Political Cliques in Camarines Sur
By Noe Caceres and Perry M. Calara
Kaiba News and Features

LIKE IN the national scene, the Camarines Sur stage for the 2004 elections is being prepared. Everyone can see election in a politician's body language and calendar posters. Like what is happening in Malacañang's political clique, each political camp in the province is getting ready for a good harvest.

Political Camps
There are five major political camps in Camarines Sur. Each one has its own fiefdom.

The first district is controlled by the Andayas; the second district is being ruled by two big names--Roco and Robredo; The Fuentebellas are running the third district like an independent province with its own development authority office; and, the Alfelors, for decades, reign in the fourth district.

Although there is a recognized kingpin in each district, the reign of power in the province is in the hands of the Villafuertes.

Among the five camps, the Villafuertes are the most problematic. Governor Luis Villafuerte's three-term will end in 2004. But, there is no strong Villafuerte inheritor to be in command of the province. How many times did the old man let his son, Bong Villafuerte, ran for congress in the 2nd district? Bong even had a movie with Judy Ann Santos, a soap opera princess, but still did not get the needed votes. Another son, LRey Villafuerte, ran as a Mayor of Naga City in 1998. He too did not make it.

LRey Villafuerte was not a bad choice. It was just that Jesse Robredo, a Ramon Magsaysay awardee, was untouchable. Not even a Jose Rizal can defeat him as Mayor of Naga City in 1998.

The other political camps have no major problem in managing their kingdom. Rolando Andaya Sr. and Noli Fuentebella (Speaker of the house during the Erap Estrada impeachment) are no longer in congress but their sons are in the seats that they used to occupy: Noynoy Andaya in the first district and Wempee Fuentebella in the third district. In the fourth district, congressman Ciriaco "Boboy" Alfelor was replaced by his brother Felix "Nansing" Alfelor, Jr. Sulpicio "Cholo" Roco, Jr. of the second district is the brother of former senator and now the secretary of the Department of Education Raul Roco. Secretary Roco used to be the congressman of the second district.

Like in the other provinces, the control of one or two families in Camarines Sur shows how political dynasty is being preserved. Since the time of Aguinaldo, an old politico in Camarines Sur, almost always, are replaced by their son, daughter, brother, sister, or other member of their family.

Villafuerte vs. Everybody
Governor Luis Villafuerte is a political survivor. He can tackle the other four big political camps who, from time to time, form a loose alliance against him. Although almost all of his congressmen candidates lost in past elections, he always emerges as the run-away winner to be crowned the ruler of the province. He can make a political giant like "Boboy" Alfelor and a movie goddess like Nora Aunor as punching bags in the electoral arena.

The problem with Governor Luis Villaferte's political opponent is that they hate the governor but they do not want any one from the other district hold the political power of the province. They have a political territory and each of the four has equal power. Chances are, they want this situation to remain.

When Boboy Alfelor ran as governor he was unopposed in the fourth district, his territory, but he lost in the other districts. Many Bicolanos are asking, "did the political kingpins in the other districts supported Boboy Alfelor? Are they afraid that Boboy Alfelor might be the new political king of the province and be like a powerful Villafuerte at their disadvantage? In the Philippine political rat-race these questions make sense.

In the last 2001 elections, they were just too happy to let Nora Aunor, a neophyte and without a territorial stake, fight the Villafuertes. That way, while waiting for the right timing in future elections, they conserve their energy and hold on to their resources. They were not ready to face the political sword of the Villafuertes. Without the support of the four district's kingpins, Nora can not survive a single round with Governor Luis Villafuerte in the electoral ring. So, Nora lost badly.

Running for Governor
The political territories of Camarines Sur are always in the hands of the elite, everybody knows that; but who, among the elite, will emerge as the winner in the 2004 elections to rule the province?

Many guess that Jesse Robredo, the incumbent Mayor of Naga, will run as governor. This is an old rumor but it might just happen in 2004. If this is true, the charisma of Jesse Robredo will be put into test outside of Naga City and particularly in the second district. Can he withstand the political sword of the Villafuertes? In addition, He might also have a problem with the residence requirement.

Will the Andayas, Fuentebellas, and Alfelor support Robredo? The hard question for these political kingpins is that, "if Robredo wins, can he be trusted to support their political and economic interest?" Many of them know that trust is a questionable virtue in Philippine politics; politicians need each other for number and not for their political principles.

Expectedly, the Rocos will support Robredo as they are in the same political party. Looking at their partnership in the last decade, it shows that their loyalty to each other holds.

Weaker Villafuerte Camp
Today is a different ballgame for the Villafuertes compared to when Erap Estrada was still around-Villafuerte was the point-person of Estrada in Bicol. The Villafuerte camp has weakened from the time People Power Two removed Erap Estrada from Malacañang. Of course, it is always an advantage if a politician is with the President.

The Villafuertes are not in the same party as with Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. They can not expect the administration's golds and muscles to help them this time.

In addition to a weakened clout, there is no strong contender with a Villafuerte surname. There are rumors that LRey Villafuerte will run as governor. He might not make it. What his father did to their opponent the Roco-Robredo tandem did to him-a political punching bag.

If only for the reason that the Villafuerte is the incumbent, they might just have a slight advantage.

One alternative strategy for the Villafuerte camp is to let Imelda Papin, the vice-governor, to run as governor and let LRey run as vice-governor. This can just be a good combination: showbiz popularity and an old politician's name. If they make it, LRey can run for governor in 2007. By that time, he can be a matured Villafuerte to be a very strong contender to the governorship of Camarines Sur.

As for Governor Luis Villafuerte, he can run as a congressman and vie for the speakership of the house. He has the qualifications: a former Minister of the Marcos administration and head of the Presidential Commission for Government Reorganization under the Aquino transition-government.

The starting line for the 2004 elections has been drawn. Who will rule the Province of Camarines Sur? No one can tell. One thing is sure, though: as long as the four kingpins in the four districts are divided the Villafuertes will rule Camarines Sur. (Kaiba News and Features)

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