Priest to run for governor of Masbate

NAGA CITY, Philippines – Fr. Leo Casas, 37, a Catholic priest for nine years, will be running for governor of Masbate against the powerful Kho and Lanete clans, who are expected to duel for the top post on the island-province in the May 2013 midterm elections.

Casas, the director of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Masbate for seven years, has been the co-chairman of the Bicol Regional Development Council representing private sector since 2010.

Casas, a Masbateño, is also among the conveners of the Masbate Advocates for Peace, an organization of various sectors in Masbate formed in 2010 that seeks to end political violence in the island-province.

“It is now the time to stand up for Masbate,” said Casas in a phone interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Monday.

Casas is a native of Placer town, 70 kilometers south of provincial capital Masbate City.

He said he came to the decision to run after being pushed by various sectors such as the fisher folk and those from the business in Masbate.

He said he would run under the platform of eradicating poverty and ending the political dynasty in Masbate, which he said has remained “poor despite abundant natural resources.”

“There are also sensitive issues that need to be addressed in Masbate including environmental problems such as rampant illegal fishing,” Casas said.

Casas has not announced on exactly when he will file his certificate of candidacy between Monday (Oct. 1) and Friday (Oct. 5).

He also did not say if he would be affiliating with a political party or would be running as an independent.

He said the peace and order situation in the island province also needed some fixing.

“The past and current leaderships in the province have seemed to have different priorities,” he said.

The decision, according to him, was hard since he has been into priesthood “all his life” and he knew that he had to leave the ministry in order to enter politics.

On Sunday, Casas met with Masbate Bishop Jose Bantolo to ask for the permission from the prelate. Bantolo is due to release a statement anytime on Monday.

When asked by the Inquirer if he would run even without the blessing of Bantolo, Casas did not have a categorical answer, although he did not rule out pursuing his candidacy.

He was quoted on Sunday by Latigo, a local paper in Masbate, as saying that there would be no stopping him from running for governor.

Rizalina Seachon-Lanete is the incumbent governor of Masbate and is seeking reelection. Second District Representative Antonio Kho is expected to challenge her.

Kho’s wife, Elisa Olga, was the former governor, and was defeated by erstwhile third district Representative Seachon-Lanete in 2010.

Harvey Keh, convener of Kaya Natin, a “non-partisan movement that espouses genuine change and ethical leadership in the country,” said he did not see any problem with Casas running for governor of Masbate.

“As long as he will seek dispensation properly [from his bishop],” said Keh.

Keh said he was hoping that more would follow the “courage” of Casas in “not allowing political dynasties to flourish in the provinces.”

“I just hope that he is capable and the people of Masbate would listen to his platforms,” Keh added.

Casas is free to run for governor, according to Masbate City Mayor Socrates Tuason, a Liberal Party stalwart in the province. “We are a democracy. Everyone is free to dream,” he said.

But he declined to comment when asked if he would support the gubernatorial aspiration of the priest.

Placer Mayor Joshur Judd Lanete, son of Governor Seachon-Lanete, said he welcomed the candidacy of Casas as it would give more options for the people of Masbate.

A top official in Masbate, who requested that his name be withheld due to the sensitivity of the issue, expects the local election in the province in May 2013 to be hotly contested because the most bitter political rivals are expected to fight for top posts head on.

“The hotspots could be the towns of Dimasalang, Esperanza, Balud, Placer, and Aroroy,” the official said.

The official said partisan armed groups in the province, although weakened, have been reorganizing in time for the local election.

“Sad thing is that the partisan armed groups can be dismantled but the politicians that handle them cannot be,” the official added.

Senior Superintendent Heriberto Olitoquit, provincial director of the Philippine National Police in Masbate, said only one case in the province, the shooting of a Masbate City clerk of court, touted as a possible candidate for vice mayor in Mandaon town, has been deemed as election-related for now.