longcuts

We were invited to Malacanang last Friday to a Media Briefing on “Central Philippines Super Regions.” There were only 3 of us in Bohol.
A select few from print, TV and broadcast from the other provinces of the country were also there at the Heroes Hall. I guess there were about 40 to 50 of us in that press briefing.
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It was probably the first time for new Press Secretary Cris Icban Jr. to mingle and interact with the country’s mass media.
Apart from Secretary Icban, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, PMS USec Andy Cui and other officials from the departments of Agriculture, DPWH and DOTC were there to welcome us.
The “personalized” letter that Secretary Icban gave us after the event was also touching.
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I shared table with Secretary Icban during the fellowship dinner, together with Bobbit Avila of Philippine Star and other members of the Cebu media.
Apparently, Avila felt he had the floor all to himself. So while we were enjoying the super delicious Chinese dishes, he “entertained” us with his seemingly endless anecdotes. A few were amusing, the rest were not.
Anyway, it gave me the opportunity to closely examine Secretary Icban.
And from my brief scrutiny, I suppose he understands his job. He was just there listening, sometimes nodding his head in agreement, as the table jester changed from topic to topic.
He was willing to share the limelight with Avila who must have felt he got the night’s license to “bore” everybody with his mostly personal story.
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I really appreciate the warm hospitality extended by the Office of the Press Secretary, notably my kababayan and cousin Saul Paa.
The members of his staff were also superb.
They met us and attended to our basic needs at the airport, at the Manila Pavilion where we were billeted and when we departed the following day.
Well, it was a nice little way for the OPS to “touch base” with the country’s mass media.
And I enjoyed it a lot.
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This one is tsismis. So be wary.
It seems that the presidential race is between Noynoy Aquino and Manny Villar only.
This was the common observation of those who attended the gathering.
This may be a casual observation but please take note that this comes from the members of the media.
* * *
Another tsismis.
In between the power point presentations, I had intermittent chicka-chicka with Ely Dejaresco of Negros Chronicle in Dumaguete and station manager Shirlyn Infante Abella of DYRM-Dumaguete.
We noticed the podium was marked “Malacanan Palace.”
But in the official communications as well as in the power point presentations, the term used was “Malacanang.”
Which one is correct, Malacanan or Malacanang, we were asking ourselves.
We got the answer when we were toured around the grounds of the Palace.
“Malacanan” is used when referring to the palace or the building itself but when referring to the grounds, the term “Malacanang” is used.
We were told the palace grounds are stretched to some 16 hectares of land.
Even some portion of Pasig River right behind the palace is part of Malacanang.
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Meanwhile, a member of the Bohol delegation told me at the airport on the way home yesterday something about local politics.
“Naglangan-langan lang gyod na si Bebe Cajes, no? Nag-usik-usik ra ug kwarta,” the source told me.
He was referring of course to Trinidad Mayor Judith Cajes who is running as an independent for the congressional seat against outgoing governor Erico Aumentado.
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Cong. Ondoy Cajes retaines a topnotch election lawyer in Manila to handle his case before the Comelec.
I am referring to the CONA case between his wife Judith Cajes and Governor Erico Aumentado.
Tsismis has it that the legal retainership alone made Cong. Ondoy Cajes a few millions poorer. Be wary with the figures though, I could not verify if this is correct.
Anyway, I am wondering why he is retaining an expensive Manila-based lawyer when he has his law firm in the city.
Cost wise, there is no argument that using his law firm is better.
Convenient wise, again, there is no dispute that it is very convenient to just “hire” his local partners to handle the case of his wife. After all, the situs of the offense is right here.
So why did he use a Manila-based lawyer?
Pardon my ignorance but I could only think of one reason.
Congressman Ondoy Cajes does not trust in the ability of his law partners to win his case.
Baleng paita, if this is true.
* * *
Okay, okay, we will give some slack.
The decision to engage the legal services of a Manila-based lawyer was a common or shared decision.
Meaning, there was a previous discussion and it was a common consensus with his local partners Atty. Libby Casilan, Atty. Tim Villas and Atty. Ted Lagang to just retain a Manila-based lawyer, especially one who has “access” to the Comelec.
So, the next question is this.
Did Congressman Ondoy Cajes’ partners know of his plans and of his decision to engage the governor in a legal battle in the Comelec?
Again, if the tsismis I heard is true, there was no discussion at all. Accordingly, Cong. Ondoy Cajes did not consult his partners about his plans and about his intention to hire a Manila-based lawyer.
If this is true, then the decision was personal.
Again, pastilang paita kaayo, if this is the case.
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Now, we are on the realm of speculations.
How should his partners react upon learning of the case and especially about the outcome of the case?
Naturally, they would be surprised.
Nganong wa man ta sultii? Nganong wala man lang ta konsultaha?
These could be some of the logical questions that should come to mind.
They could be vocal about it. Or, they could keep it to themselves and contain the slight insult right in their own coconuts.
But the nagging thought immediately follows – Wa diay mosalig si Cong. Ondoy Cajes.
Cajes’ lack of trust could be in terms of his partners’ inability to handle the case.
Lack of trust could also be in terms of their inability to contribute something useful to solve the problem in the discussion phase.
The point is – it doesn’t bode well for the partnership when one of the partners (Cajes) does not trust his other partners (Casilan, Villas and Lagang) anymore.
Of what use is the partnership then when trust among the partners is wanting?
Well, that’s Cong. Ondoy’s burden.
But if I were in the shoes of his partners, I would be very disappointed. And if he could not explain to my satisfaction, I would sever right away the partnership.
And I would exclaim, mirisi!
* * *
The Manila-based lawyer of Cong. Cajes filed a motion for reconsideration late last week.
He wanted the Commission to review and re-evaluate the Minute Resolution of the Commission en banc that declared Aumentado as official candidate of Lakas-Kampi and declared as well Judith Cajes as an independent.
He wanted the Commission to reconsider their decision.
But he is facing one big problem - time.
The Comelec does not have the luxury of time. They can ill-afford to dilly dally because they still have a lot of things to do.
Another big problem is timing.
The Comelec has enacted a resolution directing the Law Department to publish the official list of candidates in the May 2010 elections.
And when I looked at the list, Gov. Erico Aumentado is listed as the official candidate of Lakas-Kampi for 2nd congressional district.
Judith Cajes is listed as an independent.
* * *
Unless this list is changed, this will be the list that will be used in the printing of official ballots for the May 2010 elections.
Now, can the Manila-based lawyer of Cong. Cajes still persuade the Commission en banc to change the official list?
That is the $64 dollar question, right?
* * *
In the latest survey by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS), Liberal Party standard bearer Noynoy Aquino regains the lead over NPs Manny Villar at 41% to Villar’s 31.63% while Erap Estrada remains on the 3rd slot.
Also remaining at the bottom is Lakas-Kampi bet Gibo Teodoro with his 5% constant rating.
As expected, Villar and Estrada downplayed the result of the survey.
The drop in Villar’s rating was credited to the C5 controversy.
We shall have more of this in our next episode, stay tuned for more.