Politicians extend term, perks with new turfs
KAREN TIONGSON-MAYRINA
GMA News Research
05/07/2007 | 08:45 PM
GMA News Research
Last December, most of Surigao del Norte voters approved the creation of Dinagat Island into a province. Although only 45 percent of the registered voters voted--with the “yes" votes winning by a mere 6,000 margin--the results practically handed the island to the Ecleos on a silver platter.
The Ecleos have established a fiefdom in the island since the 1960s through Ruben Ecleo Sr., the family’s patriarch and mayor of Dinagat town for 24 years until his death in 1987.
Twenty years after his death, the clan is still thriving. More so after the island became a province.
In the coming May elections, the race is over for the three highest posts in Dinagat Island. The senior Ruben’s wife Glenda runs uncontested as representative of the province’s Lone District. She just finished her second term as representative of Surigao del Norte’s First District, which used to cover the islands of Dinagat and Siargao.
Their daughter, interim governor Geraldine Ecleo-Villaroman, is the sole gubernatorial candidate.
Surigao del Norte provincial board member Elvis de la Merced, secretary general of the island-based Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA), also runs unopposed as vice governor. Ruben Sr. founded PBMA; their eldest son, Ruben Jr., inherited his title “Divine Master" and “Supreme President."
Dinagat Islands is the site of the bloody fighting between the police and armed PBMA followers who tried to prevent the arrest of Ruben Jr. on June 18, 2002. Twenty-three people died in the shootout, 16 from PBMA. Ruben Jr., facing parricide charges for the murder of his wife, had since been allowed to post bail.
Among the candidates for Dinagat’s first Sangguniang Panlalawigan or provincial board are Glenda’s other daughter Gracelyn Ecleo and a certain Romeo Ecleo.
Benglen Ecleo, another son of Glenda’s, is gunning for reelection unopposed as San Jose town mayor. San Jose is the base of the Ecleos and was named in honor of Jose Ecleo, father of former Dinagat mayor Ruben Ecleo Sr.
Five other Ecleos are seeking seats in the town council--Glenda’s other son Allan II, Elvin Ecleo, Jessie Ecleo, Michael Angelo Ecleo and Henry Ecleo Malatamban.
Glenda’s other daughter, Gwendolyn, is seeking reelection as Dinagat mayor. In Cagdianao town, Ruben Al Borja Ecleo is unopposed in the vice mayoralty race. He is a son of Ruben Sr. with his alleged mistress Reyneria Borja, a former provincial board member who is now running for town councilor.
Glenda, the Ecleo matriarch, has long been pushing for the creation of Dinagat province. She filed the bill in July 2004. Six months later, it was approved on third reading, without any opposing votes. It took time in the Senate before it was passed on August 2006. President Arroyo approved the bill after two months.
Glenda is a member of the ruling Lakas-NUCD, whose members comprise one-third of the House of Representatives. PBMA is an ardent supporter of Malacañang, including President Arroyo’s efforts to amend the Constitution.
More districts, LGUs
Dinagat is just one of the new LGUs that will conduct elections for the first time this year.
The creation of new LGUs and legislative districts was a major preoccupation of the 13th Congress.
In various stages of deliberations are bills converting 35 municipalities into component cities and creating at least 33 barangays, 15 legislative districts, 11 provinces, four municipalities and two regions. (See Table 1. LGUs and legislative districts sought for creation/conversion)
These include proposals to divide into two the provinces of Cebu (Cebu del Norte and Cebu del Sur), Quezon, Bukidnon and Misamis. Rep. Rodolfo Plaza of the Lone District of Agusan del Sur even filed a bill creating the municipality of Monting Plaza in honor of his father, former Gov. Democrito Plaza.
Thus, from 75 provinces in 1991-- the year the Local Government Code was enacted into law-- the number of provinces has jumped to 81. There are now 1,628 cities and municipalities from the 1,563 in 1991. In two decades since 1987, the number of legislative districts swelled from 198 to 220.
The Ecleos have established a fiefdom in the island since the 1960s through Ruben Ecleo Sr., the family’s patriarch and mayor of Dinagat town for 24 years until his death in 1987.
Twenty years after his death, the clan is still thriving. More so after the island became a province.
In the coming May elections, the race is over for the three highest posts in Dinagat Island. The senior Ruben’s wife Glenda runs uncontested as representative of the province’s Lone District. She just finished her second term as representative of Surigao del Norte’s First District, which used to cover the islands of Dinagat and Siargao.
Their daughter, interim governor Geraldine Ecleo-Villaroman, is the sole gubernatorial candidate.
Surigao del Norte provincial board member Elvis de la Merced, secretary general of the island-based Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA), also runs unopposed as vice governor. Ruben Sr. founded PBMA; their eldest son, Ruben Jr., inherited his title “Divine Master" and “Supreme President."
Dinagat Islands is the site of the bloody fighting between the police and armed PBMA followers who tried to prevent the arrest of Ruben Jr. on June 18, 2002. Twenty-three people died in the shootout, 16 from PBMA. Ruben Jr., facing parricide charges for the murder of his wife, had since been allowed to post bail.
Among the candidates for Dinagat’s first Sangguniang Panlalawigan or provincial board are Glenda’s other daughter Gracelyn Ecleo and a certain Romeo Ecleo.
Benglen Ecleo, another son of Glenda’s, is gunning for reelection unopposed as San Jose town mayor. San Jose is the base of the Ecleos and was named in honor of Jose Ecleo, father of former Dinagat mayor Ruben Ecleo Sr.
Five other Ecleos are seeking seats in the town council--Glenda’s other son Allan II, Elvin Ecleo, Jessie Ecleo, Michael Angelo Ecleo and Henry Ecleo Malatamban.
Glenda’s other daughter, Gwendolyn, is seeking reelection as Dinagat mayor. In Cagdianao town, Ruben Al Borja Ecleo is unopposed in the vice mayoralty race. He is a son of Ruben Sr. with his alleged mistress Reyneria Borja, a former provincial board member who is now running for town councilor.
Glenda, the Ecleo matriarch, has long been pushing for the creation of Dinagat province. She filed the bill in July 2004. Six months later, it was approved on third reading, without any opposing votes. It took time in the Senate before it was passed on August 2006. President Arroyo approved the bill after two months.
Glenda is a member of the ruling Lakas-NUCD, whose members comprise one-third of the House of Representatives. PBMA is an ardent supporter of Malacañang, including President Arroyo’s efforts to amend the Constitution.
More districts, LGUs
Dinagat is just one of the new LGUs that will conduct elections for the first time this year.
The creation of new LGUs and legislative districts was a major preoccupation of the 13th Congress.
In various stages of deliberations are bills converting 35 municipalities into component cities and creating at least 33 barangays, 15 legislative districts, 11 provinces, four municipalities and two regions. (See Table 1. LGUs and legislative districts sought for creation/conversion)
These include proposals to divide into two the provinces of Cebu (Cebu del Norte and Cebu del Sur), Quezon, Bukidnon and Misamis. Rep. Rodolfo Plaza of the Lone District of Agusan del Sur even filed a bill creating the municipality of Monting Plaza in honor of his father, former Gov. Democrito Plaza.
Thus, from 75 provinces in 1991-- the year the Local Government Code was enacted into law-- the number of provinces has jumped to 81. There are now 1,628 cities and municipalities from the 1,563 in 1991. In two decades since 1987, the number of legislative districts swelled from 198 to 220.
