Christian Bautista in 2013? Almost!

MANILA, Philippines – Liberal Party leaders in Cavite are saying that Ronald Jay Lacson, son and chief of staff of Sen Panfilo Lacson, was picked as running mate of gubernatorial bet Erineo Maliksi upon the recommendation of a search committee. They were proclaimed by no less than President Benigno Aquino III as his party’s official candidates last Monday, September 24.

We gathered, however, that Maliksi’s camp originally wanted as his vice governor a more popular son of Imus who actually grew up there (unlike Lacson’s son): singer Christian Bautista. Yes, he, whom you see on a top-rating weekly variety show and whom even Indonesians and Singaporeans are swooning over.

Bautista’s father is said to have a professional relationship with LP president Mar Roxas, who is in the process of transferring from the Department of Transportation and Communications to the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

It turned out the family wasn’t keen on the idea, although there had been talks that Bautista might someday consider running for mayor of this recently converted city. A source close to the family said Bautista himself refused because “he did not think he was ready for public service.”

Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr also reportedly asked the Bautista elders–his relatives, actually–to not allow any political rivalry to take root in the clan. The senator’s real name is Jose Mari Bautista and has only been using his screen name for campaign purposes. 

Revilla made the appeal because his son Jolo, who is president of the barangay chairmen’s league in the province, will be running as vice governor of re-electionist Gov. Jonvic Remulla. Had Bautista agreed to be Maliksi’s running mate, he would have been pitted against his cousin Jolo.

Incidentally, all the major aspirants for the two highest provincial posts trace their roots to Imus: Remulla’s father, a former governor, is from Imus, and so is his challenger Maliksi. Lacson’s father, the senator, is also from Imus, and so is Jolo Revilla’s grandfather, another former senator. – Rappler.com

Probe on Korina

MANILA, Philippines – We have it on good authority that the Ombudsman of ABS-CBN, retired Supreme Court justice Jose Vitug, looked into a complaint earlied filed by the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay against its top anchor Korina Sanchez. The Binay complaint stems from an August 24 episode of Rated Korina on dzMM, in which she talked about officials salivating for the position vacated by the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.

In that episode, Sanchez referred to those who had aspired for the position as  “mga maiitim at maliliit na mga maligno (dark, little ghouls).” It’s common knowledge that Binay had wanted the post after he won the vice presidency in 2010.

Anyway, Mar Roxas, husband of Sanchez and Binay’s political rival, eventually replaced Robredo. Sources told Rappler that the ABS-CBN Ombudsman is now done with his committee’s probe of Sanchez.

Will she be punished? Who knows? What we know is that former Justice Vitug has already submitted his recommendations to management. – Rappler.com

Lucky boss

MANILA, Philippines – Those in the know are wondering why this Cabinet official continues to keep his office despite its (and his) observed lack of use. He is reportedly not called to crucial meetings requiring his supposed expertise, and is not even asked for advice, belying the very nature of his work.

Perhaps this would explain why compared to his predecessors, he seems to be the least known, seen, and heard.

What he is said to be good at is hogging credit for appointments in a certain branch of government. He reportedly calls up appointees the minute their papers are released to tell them himself that he was responsible for their appointment, though not exactly true.

Why is this so? Some believe it’s insurance when he leaves government. By instilling a sense of debt of gratitude in those who would remain in office long after he does, he would be assured of “repayment” once he’s no longer in power. – Rappler.com