“THIRD DISTRICT Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales – known as among the closest to former Pres. Arroyo during her term – has been branded as a virtual Judas to Mrs. Arroyo for his decision to abandon Lakas-Kampi party and jump to the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).”
So reported Ding Cervantes in our weekend banner.
No, Cong Dong did not hasten to the nearest tree with a noose around his neck. Rather, he was quickly scourged at the pillar of ingratitude, with the end in view of being nailed to the cross of disloyalty.
“I will never turn my back on allies who had greatly helped me. Not for any personal convenience. Not for any political expediency.”
Drawing first blood there was Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, secretary for external affairs, chair of the Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Council and chairman of the NorthRail Corp. in the GMA administration.
To the loyal Lakas centurion, no thirty pieces of silver can commensurate for the betrayal of the party.
No reason can ever justify Cong Dong’s departure, given the “many favors” he received from GMA. Moreso, in consideration of her attachment to him that transcended the political, settling on the maternal.
By leaving Lakas-Kampi then, Cong Dong as much shirked his party duties as his filial obligation to GMA.
The height of a son’s ingratitude: “abandoning GMA as she lay in the hospital, her very life in great peril, yet, she still wanted to help Dong.” So Mayor EdPam, fighting hard to dam a torrent of tears, told the assembled mediamen at McDonalds-Nepo late last week.
A Mater Dolorosa EdPam painted of GMA as he related how the former president, on her sickbed, asked the visiting Gov. Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda to help Dong with the P40 million he needed for his scholarship program, as he had yet to receive then his pork barrel, er, the priority development assistance fund.
Ingratitude. Cried EdPam anew, as he disclosed how Dong managed to get – in just one year – some P750 million funds from the Department of Public Works and Highways during the Arroyo administration.
Ingratitude. Cried louder and harder a second district political leader, saying that the home district of the President herself, with her own son Mikey as congressman, received “only P85 million” in that same period.
No ingratitude. No disloyalty. No more than an “audacious move.”
So Cong Dong himself called his switch to the NPC.
And neither expedient nor exigent. The move coming only after a year-long consultation with his 3rd district constituency.
Indeed, it was as she lay at St. Luke’s preparing for the first of her surgeries that GMA came to know of Cong Dong’s joining the NPC. Through Cong Dong himself via a text message, transcribed thus:
Dear Madame President,
This may not be the time to inform you of an important decision I just made considering what you are going through.
I do not wish to add more to your pain and suffering. But I also want to be honest and fair to you, Ma’am. I have decided to join NPC.
I wanted to tell you this as early as last week but I was overtaken by events. I know you understand that I did this in the interest of my constituents, especially the poor.
To remain where I was would have compromised the future of many, including perhaps my own political future. As you may know, a potential rival has been spreading the bad news that my funds were cut off.
In the coming days, when you have been fully recovered I want to see you to personally apologize for the unintended pains that I have caused over this audacious move.
You will always be in my prayers and I will forever be grateful to you and your family.
The text message has been stored in the mobiles of the members of the Society of Pampanga Columnists since August 13, during a breakfast tete-a-tete with the congressman.
And yes, the PDAF were neither a quid pro quo nor the thirty pieces of silver that facilitated Cong Dong’s crossing over to NPC, these having been released to him much earlier.
The SARO (special allotment release order) relayed to the congressman right in the middle of another breakfast in his home with the columnists and some other mediamen on August 1. Rather interesting things happening at Cong Dong’s breakfasts with mediamen, ain’t it?
“In the interest of my constituents, especially the poor.” A recurring theme, nay, the very motivation to every political action.
(Mis)Interpreted as Machiavellian, not so much for some deceit – the constituents being convenient cover for vested interests, as ends justifying the means, no matter how dubious.
Like the semi-sainted Sin, the Cardinal, saying he would take money from the Devil himself to use it for something good.
Indeed, as some Buddhist thought says – if my pedantry serves right – the perfection, or rightness, of an action lies not so much in its consequence as in its intention.
Maybe, just maybe, it’s all a matter of perspective.
Mayor EdPam was right. It is not right to abandon a benefactor in times of adversity. Gratitude and loyalty as core values celebrated there.
Cong Dong was equally right. The welfare of one’s constituency is the primary duty of an elected official. Public service being the very essence of governance.
Right parallels, on different planes, failing to meet.
On Mayor EdPam’s diatribe, Cong Dong sent this text message to media:
I know and I understand how she feels.
I did not turn my back on GMA simply because I moved to another party.
There is a distinction between personal relationship and political and party affiliation and public service.
It’s regrettable some are not able to make the distinction.
My decision to join NPC was consistent with my desire to effectively serve the needs of my constituents, primarily, though there are other reasons
If that is being expedient, so be it, and I grant the political purists the right to render their two cents worth.
In the meantime I just keep my focus on my moral duty to my constituencies even as I wish for GMA’s full recovery and healing.
Yes, it’s all a matter of perspective.
As one nation’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter, so is one’s Judas another’s Messiah. An ingrate to one can be ingratiating to another. Ay, a slip in parallelism there. But this is realpolitik.
Whatever, the rightness or wrongness of Cong Dong’s “audacious move” will be determined by the coming congressional elections in Pampanga’s third district.
Most definitively so if he contends with Mayor Oscar S. Rodriguez, himself leaving Lakas-Kampi – reportedly on machinations of Cong Dong, and winning with the Liberal Party in 2010.
A battle royale in 2013 then.
