CLARK FREEPORT – With the presidential elections in 2016 fast approaching, cracks in the influential Cojuangco clan of Tarlac are starting to show after clan member, Mayor Miguel “Dors” Cojuangco Rivilla, complained of political persecution by the family’s senior members.
The Cojuangcos are the acknowledged political kingpins of the home province of President Aquino.The Cojuangco clan squabble was made apparent after Mayor Rivilla of Paniqui town aired his lament to the members of the
Capampangan in Media, Inc. (CAMI) during the media forum “Balitaan” at the Bale Balita here organized by CAMI in cooperation of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) and the Social Security System (SSS) last Friday.
Preventive suspension
Rivilla, who ran as an independent candidate in the last elections, said he has to go public on his plight after a preventive suspension order signed by Tarlac Gov. Victor Yap dated October 3 ordered him to vacate his post.
The suspension was on account of a case filed before the Tarlac provincial board against Rivilla for culpable violation of the Constitution,misconduct and abuse of authority by Councilor Evelyn David, wife of Rommel David whom Rivilla defeated in the May 2013 elections.
The case stemmed from Rivilla’s decision ordering the payment of the delayed salaries of the municipal hospital’s “job order” for nurses and “contract of service” for doctors. The amount for their salaries was P2.9 million covering the period of three months (January to March).
Rivilla said this was needed since the municipal hospital staff delivers primary health care to his constituents as well as eight other neighboring towns. He described the suspension order as part of a series of moves obviously designed to unseat him and drive him out of the province’s political scene.
Rivilla said Tarlac provincial board whose members are mostly from the Cojuangco’s Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) party quickly endorsed his suspension to Yap.
Root of feud
When asked what he thought was the main root of his problems, Rivilla admitted he may have offended well-connected political leaders and political operators for various reasons, foremost of which was his decision to bolt the NPC, founded and controlled by his uncle Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr., when he sought re-election last year.
Another was his decision to proceed with the construction of a 24-bed municipal hospital in Barangay Samput and to name it after his late father Luis Tirso Rivilla, way ahead of the planned 10-bed hospital project of another uncle, Rep. Enrique “Henry” Cojuangco Sr., younger brother of Danding.
Family ties
Rivilla’s mother is Lourdes Cojuangco, sister of Ramon whose son Tonyboy is the former owner of PLDT and partly owned AirAsia Zest. Rivilla’s mother is also a first-degree cousin of Danding, Henry and former president Corazon “Cory” C. Aquino.
He is a grandson of the late Dr. Antonio Cojuangco, married to Victoria. Rivilla is the second cousin of Tarlac Vice Gov. Enrique “Kit” Cojuangco Jr. who is the son of Rep. Henry and President Aquino. Mayor Rivilla, now on his third term, hinted that he is seriously considering seeking a congressional seat in 2016 in what he described as his “response to the clamor of his constituents.”
Should he pursue this plan, Rivilla and his “Uncle Henry” would surely be on a direct collision course, a pattern of political rivalry now prevalent among political family dynasties in the country.
