Late Returns

In Luzon's rich but rough province of Batangas, the Laurel family hangs onto political power like an heirloom. Three generations of Laurels have served the ruling Nacionalista Party with tooth and claw. Jose Laurel Sr. was a puppet President of the Philippines under the Japanese occupation. His son, Jose Laurel Jr., spent four years as Speaker of the House, baiting the U.S. and sampling nightclubs. He lost his bid for the vice-presidency in 1957 after a tumultuous campaign in which he handed out switchblades as souvenirs. In the same election, Jose Jr.'s son, Jose Laurel IV, 29, won his first four-year term to Congress by the narrow margin of 3,709 votes.

But his opponent, Artemio Lobrin, had a Laurel-like grasp of politics himself; after all, he had once served as confidential secretary to Jose Sr. He immediately filed a complaint charging that Laurel supporters had torn up Lobrin ballots, falsified returns and intimidated voters.

Ordinarily, there would have been a ruling within six months. But not in Laurel's Batangas. The police captain took 20 months to assemble and give his evidence; Jose Laurel IV required another three months to make his own deposition. It was not until three years and nine months after the protested election that the House tribunal reached its verdict: Ar temio Lobrin had won by 586 votes.

Last week Lobrin at last took the oath as Congressman from Batangas, and his rival, Jose Laurel IV, was cheerfully on hand to congratulate him. Only four months remained of the term, and Lobrin will not even get the satisfaction of sitting in his seat, since the House has adjourned for the year. But in November Lobrin will get another chance to wrestle with the Laurels when he runs for Congress once again. His opponent: Father Jose Jr., who clearly has decided that the defeat of Upstart Lobrin was too important a job to leave in the hands of a boy.

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