Valencia should not be playing favorites among the local slates of the Kampi, the Lakas-NUCD and the Liberal Party-Atienza wing that should be rallying to give Team Unity reason to believe their self-perpetuated fantasy about a 12-0 romp over the Genuine Opposition (GO). That is not the case, however, as Valencia is openly favoring his own political clique, much to the detriment of this administration’s grand scheme to eternalize its stay in power.

Thus, it is not surprising that the administration’s local bets, even from Kampi — which is the party of the current Palace occupant — in Valencia’s congressional district are covertly, if not openly, campaigning not only for Valencia’s opponents but as well as the senatorial candidates not belonging to Team Unity such as former senator Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan.

Valencia’s move of selective political persecution leaves them with little else to do. His decision to undermine the administration coalition in favor of his own political agenda has reduced the much-vaunted party affiliations to a mere excuse slip to run in the elections.

Compounding the ire of these administration political orphans is the dilly-dallying that has occurred in the anointment of bets of the Iglesia ni Cristo in the area, which is being attributed to allegations that Valencia is trying to channel their support in favor of his own protégés.

All these factors spell D-O-O-M for the administration’s national slate as they will surely reap the unwanted dividends of this anti-Valencia vendetta. If only the bets of Team Unity would heed the events in the 1st district of Mindoro, they would hear nothing but the fat lady singing while she sits on Valencia’s lap. It is hurting the chances of the administration bets who are tottering on the brink of the Magic 12 circle and doing wonders for the campaign of others like Honasan as their own chances improve due to the administration in-fighting.

Even worse, Valencia’s actuations are actually abetting political violence, which was previously unknown in Oriental Mindoro. In Calapan City, for example, two barangay chairmen supporting opposing political camps have already been killed just after some supporters of another were gunned down in cold blood. The tension is mounting as rumors are flying throughout the city that it will soon become a "killing field" where barangay chairmen will be dropping like flies.

Whether Valencia actually has something to do with the upsurge in violence in Calapan City is immaterial. The fact remains that had Valencia chosen to play fair, none of this would have happened. It is just too bad for public perception that the provincial police authorities, who are seen as Valencia allies, are not moving a finger to put an end to the violence.

It is even worse in Pola town, which the military and the police have turned into a virtual war zone allegedly at the behest of Valencia to support ex-New People’s Army kidnap victim and re-electionist Mayor Alex Arenas.

Victory in politics, as it would in war, depends greatly on having an effective chain of command. If the body does not do what the head thinks, a great disaster is probable. With the orders coming through an official like Valencia, Team Unity’s chances in his fiefdom are bound to be a political Titanic.