Dateline LIBACAO
BY ALEX E. DIONELA

Politics in Banga

Banga - the beautiful is one town in Aklan whose local politics is being looked into by many with keen interest. It is because this town has had always a good share of interesting political scenario every time there is an election. It also has a good stock of prominent politicians past and present who most often figured-in in the province’s colorful politics and whose “intelligent” voters too are very much interested in politics.

That is why we often find not just two but rather several mayoral and vice mayoral candidates seeking those positions and many more in the Sangguniang Bayan. These candidates are known personalities in the locality as they are usually successful professionals and retirees but are still able to render public service.

This is the reason why the political leadership in Banga and its political landscape had always been and is being dominated by people of respectable professions like lawyers and doctors.
This has been so and had always been until in year 2007 when an unintended candidate and non-professional Antonio “Antong” Maming handily won as Mayor in that elections - defeating all of his worthy opponents; an incumbent Mayor who was a successful lawyer in Manila and two known doctors, one was an undefeated three-termer Mayor who was then an incumbent Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member and another doctor, who was a recently retired rural health physician of that town.
It could not be denied that Banga, the adopted town of Gov. Carlito Marquez is his bailiwick as he got a large vote margin over his opponents in 2004 elections and in his re-election in 2007. However, his political protégée mayoral candidate Dr. Mercedes Dalida-Imperial miserably lost in 2007 elections to now Mayor Antong Maming.
The latest is that Mayor Maming and his running-mate in 2007 elections, now Vice Mayor Melanio Rentillo had already gone their separate ways with the latter joining the camp of Gov. Carlito Marquez and who is said to be running for Mayor in 2010 elections with SB Member Josel Rata as his vice mayoral running-mate.

The incumbent Sangguniang Bayan members too had joined the camp of Gov. Marquez except tail-ender SB Member Rosemarie Piolo who had firmly remained with Mayor Maming.
It is also said that Gov. Marquez’ protégées Dr. Mercedes Dalida-Imperial and Wilfredo Besana defeated mayoral and vice mayoral candidates in 2007 elections are determined to make a come back in 2010 elections.

These two local leaders are known loyal allies of the good Governor because they are personally close to him and his family.
Meanwhile, opposition Mayor Maming is playing his cup of politics like playing a poker game where he is said to be good at it. He keeps his cards only to himself and gives disguising hints and awaits to welcome with open arms the disgruntled and the discontented of his political opponents that would later jump-out of Gov. Marquez’ camp.

He also counts former Mayor and SP Member Dr. Stevens Fuentes as potential political ally should this young and dashing physician becomes the provincial vice gubernatorial bet of the local opposition Kusog Party in 2010 elections.
What a very exciting political scenario unfolding in Banga with more of it in the coming days. Meantime, this is it.