TO SAY that somebody is in the eye of the storm is probably too harsh to describe Rep. Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda. The exaggeration is intentional because she had been previously involved in difficult or stressful situations but came out victorious.
So far, she has not even commented on derogatory radio commentaries and Facebook posts, brushing them aside as “false”; and so would destroy nobody but the rumor monger.
There’s another matter though that has caught widespread attention – a short column item in Lapsus Calami insinuating that she is “good for one term only” because Mayor Jerry Treñas would have outgoing senator Franklin Drilon as his running mate for congressman in 2022.
As far as Baronda is concerned, it’s nothing to worry about. She had been through tougher times, as in 2010 when she ran for vice mayor in the ticket of would-be mayor Jed Mabilog but lost against Jose Espinosa III who enjoyed the support of Treñas.
A believer in destiny, she now considers it a blessing in disguise. For when Joe decided to run against Treñas for mayor in May this year, the latter picked her up as his “congresswoman” and both made it – a case of “changing partners”.
Anyway, when an opportunity presented itself, I asked a lawyer very close to Senator Drilon whether the latter was inclined to slide down to the House at the end of his Senate term in 2022 – just like former senator Loren Legarda who is now congresswoman of Antique. The “asked” (sorry, name withheld) replied, “It is possible because that’s his best option if he must remain in politics.”
On the other hand, one also recalls the time when Drilon had exhausted his senatorial term limit in 2007. Instead of running for congressman, he returned to private life in the next three years. He just might repeat that option.
Methinks that as long as the lady solon steps in the direction favorable to her constituents, she would retain their loyalty come hell or high water. That’s what she did when she voted to reject the re-application for power-distribution franchise of “expired” franchisee Panay Electric Co. (PECO) in response to clamor for change from customers eager to “experience” the new franchisee, MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power).
Incidentally, there is no truth to PECO’s claim that the Supreme Court (SC) had “frozen” MORE Power’s move to take over its power distribution assets. In fact, in yesterday’s hearing (Sept. 25, 2019) attended by representatives of both parties, Judge Daniel Antonio Amular of Branch 35 admonished PECO against violating the “gag” order he had imposed to prevent both parties from opinionating on the case at bar.
Judge Amular is tasked to implement the decision of Judge Yvettte Go of RTC-Iloilo (Branch 37) approving MORE Power’s application for the issuance of writ of possession.
The SC’s order did not nullify the decision of Judge Go.
On the contrary, SC ordered PECO to answer the main case on MORE Power’s petition for review on certiorari, enjoining PECO from making “permanent” the order of the Mandaluyong RTC declaring MORE Power’s franchise “unconstitutional” because the order itself did not state that it was “executory”.
While the gag order does not apply to the media, this corner would rather not comment further so as not to add to the confusion engendered by conflicting views.
Until the SC rules otherwise, however, the law (RA 11212) granting MORE Power the power distribution franchise stays. (hvego31@gmail.com/PN)
