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| Source: http://antique.gov.ph/ |
“Twenty-eight years ago, a murder was
executed in San Jose, the capital of Antique in Panay Island that outraged the
Filipino people struggling to free themselves from the clutches of a
dictatorship.
The assassination of Evelio Bellaflor Javier
(EBJ) on Feb. 11, 1986 sparked the flame of democracy that burned bright in the
succeeding days and culminated in the historic February 22-25, 1986 People
Power that ended the 20-year Marcos dictatorship.”
The
Javier name in the Province of Antique has always been associated with heroism.
Every February 11, the island of Panay remembers the heroism of the late
Antique Governor, Evelio B. Javier who was killed on this day in 1986 while
guarding the ballots in front of the Antique Provincial Capitol. This day was declared
a holiday through RA 7601 by President Corazon Aquino in 1992.
He
was the champion of the poor and well loved by the Antiqueños. Whenever the
song “Impossible Dream” is being played, people will always remember Evelio or
Beloy as he is fondly called. The most famous line of this modern day hero was
“Ang pulitika bukot burugasan, bukot paranubli-un” or in English, “politics is
not a food source, not an inheritance”.
But
what is disheartening about this line is that after Beloy’s death in 1986, his
brother, Exequiel, joined politics bringing the name of the former with
promises of progress and betterment of life for the Antiqueños. Since 1987,
Exequiel has held power as Congressman and Governor for many terms. After his
last term in 2010, he turned over his Congressional seat to his son, Paolo
Everardo Javier, while he ran and won as Governor of the Province.
What an insult to the legacy and the
name left by Beloy! Where now is the essence of the famous line of Beloy in the
actions of his brother who in the first place, won by bringing the former’s
name? He even uses the song Impossible Dream as his campaign jingle just to
encourage the Antiqueños to vote for him and his son.
Ever since Exequiel had been in power,
numerous accusations of graft and corruption were hurled at him left and right.
Supporters of the Former Governor Salvacion Zaldivar – Perez were removed with
no further notice. The Christmas bonuses and 13th month pay of the
Provincial government employees were not released for the past two years that
Exequiel is in power.
The father and son tandem has again
secured the posts of Congressman and Governor of the Province. With their
political machinery and huge budget for the campaign, they were able to retain
their positions. Massive vote-buying has always been the situation in Antique
during election time.
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| Source: http://antique.gov.ph/ |
A huge tarpaulin in the town plaza of
the capital San Jose de Buenavista shows the pictures of the father and son
bearing the slogan “25 years of faithful service” to the Antiqueños. A similar
tarpaulin can be found beside the bridge just outside the Poblacion of the town
of Hamtic.
But who says that “crime does not pay”?
Now, his Excellency Boy-Ex Javier is
facing charges for illegal suspension of Valderrama Mayor Mary Joyce Roquero,
wife of the former’s political rival Ray Roquero during the 2013 gubernatorial
elections. The Commission on Elections has sided with Mayor Roquero on the
matter.
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC)
has dismissed for lack of merit Javier’s motion for reconsideration and
affirmed its September 3 en banc decision indicting the governor for violating
the Omnibus Election Code. A jail term of one to six years awaits him. (Panay
News)
The Civil Service Commission has also
sided with Provincial Information Officer Eric Otayde who was removed from his
office when Javier took over the Provincial government from his close political
nemesis former Governor Sally Perez. The CSC ordered Javier to reinstate Otayde
and pay him his back salary amounting to more than 1 million pesos.
Last February 11, Panay Island
commemorated the 28th Death Anniversary of the Antiqueño Hero. But what
is disheartening is that “Sadly in Antique,
Evelio Javier’s legacy is becoming a distant memory” (Alex Delos Santos).
Even in the
other Provinces of Panay, less and less people can recognize the name of Evelio
Javier.
Over the radio program Crazy Cris of Love Radio Iloilo, a
listener asked who Evelio Javier was and why was that day a holiday. The host
candidly answered that he was just as clueless but obviously googled EBJ immediately
and read out the information. (Alex Delos Santos)
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| Source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/blogs/the-inbox/antique-celebrated-evelio-javier-day-145325733.html |
There
is an old saying that when you are confronted with two evil choices, you should
choose the lesser evil. We hope that the Antiqueños would be able to see beyond
the veil that covers their eyes. Politics is neither a food source nor an
inheritance especially to the brother of the very same person who uttered these
words.
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