NEWS: Panabo mayor hits bolting “underground Lakas” execs as “opportunists”

dec 31

Panabo City Mayor Jose Silvosa hit the other day as “opportunists” the reported “underground” Lakas incumbent governors and congressmen in the country who were said to be already re-grouping to throw their support in due time to whoever is the leading presidential candidate other than the administration standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro.

“I would still support Gibo even if I’m the only last man standing to vote for him in the country,” Silvosa, Lakas-Kampi-CMD city chairman, said adding that Teodoro is the man to watch in next year’s polls given his outstanding credentials and capacity to lead the country.

Silvosa commented in the wake of a report bared by a top official of one of the provinces disclosing that the re-grouping Lakas incumbents were usually composed of older governors and congressmen.

The top official said that Lakas young ones in the likes of Sarangani Governor Miguel “Migs” Dominguez, who is now the Lakas-Kampi-CMD national chairman, Davao del Norte District Rep. Anton Lagdameo and Compostela Valley District 2 Rep. Rommel Amatong were rabidly rooting for Gibo as they consider him like a “kabarkada” given their similar or near age level.

The older ones are more pragmatic and practical in their politics and they wanted to be sure to ride the boat of the next administration while Teodoro has remained to be trailing behind in the recent surveys, said the top official, who requested anonymity.

The older Lakas incumbents were said to be either eyeing to support presidential candidates Noynoy Aquino (Liberal Party) or Manny Villar (Nacionalista Party).

But they did not earn praise to the mayor of Panabo, a known vote-rich town within the three-town and two-city District 2 bailiwick of the banana magnate Floirendos and Lagdameos.

“It’s the height of their political opportunism,” Silvosa said while apparently hitting the band of Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, now with the LP after being with Lakas for a long time, when the mayor said: “Who are they to carry Noynoy now when I was imprisoned at the time of Marcos and had fought much for Cory?”.

Silvosa was imprisoned during Marcos time for his human rights lawyering. He was one of the leading opposition lights in the province in the prelude before the downfall of Marcos from power when march-rallies and yellow Fridays became the order of the day in Davao City and provinces towards the mid 90s.

“I cannot give my vote to Noynoy. There were many unfortunate events that happened during the Cory administration… she was not ready to handle them,” he said. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News)

Filed under: panabo city mayor jose silvosa jr, panabo mayor jose silvosa, panabo mayor jose silvosa

NEWS: Panabo mayor might not seek reelection in 2010

Floirendos carried Silvosa in 2007 polls

dec 5

Panabo City Mayor Jose “Joe” Silvosa Jr. might not run again to seek for his reelection by 2010.

“But it depends, if the Lakas-CMD party is negative in its assessment on my performance as a city mayor,” he told Sidlak yesterday.

“If I’m adjudged to be not satisfactory, and my performance is not impressive while my brand of leadership is not accepted, why should I insist?” the mayor added.

Silvosa, a lawyer, was propelled to the post of city mayor in 2007 polls after serving as a boardmember largely due to the traditionally blind but solid Tadeco votes as he was the choice of the Floirendos, Don Antonio Sr. and former Congressman Antonio “Tonyboy” Floirendo Jr., the banana king and heir apparent, respectively, the known Davao del Norte’s District 2 kingmakers.

Silvosa said he would hesitate to submit himself for party assessment.

He edged out rival former City Vice Mayor Ruperto Cagape by over 5,000 votes reportedly coming the Tadeco workingmen bailiwicks.

Panabo City , sources said, has already started to be abuzz with unconfirmed reports on possible eventual comeback of the former Mayor Rey Gavina, who in May 2007 had no choice but retire from politics after running out of his three terms as a mayor.

It was Gavina who built the posh and elegant three-level city hall, the new integrated bus terminal and the city gymnasium which the present mayor is now enjoying in his first term.

But a staffer of Vice Mayor James Gamao, brother-in-law of Gavina, said on the condition of anonymity that he thought that only the Gavina’s political followers might just be the ones egging out the retired mayor for a political comeback and pick a fight against Silvosa, a Lakas partymate and whom Gavina endorsed in the last polls.

“Sa politika naa gyoy nagasugnod nga mga political supporters,” he added.

He said that Gavina has been busy in his banana farm located in the outskirts of the city. “He is often seen in his good resthouse there”.

He said that he has not yet heard even of any report that his boss Vice Mayor Gamao would run for reelection in tandem his brother-in-law Gavina.

Meanwhile, other sources from Panabo City Hall said that besides Gavina other 2010 mayoral potentials are the last-termer and economically influential Councilor Roy Antalan and Cagape who might do a return bout against Silvosa.

Still some political pundits in the city are closely watching for the developments in the family and political feud between the Floirendos and Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario which reports said is still presently running and which would affect the political landscape in the city whose politics has been traditionally dictated by the Floirendos.

In the last polls, the Floirendo-supported Lakas-CMD city slate made a smashing 11-1 victory with only one Kampi bet, now Councilor Jannet Tanong managing to win.

Still there is also little talk among city’s political pundits that District 2 Congressman Anton Lagdameo, nephew of Tonyboy, might end up running for mayor in the city once his Tito Tonyboy would reclaim his congressional seat by 2010.

But Vice Governor Victorio “Baby” Suaybaguio earlier told Sidlak to spare the “good mayor Silvosa” and proposed that on this scenario Cong. Anton could be better placed to run as city mayor for IGACOS saying that with this the island could have its most rapid development if the Floirendos and Del Rosarios would then link arms to orchestrate in developing the island under Lagdameo’s mayoral reign. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

Filed under: davao del norte vice governor victorio "baby" suaybagui, former panabo mayor rey gavina, panabo city mayor jose silvosa jr, panabo vice mayor james gamao, davao del norte vice governor victorio "baby" suaybagui, former panabo mayor rey gavina, panabo city mayor jose silvosa jr, panabo vice mayor james gamao