Ex-allies Chavit, Rambo clash anew in Ilocos Sur

ILOCOS SUR - Entrance to Baluarte is free. Located outside the provincial capital of Vigan, Baluarte — a Spanish term for bailiwick — sits on 80 hectares of hilled terrain and is home to a diverse set of animals, including tigers and life-sized replicas of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Owned by former Ilocos Sur governor Luis ‘Chavit’ Singson, the sprawling zoo is his way of giving thanks to Ilocanos. His generosity is not unjustified. After all, Singson — who lives in a vast property overlooking the zoo — has been the provincial governor for 26 years. And he’s not about to retire soon. Turning 69 this year, Singson is again seeking the province’s gubernatorial post. If he wins in the May elections, Singson plans to maintain the province’s reliance on the tobacco industry, its lifeblood since the American period. However, he’s not resisting industrialization. "A lot of investors are very interested in putting up factories here in Ilocos, because we are the nearest to all economic tigers like China, Japan, Taiwan, and Korea. So instead of going to CALABARZON (an industrial zone south of Metro Manila representing the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), they would put up their factories here and would save a lot of time and money," Singson told GMANews.TV in an interview on Thursday. A Las Vegas-based real estate holding company plans to put up factories for a monorail train system and a sea-based wind generating facility. Local employment "in excess of 5,000 employees per factory" will be generated, Lovett Company CEO Brent Lovett said in a statement. The company will also "break ground on construction of phase one within six months, and will open the first of many factories within 30 months," the statement continued, adding that initial stages of the project would be worth $200 million (around P10 billion). Lovett is just one among the many companies Singson negotiated with to begin operations in Ilocos Sur, a primarily agricultural province. "The whole world depends on China. Almost everything today is made there. If China-made products overflow, these would go nowhere else but in Ilocos, I am sure of that. I can easily invite foreign investors to come here," Singson said. "Our problem here is our seaport. A proposal has been approved by the Lower House but it was rejected by the Senate, so I plan to just designate one place as an economic zone," he added. Good fight? But before anything else, Singson — who lost in the 2007 senatorial elections — would have to win this year’s gubernatorial race, which the locals here say might not be easy this time around. "We really do not know the general sentiment of the Ilocanos, but Rafanan might put up a good fight, and we believe Governor Singson is also taking the race very seriously," a long-time resident familiar with local politics said. Singson and Efren ‘Rambo’ Rafanan would slug it out anew in May for the province’s top elective post, the second time since 2004, when Singson won over Rafanan. A former Singson ally before he had a falling out after the jueteng scandal in 2001, Rafanan said he seeks to change the way the local government is being managed. "I can feel the pulse of the people. Their acceptance is better now than in the past, because I believe they also want change," Rafanan said in Filipino. However, limited campaign funds have hobbled his campaign, admitted Rafanan, who is running under former President Joseph Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino. "My only handicap is that I have no money. We rely on donations from [the] people, and most of those working with me are volunteers," he lamented. Funds are only "good for three days’ worth of gasoline and food for our volunteers," he said. "In putting up posters alone in all 34 towns, we barely make ends meet," Rafanan said. This year would be Rafanan’s fourth shot at the gubernatorial post, which he lost to Singson’s ally, now outgoing Governor Deogracias Savellano in 2001 and 2007. Savellano is running as Singson’s vice gubernatorial candidate this year. All in the family A province of over 630,000 people, Ilocos Sur is a known bailiwick of the powerful Singson clan. For the May 10 polls, 13 Singsons are running for various local posts, and some of them are unopposed. Eric Singson Jr., the son and namesake of Deputy Speaker Eric Singson Sr., is seeking to replace his father’s seat in the second district of the province. Eric Jr.’s brother Allen is also seeking re-election as mayor of Candon City. Eric Sr. is Chavit’s third cousin. A local said that Allen’s bid, along with those of the other Singson’s, are "almost sure." Outgoing Vice Governor Jeremias Singson, younger brother of Chavit, is running for provincial board member, while their sister, Germelina Singson-Goulhart, is also running for mayor in Caoayan town.

A portion of a highway in Ilocos Sur, 17 days before the national elections. Nikka Corsino

Chavit’s sons Ronald and Ryan are seeking the first district congressional and Vigan vice mayoralty seats, respectively. Chavit’s niece, incumbent Vigan Mayor Eva Medina, is unopposed for reelection. Eric Sr.’s siblings Alfonso and Charito Zaragoza are also running as vice mayor for Candon City and Narvacan town, respectively. Charito’s daughter Zuriel, meanwhile, is running unopposed for the mayoralty post in Narvacan town. Another daughter, Charmian, is running for second district provincial board member. Kristelle, another Eric Sr. niece, is running for councilor in Candon City. Unfazed Despite the obvious clout of the Singsons, Rafanan said he remains unfazed by such reality. "I have no problem who occupies local posts. I just want to make history and set an example to politicians that someone without political machinery could win," Rafanan said, adding that he was offering a "non-negative leadership" to the Ilocanos. Rafanan said he wanted to overhaul the local government. "I believe that Ilocos Sur has been left behind by its neighboring provinces. It has to be rid of corruption so people’s respect to their leaders will come back." In 2003, Rafanan accused Singson of staging an ambush against him. The ambush killed Rafanan's wife, one of his sons, a brother, and an aide. Singson has since denied any involvement in the ambush. The province, which has been marred by political violence in the past, has been relatively peaceful in recent years, another long-time provincial resident said. With only two weeks left before the elections, Ilocanos are still keeping their fingers crossed, the resident said. - RSJ, RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV