Most Expensive Gov'ship Election Looms

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

I asked a former member of Congress who is connected with the Opposition in a province how much was given to each of the mayors and those candidates for the same post in a meeting for their pledged of support to Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte for President and Vice President.

“Tag fifty thousand pesos,” he said.

I asked him because I was curious how much the moneyed supporter of the candidate for the governor has been using his affluence to maintain the loyalty of these hizzoners and those wannabes and how much his “hatred” to unseat come May 9, 2022 the family who perennially governed the local government unit of the province.

My source told me that as an initial contribution to the provincial venture of the governorship bet, this man shelled out three hundred million pesos as hustings expenses.

“Paggumastos iyan ng one billion pesos at ang kandidato niya ay gumasto ng kahating bilyon, may tama ang kalaban diyan,” I opined.

 Unless the incumbent has the same amount or can eclipse the sums I mentioned above, he will find himself and his family in defeat.

This was worsened when the Opposition fielded “marquee” opponents to challenge family members and allies in the next year’s electoral derby.

This will be the most expensive election the people in this province could witness if my hypothesis on the P1.5 billion wherewithal, campaign chest, or whatever is correct.

***

This backer of the Opposition is indeed a multi-millionaire. His generosity is a legend. A former mayor – who has a checkered past - told us media men that he was asked by a swaggering reporter to visit this Man.

“Noong una nahihiya pa ako kasi dati kaming Mayor pero mapiliit ito dahil kaibigan niya daw,” he referred to the reporter.

When they went home after exchanging pleasantries with the Moneyed Man they opened the envelopes containing the dough given by the host.

“Sa kanya five thousand pesos sa akin one hundred thousand (pesos),” he amusedly told us.

***

The Moneyed Man is opulent. He is one of the richest men in the huge province. His businesses and ventures are in and out of the country. His latest endeavor is a billion U.S dollar power plant.

Many pundits believed his interferences in this May 2022 election gives a lot of headaches to the political status of the Incumbent.

***

Oh by the way, I asked the former Congressman if his sports utility vehicle (SUV) is a U.S made and if it is bullet proof.

He answered my two posers in the affirmative.

“Kayo lang ata ang may ganito na brand na nakikita ko sa international movies sa probinsiya?” I asked.

He said there are only two: Him and the Moneyed Man.