Padajon takes 2

“PADAJON” TAKES CONTROL OF DIST. 2

Rod S. Catoto

The only COMELEC accredited and recognized local political party in Caraga region, the Partido Padajon Surigao has virtually taken full control of Dist II in Surigao del Norte following the conquest of the remaining frontier town of Malimono, Surigao del Norte lorded over by Mayor Teodoro Senaca Jr., an erstwhile Barbers ally who returned allegiance to political mentor Cong. Francisco Matugas.

Malimono fell into the hands of the Matugas-Romarate political alliance after Mayor Jun Senaca abandoned Abante Surigao, the Barbers’ political party, and took his oath as party member of Partido Padajon Surigao last Thursday.

Senaca’s oathtaking to the Matugas party was witnessed by over 3,000 town residents and leaders who also joined their town mayor in pledging allegiance to the Partido Padajon Surigao.

The downfall of the Barbers party in Malimono followed a series of massive oathtaking rites of thousands of Surigaonons for Partido Padajon Surigao in such towns as Sison, Tagana-an and Gigaquit within the span of two days last week.

Cong. Jun Romarate chairman of Partido Padajon Surigao and Cong. Lalo Matugas, its president and founder, personally led the series of oathtaking events in the said towns which looked more like a victory celebration judging from the multitudes of crowds that converged and overflowed the municipal auditoriums of eleven towns in District II.

Barbers’ Abante Surigao party was left with only one town as all other towns and their Mayors in District II have now jumped into the Padajon bandwagon.

Veteran politicians in Surigao predict that the exodus of local leaders to the side of Matugas and Romarate could spell the end of the Barbers regime even before the elections next year. The present situation besieging Abante Surigao party of Governor Ace Barbers has placed itself in serious doubt in terms of survival in view of the same political debacle it suffered in Siargao Island which is now firmly controlled by the Cong. Francisco Matugas and his allies.

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Casurra-Barbers tandem: Shaken No Way!

Natz Corbeta

The Casurra-Barbers “POWER TANDEM” tagged as the original Lakas boys in Surigao del Norte will no way bury the hatchet and reconcile with their arch rivals, following the rhapsodized Lakas-Kampi merger in the national level. The co existence principle is entirely impossible as both Abante and Padajon camps were considered North and South poles in Surigao’s political history. The looming judgment of the arbitration committee in the merged party heirarchy, resolving the conflict in the local level is the much awaited political development to which groups be IN or OUT from the merger.

At any rate, the outcome of which will solely depend on the so called power play by both party stalwarts, an insider said. Some sources assumed that administration bigwig Prospero Pichay who is now named as the new arbitration chief will play a vital role in the power struggle which possibly sway judgment in favor to the Matugas-Romarate group. However, anticipating the scenario will take place may trigger Casurra and Barbers to swing out support and coalesce to other political group but remain to be LAKAS ORIGINALS.

Ace the resilient

“We are loyal Lakas members.” Governor Ace Barbers in reaction to the issue parroted by their rivals that there absence during the convention signifies their lack of interest in the merger and might be the basis of their expulsion from the party.

“We never committed any act which is inimical to the party, whatsoever, in fact, we are the original Lakas members in this province since we started our political career…If there will be somebody booted out from Lakas, its not us, but maybe them. But if worse scenario comes, we will cross the bridge when we will get there”,

Barbers said.

Casurra’s part

The City Mayor reacting to the issue insinuated by some pretenders that his relationship with the Barbers is getting cold; Casurra dismissed the misleading information by saying, its absolutely NOT TRUE!” Those are baseless information and probably part of the strategy to derail my good relationship with the Barbers, he said.

“I will reiterate further that I remain consistent with my statementss that since the time I entered politics, Surigaonons knew and I am tested… I never changed loyalties”,

said Casurra

Unfazed Abante

Amid the snowballing pride of their political arch rivals on the so called exodus of their former allies bolting to local party Padajun Surigao, the Casurra-Barbers solid team up remains unfazed over this issue saying the game is not yet over.

In reaction to former allies who swings support to the Matugas-Romarate groups will not be a conclusion that Abante Surigao weakened its structure, said the Governor.

Barbers disclosed, if some mayors are jumping off to their rival’s nest, there are also Padajun Surigao members who are silently veering to Abante’s camp.

“We are not like them always doing the grandstanding… We just keep it secret, MASUSI RA SA FINISH LINE. (We will find out in the end).”

he added.