Just a few months ago, ranking executives of this government agency were sitting on pins and needles after reports of a massive revamp started to swirl.
In fact, sources claimed that a new chairman had already been chosen and it was just a matter of time before he formally assumed the position, thanks to an influential political backer who sits next to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during Cabinet meetings.
But weeks passed and no appointment was made.And with the midterm elections looming on the horizon, it appears that the seats of the incumbent officials are safe despite the unrest, turmoil and non-stop bickering within their agency.
Are they already off the hook? Well, only the President can say.
Loyalty to the incumbent’s party in the local government of Quezon City is not what it was cracked up to be.
Nearly all of the six districts are carrying a partylist of their own, outside of the Serbisyong Bayan Partylist (SBP) backed by former Speaker Sonny “SB” Belmonte, the perceived “kingmaker” in the city, and his daughter, Mayor Joy Belmonte.
Political observers also hinted at a falling-out among friends and partymates based on the endorsement of the partylists.
In District 1, actor-turned-politician Arjo Atayde, a first-term congressman seeking reelection, will face a tough challenge against returning oppositionist Bingbong Crisologo. His bid for support from his constituents may be further complicated by his showbiz brother-in-law, Zanjo Marudo, who is a nominee of the Asap Na Partylist.
“The friendship and political alliance between the Belmontes and their allied congressmen in the city will be tested,” Bernardo Mesina, a former kagawad, told DAILY TRIBUNE.
Though known as an opposition candidate, Crisologo has always run as an independent. Atayde’s opponent will likely be courted by the Belmontes to endorse their SBP Partylist candidate, giving Crisologo, in the final analysis, an advantage in securing the support of SBP voters.
The SBP was founded by the elder Belmonte, and it is an open secret that anyone aspiring for a local position needs SB’s blessing to win in the elections.
SBP nominee RJ Belmonte, a nephew of the elder Belmonte, previously served as Secretary to the Mayor under his cousin, Mayor Joy Belmonte. He also served one term as an SBP representative.
The SBP was founded by the elder Belmonte, and it is an open secret that anyone aspiring for a local position needs SB’s blessing to win in the elections.
In District 2, Representative Ralph Tulfo, son of Senator Raffy Tulfo, is expected to endorse the ACT-CIS Partylist, which is backed by his uncle, Erwin Tulfo, who is running for senator.
Districts 3 and 4, which have Franz Pumaren and Marvin Rillo as House Representatives, respectively, are reportedly “secretly endorsing” Speaker Martin Romualdez’s partylist, the Tingog Partylist, which has the Speaker’s wife as the representative.
Districts 5 and 6 (Novaliches and Tandang Sora) are the only remaining strongholds of the SBP Partylist, represented by Representatives PM Vargas and Marivic Co-Pilar.
