JOJI ILAGAN-BIAN: Congressional candidate KARLOS MANLUPIG / INQUIRER MINDANAO
DAVAO CITY—Businesswoman Joji Ilagan-Bian describes her electoral battle against a political family which has dominated the city’s second congressional district for the past 21 years as “like fighting the gods of Olympus.”
“They wield power like it is their birthright. They threaten people who don’t openly support them,” she said as she expressed dismay over the sight of her torn posters and how a number of her followers had suddenly lost their work appointments and job contracts.
Bian was referring to the Garcias, who have held political sway over the area stretching from Agdao to Buhangin and Bunawan villages.
Rep. Mylene Garcia is running for reelection after succeeding her brother,
Vicente, who had held the post for three terms. Their father, Manuel, had occupied the same position for three terms since 1992.
In 2001, Bian, former chair of the Mindanao Business Council and two-time president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industries Inc. (DCCCII), first sought the congressional seat in the second district, but she lost to Vicente Garcia. She ran again in 2010 as part of the slate of former Speaker Prospero Nograles, who was then seeking the city’s mayoral post, but she lost to Mylene Garcia, an ally of Nograles’ political rival Rodrigo Duterte.
Dynasty challenge
Now, Bian is running for the third time to give way to what she said was the “people’s aspirations for change.”
“I am the only person willing to take up the challenge to face a formidable 21-year old dynasty in the congressional district,” she said. “If I don’t take the challenge now, who will take the cudgels for our people?”
Bian’s campaign posters show the regal smile and elegant bearing that were usually seen more in air-conditioned convention halls where business groups she had lead met, rather than on the streets of the teeming, aspiring masses.
As chair of the Mindanao Business Council from 1998 to 2003, Bian had pushed for policies reducing the cost of doing business in Mindanao by 10-15 percent. Among the landmark legislations she claimed to have achieved as MBC chair were:
Increase in Mindanao’s budget share in agriculture in 2000 from 25 percent to 28 percent and in infrastructure, from 26 percent to 27 percent.
Recognition of Mindanao’s strategic role in Philippine food security.
Extension of the travel tax exemption in the East Asean Growth Area (Eaga), an economic growth polygon composed of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines (BIMP), and the reduction of Eaga call rates.
The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) resolution granting Fifth Freedom Traffic Rights in the Eaga.
The Department of Agriculture’s declaration of Mindanao as free from foot-and-mouth disease.
Bian also served as president of the
DCCCII twice in a row and as vice president for Mindanao and national board trustee of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industries (PCCI) from 1998 to 2004.
As deputy chair of the East Asean Business Council from 1998 to 2003, she carried out Mindanao’s position in the Eaga.
Arroyo links
Bian was also identified closely with then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who appointed her to the Maniwang Commission in 2003 to investigate the alleged participation of the military in the Davao bombings. Two years later, Arroyo also named her to the Constitutional Commission to review and recommend changes in the 1987 Constitution when there were moves within the administration for charter change.
In 2006, Arroyo again tapped her to represent Mindanao in the Export Development Council up to 2010.
In February, however, Bian was seen taking part in the One Billion Rising dance protest organized by the militant women’s group Gabriela as part of the worldwide campaign against violence against women. In Agdao District, leaders identified with progressive groups are backing her electoral campaign.
When reports came out in March that barangay captains under the Duterte-led political party Hugpong switched allegiance from Garcia to Bian, an angry Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte warned the “disloyal” local leaders that they will lose their privileges and will be kicked out of the party.
The Garcias have been one of Duterte’s strongest political allies. Hugpong had earlier named Mylene as its congressional candidate.
The prospect of Bian’s victory could lessen the dominance of Hugpong, which controls practically all political posts in the city, except for the congressional seat in the first district, a bailiwick of Nograles.
Bian, who is running as an independent candidate but who had previously allied with Duterte’s political rival, described herself as “small fry” to be considered a threat. “The people’s trust and loyalty to Duterte is so strong, that I am too small to be a threat,” she said.
She also said she had always been independent in all her professional dealings. She even recalled working with the former mayor, who is now running unopposed, when she sat at the Davao Tourism Council for five years.
“I am confident that we can work together to bring about positive changes in the city if I will win this fight,” she said.