Politics of Intimidation
Posted on December 11th, 2009
The Ampatuan massacre that claimed 57 lives brought to international attention the persistent problem of warlordism in Maguindanao and the rest of the Muslim Mindanao region. Raids conducted recently in their lair showed how powerful they were. They did not just have high-powered firearms and ammunitions for their private armies but they also have rocket launchers, military trucks, armored tanks and police cars.
Iloilo had and has its own version of “warlordism” but we are just lucky that our so-called warlords pale in comparison to their Maguindanao counterparts. In fact, the “warlords” of Iloilo really have nothing to show except parading their military or their police escorts to project power and strength. It is a way of neutralizing their political foes without really resorting to violence, a strategy that was proven effective from the time of Jose Zulueta to Raul Gonzalez.
There never was a history of clashes ala rido in this part of the country that can be attributed to private armies. There were election-related violence here in the past but these were just isolated cases, among them the death of San Joaquin Mayor Jesus Sibya in 2001 and the alleged ambush of Gov. Conrado Norada in 1971 – which turned out to be a fake as it was just staged by the Norada camp so that his challenger, Heber Catalan, would get the blame.
Perhaps, it was Zulueta who can be considered the most powerful “warlord” in Iloilo, having served as congressman from 1928 to 1946 and again in 1949 to 1953, as Secretary of Interior from 1946 to 1948 and as Senator from 1954 to 1957 before becoming governor in 1959. He had the command of the Philippine Constabulary (PC), the main State force that was fighting the Hukbalahap rebels then. He also had the support of the Lopez brothers, Eugenio and Fernando. His hard-line attitude of “surrender or annihilation” toward the Huks accorded him the title of a true strongman.
Then there was Jose Aldeguer, congressman of the fifth district from 1949 to 1972. Accounts say he maintained a private army, apart from the PC unit that he controlled. His two most loyal lieutenants then were Mayors Azur Salcedo of Sara and Raul Causing of Barotac Viejo. Crimes of murders and rape had been attributed to the paramilitary groups identified with Aldeguer but these were never substantiated, partly because the victims, their relatives and witnesses were afraid to cross his men for fear of reprisal.
The culture of impunity among armed men – either goons or government soldiers – identified with politicians in Iloilo started with Aldeguer. Because of this, no one dared to challenge Aldeguer’s reign in the North. When Martial Law was declared, Aldeguer was still in control. But when his daughter Sonia, a nun who was a delegate to the 1973 Constitutional Convention, voted “No” to approve the Constitution, the dictator Ferdinand Marcos went after Aldeguer and dismantled his political machinery, including his private army.
An exception was the late Manuel “Kido” Parcon, who served as mayor of Pototan and later as congressman of the third district. A well-respected politician, he earned the tag “warlord” because during Martial Law – when communist insurgency what still in its height and cattle rustling became a backyard industry for some residents in central Iloilo – he controlled a unit of the Civilian Home Defense Force (CHDF) as a peacekeeping force.
The CHDF, of course, was synonymous to human rights violations during those times. But that was not true under Parcon. He commanded respect from his constituents because of his fair dealings. For him, wrongdoers must have their day in court. But he also saw to it they all get a fair trial by providing them competent lawyers, reason why they all surrender to him. Even abusive cops, boorish soldiers, trigger-happy militiamen and left-wing rebels respect him. Worth mentioning is the urban legend about him having a snake for a twin, reason why many were afraid of him because of the mysticism that accompanied him.
In contrast, Raul Gonzalez likes to project himself as a “warlord” so he can bully anyone who disagrees with him. Proclaiming himself “King of Iloilo City” and going around with a convoy of bodyguards with automatic rifles, he threatens to make difficult the lives of his perceived enemies. He also bullies police generals so they will bow before him, and in this way, he can use the police organization for his political ends. But in reality, he has no balls. He only wants to be feared so he can hide his incompetence and ineptitude.
The politics of intimidation never prospered in Iloilo because many of us are educated and of middle-class background. In Maguindanao, rampant poverty made it easy for one family to sow fear and terror because most residents there are too dumb and too poor to fight back. Here, we have the luxury of intelligence to question every politician who would show excesses in office. And we can continue living our lives comfortably without depending on the dole-outs of patronage politics. Lady Luck is still on our side.
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December 14th, 2009 11:44
This article brings back fun memories of my uncle, the late Dr. Pedro G. Trono, Congressman of the 1st district of Iloilo.
In 1969, he was defeated by Nene Zulueta by his 3 Gs – guns, goons and greed (that was politics of intimidation). He won’t sacrifice human lives for the sake of winning the election. Knowing my uncle, he won’t accept anything less than clean and honest election. Trust me, because I knew him well.
I was only 10 year old when Tatay died, and I started calling him Papa since.
He was my uncle, my hero, my role model and my inspiration. That’s why I choose medicine to become a Doctor just like him.
Simply put it, he taught me everything in life by his example. My only mistake was I did not become a politician like him. But I had no regrets. Instead, I decided to go to the States to pursue my dream.
Call it divine intervention, but after I left Philippines in June of ’72, Martial Law was declared 3 months later. And the rest was history.
Thank you, Mr. Lujan. Because of your hindsight, I was able to express my gratitude to the man that molded my life. I’m very grateful to you and I missed you – Papa Pendong.
Season’s Greetings to the ladies of the Views: Josefa, Delia and Veronica.
Peace and Goodwill to: Taga Guimbal.
And to all Ilonggos and the Staff of Iloilo Views: MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY TO NEW YEAR!
December 14th, 2009 22:29
I remember my late father’s anecdote about the late Roding Ganzon who was then running against the late Jose “Pepe” Zulueta. He was supposed to have said: “Tiyo Pepe is not a bad person; but he isn’t good either.”
Peace is a precious thing. That’s why I’m economizing it.
Peace be with you too, Doc. And a Happy Christmas.
December 14th, 2009 22:45
Seasons greetings to you too Dr. Gestosani, but we need Taga Guimbal for intellectual spirits.
December 15th, 2009 13:26
I’m from Sara, Iloilo and Azur Salcedo was not the goon of Jose Aldeguer. In fact Salcedo would go to Aldeguer’s front yard and scream obcenities at Aldeguer in broad daylight. Aldeguer was never a warlord, no one feared him, he was just an effective politician. I am not pro anyone, that’s just how I remember it. Azur Salcedo was feared for a short time, but only in Sara, and only for a short time.
December 15th, 2009 13:57
Raul Gonzalez: nobody respects him! Nobody fears him! He is a joke!!! He is a feeble old man who looks ghastly sick all the time. Any day now, he is going to hell where he belongs. He is a resident patient in an ICU of some hospital. Just look around in Iloilo Views, both journalists and bloggers trash him regularly…
December 16th, 2009 12:42
Now that Raul Gonzalez is out of power (and Gloria is on her way out), a lot of people will go after him for all the many injustices and human rights violations that he committed. There will be a BIG backlash against him. He is nothing now, his past victims are going to eat him alive. He had it coming. The man made so many enemies with his unprecedented abuse of power.
December 16th, 2009 13:02
The reason why our local “warlords” have not committed the same scale of murders as in Maguindanao is because they are not as wealthy and well-connected as the Ampatuans. But the capacity for savagery between them is the same. Do not discount Etik Espinosa who dispalys equal arrogance and lack of conscience. Suerte lang ang mga taga-Ajuy kay bankrupt na daw si Espinosa. Yes, karma is a nasty b*tch. These murderers or warlords or whatever they are called always get what’s coming to them! We should have zero tolerance for Espinosa, and keep violence of any scale out of Iloilo. Put him in jail and keep everyone safe.
December 17th, 2009 10:03
Your comment on Raul Gonzalez is right on! “In reality, he has no balls. He only wants to be feared so he can hide his incompetence and ineptitude.”
He wants to be feared, but nobody actually fears him, he is the object of ridicule in Iloilo Views and in Iloilo. Gonzalez is as damaged as damaged goods can be. Come 2010, he will lose big-time.
December 18th, 2009 07:50
Raul Gonzalez should not be allowed to get away with his corruption when he was secretary of justice. He should be investigated for his extreme abuse of power and for oppression of the innocent; for threatening his subordinates if they didn’t obey his dictatorship. Bribing the barangay captains to support his candidacy is illegal. Raul Gonzalez should be in prison for all the crimes that he committed.
December 18th, 2009 19:41
It’s pathetic that Raul Gonzalez is trying to act like a “warlord.” He is so old and ill that he looks like a gust of wind would take him down. He looks weak in every way: politically, health-wise, mentally, etc. I bet you he is in full panic mode already. His end is near, he knows it, he is such a loser!
December 19th, 2009 11:55
Seasons greetings to you too Dr. Gestosani. Let us give TagaGuimbal a wine toast for a prosperous New Year.
December 19th, 2009 12:07
Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you too Dr. Gestosani. I remember your uncle Dr. Pedro Trono and I wish we have more politicians like him.
December 21st, 2009 08:37
Veronica:
Thanks for the toast. My wish for you is that henceforth, every year would be better than the previous one.
December 21st, 2009 11:19
Raul Gonzalez is a joke! He wants to be a “warlord” when he looks like he will forget to breathe any day now! Nobody’s afraid of that skeleton. Ha ha… he lives in a fantasy world but come May 2010 he will wake up to a SURE defeat!!!!!
December 22nd, 2009 19:15
Sa tangkungan gid ang derecho ni Raul Gonzalez sa 2010 election. I have faith in Ilonggos, I know they will trash this dying tyrant, Raul Gonzalez will never be the mayor of Iloilo. We will not give him another opportunity to screw the public again. No way! No to Sira Ulo Raul Gonzalez!
December 22nd, 2009 20:13
You would be hard pressed to find anyone as arrogant as Raul Gonzalez. He knows that he is a has-been and a laughingstock in Iloilo, but he continues to be defiant. The public in general really looks down on him, nobody respects him. People are excited to see him fall. He has nowhere ele to go but down.
December 23rd, 2009 10:20
BRIBERY BY RAUL GONZALEZ — the bribing of the barangay captains with a weekly allowance is illegal and unconstitutional! Raul Gonzalez ought to go to prison for that! Ang hinayupak na matandang yan, BABOY na baboy talaga! He will do anything to destroy democracy and the due process of our election.
December 23rd, 2009 10:23
BRIBERY BY RAUL GONZALEZ — The bribing of the barangay captains with a weekly allowance is illegal and unconstitutional. Raul Gonzalez ought to go to prison for that! Ang hinayupak na matandang yan, BABOY na baboy talaga. He will do anything to ruin democracy and to destroy the due process of our election.
December 24th, 2009 06:31
Raul Gonzalez is a catastrophe. Do not expect anything good to come out of him. He is just an evil person, it’s just his nature. He is irredeemable. “Never again will he be allowed to screw the public.” Keep him out of the Iloilo local government. Put him in jail for the rest of his miserable life.
December 24th, 2009 06:34
Raul Gonzalez Sr. will run his campaign from a wheelchair. He wants to be the mayor so he can run Iloilo City from the ICU of a hospital. But he could get “lucky”, the rigors of the campaign could kill him. I mean, he looks dead already.
December 24th, 2009 06:44
Was Raul Gonzalez always a monster? ‘Cause he sure is today — Drug Pusher Coddler — Puppet of Murderer Etik Espinosa — Briber of Barangay Captains — Protector of Murderers… No one can beat his hideous record as the Worst DoJ Secretary in the history of the Philippines. Who in his right mind would want this vulture as mayor?
December 24th, 2009 09:01
The Maguindanao massacre surely gained so much international attention. It’s sad, and my heart is in pain for the victims and their families. But really, does it have to take all these lives for justice to start happening??? What happened to Etik Espinosa??? Have we forgotten that demon who still runs free and celebrates the fact that he murdered a beloved father-brother-friend Vice Mayor Ramon Rojas!!? ONE life … is more than enough! and to those people who are Protecting Etik Espinosa and actually hailing him as innocent??? Stop being ignorant. Listen to what your heart is telling you and defend the TRUTH, instead of living your life with all the riches rooted from evil and blood.
December 30th, 2009 11:20
With less than five months to go before the May 10, 2010 elections, there is no more doubt in the minds of most Iloilo City voters that former DOJ secretary, and self-proclaimed “king”, Raul M. Gonzalez, will be booted out of power along with his son, Rep. Raul Gonzalez, Jr.
http://boymejorada.wordpress.com/2009/12/28/the-king-and-i/
December 30th, 2009 11:30
This coming election is the public’s chance to return to Raul Gonzalez all the gross abuses that he committed against the people. I hope that we will all trash this monster and put him in his place… in prison!