United Sur, Divided Norte

United in Surigao del Sur…

The nationwide LAKAS-KAMPI planned merger as espoused by the top political leaders from both parties is working and clicking in Surigao del Sur, unlike the unstoppable collision of the two parties in Surigao del Norte.

Surigao del Sur Congressman Philip Pichay told IMPACT NEWS that the merger of the two parties has no problem in Surigao del Sur and in fact have merged even before the announced plan.

Pichay said he and Governor Vicente Pimentel Jr. are both from Lakas CMD party while Jhonny Pimentel, younger brother of the Governor and former Congressman Falcon are from the KAMPI Party.

He said by itself their group is already composed of the two parties and therefore “married” to each other without courtship.

The Surigao del Sur solon said the strong unity of the governor and the congressman in their province is one reason why until now they have to clear political opponents as yet in the local politics. Pichay also stressed that in the presidential race there is a big possibility that the frontrunner candidate Manny Villar will still be adopted by the administration party.

He said the Pichays are close to the Villar family by affinity and it is their hope the Villar adoption by the Arroyo party will materialize.

The solon also said he foresees the reelection win of his two Congressman buddies in Surigao del Norte, Reps. Lalo Matugas and Jun Romarate. The three of them in Congress are known as “The Three Musketeers.”

Divided In Surigaodel Norte, Surigao City…

4 cornered fight set in the city

Four candidates for City Mayor in next years election have now openly declared their candidates in what appears to be an electoral contest in Surigao City to be decided by slim vote margins separating the combatants.

Latest to officially declare his candidacy, is former Governor Lyndon Barbers who seconded his younger brother’s earlier announcement over the radio.

The development also set the stage for a showdown between mortal rivals Matugas and Barbers and two breakaway candidates formerly of the Nitoy Matugas camp. The four candidates who have openly declared their running for the top city post are: Vice Mayor Cocoy Sering, Engr. Nitoy Matugas, Atty. “Dokdok” Arriba and Ex-Gov. Lyndon Barbers.

The Barbers camp, although plagued by desertions from their ranks of barangay captains identified with the Mega Block, believe Ex-Governor Barbers will have a big chance over the three candidates because they all come from one political force of Matugas supporters.

On the other hand, Vice Mayor Sering believes voters of all candidates come from diverse sections of the population and not one specific group and therefore the Barbers camp cannot claim advantage over them. The young Sering insists that more than any other candidate, his camp has more barangay leaders supporters in the entire city.

Observers however believe that whoever wins among the candidates, it will be a slim majority because city voters are no more than 65,000 only.

They said that the candidate with the biggest campaign budget will still rule the game because of the culture of money politics that has spoiled our electoral system.