IS there a curse in the office?
This was the immediate reaction of a friend upon learning of the recent death of former Negros Oriental Governor Guido Reyes, and which necessarily resulted to the ascension and assumption to office of Vice Governor and now Governor Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria Jr.
The event occurring these days in Negros Oriental is a deja vu, a 360-degree political turn-around where the senior board member becomes vice governor and later becomes the governor.
* * *
When Gov. Emilio Macias II died, he was succeeded by his then Vice Governor Agustin Perdices. And Senior Board Member Roel Degamo became the Vice Governor, succeeding Perdices in the process.
Perdices made political history in that province when he served as vice governor for only 5 minutes.
Yes, 5 minutes.
* * *
The ascension/assumption to office of former board member Roel Degamo as governor is practically the same as the ascension/assumption to office of former board member Chaco Sagarbarria.
Who would have thought, and even former Governor Roel Degamo admitted this in one of our conversations, that he would become governor when he thought then that he would only be serving as board member of that province.
And this was the same thought that played in the mind of former board member Chaco Sagarbarria when we had a breakfast-meet following the burial of Degamo.
He was also surprised about the sudden turn of events that paved the way to his ascension to office as the top official of the province.
* * *
Will there be another round of similar occurrence such that the seating board member now would follow the same political pattern?
Who knows?
The uncertainty certainly leaves a bitter taste to the political mouths of the province’s key players.
So who is willing to bet?
* * *
How to break the cycle?
This is the instant question that begs for an answer.
If my quack doctor-neighbor were still alive, I am sure he would have a ready answer.
And I’m also pretty sure that he would recommend a simple solution.
And this would be a change in players in the horrible political drama.
How to make this happen?
* * *
Gov. Chaco Sagarbarria’s parents are all politicians.
His father, Manuel “Chiquiting” Sagarbarria, is the outgoing congressman of the 2nd district of the province while his mother Maisa Sagarbarria is the incumbent Vice Mayor of Dumaguete City.
To put into play my neighbor’s political strategy, Chaco Sagarbarria should ease himself out of office in the 2025 elections and either run as Mayor/Vice Mayor of Dumaguete City, his father Chiquiting Sagarbarria to run as Governor of Negros Oriental or as Mayor of Dumaguete City and for his mother Maisa Sagarbarria to run as Congressman of the 2nd district or as Governor of Negros Oriental.
Along this line, I have another play in mind.
Governor Chaco should run for Mayor of Dumaguete City, his mother Maisa should run as congressman of the 2nd district and his father Chiquiting should run as governor in 2025.
This is perhaps the best scenario in Negros Oriental’s political landscape, not only to pick the possible players but also to, more importantly, break the cycle of death.
* * *
Wa na gyoy lain? Sila ra gyod?
This could be the next question, especially from political wannabes.
Magyaka na pod ang mga Sagarbarria sa gahom?
Well, let’s face it.
Right now, the Sagarbarrias have the correct, and the most strategic, positions in place along the political chessboard of the province.
Kinsa may lain nga pamilya sa probinsiya who are similarly situated?
Nada.
Sila ra gyod.
Di ba ni matawag og political dynasty?
Kon imong tan-awon, mora’g political dynasty gyod.
But legal jurisprudence, and the law itself, are clear on this issue.
This is a situation that is divorced from the definition of political dynasty, per se, because all of them have been elected by the constituents.
They are not appointees but duly elected officials.
It would have been a different situation if the father, mother and son were all political appointees because that would definitely fall under the ambit of political dynasty.
