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Virtually unknown at the time, Jesse M. Robredo ran for mayor in the 1988 election and won. Thereafter he was able to build up a strong political position in the city despite his conflict with Luis R. Villafuerte, his former political guardian. This chapter examines the process by which Robredo built up his political power.
Jesse M. Robredo
As the 1988 local elections approached, the first local elections after the EDSA Revolution, the political powers in Naga City started preparing their candidates for the all-important mayoral campaign.
Villafuerte had reached an agreement with Carlos del Castillo that the latter would not run in the 1988 election. Villafuerte wanted a "winnable" candidate to run against Raul Roco's group in the city. Roco had been making efforts to expand his political influence, and he had been successful in the 1987 elections for the House of Representatives. Villafuerte picked his nephew, Jesse M. Robredo, for the task.
In April 1986 Villafuerte made Robredo the director of the Bicol River Basin Development Program (BRBDP) which was a governmental institution promoting development in the Bicol Region.1 The post of BRBDP director was an ideal position for Robredo's preparation for the coming mayoral election. He researched the socioeconomic problems in Naga City and tried to formulate development plans for his future administration. At the same time, he recruited a staff from the BRBDP to form his confidential group for political activities.2
Robredo was born to an ethnic Chinese family in Naga City in 1958. He is the third of five children.3 His grandfather emigrated from China. His parents managed a medium-sized wholesale and retail business and also dealt in lumber. Two sisters became medical doctors, while another sister and a brother are engaged in business in the city.
The Robredo family and Villafuerte are very close since they have blood relations. Villafuerte's middle name is Robredo. Robredo's grandfather on his father's side and Villafuerte's mother are brother and sister although with different mothers. When Villafuerte ran in the elections in 1978 and 1984, he sometimes stayed at Robredo's residence in Naga City; and Robredo along with his father joined Villafuerte's election campaigns. For his part, Robredo used to stay at Villafuerte's house in Makati when he was a college student...