Major Local Political Realignments Seen in 2010 Caraga Polls

by Ben Serrano

June 14, 2009

BUTUAN CITY – Political rumors spreading like wildfire including confirmed ones today claimed that voting public of the five provinces and three cities of Caraga Region will expect some major local political re-alignments comes May 2010 elections.

This developed after the once administration party stalwarts in Surigao del Norte, Governor Robert Ace Barbers and his brother, former Surigao del Norte Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers have allegedly resigned their fate in the LAKAS-KAMPI merger and were allegedly contemplating to finally sealed their deal and full support to Nacionalista Party Presidential standard bearer Senator Manny Villar.

The two politically influential sons of late former Lakas-CMD national vice president and administration Senator Robert “Bobby” Barbers were conspicuously absent in the May 28, 2009 LAKAS-KAMPI convention held at the Manila Hotel.

Surigao City Mayor Alfonso Casurra who is Surigao City Lakas Party Chair and a staunch Barbers’ ally attended the Manila Hotel event.

Matugas’ brother, real estate developer and millionaire Engineer. Ernesto Matugas is reportedly making a political comeback and to run again as Surigao City Mayor in 2010 elections. Matugas was defeated by Casurra in the 2007 City Mayoralty race.

Intense political rivals of the Barbers, two incumbent Surigao del Norte congressmen, Representatives Francisco Matugas (KAMPI-Surigao del Norte first district) and Guillermo Romarate, Jr. (KAMPI-2nd district of Surigao del Norte) are now allegedly preparing their own set of local bets under political machinery of the administration merger.

This reportedly irked local supporters of the Barbers which has its own local political line ups in the local level for the 19 municipalities of Surigao del Norte.

The situation further aggravated the already tense local political situation of Surigao del Norte after the Barbers’ political rival Congressman Francsico Matugas was elected as National Vice President for Mindanao by the Lakas-Kampi merger.

Allegedly majority of the Municpal Mayors of Surigao del Norte have aligned themselves to the closely knitted Matugas-Romarate group while some remained to be solid with the Barbers camp.

Former Surigao del Norte Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers is reportedly eyeing the Surigao City Mayoralty seat, a seat to be left by three termer City Mayor Alfonso Casurra. while brother Governor Robert Ace is seeking re-election for Governor.

Congressman Matugas is reportedly eyeing to make a political comeback as Surigao del Norte Governor in the May 2010 elections while his close ally Rep. Romarate is seeking re-election.

Matugas’ wife Dep-Ed Regional Director Sol Matugas who hails from Siargao Island is reportedly planning to run for Congress, the position now held by her husband who is also former three-termer Surigao del Norte Governor.

Meanwhile, former Butuan City Rep. Charito Booc Plaza told writer Butuan ‘s opposition stalwarts are reportedly holding talks for unification to come up with one single slate to be feted against the formidable administration party headed by incumbent City Mayor Democrito “Boy Daku” Plaza.

The Lakas-KAMPI merger in Butuan City is also shaky after two KAMPI Butuan City Councilors and other local KAMPI leaders headed by former Butuan City number one city councilor Ryan Anthony Culima are reportedly coalescing with Butuan’s local opposition group.

The intense political rivalry of the Amante-Plaza political clan for decades can again be revived in the May 2010 local Butuan City and Agusan del Norte elections.

The Amante political clan is reportedly will be fielding their City mayoralty and vice Mayoralty bets in 2010 elections.

In 2007 elections, Congressman Edelmiro Amante’s daughter former Governor Maria Angelica Amante-Matba ran but lost to incumbent Butuan City Mayor Democrito Plaza in tightly contested Mayoralty race.

The Amantes ran under KAMPI party while the Plazas under Lakas Party.

But the political twists do not end here after close Plaza political ally, Butuan City Rep. Jose Aquino, II’s own brother Roberto “Bob” Aquino has reportedly publicly announced his intention to run for Congressman in Agusan del Sur’s first congressional district against the influential Plaza-own bet now incumbent Agusan del Sur Governor Maria Valentina Plaza.

The lady governor won’t seek re-election after brother former Governor Adolph Edward “Eddie Bong” Plaza expressed intention that he is definitely running anew for Agusan del Sur Governor.

Eddie Bong as he is fondly called by his supporters denied reports that he is running for Agusan del Norte Governor. He told this writer in an earlier interview that he is definitely running for Agusan del Sur not the other Agusan.

But his elder brother, three-termer Agusan del Sur Congressman Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza is also reportedly eyeing the Agusan del Sur Gubernatorial seat comes May 21010 elections.

The last termer Agusan del Sur solon so far has not confirmed personally the rumors but his erstwhile political rival also former Agusan del Sur Congressman Ceferino Paredes whom Plaza defeated twice has allegedly claimed he is open for talks with Rep. Plaza if he decides to run for Governor against his brother.

Meanwhile, in Surigao del Sur, former Governor Dr. Primo Murillo and his brother former Tago, Surigao del Sur Mayor Greg Murillo are reportedly making a political comeback for the May 2010 elections

.Both were former Lakas stalwarts of Surigao de Sur but when the powerful and rich Pimentel political clan took the reigns of political practically in all of Surigao del Sur, the Pimentels replaced them.

Provincial Administrator and former Vice Governor Johnny Pimentel who is running for governor under Lakas-Kampi merger in 2010 elections told this writer he has not yet received information if the Murillos who is now based in the U.S. and Manila are making political comeback.

“It is their right to run for public office if they wanted to, we, the Pimentels welcome anyone who wishes to run for public office here in our province because we believed public service is not only confined to us. The people of Surigao del Sur anyway has the final say and chose leaders whom they think have served them better”, Pimentel told this writer

Pimentel’s brother now incumbent, three termer Governor Vicente Pimentel, Jr, is reportedly making a political comeback as Mayor of Carasscal town, one of the progressive town and the province’ mining capital.

The current congressman of Surigao del Sur’s first congressional district is Congressman Philip Pichay, brother of former Congressman now LWUA administrator Prospero Pichay, Jr.

The last day of filing of Certificate of Candidacies according to the COMELEC is on November 30, 2009.