By Politiko staff
A powerful leader (PL) has apparently taken the alleged bagman (AB) of a big fish (BF) embroiled in the flood control scandal under his wing and handed him a familiar job: guarding the purse strings lawmakers are eager to tap.
According to the grapevine, AB has found a second wind under PL despite his well-known ties to BF. On paper, AB reportedly remains on BF’s payroll, but Iskoopers say he now takes orders from PL and an astute legislator (AL) occupying a plum post in Congress.
AB has supposedly emerged as the go-to guy for lawmakers seeking funds and projects. While PL still has the final say on who gets what—and how much— it’s AB who reportedly serves as the crucial middleman between his new boss and congressmen looking for their share.
So why would PL keep one of BF’s trusted men so close?
AB’s value may lie precisely in his proximity to BF. Having been around during BF’s heyday, AB presumably knows where the proverbial bodies are buried—and perhaps which closets are best left unopened.
AB was no ordinary gatekeeper either. At the height of BF’s power, he allegedly wielded enough clout to influence not only the flow of funds but even the choice of contractors. That influence reportedly came with staggering wealth: AB is said to roll around in a bulletproof SUV, with a Land Cruiser as backup and a bevy of bodyguards in tow.
Now that BF is staring down a daunting legal battle, keeping AB close could be PL’s way of hedging his bets.
With AB inside the tent, PL gets a gatekeeper who already knows how the machinery works—and, more importantly, someone who may know far too much about how it worked before.
For AB, meanwhile, the arrangement offers protection and a fresh lease on political life.
New boss, same gatekeeper? Amid the flood control scandal, it appears to be business as usual.—Politiko.com.ph
