REPOST: Eddie Dimacuha and his City of Batangas

first posted on April 26, 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.

I came to Batangas City in 1986, as a first year college student in Lyceum , and have since witnessed the transformation of Batangas City. But this transformation is not necessarily attributable to strongman Eduardo Dimacuha, because luck was on his side. Under President Cory Aquino, local governments were strengthened and given more autonomy, especially in raising and managing their own revenues, plus the fact that cities such as Batangas City enjoys a sizeable share in the national government’s Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA). And Batangas is so blessed to have so many big business locators that the city’s income from real property and local business taxes alone are more than enough to propel the city to greater heights, probably ten-fold that what it has achieved under the Dimacuhas if fiscal and development management were done correctly, instead of fattening one’s own business interests.

Eduardo or Eddie Dimacuha is a very charismatic leader, and if you are in good graces with him, you will not find difficulty seeking practically any help from him. He is easy to talk with, and hardly says no or deny anyone a favor or two.

But while he shows off a very amiable personality, a lot of people are also aware of his hideous reputation – a large clan from both sides of the Berberabe and Dimacuha families who are reputed to have the capability to exact revenge by all means; a huge business network in port, hauling, gas dealership, real property and other businesses; and alleged arsenal of firepower that include both able men and arms. And he has vast network in the police, military and even port authorities.

The first political challenge to Dimacuha happened in 1997, after his mandatory third term. His son, Angelito or Dondon, was first councilor, and he wanted to make sure the latter would succeed him so a comeback would be easier. The elder Dimacuha enlisted the support of practically all the viable influential families in the city, and gave some of them a place in his slate. To his surprise, a relatively unknown young lady candidate from the Gonda-Balmes clan, Kristine Balmes, emerged as top councilor. Of course, that can pose a threat to his comeback. But the young Balmes was soon swooned to her feet and fell in love with Dondon. They later married, bore a daughter, and eventually separated. She is now running under Liberal Party, an opposition to Dimacuha, to reclaim her council seat. (More of this later).

So for the past 20 years, Dimacuha looked like invincible, and no one dared to challenge him, until his former Vice Mayor Florencio de Loyola, with the support of another formidable family, the Chavezes, made an attempt in 2007 to unseat him. But not only luck was on Dimacuha’s side; so were the people wary of a weak successor in de Loyola, whom they fear could be manipulated by his running mate, Councilor Wawing Chavez. Besides, Dimacuha has made sure he had practically 95% of the kapitans on his side, and elections then could be easily manipulated, either by controlling the barangay leaders and teachers managing the elections, or switching the ballots. Without the support of barangay leaders, plus the physical terrain and distance of many barangays from the urban center, who could have dared to spill the beans of cheating and electoral fraud during those times?

So the comeback for the elder Dimacuha in 2000 was a walk in the park, so to speak. And many thought that since Dondon has since lived in oblivion abroad, Dimacuha would retire at the end of his term. But that is not in the plan, so he made his wife Vilma to run as barangay captain and handily defeated a performing kapitana whos roots are from Romblon. Then Vilma became the kapitana of all kapitans or President of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) making her a member of the City Council, giving her a lot of leeway to be involved in city affairs other than being first lady. So she became mayor herself in 2010 replacing the husband who just finished his second third term in office.

Now visibly old and ailing, Dimacuha is making yet another comeback. His former ally, although he had won many times as an independent candidate, Jose or Joe Tolentino, the incumbent vice mayor is challenging Dimacuha for mayorship.

                                           Eduardo and Vilma Dimacuha at the Comelec, 2013

Will he win again or will there be a dramatic leadership change in Batangas City? That will be my next topic. 
-to be continued -