WITH three consecutive helicopter rides to Pradera Vera in Lubao, Pampanga, Mabalacat Vice Mayor Geld Aquino is all set to become the golden boy of the Pineda political clan. Minus, of course, Mabalacat City Mayor Cris Garbo, who is on his last term.
Unless, Garbo does a “Boking Morales” and join the mayoral race again, if his legal team advises him to seek re-election. With a case awaiting him at the Ombudsman courtesy of Councilor Jun Catro, it was like a Sword of Damocles hanging above his head.
But may we ask: Isn’t it Vice Mayor Aquino is included in the charge sheet at the Ombudsman together with venerable members of the Mabalacat Sangguniang Bayan?
What makes now of a Geld Aquino-Jun Castro tandem?
This political upheaval in Mabalacat City is getting interesting like the constant chopper rides that VM Aquino was taking from Mabalacat City all the way to Lubao. VM Aquino gets the chopper ride, while Mayor Garbo gets the chopping board, as his ties with the political masters effectively cut off in an instant. There were no official declaration yet coming from the powers-that-be in Pampanga province but the sound of chopper rotor blades reverberates throughout Mabalacat City and the social media.
The chopper rides say only one thing: Mabalacat City will have a new mayor in the persona of VM Aquino.
But who is VM Aquino? When Councilor Castro lodged the complaint at the Ombudsman regarding the alleged questionable acquisition of 2.1-hectare of land and construction of a proposed P2.1-billion five-story government center project, we believed that VM Aquino had been included in the complaint.
It was reported that P610 million was spent to purchase the 2.1-hectare property in Barangay Camachiles, where the proposed government center will be constructed.
If and when the Ombudsman decide on the complaint, Mayor Garbo and VM Aquino, including the councilors will be affected in the coming elections next year.
We contemplate for a while how could an Aquino-Castro tandem be feasible when the other dragged his possible teammate in the Ombudsman to answer charges of alleged grave misconduct, graft and corruption in connection with the acquisition of land and the stalled construction of a proposed P2.1-billion five-story government center project.
No official statement was issued from Pineda and Aquino after the three private meetings held at Pradera Vera in Lubao.