OUR contacts in Antique swear that Governor Salvacion Zaldivar Perez has lost her affection for Vice-Governor Rhodora “Dodod” Cadiao because of a supposedly secret meeting between the latter and two ambitious men. Prior to this new development, Inday Sally was grooming Dodod to be her successor; they would run for congresswoman and governor, respectively, in 2010.

But now it appears that Vice-Governor Cadiao would rather run for re-election, as mere running mate of a first-time gubernatorial bet.

Our source says that, a few days ago, Cadiao flew to Manila to heed the invitation of retired Philippine National Police (PNP) officer Robert “Bebot” Delfin and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board director Ray Roquero for a rendezvous. Delfin, incidentally, was Perez’s political partner who lost to re-electionist Congressman Exequiel “Boy Ex” Javier in 2007.

During that meeting, Delfin and Roquero asked Cadiao to sever her alliance with Perez and align with them as a triumvirate. Delfin would run for congressman; Roquero, for governor. And so the vice-governor would have to sacrifice her gubernatorial bid and agree to run for re-election. The deal would free her of financial worry and afford Roquero a better chance against outgoing Congressman Javier. Otherwise, it would be an uphill struggle for her, considering that the two men are awash with cash. To make the long story short, Dodod eventually accepted the offer on the condition that it would not be announced to the public until November 30.

How did Inday Sally learn of the secret?

Our source said one of the two men revealed it to a friend who, in turn, relayed it to the governor.

As to why Dodod fell for the offer that would frustrate her upward movement, we could only guess she could not trust Inday Sally to pull her up, probably drawing from the experience of Bebot Delfin. You see, Delfin was Perez’s candidate for congressman in 2007. While Governor Perez won against Jovito Plameras Jr., Delfin lost to Congressman Javier.

Ironically, Perez now faces the likelihood of having to battle Delfin for congressman in a three-cornered fight with Boy Ex’s candidate, who could either be his son Paulo or his cousin Tobias Javier, an incumbent Sangguniang Panlalawigan member.

We would not be surprised if SP members and mayors still identified with Inday Sally would one day be gone with the wind, too.

The seriousness of the new group to displace Javier and Perez, who used to be allies but have turned enemies, is evident from the actions of Mr. Roquero aimed at winning public support. For instance, using the ex-seminarians comprising the non-government organization Bugsay, he has organized medical missions and free entertainment roadshows around the 18 towns of the province, all sponsored by the PCSO.

It’s a paradox that Inday Sally is in no position to badger her idol, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, to come to her rescue. Her enemies are also Arroyo’s friends.

Araguy, daw ma-baboy si Inday!

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Another controversy in Inday Sally’s camp involves ex-officio board member Kenny Olandres, president of the Sangguniang Kabataan Provincial Federation, for issuing a 60-day suspension order against Michelle Anne Acuña, SK president of the municipality of Belison, on the ground that she had incurred more than three consecutive absences in the regular monthly meetings of the federation. Olandres copy-furnished the Belison mayor, vice-mayor, Sangguniang Bayan, treasurer and accountant with the suspension order, ostensibly to compel them to withhold Acuña’s salary for two months.

Instead of complying, however, the municipal council, in a resolution dated July 15, 2009, condemned the suspension order as bereft of due process, there being no verified complaint under oath against Acuña and no record of proceedings of investigation.

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We hate to be pessimistic, but what can we expect from the way President Arroyo implements the Cheaper Medicine Law? For tossing to the drug companies the responsibility of suggesting maximum retail prices of essential medicines, she has only succeeded in adulterating the law. GMA’s duplicity, aimed at pleasing both the profit-hungry drug manufacturers and medicine consumers, is etched in her threat to slash prices by as much as 50%.

While this zarzuela could probably appease most consumers, we who know better would howl “foul!” How could we agree to Pfizer reducing the price of the anti-hypertension Norvasc 5 to P22.50 from P44 (still overpriced) when – according to Cong. Ferj Biron – it costs the equivalent of only three pesos in India and Pakistan?

As we have been pointing out in past columns, Sen. Mar Roxas has no moral ground complaining now. It was his idea to authorize the President, upon recommendation by the Department of Health, to peg the maximum retail prices of essential drugs. The original authors – including Biron and former Congressman Rolex Suplico – had envisioned creation of a price regulatory body that would peg the right prices. We’re afraid that Roxas has already derailed his journey to the presidency because of his own error.

One Response to “Inday Sally worried over ‘secret meeting’?”

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  July 21 ‘09 Bullets | Far From Neutral Notions - Philippine politics, culture and stuff
  July 21st, 2009 21:34

  [...] related, Herbert Vego of Iloilo Views laments at Roxas’ blunderous idea of letting the President set the maximum retail prices of th… covered by the Cheaper Medicines Law → “How could we agree to Pfizer reducing the price [...]

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