HOPING TO get even but a whiff of the success that is Makati, the municipal council of Candaba accepted the offer of a sisterhood pact from Mayor Jejomar Binay who visited the swampland in late April.
Two resolutions – one, “supporting the creation of a sisterhood relationship with Makati City; the other, “authorizing Mayor Jerry Pelayo to enter into a memorandum of agreement with Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay” – were approved by the council. But not without opposition – and its concomitant drama.
Vice Mayor Ben Gatus, once loser to Pelayo, inhibited himself from the session that tackled the resolutions.
While saying he did not have any problem with the sisterhood pact itself, Gatus said he feared it would have some “negative political implications.” To him, supporting the resolutions would be “tantamount to supporting Binay,” who, as everybody knows is an archcritic of the GMA administration, aside from being a presidentiable.
“Under the leadership of President Arroyo, Candaba has benefited greatly. As an ally and kabalen of the President, I could not give my support to a known political foe.” So was Gatus quoted as saying.
Not to be outdone, Councilor Andy Gulapa – with his pursuit of the Candaba mayorship said to be going overdrive this early – did some buttering up: “First and foremost, I’m opposing because I don’t want our beloved and respectable President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to be upset with our incumbent Mayor Jerry Pelayo since we know that the two leaders are friends.” That only produced excessive lard, knowing the animosity between him and Pelayo. Bad, bad, bad.
The politico that he is, Gulapa could not pass off an opportunity for some grandstanding.
While agreeing that Binay is “one of the outstanding mayors of the world,” any tie-up with him, being an oppositionist, “may be a costly political blunder.” Gulapa apprehensive that Binay might only be using the resolutions to advance his presidential candidacy and get a foothold in vote-rich Candaba.
“Why is it that this request was made during a few months before the 2010 elections when it could have been done much earlier? And why Makati?” Why not the City of San Fernando from which we could learn a lot?”So went Gulapa’s rhetorics.
As the resolutions could offend the President, Gulapa denied them of his support, saying he wanted nothing but “peace and political unity between Malacanang and Candaba.”
So, instead of a sisterhood pact with Makati, Gulapa said he favored a resolution honoring GMA, which he said was more appropriate with the President having done so much for Candaba.
So why has not Gulapa sponsored a resolution to that effect?
And risk the ire of his political patron and idol, Gov. Eddie T.Panlilio?
As Mayor Pelayo reminded him, and Gatus too: Panlilio whom they adored has said time and again that the Macapagal-Arroyo administration is corrupt to the marrows, that if elected president, he would pursue the prosecution of the President and her family for plundering the country’s coffers.
Gulapa’s retort: His support for Panlilio “does not overshadow” his support for the President.
Gulapa may as well be in perpetual shadows. There is some bare-faced duplicity there. Panlilio’s self-proclaimed morality is a direct contradiction to Panlilio’s self-professed corruption of GMA and her family, official and otherwise.
Gulapa could only do a Bush here – if he is not with GMA he is with Panlilio Or vice versa. No fence-sitting there.
Else, Gulapa risks his being branded spineless, or worse, two-faced. As one tricycle driver near the Candaba town hall told us: Mapanatsa yang doble cara y Gulapa. Go figure.
Two resolutions – one, “supporting the creation of a sisterhood relationship with Makati City; the other, “authorizing Mayor Jerry Pelayo to enter into a memorandum of agreement with Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay” – were approved by the council. But not without opposition – and its concomitant drama.
Vice Mayor Ben Gatus, once loser to Pelayo, inhibited himself from the session that tackled the resolutions.
While saying he did not have any problem with the sisterhood pact itself, Gatus said he feared it would have some “negative political implications.” To him, supporting the resolutions would be “tantamount to supporting Binay,” who, as everybody knows is an archcritic of the GMA administration, aside from being a presidentiable.
“Under the leadership of President Arroyo, Candaba has benefited greatly. As an ally and kabalen of the President, I could not give my support to a known political foe.” So was Gatus quoted as saying.
Not to be outdone, Councilor Andy Gulapa – with his pursuit of the Candaba mayorship said to be going overdrive this early – did some buttering up: “First and foremost, I’m opposing because I don’t want our beloved and respectable President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to be upset with our incumbent Mayor Jerry Pelayo since we know that the two leaders are friends.” That only produced excessive lard, knowing the animosity between him and Pelayo. Bad, bad, bad.
The politico that he is, Gulapa could not pass off an opportunity for some grandstanding.
While agreeing that Binay is “one of the outstanding mayors of the world,” any tie-up with him, being an oppositionist, “may be a costly political blunder.” Gulapa apprehensive that Binay might only be using the resolutions to advance his presidential candidacy and get a foothold in vote-rich Candaba.
“Why is it that this request was made during a few months before the 2010 elections when it could have been done much earlier? And why Makati?” Why not the City of San Fernando from which we could learn a lot?”So went Gulapa’s rhetorics.
As the resolutions could offend the President, Gulapa denied them of his support, saying he wanted nothing but “peace and political unity between Malacanang and Candaba.”
So, instead of a sisterhood pact with Makati, Gulapa said he favored a resolution honoring GMA, which he said was more appropriate with the President having done so much for Candaba.
So why has not Gulapa sponsored a resolution to that effect?
And risk the ire of his political patron and idol, Gov. Eddie T.Panlilio?
As Mayor Pelayo reminded him, and Gatus too: Panlilio whom they adored has said time and again that the Macapagal-Arroyo administration is corrupt to the marrows, that if elected president, he would pursue the prosecution of the President and her family for plundering the country’s coffers.
Gulapa’s retort: His support for Panlilio “does not overshadow” his support for the President.
Gulapa may as well be in perpetual shadows. There is some bare-faced duplicity there. Panlilio’s self-proclaimed morality is a direct contradiction to Panlilio’s self-professed corruption of GMA and her family, official and otherwise.
Gulapa could only do a Bush here – if he is not with GMA he is with Panlilio Or vice versa. No fence-sitting there.
Else, Gulapa risks his being branded spineless, or worse, two-faced. As one tricycle driver near the Candaba town hall told us: Mapanatsa yang doble cara y Gulapa. Go figure.
