el: Political "dynasties" in Abra

[Phil. News Agency]

BANGUED, Abra, April 17 (PNA)--Politics in Abra had boiled down to a
situation where even close relatives run against each other, and
"graduated" officials slide to lower position.

A husband and wife running for the top electoral position of the
province. A nephew fights his own aunt in their town's mayoralty
contest. The family "bunso" locked horns with his "ate" for the seat to
be vacated by their mom. A graduating mayor slides to the vice-mayoralty
seat as runningmate of his son whom he wants to bequeath his mayoralty
post.

These and some after preculiar things are now being unfolded by the
1998 local elections derby in this landlocked province.

The husband and wife tandem are no less than graduated governor
Lawyer Vicente P. Valera who is leading erstwhile priest Conrado Balweg
in the congressional contest, and lawyer Ma. Zita Claustro-Valera, long
time president of "Timpuyog Daguiti Inna ti Abra," the most potent
provincial organization, who is also leading the gubernatorial derby.

The nephew-aunt contest is happening in the town of La Paz. Marc
Ysrael Bernos, eldest son of former-governor and incumbent provincial
board member Andres Bernos and Abra ONCC head Esther Bernos, is not
holding his punches against Miss Florencia B. Bernos, older sister of
his father. Marc is the official LAKAS-NUCD bet while her aunt is
running under the KBL banner. The contest is causing sleepless nights to
the former governor, an informant says.

Meanwhile, the brother-sister feud is causing Lagayan mayor Anita
Seares the same sleepless nights, according to another informant.
Leonidas M. Seares, Jr., the mayor's "bunso" who is also an incumbent
municipal councilor, is fighting older sister Cecilia S. Luna. What
worries the only lady mayor of the province is the fact that two other
formidable candidates--former mayor Solomon Lalugan of LAMMP and Ruben
Layao, independent ---are also targetting her seat.

On the other hand , the son-father tandem is unfolding in the
municipality of Lagangilang. Oswald E. Villamor, oldest son of
graduating mayor Romeo R. Villamor, is running for mayor while his
father is sliding to the vice-mayoralty chair.

Of interest, too, are the wives of graduating mayors who were
fielded by their hubbies to try to hold on their reign as their town's
hizzoner. Madame Pacita Stimson Balao-as, wife of Boliney mayor Benido
Balao-as is running unopposed. Mayor Mailed Molina of Bucloc fielded his
wife, former Amazon Loida Agaloos-Molina against their former mayor, Dr.
Egan Sangoy. In the town of Penarrubia, mayor Antonio Domes-ag fitted
his spouse, Abra PNRC provincial administrator Lovelyn P. Domes-ag,
against Dr. Dominic V. Damasen, son of their former town mayor Paula
Damasen. And lastly, in the town of Villaviciosa, Dr. Manuela G.
Fontanilla is fielded by mayor Floro Fontanilla to prevent a London
balikbayan and former school teacher, Jose D. Lagen, from taking the
mayoralty seat from the Fontanillas.

Like Lagangilang mayor Villamor, the following graduating mayors
also made their siblings their own mayoralty candidates; Manabo mayor
Masayo Donasing's son, Marlon; Pidigan mayor Ernesto Pacsa's son,
Disraeli; San Isidro mayor Ernesto Pacsa's son, Elizalde; Tineg mayor
Pedro Benwaren's son, Clarence who was a former CEB director and running
unopposed; and Licuan-Baay mayor Nestor Castillo's daughter, Annielyne.

Only seven on the 27 mayors of Abra are seeking re-election as the
rest were already graduating. Leading the seven mayor re-electionists is
Daguioman mayor Manuel Co Kue who is unopposed Luisito F. Bernardez of
Bucay; Leo Barona of Lacub; Benido Bacuyag of Malibcong; Benjamin
Mercado of Sallapadan; Nonito Berbero of San Juan; and Jovito Diaz of
San Quintin are the other municipal mayor re-electionists.

Also worth watching are the candidacies of rebel returnee Mario
Baawa, one of the three challengers of re-electionists mayor Bacuyag of
Malibcong; faith healer and former Tubo mayor Jose Segundo who wants to
regain his seat; and resigned Abra PNP provincial director Rogelio A.
Elvena in the town of Tayum.

But right now, all ears and eyes here are literally glued on the
vice governatorial battle between Civil Service Commission Dangal ng
Bayan awardee SP Isidro "Syd" Vasquez and graduated Bangued mayor Luis
"Chito P. Bersamin, Jr. and the Bangued mayoralty contest between mayor
Ramon "Monang" Purugganan and businessman Rodolfo "Ruding" A. Millare.
Bersamin and Purugganan are the administration's candidates. Vasquez and
Millare belongs to the opposition LAMMP-LP camp. (PNA)
rgc/lam/AAG/FNMARTIN/scd

PNA 04171733