Oca Garin’s death changes the political picture

By Alex P. Vidal

“The greatest power is not money power, but political power.”—Walter Annenberg

NOBODY has filed an official certificate of candidacy (COC) with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yet, but the demolition machines

of some warring political parties have started to blowtorch in the social media in particular those who have already announced their candidacy in next year’s election.

Comelec Resolution No. 10717 mandates the filing of COC from October 1-8, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

We expect the heavy artillery attack to groundswell once COCs have been filed and submitted in the Comelec; and contenders in the May 9, 2022 Philippine general election will be officially revealed.

Social media has become the favorite venue for political flamethrowers to brainwash and condition the minds of a large slice of the voting populace this early.

Unlike in the raucous radio blocktime programs where oodles upon oodles of cash are needed to mount a black propaganda or political demolition job, social media platforms aren’t expensive.

Political hacks recruited by the trolls aren’t necessarily popular media or brilliant PR characters.

Second-rate and odious barkers, as well as gutsy mercenaries who are willing to eat their prey alive, can now be tapped to handle the detonation of political bombs on social media.

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THE sudden death of Guimbal, Iloilo mayor Oscar “Oca” Garin Sr. on September 26 has left a big void in the clan’s political supremacy in the first district of Iloilo that romped off in 1987 when Garin, an engineer, was elected in the House of Representatives.

Since then, the Garin clan has managed to tighten up their grips into power and none of their strongest political rivals had a chance to replace them or “borrow” the portfolios even for a single term of office.

From mayor to congressman, it’s been an all-Garin show since after the EDSA Revolution.

Garin’s death means the patriarch also could no longer see a clan member climbing to the highest position in Iloilo province now being lorded over by the Defensors.

The Garin children, well-educated and well-trained to continue the patriarch’s legacy, however, are still very much in contention, as well as their mother, San Joaquin mayor Ninfa.

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But after the Defensors (assuming they are all retiring), there is still the formidable Tupas clan waiting with smoking guns on the horizon after Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr.

Almost all the Tupas children in politics are still vibrant, active, virtuoso and politically knowledgeable like the casts in the Return of the Jedi.

There has never been a more exciting moment in Iloilo’s political history where three gigantic families are vying for supremacy and dominance in one generation: Garin, Defensor, Tupas.

The Tupases have lost patriarch Niel Sr. and the Garins have just lost Oca Sr.

The Defensors remain solid and robust in machinery with patriarch Arthur “Art” Sr. still in the driver’s seat.

It would have been another story if Oca Garin were alive.

Garin himself had long been targeting the governorship and this explained why he didn’t retire from politics even after a long journey in public service holding different elective and appointive positions under six presidents.

If Garin were alive but couldn’t anymore take the capitol’s top post, he could still commander one of his talented children or wife Ninfa to give Gov. Toto Defensor a run for his money.

His death has dramatically changed the picture.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo)