If there’s one lesson voters should learn this coming May 12 midterm elections, it’s that they should never underestimate the vital role of their municipal or city councils.
Just like how our Congress has become a key element for the balance of power in the national government, municipal or city councils can become a key battleground in the incumbent mayor’s hold over the local government.
Such is now the case in San Pedro City, Laguna, where some political analysts still see a “fierce” battle for control of local governance despite the appearance of tranquility.
Not so boring?
A political analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity had earlier told OpinYon Laguna last year that the May 12 polls may be the most “boring” elections San Pedro City’s residents may experience.
This, after the camps of what had been expected to become fierce rivals in the mayoralty race – incumbent Mayor Art Mercado and former Cabinet Secretary and National Transmission Corporation (Transco) president Melvin Matibag – struck a last-minute deal to ensure peace and tranquility in the coming elections.
What exactly was talked about between the two camps on the last day of the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) last October remains uncertain.
However, not only did Matibag withdraw from the mayoralty race, but Mika Mercado, the incumbent’s wife, also decided not to run against incumbent Laguna 1st District Board Member Ann Matibag.
Today, however, that political analyst is not so certain about his earlier predictions.
“If you look back at what happened during the last day of the filing of COCs, you’ll understand that Matibag’s camp decided to have its slate of councilors and board members run for their respective positions, despite the fact that Melvin himself withdrew from the race,” he noted.
Power dynamics
At first glance, he argued, it makes no sense why Matibag’s camp decided to let their councilors’ slate run for office without their main leaders on the ticket.
But when one puts the situation in the context of the Philippines’ political landscape and power dynamics, one could see that the struggle for control of the local government goes beyond the mayoralty race.
After all, like Congress, the municipal and city councils, as law enactors, have the power of the purse, with control over various aspects of the city budget.
“We’ve already seen in other LGUs how local councils in which the majority are in the opposition of the local governance can actually shift the balance of power,” the political analyst commented.
“Kapag kalaban mo ang Sangguniang Bayan o Lungsod, mahihirapan kang ibenta ang agenda mo. If I were the incumbent mayor, I’d still take the councilor’s race seriously, despite whatever ‘peace pact’ I’d made with rival factions, because the main fact is that the Sangguniang Panglungsod is also a force to be reckoned with.”
No mere ‘panggulo’
That same political analyst also cautioned against viewing mayoralty candidate Nicanor “Neknek” Gilbuena – seen by many as a “perennial candidate” who only appears during election period – simply as a “nuisance” candidate.
One sign that Gilbuena’s mayoralty race may be serious, or close to being serious, is the sudden proliferation of orange tarpaulins proclaiming “Ito ang Mayor Ko” in various areas in San Pedro City.
While the candidate’s name wasn’t explicitly placed, many San Pedrenses have inferred that the tarpaulins were placed in support of Gilbuena.
“And we have heard unverified reports that this time, Gilbuena may be being bankrolled by some powerful political interests in San Pedro City,” the political analyst said.
“Our reasoning is that these political interests who are disappointed with Matibag’s decision to withdraw from the race may decide that Gilbuena, for all his reputation as someone who’s only there during elections, may be a viable challenger against Mercado.”
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