Nope, we didn’t lose count. Number 3 of this series covered Benj Arriola’s winning the World SEO Championship.

Mayor Jesse Robredo

This week, I’ll be featuring Jesse Robredo, Mayor of Naga City. A COMELEC panel recently declared him a non-Filipino by a vote of 2-1. This made him ineligible to run for re-election during the recently concluded 2007 midterm elections. Despite the fact that Robredo had been declared a Filipino citizen five times before and served as mayor for four terms previously.

Naturally, Nagueños, who’ve always voted overwhelmingly for Robredo, are outraged. And so is an ex-President. The shameless illogic of the decision shows how common sense is sometimes nonexistent in the law.

The Honorable Luis Villafuerte

While the declaration doesn’t necessarily reflect the COMELEC as a whole, it’s interesting to note that two of the commissioners on the deciding panel, Messrs. Romeo Brawner and Nicodemo Ferrer, have close ties to Luis Villafuerte. One was a classmate during law school, the other a former partner at a law firm. Apparently, both never heard of the term recuse.

So who is this Mr. Villafuerte? Only the head of a political dynasty that has tried to get the mayorship from Robredo since time immemorial. He’s currently the congressman of the 2nd district of Camarines Sur, the province where Naga City is located. None of his supporters have won against Mayor Robredo whenever his position was up for grabs. And even as Robredo brings his case to the Supreme Court, it’s obvious Robredo will win the election once again, beating Jojo Villafuerte for the 3rd time.

A Real Filipino

Whether or not you believe Mayor Jesse Robredo is a citizen of the Philippines—the question centers on the fact that his granpda was Chinese—consider this: Under his guidance, Naga City became a progressive beacon, a city that enjoys an active electorate and an ever-improving economy. It’s by no means free of poverty, but the strides made by the city government under Robredo have made it a model of local governance.

Contrast this with the honorable Luis Villafuerte. As Governor and later Congressman of Camarines Sur, he built pedestrian overpasses, bridges, and waiting sheds, all emblazoned with an L to signify his name. All while the province continues to be one of the poorest in the country.

So who’s the real Filipino? Definitely not Mr. Brawner.

(Disclaimer: I spent six years studying in Naga City during the last two terms of Mayor Robredo. You can call me biased, but that’s only because I saw the improvements first-hand)