Cebu Gov. Junjun Davide, who is the provincial chairman of the Liberal Party, recently debunked a report that Rep. Samsam Gullas of the first district was appointed LP chairman of his district.
Original LP members who helped Davide and Magaple in the last election immediately lamented how such an appointment has displaced many of them like San Fernando Mayor Abe Canoy. What added to their indignation was the presence of both Samsam Gullas and his grandfather, former Congressman Eduardo Gullas of the Alayon party, on stage at the Aug. 24 “Gathering of Friends” of LP in the Cebu Coliseum with Davide, Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas.
Their unlikely presence fueled the talk that the Gullases have struck an alliance with Liberal Party leaders and that Roxas, the standard-bearer, has appointed Samsam district chairman of the party.
In a press statement soon after, Samsam Gullas said he was willing “step back” from the district chairmanship and for a “free zone” to be declared in the area.
Predictably loyal LP members opposed this arrangement. They don’t think it would help the candidacies of Davide and Magpale in the province or the presidential bid of Roxas.
But Governor Davide has denied such an appointment.
I welcome Davide’s statement for asserting himself as LP province chairman and protecting the interests of fellow Cebuano party members.
But what is important is to hear the side of Secretary Roxas and the party hierarchy .
If Roxas decides to appoint Gullas as the district head of the 1st district with the support of LP leaders in the national level, Davide can’t do anything but obey. He could always question the propriety of the decision, but the final say is with Roxas.
I think more prominence is being given to ensuring Roxas’ victory in the presidential election than party loyalty.
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Zero Remittance Day last Friday was the OFWs’ reaction to the new policy in examining and opening balikbayan boxes. Based on initial TV reports, there was less foreign currency coming in from OFWs who refrained from remitting their dollars as supported by the NGO Migrante.
That response would in a way affect the financial reserves of the country, although one day alone would not shake the financial status of the government. Customs Commissioner Bert Lina has followed the order of the president for a hands-off policy on balikbayan boxes. He said the agency would no longer open all boxes for inspection but have them pass through X-ray machines and sniffing canines first. And if suspicious items are spotted through the machine or the dogs, the box will be opened in front of a representative of the OFW.
I understand where the anger of OFWs is coming from. In the latest survey of the Social Weather Station, the Bureau of Customs has again been found to be perceived as the most corrupt government agency.
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Luckily for the Aquino administration, the rallies of the Iglesia ni Cristo ended last Monday morning after a few days of rallies at the Department of Justice compound and at EDSA.
The rally was a reaction to the role of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima who handled the complaint for kidnapping filed against the sanggunian of the INC by a former church member.
The INC leadership was not happy with how de Lima appeared to give so much attention to the case by personally receiving the complaint. The INC displayed its muscle in five days of rallies to dramatize their dismay. The protest was staged during her birthday when she announced her intention to run for the senate.
During the rallies, presidential candidates Grace Poe, Jejomar Binay and Roxas issued statements about INC’s discontent.
Roxas’ statement drew the ire of INC. The government was very careful in dealing with INC because of its reputation as a block-voting religious community, an estimated potential 3 million INC votes. So last week INC just wanted to show everybody that it indeed has a solid following from its members.