Dinan disses Dong

THE electoral wars are still over six months hence but first blood has already been drawn in the third district Sunday night when comebacking kid Dinan Labung launched a salvo of Scud missiles on perceived congressional frontrunner Dong Gonzales.
The 2004 also-ran to eventual winner Cong Rey Aquino minced no words in demeaning Dong’s multifarious infra projects as nothing short of frying the people in their own lard with the board member skimming off the fat.
In so many words, Dinan disabused the mindset on Dong’s outstanding performance thus: The funds for the projects are the people’s, coursed through the pork barrel of some senators past and present – Loren Legarda, Robert Jaworski and Juan Flavier notably – who favored Dong to facilitate their implementation. Dong, as contractor, profits in millions; Dong, as politician, gains in popularity mileage. What with his name displayed on all those billboards, even more prominently than the project sponsors.
“Menakitan ne, sinikat ya pa,” Dinan deigned. No need stressing here that Dinan is also a big-time contractor. So he knows whereof he speaks?
Dinan damns Dong as disloyal, if not a virtual traitor, to the Kapampangan with the latter’s steadfast position on the provincial board resolution adopting his patron, Loren the Protestant, as daughter of the province.
In fairness though, there are a number who deemed Dong’s was the principled stand to the obsequiousness of an utterly spineless Sangguniang Panlalawigan that, as we all know, withdrew the resolution pronto when the Little One raised a penciled eyebrow.
Total, unconditional support to the President in Congress makes Dinan’s casus belli in his run against Dong. Dinan makes you think that is the sole reason for his running.
“We cannot afford to have one congressman from Pampanga joining the impeachment move against the President,” declared Dinan already prejudging Dong as an oppositionist. And himself as the champion of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“It was Malacañang that asked me to make myself available for this task after the incumbent Rey Aquino decided to run for mayor of San Fernando,” Dinan disclosed. He did not need to overemphasize his closeness with the First Family to further convince his Sunday night audience of mediamen and supporters long convinced of his epoxied bonds with Mickey Macapagal Arroyo. Didn’t he – Dinan – fellow Board Member Cris Garbo and then Vice Governor Mickey form the Sanggunian’s once most colorful, if not formidable troika that was the Tatlong Itlog? Didn’t he – Dinan – star alongside Mickey in a number of his clueless action movies?
There’s a message there. And Dinan pounced on it: “I shall be the administration candidate and the presidency is not at stake in the 2007 elections.” Read: Malacañang, with all the resources of government at its disposal, will be at full throttle to make its candidates win; the President’s party at maximum drive to steamroll the Opposition to submission.
Already – Dinan claims – Didi Domingo, a Lakas stalwart, has committed her local machinery to him. And to the Lapids, the President’s wish is their command.
Dinan Labung ing Tersera Distritu. Literally, let the third district bloom.
Be afraid Dong. Be very afraid.