LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March L. Fianza
Abra LP and Benguet youth

Abra has been known as “opposition country.” Former President Erap won overwhelmingly in that hinterland in the 1998 presidential race and so with the late Fernando Poe Jr. who won the hearts and votes of the Abrenians in 2004.

Will it be the same scenario in 2010? According to lawyer-provincial board member Allen Brix Bachiller, the local executives of Abra’s 27 towns are just “waiting for someone to support” from the opposition party.

So far, there are no Nacionalista Party people or coordinator in the province, so with the other parties. Although, there are Lakas party supporters in the Sanggunian Bayan level. As for the Liberal Party, Bachiller said, many from among the province’s 27 mayors might just shift to the party “once Mar Roxas is believed to give a good fight” in the coming presidential race.

Abra Representative Cecile Luna, a three-term LP mayor of Lagayan town, won as LP congressional candidate against political stalwart Vicsyd Valera. However, she took her oath under Kampi when Valera filed an election protest against her.

“What I heard was that Rep. Luna asked permission to shift to Kampi as the LP, after the elections, did not have enough funds left to back her up to fight the protest filed by Valera ,” Bachiller explained. Rep. Luna won just the same.

Board member Bachiller who was a former LP member said, when Congresswoman Luna shifted to the Kampi, most of the elected mayors followed suit. But that does not mean that they have fully abandoned their previous party affiliations, he said.

“Truth is, party-membership in Abra is for convenience and many Abra mayors still want to be with Mar (Roxas),” Bachiller surmised.

“During the LP presidntial election at the Club Filipino in Manila , all of us Abra mayors were present to give our support to Mar. When he won as LP president, many of us moved forward and carried him on our shoulders,” the board member related.

He said, their link to the LP is La Union board Henry Bacornay who always invites them when there are LP meetings in Manila. “If Mar Roxas intends to visit Abra, I am sure the mayors will support him,” Bachiller said.
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Presidentiable Senator Mar Roxas with the help of former Benguet congressman Ronald M. Cosalan last week sponsored the Benguet-Baguio Grand Battle of Country-Western Music Bands which was held at the La Trinidad municipal gym.

This, after the annual project of Cosalan when he was Benguet congressman, went into slumber. It has been a worthwhile project and continues to be that way as it pulls away the youth from drugs and other unnecessary or worthless activities. Before launching his first “battle of the bands” project, Cosalan saw to it that youth groups in Benguet availed themselves of musical intruments.

But many of our public officials do not see the youth’s “battle of the bands” project as such. True, there are scholarship grants by the government that are distributed through politicians’ offices which may be considered as a youth program. But other than that, they busy themselves with other programs that do not directly benefit the youth. In most cases, many of them concentrate on supporting public works. Well, we can not blame them because that is where the money is.

Last week’s musical treat involved country Western music bands representing each of the 13 Benguet towns and the city of Baguio , country music promoter Jeff Vencio said. A very minimal entrance fee of P10.00 was collected but the total amount was donated to the San Jose Parish Church for a new construction in its compound.

We wish to see this as a continuing project in the years to come, hopefully with the help of more public officials, elected or appointed. Certainly, Mar Roxas and Atty. Cosalan know that it is not enough that they provide public service – they know that should also get involved in developing the youth through music.
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There seems to be a pattern that is forming in the latest news about the filing of criminal charges against those who may be involved in the Dacer-Corbito murder case and the unsolved assassination of Senator Ninoy.

Why the cases are brought up at a time when the alleged masterminds are no other than would-be presidential bets in 2010 is something to think about. If suspicions are true, the only reason behind the reincarnation of the cases is politics – trim down the number of presidential bets by eliminating them this early, or at least weaken them by destroying their spirit and character.

If ever the cases are filed, those to be affected in the Dacer-Corbito case are Senator Ping Lacson and former President Erap or his stand-in. In Ninoy’s case, there once was a story that a close in-law of his who was then a minion of the late President Marcos ordered the assassination. Whoever that Ninoy in-law would support, whether it be Chiz Escudero or Manny Villar, would of course be distressed.

Well, there is much to hide and the only way is to stay in power forever, if possible. – marchfianza777@yahoo.com