THE DISPATCHER
By E.V. Rieza
The countryside is now abuzz as political groups scurry to align and consolidate their ranks for the 2025 general elections.
In Albay, barring unexpected political twists, Congressman Joey Sarte Salceda of the second district, will gun for the governorship of his province, a post he had held for three successive full terms from 2007 to 2016. His term as second district Congressman ends next year.
Salceda announced his plan during a meeting with leaders of Legazpi City’s southern barangays, at the Saint Elis Hotel last week, attended by numerous supporters. Obviously, it is the most practical direction he ought to take and over which none is bound to make a second guess.
In the past few months, various groups have forged collaboration agreements with the Salceda machinery to ensure group victory, although the veteran politician had proven many times in the past that he didn’t need such alliances to win any political contest. We think such alliances will only serve his collaborators more than him.
The Saint Elis event was just the confirmation of what everyone here already knows, roughly two months before the October official filing of candidacies, and following months of soft talks as Albayanos awaited the most favorable political development in the home front.
Albay Gov. Grex Lagman, who may not have a choice being the incumbent but to face Salceda, may pick this shorter but riskier road. He sure could use a better counsel. He is young and therefore, has brighter days ahead of him and knows he cannot waste them with one crashing defeat for it’s a mark that won’t be good for future adventures.
There are whispers going around that ousted governor Noel Rosal is eyeing to join the fray for a three-corner gubernatorial fight, perhaps a promise of a better showdown for most of us kibitzers. Rosal is arguably still a good material. But bombs planted by his naughty opponents along his return path and surviving them may drain him of his energy and the much-needed resources. Many are of the opinion that it may be wiser for him to concentrate on rebuilding the ramparts of Legazpi City, the crown jewel.
As a veteran politician and considered a kingmaker in his turf, the mere thought of confronting Salceda in a political combat can send chills to even a seasoned opponent. This was proven many times when he fought a number of equally strong contenders in the past. He was twice unopposed in his previous gubernatorial fights and was always a popular choice, not to mention the congressional bouts in the third and second districts of the province he had won with flying colors.
Right now, backing down could agreeably be the best option for anyone who could gather the courage even just to contemplate fighting Salceda squarely. He has perfected his art he could think ten steps ahead, and having witnessed his previous battles, we believe he can now do this sitting down.
We can agree. However, that with Salceda, no one loses. He is politically strong because he delivers his promises and does even more than that, and his 2007-2016 gubernatorial stint was a testament to this. Albay, then pummeled to its knees by disasters, had stood up tough and tall, experiencing an unprecedented growth during his administration. No questions about it.
Salceda is seen to have stoke Albay’s economic potentials through, among others, the disaster resiliency programs he had previously put in place. The term ‘zero casualty’ during emergencies, was the magic line, and is now a household byword.
From Albay Mabuhay and Albay Rising, to Albay Boom, Salceda stirred the province to economic heights and had made it a center of tourism. We need not enumerate the list of his accomplishments here, but we all surely know them well.
Now, ‘Angat ang Lahat’ is the catch phrase.