would be the ideal running-mate for Albee.

I actually was directed to the post by a friend from the third district who was wondering whether this is already serious, considering that Albee himself has been mum on the issue and the senate bid for him is still on the table.

Of course that endorsement stirred some interests because all contenders so far, including Albee himself, has been non-committal on the issue.

There is, of course, the question of incumbent ViceGov. Bong Lacson who seemed left out in that unsolicited endorsement. As an heir apparent to the throne since Gov. Alfredo Marañon’s term is ending next year, Bong’s political future seems bleak if we follow the voice of those who are pushing for Rep. Chedeng Alvarez to be Albee’s running mate.

In fairness to Patrick, he made it clear that he has no issue with Bong, who, I think, is also related to him, norwithChedeng, and his only push right now is to generate acceptance of the idea that Albee can be a good governor.

In his endorsement, Patrick said Albee is someone who will “cut short development from decades to just years,” and he has a point on that knowing that Albee wields influence in the upper administration especially after jumping ship to the present ruling party along with the governor and many other politicians when President Duterte won the last elections.

But the same development can also be delivered by Albee if he runs and win a Senate seat. Just look at Iloilo City who has left Bacolod a mile-long in terms of development and this is largely due to the influence of Senator Franklin Drilon.

And then you have Bong Lacson whom I honestly admire for staying his ground with NPC and with a lot of other issues, controversial or not, and who has so far acted as a good team player despite remaining in the original party that gave him the opportunity to serve the public for a good number of years.

Bong has also been mum about his plans, opting to wait for a decision from Albee who belongs to the Love Negros local team they’ve created to counter then the United Negros Alliance of the governor….but of course there has been a union since in the local parties and only two things are expected to happen here……the new scenario can either break or make that supposed unity.

Why Patrick’s endorsement came early in the game is anyone’s guess. I am presuming it’s to coax Albee to take the governorship as a more viable option if his senatorial bid goes nowhere, or it is also to test the water on Albee’s acceptability as a candidate. The second will be less of a problem since Albee has knowingly taken a leadership role in so far as local politics is concerned.

The problem this will create is whether Bong is serious enough to put his money where his mouth is, and summon support for his own candidacy. Of course you cannot also discard him just easily since he also has some sort of influence in the present administration with the President dining with them just recently and his affinity with the moneyed Yanson family.

But the bigger problem now, though,is whether he is even being considered to be Albee’s running mate if that time comes.

Apart from Congresswoman Chedeng, and this is based on the ideal tandem of getting someone from the south since Albee is from the north, as well as the fact that these two belong to the same party since they stepped into the political limelight, another name being floated for vice-governor position is Sagay Mayor ThirdyMarañon who is also ending his mayoralty term next year.

Someone once mentioned that Thirdy and Albee are talking but no one has admitted this. But if they are, I would not be surprised since the governor has since, reunited with Albee and they now belong to the same national party.

There may not be much of a problem with another political leader, former Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer, since I heard he is going back to the fourth district to run again for congressman and hands down this will be a no-brainer since this is his stronghold.

I have to admit, though, that his wife, Rep. Juliet, has nothing been short of admirable, standing up to very controversial issues in congress, contrary to the vote of our other legislators.

It’s really too early in the game to announce something publicly and I am sure a lot of backdoor negotiations are ongoing. But I am sure Patrick’s announcement will stir the hornet’s nest and may just trigger serious planning for those still in the game.*