Political windfall

Public officials are considered lucky when they assume a higher position following the termination or death of the one who holds office.

For example, the death in 1957 of former President Ramon Magsaysay in a plane crash made it possible for then Vice President Carlos P. Garcia to serve the eight months remainder of Magsaysay’s term. Garcia failed in his bid to get a full term in the succeeding presidential elections of 1961 that was won by then incumbent vice president Diosdado Macapagal. Meanwhile, the assassination of former US President John F. Kennedy in 1963 paved the way for the assumption to the highest office of the land of the US no. 2 Lyndon B. Johnson. In the succeeding US presidential elections of 1964, LBJ won the presidency by a landslide proving that his accession to the White House on account of JFK’s demise was a boon to his political career.

The assumption of Agnes Magpale as Cebu vice governor following the death of her predecessor Greg Sanchez who succumbed to lung cancer could be seen as a political windfall. Incumbent Gov. Gwen Garcia is on her third and last term. As part of the Durano clan, the political family may be primed to expand their horizon given that one of their members, Jose Rene Almendras, is in President Benigno S. Aquino III’s Cabinet.

However, the political kamada is not that simple and Magpale’s accession has become a source of distress for Cebu’s first lady vice governor.

When she took over the office initially, Magpale didn’t want the “acting” tag removed from the title of vice governor. Her reluctance stemmed from the fact that after her oath taking as vice governor, she abandons her PB seat. Her ally in One Cebu, defeated vice gubernatorial bet Glenn Soco has filed a petition before the Comelec questioning Sanchez’s proclamation. Anytime now the poll body will do a manual recount of the votes cast in 195 clustered precincts in Mandaue City and five in Consolacion. Magpale belongs to the Durano-led Bakud party which forged an alliance with One Cebu in the last local elections.
The possibility that One Cebu vice gubernatorial candidate Soco will win the electoral protest against Sanchez is not far-fetched. Greg Sanchez Jr. passed away and there are no clear signals if his family will go all out to win this legal battle.

An outcome that favors Sanchez would mean that Magpale stays put, and it is the reason sympathizers of the late vice governor are upset that she does not want to get involved. Magpale has become a target of their criticisms, but she could not take up the cause of the late vice governor without appearing greedy and overly ambitious.

Political observers believe the pending election protest does not merely involve the post of the vice governor since the poll protest would have to be resolved while Malacañang is looking for a new Ombudsman.

As everyone knows, Governor Garcia and other Capitol officials are embroiled in a controversy surrounding the 2009 purchase of the 24.9 hectare Balili beachfront property. The issue prompted the Visayas Ombudsman to act on an anonymous complaint and last year, the agency upgraded their action into a criminal investigation. In his 31-page final evaluation report, graft investigator Roderick Blazo said Garcia would face a criminal investigation for entering into a contract “which is manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the government.” Blazo’s report mentioned that Capitol paid P78.6 million for submerged lands.
Businessman Crisologo Saavedra, self-styled anti-graft and staunch Garcia critic then asked the Ombudsman to suspend Garcia supposedly to prevent her from “destroying” the evidence and “harassing” witnesses, who are mostly employees of the provincial government. A new Ombudsman to be appointed by the new administration has given political watchers plenty to nibble when they talk about Gwen’s prospects in the Balili case. This is the scenario that makes Soco’s election protest interesting to ponder.

I have it from a well-placed source that the Sanchez family is set to meet with local LP stalwarts led by Hilario “Junjun” Davide III and lawyers of the late vice governor to assess the case filed by Soco. The dilemma for the Sanchez family rests on the fact that Greg’s passing away has, for them, rendered the case moot and academic.

However, since the poll protest involves the integrity of Greg’s having won the political contest, it will be hard for the family to abandon this case. At the end of the day, it will be about deciding whether to uphold the credibility of Sanchez’ s electoral victory or affirm by default that fraud did take place, robbing Soco of victory.

Morag mogios si Greg sa iyang nahimutangan og mahitabo kana.