Eduardo Pontaoe
27 Feb 2007

 

The General cometh. This will be a test of who shall prevail in the rough and tumble world of Santa Barbara politics. Carlito Zaplan, the ex-mayor is running. With the opposition in disarray as shown in the last election when Carlito’s wife Jinky demolished everybody, then the only chance of beating the Zaplan dynasty is the cohesiveness of the other side of the fence if they can convince themselves to go along with Reynaldo Velasco. It is a foregone conclusion the opposition faction of the Cabangons, the Erfes, the Joses and all disgruntled members of the Zaplan clique have already anointed a mayoral candidate and it’s not Velasco. Hoping they can work this out.

Zaplan with all his present shortcomings is formidable. He has the network and the equipment against all odds. Lito Zaplan was tested in battle and had been mayor of the town thrice and one with no opposition. And being in the team of Arroyo (his wedding ninang) he is well connected and also the backing of The Biskeg party of Pangasinan which Bebot Villar is his compadre.

How about Velasco? Can he win in a town where votes are auctioned? He’d never be in the thick of political maneuvering and deceit. The possibility of him winning in a highly charged political town where allegiance is cheap is suspect. But, Santa Barbara needs new ideas, a new beginning and Velasco, how rookie he maybe in politics, is the right prescription to curve the disease of non-transparency in governance. He can be the person for the time and place to change the concept of Santa Barbara’s subliminal politics. I am not a betting person. The odds are against him but it’s all in the horse flesh. He could be a surprise since Harry Truman.