Friday, July 13, 2007 Roperos: Passing of a ‘dynasty’ By Godofredo M. Roperos Politics Also
WHAT happened in Bogo is nothing new to this province, or to our politics. Politics and politicians, like the tide in our seas, come and go, as precisely and expectedly as a clock works.
Power and influence acquired through elections are only as strong as the perception of goodness and serviceability that constituents nourish in their minds about their political leader or leaders.
The Martinezes of Bogo have obviously become conscious of their loosening political grip of the 4th district, the reason why they have become sensitive to the political situation in its municipalities.
Before, it was easy for them to predict the results of the voting in each town. This time around they were unable to do so. That a Johnny-come-lately political tyro--in the Martinezes’ standards, of course—dared to challenge them is quite insulting, albeit painful.
Indeed, Benhur Salimbangon was not a political factor in the district in the first few weeks of 2007. How his name got dragged into the district’s political equation could only be because the hand of Divine Providence plotted the political fate of the Martinez dynasty.
The Martinezes should have been forewarned from the political configuration of the district. The big towns of Bantayan, Daanbantayan, and Medellin were no longer within their orbit.
This only meant that deep, worrisome political inroads have been made in the district, not necessarily by other political leaders, but most probably by an erosion of the clan’s political credibility, or by a collective discontent of their constituents due to unfulfilled promises.
Thus, the Martinezes may have realized quite too late in the campaign—or only after the ballots were being counted--that their hold of the district was slipping away. And to those who have become used to enjoying the benefits of political power and influence, such a realization could be painful and alarming.
The truth is, Monday’s incident in Bogo indicated either how vicious is the Martinezes’ political hold on their supporters, or how weak has their influence become over their followers. They went on to show their pent up frustration over the loosening of their patrons’ hold to power.
And so, you have the emotional mix that pushed the political incident in Bogo to happen, with poor Alex Badayos as the sacrificial lamb.
