OPINION: The agreement

BLOGISTA
By Cha Monforte

Now it can be told that Compostela Valley Vice Gov. Ramil Gentugaya had earlier pledged not to run for Congress. I finally chanced upon Cong. Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora at his base in Compostela town the other day and I got what I’ve long wished from him – to interview him tete-a-tete. To me, it was one of the rarest so I threw questions or lose him again.

There I got news right from the horses’ mouth, and what struck me was his information that VG Ramil, Gov. Chiongkee Uy, Boardmember Maricar and Cong. Way Kurat had already forged a prior agreement to avoid wrangling in the future and this is for VG Ramil to seek for his reelection as vice gov and for BM Maricar to run for the congressional post that his father is finishing to serve until 2010.

“That was the day after we took our oath of office,” Cong. Way Kurat recalled. And “I’ll stick to that (agreement),” he added.

I surfed the net when was really that, and lo, the joint oathtaking of newly elected Comval officials was June 30, 2007 (the twilight sky on that festive day was so colorful compliments of the fireworks display heralding the new administration themed in by Uswag Comval slogan). And so, the Ramil-Maricar-Chiongkee-Way Kurat agreement must be July 1, 2007. (Sorry, in my rush of writing a so good news the other day at an internet café in the interior Compostela town I missed to include the date, especially that a paying time is running against me).

When I reached his base at Compostela, Comval’s most popular politician Way Kurat, for ostensibly putting the province in the country’s map by his down-to-earth, newsworthy scenes and brims, was there in shorts and shirts calling up the Singapore embassy chancellor in Manila to help a distressed Comvalenya from Barangay Ngan, Compostela who was earlier imprisoned there but who could no longer be contacted by her relatives. The Singaporean official Cong. Way Kurat called as “my friend” pledged to help.

Things are revealing now particularly when reports were heard for sometime  that the governor had confided to several Lakas partymates and allies about his difficulties in walking in a tightrope just to keep the Comval unity surging given that he had already a prior commitment to BM Maricar. Ostensibly, this must be the continuation of the Cong. Way Kurat’s revelation that the governor has already “said his piece” and “Maricar is his choice”.

Cong. Way Kurat must have been optimistic still that the fortified Lakas-CMD would remain united with a powerhouse unity slate and that for the present running tiff between VG Ramil and BM Maricar over his post to end.  “The solution was already made,” he said referring to that July 1, 2007 agreement. He quipped that after I offered a scenario of BM Maricar running for the vice governor’s post and him for Compostela mayoral post, to keep the peace. It’s no-no, but for a win-win, VG Ramil must stick to the agreement.

But verily, Cong. Way Kurat is quite confident that VG Ramil will honor the agreement. “He is a good gentleman who has a word of honor… as well as the governor.” He knew VG Ramil too much, “from a good boy to a good man ….to a good politician and good leader in the province.”

With modesty, the congressman said that he molded VG Ramil in his political career starting when he was still the SK federation honcho after BM Maricar’s SK stint in the erstwhile undivided Davao del Norte. No wonder that the VG in his 2004 inaugural speech at Nabunturan Compre gym singled out and paid tribute to Way K with words as “my idol, my mentor”. That was the time when Gob. CK was first elected as a BM allied with ex-Gob. Joecab who defeated a token gubernatorial bet Trino Tirol.

From that interview, I also learned that the congressman and Monkayo Mayor Manuel “Junjun” Brillantes have no running feud between them and that they are seeing eye to eye and with a twosome of them leveling off . And that’s a far cry compared to the vice governor talking to the mayor only with a group, he said. But maybe the congressman is referring to the Friday Club at Marco. BM Maricar, too, is accordingly in constant communication with the mayor’s brother Lito and sister Olaycon Kapitana, Diel. I stand too apprised and updated now, thanks, but for a couple of weeks or so, I’ll wait for VG’s statement after the honeymoon with his beauteous, intelligent, Unilab executive better half- Joanna Ang-Gentugaya.

BLOGBUZZ: We still have to hear news after the scheduled meeting of the provincial directorate of Lakas-CMD in  Comval. Its chair is the governor, being the provncial Lakas chairman, with the other officers: vice chair- District 2 Cong. Rommel “Bobong” Amatong, secretary- BM Maricar, treasurer- VG Ramil, and the chairmen of the 5 committees held by Cong. Way K, Compostela Mayor Rey Castillo, New Bataan Mayor Lorenzo “Boy” Balbin, Nabunturan Mayor Macario “Dodong” Humol,    and Laak Mayor Rey “Reynab” Navarro, and provincial elder Pros Amatong as a member emeritus with also 1 vote like the rest…. Heard from the rounds after the NBI raid on the suspected culprit establishment where the UM Tagum sex scandal was camcorded. A lass just informed me, “Kuya di man to sex toy penis sa sex scandal nga na-mention nimo sa imong series of news ato, but a plastic container of Her Bench lotion.” I thought that Bench is only known of selling branded shirts and polos. For that, Bench company should better review the forms of its product containers at the risk of selling unwanted objects that someone may hold dear. (For online edition, visit my blog at: http://cha4t.wordpress.com, email: ruralurbanews@yahoo.com, or chamonforte@yahoo.com)

Filed under: boardmember maricar zamora-apsay, brillantes, compostela, comval congressmen, comval officials, comval politics, comval unity, cong way kurat zamora, cong. bobong amatong, congressman rommel amatong, laak mayor rey navarro, maricar apsay, new bataan, new bataan mayor lorenzo balbin, ramil gentugaya, ramil gentugaya wedding, trino tirol, vice governor ramil gentugaya, way kurat, way kurat zamora, boardmember maricar zamora-apsay, gov. chiongkee uy, nbi tagum tagum sex scandal, provincial elder pros amatong, tagum sex scandal update, tagum sex video scandal, vice gov ramil gentugaya

NEWS: Born-again BM prays over to Ramil, Maricar

oct 6

COMPOSTELA VALLEY- District 1 Boardmember Paul Galicia, who is known to be a born-again Christian, has called on everyone to pray for an  enlightened decision in resolving who should be anointed between Lakas partymates Vice Gov. Ramil Gentugaya and Boardmember Maricar Zamora-Apsay for the congressional post they have been vying at this early for the 2010 polls.

Galicia said that he has since then been praying hard for Gentugaya and
Apsay “kay prayer na lang gyud ang pag-asa ani” in reference to the early row between Gentugaya and Apsay that is becoming divisive to the so-called Comval unity in the present political configurations.

He denied earlier Sidlak reports that he has already sided with Apsay
saying that he is treating the two in the same respect- Gentugaya, who is his “kadugo kay may dugong Insik ug Ilonggo like me” and to Apsay, who is his “igso”.

He said that the consensus reached by his colleagues and Governor
Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy was that whoever is endorsed and chosen by Lakas party as the administration standard bearer for the post will be respected by them.

As to his reported verbal wrangling with Boardmember Moran Takasan in
the past week over the issue on “shadow slates” of both congressional wannabes, he said that those were just made in friendly jests as colleagues in the provincial board.

He said they are taking as just normal the broadside “kantyawans” occurring within them from time to time.

Galicia also bared that he has already initiated spiritual and moral
recovery and development program in the province’s 11 municipalities as
encouraged by the executive order issued by Gov. Uy.

Following his advocacy, the governor’s directive has resulted to the
formation of spiritual and moral development councils in municipal government units, he said.

Galicia is civil engineer in profession and a preacher of Forever Life Ministry, a born-again Christian group. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

Filed under: boardmember paul galicia, comval governor, comval news, comval officials, comval website, maricar apsay, ramil gentugaya, boardmember paul galicia, comval news, comval official, comval politics, comval sex scandal, maricar zmora-apsay, rmail gentugaya

NEWS: COMVAL UNITY THREATENED

Potential congressional bets form shadow slates

The much-touted political unity of incumbent leaders in Compostela Valley especially in the District 1 is continued to be threatened with the reported formation of “shadow slates” of both Vice Gov. Ramil Gentugaya and Boardmember Maricar Zamora-Apsay, who both earlier confirmed to run for the congressional post by 2010.

Sources said that recently both of the camps, although feigning to be friendly in public gatherings, have recently formed their respective “shadow slates” in the scenario of break-up of the merged Lakas-Kampi administration party in choosing the standard-bearer for the post that is being finished for serving by the last-termer Cong. Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora.

The shadow slates that have been much-talked of have divided the incumbent boardmembers and mayors in the district.

Earlier, Boardmembers Dexter Lopoz, Neri Barte and last-termer Armando Codilla and Monkayo Mayor Manuel Brillantes and Maragusan Mayor Cesar Colina Sr were reported to be supporting the congressional bid of Gentugaya.

Apsay on the other hand has reportedly got Boardmember Paul Galicia, former Maragusan Mayor Arsenio Yanong and former Boardmember William Andres in the initial list for her “shadow slate” while taking the support of Montevista Mayor Teofista Jauod and last-termer Compostela Mayor Reynaldo Castillo.

In this scenario, both Gentugaya and Apsay might end up fielding non-Lakas rivals in towns where they have no support of incumbent mayors.

As this developed, reports said that in Compostela town opposing councilors are reportedly blocking the plan of Mayor Castillo of getting a P35-million bank loan for an infrastructure project for his last term.

Reports said that the tiff involved councilors allied with the former Vice Mayor Joerge Rapista, who was defeated in 2007 for mayoralty bout with Castillo.

Sources also said that current Vice Mayor Jesse Bolo, who ran in tandem with Rapista in the last polls, had already pledged as Lakas member, but is entertaining to run for a mayor still if he would not be endorsed as official mayoral bet of the administration party.

Bolo, for becoming a Lakas member, becomes the most senior incumbent official who could claim for the administration’s mayoral bet but sources said that Cong. Zamora has not been endorsing Bolo yet for the post even in jest during public gatherings where both were present.

Sources also said that the influential councilor Dolfo Ang is also aiming for the mayoral post if Rapista would run with him as his vice mayor.

Otherwise, Ang would run as vice mayoral bet of Rapista if the latter decides for a comeback, sources said.

In the last polls, Castillo and Rapista had only more than 1,500 votes between them as a margin.

Councilor Haidee Suarez is also reportedly eyeing the mayoral post.

On the other hand, Mayor Castillo because of health reason is now contemplating to run as vice mayor than as vice governor especially after provincial officials have not earlier given support to his plan of running as vice governor, sources added.

But sources said that since Bolo is not being endorsed yet by Cong. Zamora and the latter is the Lakas district chairman, the congressman might have the mayoral post for himself as the administration’s party standard bearer with Castillo as his vice mayoral bet

But that scenario might pull a hometown decision of voting a mayor really coming from Compostela, sources told Sidlak.

Zamora’s town is Monkayo while he has his congressional office on his three terms located at Compostela, which he considered as his second hometown. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

Filed under: maricar apsay, ramil gentugaya, chiongkee uy, maricar zamora-apsay, ramil gentugaya

NEWS: Congressional positioning tiff brews anew in Comval

The silently running positioning tiff between Compostela Valley Governor Ramil Gentugaya and Boardmember Maria Carmen “Maricar” Zamora- Apsay has reportedly brewed anew in the first district’s political teapot on the eve of the Sal’lupongan Festival of New Bataan town.

The Gentugaya and Apsay have both declared in public their interests to take a crack for the congressional post which would be up for grabs once the latter’s father, Cong. Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora finishes her last term by 2010.

Last Saturday, a tarpaulin-made streamer with the joint festival greetings of Governor Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy, Gentugaya and Apsay was surprisingly hoisted down by unidentified persons in the afternoon.

It was hanged at the poblacion’s tennis court.

The streamer’s hoisting down fueled instead political speculations as town sources said it cast a difference as in the past town’s occasions townfolks would normally see the governor, vice governor and the congressman for their joint greetings.

The streamer that was hoisted down appears to have Apsay taking the stead of his father.It has words “senior board member” emblazoned under Apsay’s photo.

Earlier, the governor had described Ramil as “most senior than Maricar” in apparent reference to the edge of the vice governor over the boardmember in terms of position and length service as elected provincial official.

Ramil became a full-pledged Lakas member in 2001 while Apsay became one only in 2004.

But also earlier the governor had accordingly told political allies he had “prior commitment” to the Apsay, sources said.

During the last July 21 turnover of Lakas provincial chairmanship from provincial elder Prospero Amatong to Uy, the latter was quoted as saying “nobody would be left out” in the merged Lakas-Kampi party.

In that same occasion, Amatong had called partymates to protect the party unity from intrigues from within and outside the party adding that party unity demands one to make personal sacrifice.

Amatong had also said that for the political unity to be preserved within the party “we have to follow the party process” referring to the Lakas-Kampi’s policy of the equity of the incumbent, which appears to favor Gentugaya.

This early, the positioning moves of the two congressional wannabes appear to be a divisive political wedge that is giving difficult straits to the governor who is interested to preserve the political unity he forged which swayed even the influential Monkayo Mayor Manuel Brillantes.

Sources said this early Brillantes and Maragusan Mayor Cesar “Loloy” Colina, a big pop cola dealer in the province, are already throwing support to the congressional bid of Gentugaya.

On the other hand, Apsay is getting full backing from his father, who is reportedly interested to run as mayor in Compostela, his second hometown.

Yesterday, the town’s Sal’lupongan Festival successfully ended with both Gentugaya and Apsay and Department of Labor regional officials though gracing its culmination rite.

Sal’lupongan is a fusion of the native words salu, which means get involved and lupong, which means solidarity.

It was the 3rd weeklong fest of the outback municipality of New Bataan which again drummed up its rich agricultural products, chiefly the banana, coconut and ginger. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

Filed under: maricar apsay, prospero amatong, arturo uy, chiongkee uy, maricar apsay, prospero amatong, ramil gentugaya