Caraga Campaign Mayhem

"Caraga" is the region covering the north eastern corner of Mindanao. Specifically it consists of 4 Provinces: Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Suriago del Sur,Surigao del Norte along with the island province of Dinagat. There are very few Muslims, in fact 2 of its provinces, Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur both have less than 1,000 each. They do have large populations of Lumads, the non-Muslim and non-Christian Tribes usually called,"Hill Tribes" in most other nations.

Being the most heavily forested region on the island it has a huge amount of logging and since it is abutting ComVal (Compostela Valley Province) it also is moderately involved with mining. The biggest security issue however is the NPA, the Maoist Insurgency. Indeed, it is the most NPA innundated region in the nation, especially when taken in combination with ComVal that abuts Agusan del Sur. Though 2 provinces are deemed "Pacified," Surigao del Norte and Dinagat both still posess sizable numbers of synpathisers (i.e. Base of Mass Support), Sectoral Front Organisations as well as a fair number of inactive guerillas so that it remains to be seen whether those provinces will indeed remain so. Though the region saw alot of confrontations between the NPA and candidates who refused to pay the obligatory (in NPA "Influenced" areas) PTC (Pay to Campaign) "permits." These confrontations were relatively peaceful (though weapons were used in all instances none was ever fired even in warning).

Overt political violence is rare in this part of Mindanao even though the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) perpetually placing dozens of regional municipalities on the "Watch List" would seem to make that happening counter-intuitive. Still, incidents DO happen, and so here we are...but first...

Perhaps the biggest news in Caraga this Election Season was the fall of the Barbers Dynasty. The Barbers Clan has ruled Surigao del Norte for nearly 2 decades, the duration of the post-Marcos Era. Gov.Robert"Ace"Barbers, the current patriarch of the family was swept out of office by a paltry margin of 2,214 votes. The victor? Former Department of Education Regional Director Sol Forcadilla Matugas. Madame Matugas is the wife of Francisco"Lalo"Tinio Matugas who coincidentally won his race for the Surigao del Norte 1st District Congressional Seat.

Francisco Matugas, an attorney and long time political activist with PPS (Partido Padajon Surigao) now becomes the regining partiarch of the region's newest dynasty. He had been running against a felow attorney, Constantino"Banjo"Navarro III, the scion of another local dynasty, the Navarro Clan (also well known to those that pay attention to the insurgency due to black sheep Father Navarro,aka the "Barefoot Priest," who became the ranking NPA CO for a decent amount of time), long allied with the Barbers. His victory could almost be considered a landslide given the steep margin of roughly 9,800 votes.

Fracnsico's brother, Ernesto"Mitoy"Matugas has become the new mayor of the province's largest city, Surigao City with his victory over ex-Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers Jr, namesake of the original partiarch, the late Senator Robert Lyndon Barbers Sr.

Perhaps most note worthy of all, the Matugas Party, PPS, swept the entire province with every town now being led by a PPS member. The closest comparison would be Lanao del Norte Province where all but 1 community is led by a single party, but of course the operative difference being that Surigao del Norte is TOTALLY in control of PPS. This doesn't bode well for the people of Surigao del Norte despite the former dynasty's alleged penchant for corruption and ineptitude. Given the personal struggle of Madame Matugas against an allegation of corruption when she was in charge of Region 13, in her former position (she retired from another region after transferring out of Region 13 because of that allegation, an allegation from which she was cleared), one hopes that the Matugas Clan will not become further proof of the ancient maxim, "Power corrupts absolutely..."

On Janurary 28, 2010 on Langihan Road in Barangay Upper Doongan, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte Province, 28 year old Roldan P.Curalde was riding his motorcycle when shot to death with a 45. Mr.Curalde who was self employed as a miner/prospector was a Campaign Organiser for MPM (Mabuting Pilipino Movement).

On May 08, 2010 in Loreto, Agusan del Sur, COMELEC had dropped off "flash cards" for the PCOS (Precinct Optical Scanners) machines to local representative Jay Actub Salinas earlier that day and Mr.Salinas had spent the better part of that day at the municipal elections office. He had just returned home that evening and was standing in front of his door when shot with a 45 caliber pistol.

Loreto, sitting on the Agusan River is isolated in terms of approaches by land so Mr.Salinas was bundled into a speed boat and transported up river to the provincial capitol, Prosperidad where he received treatment for a wound to his abdomen. Later transfered to a hospital in Tagum City in Davao del Norte Province he was able to make a recovery, albeit after a long convalescence.

Election Day, May 10, 2010, unknown parties in Bayugan, Agusan del Sur Province manufactured fake Arrest Warrants against particular candidates that sought to impeach their character in the eyes of voters.

Reversing chronologically, there were some important goings on in Bayugan, Agusan del Sur, as well as a case in Surigao City in Surigao del Norte Province.

On June 25, 2009 in at Rotunda Circumfrential Park in Barangay Poblacion, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur, Barangay Councilor and radio jounalist Jonathan "Athan"Lisondra Petalvero, 43, of Bayugan was shot to death as he stood talking with members of the BASVODA (Bayugan Association of Hired Van Operators and Drivers) having given a keynote speech inside a nearby resturant, by invitation of BASVODA President Sammy Mendoza.

Mr.Petalvero was a staunch supporter of Vice Mayor Genesis Efren, running for Mayor in 2010. Genesis Efren also owns the radio station where Mr.Petalvero worked, DXFM Frenster, in Bayugan.Efren's rival, Kim Lope Asis is the son of the (then) Mayor Magdalena Lope Asis as well as being both a Barangay Captain AND the Chairman of the ABC (Association of Barangay Captains).

Earlier that month, June of 2009, a Barangay Councilor for Barangay Ipil in Bayugan was also shot to death and like Petalvero he was a supporter of Vice Mayor Efren.

On July 28, 2009 at the Municipal Health Center[sic] in ComVal Province, 39 year old Crispin Lenaban was arrested in a joint apprehension by ComVal Provincial PNP (Philippine National Police), PNP RID (Regional Intelligence Division and PRO (Police Regional Office) #13. His Warrant was issued by RTC (Regional Trial Court) #30, Branch #32 in surigao City, for Double Murder, Hiway Robbery and Posession of Firearms. Some may recall that Lenaban was wanted in the murders of COMELEC Officer Wenifreda Taer, her son who was a serving Provincial Board Councilor for Surigao del Norte Province, Rodulfo Taer and fellow Board Councilor Dominador Dandan, all of Alegria, Surigao del Norte. He was 1 of 2 gunmen, 1 with a 45, the other with a 9MM pistol. The 2nd gunman remains unknown.