first posted on May 27, 2013...
For 25 years, the
Dimacuhas of Batangas City, headed by patriarch Eduardo, have been in power
since 1988. After his first 3 terms as mayor, Eduardo was replaced by son,
Dondon. Then he made a comeback and was Mayor again for 9 years. In 2010, after
completing yet another 9-years or 3-terms, he was replaced by wife, Vilma, the
incumbent. This elections year 2013, he is running again to reclaim his old
post as mayor.
Now, the question is
will he win again or will there be a dramatic leadership change in Batangas
City?
As mentioned in the
previous part, a bravado attempt to unseat Eduardo Dimacuha as mayor came in
2007. Mayoral candidate Florencio de Loyola and running mate Wawing Chavez,
lambasted Dimacuha like it never happened before. For the first time, people
heard someone speaking the unthinkable and of what would have been otherwise unspeakable
– that Dimacuha was a corrupt dictator, smuggler, drug dealer, killer, etc.
People were awestruck at such a brave front put up by the opposition, but it
did not translate into votes. Either the people did not believe, so awestruck
with either fear or admiration of the man, or they simply did not care for as
long as they could get favors from city hall.
Dimacuha knew too well
that to succeed in consolidating his power, he should start with City Hall. So
his first agenda were to neutralize, if not to maim any opposition, perceived
or otherwise, by removing authorities and powers from department heads and key
officers he feels were not subservient to his wishes. This was the case of
Engr. Adela Hernandez, who for a long time was on floating status when she was
unceremoniously replaced to head the City Engineering Office by a lackey, Januario
Godoy. But Adela’s patience all these years paid off, when she was finally
reinstated recently.
Having controlled city
hall, Dimacuha started running Batangas City with an iron fist, utilizing the
legislative power of his rubber stamp City Council which passed practically all
the ordinances and resolutions he wished, including traffic and terminal regulations
that favored his or associate’s properties; raised taxes and levies; and
instituted tight control on businesses to ensure that they toe the line with
his administration. Some enterprising old rich families such as the Pastors
collaborated with him in expanding the city’s bounds, offering their properties
which eventually favored them. Dimacuha himself got a prime property in
Pallocan for a gasoline station when he agreed to relocate major offices,
including the Hall of Justice in the former idle and flooded land that has now
become the new city center where SM and major hotels and establishments are now
located. Earlier developed areas such as Calicanto were abandoned resulting to
the practical death to business such as what happened to Caedo Commercial
Center. But other areas are aggressively developed such as Balagtas where
transport terminal is centralized, to the chagrin of many who observed that it
only favored Dimacuha son’s business. On
the side, he entertained the people with his cultural and social programs, and
mesmerized the poor with his once a year community outreach programs providing
city hall services in the far flung areas including free health services,
frowned upon by development professionals for being palliative, unsustainable
and meant only for political circus. He won the support of the religious and
cultural elite like the Borbons and the Castillos, even the church, with his
strong affinity to religion and culture, utilizing the popularity of beauty
contests, fiestas and sublian to his advantage.
But being a strong,
charismatic and astute leader, Dimacuha wants continuity. And by continuity, he
meant managing the city like his own private company. So Batangas City
Incorporatedwas born in 1997 when he was replaced by his son, Dondon. And on,
and on, until now. City hall has become a family business. A dynasty is
perpetuated for 25 long years.
But one only hears the
whispers of public displeasure of Dimacuha’s leadership. Not until recently
when enterprising journalists and netizens started circulating stories,
pictures and even humor and sarcasm that issues came out to the fore. A good
example is a blog page of a certain Bading Dimacuha (http://www.facebook.com/bading.dimacuha)
that served as a springboard for many others to follow and openly attack the Dimacuhas
through the social media. Another no-nonsense lady journalist, Mei Magsino, who
is affiliated with national and international mainstream media openly exposes
City Halls anomalies. Excesses of the family are exposed such as the supposed
controversial compromise agreement entered by mayor Vilma Dimacuha and her son with
a power plant for a measly 10% of the company’s total real property tax
liability (http://www.philstar.com/business/2012-12-16/886476/compromising-real-property-tax-liabilities).
Photo from Bading Dimacuha blog
So one wonders, will
the people of Batangas City allow this dynasty to continue? Is this a
Batangueno trait? Hard to say, because Lipa City is a classic good reference.
Yes, they allowed Vilma Santos-Recto a good 9 years in office, then she became
Governor. She was replaced by a one-termer Gozos, then by Sabili who is
probably losing this elections. But Santos-Recto and Dimacuha are beyond comparison.
For one, Vilma Santos-Recto did not perpetrate her husband’s family in office; and
second, she is immaculately clean from corruption issues, much less of
political violence.
So a baffled observer like me asks–
where to Batangas City? Are you giving Joe Tolentino a chance or what?
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To be continued -
By the way, thank you for reading my posts. I am overwhelmed that almost 700 read me. Thank you.
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