Editorial: Loyalty to party

BY THIS time, members of the ruling Hugpong para sa Tawong Lungsod (Hugpong) will have to pledge allegiance or leave. By this time, these members who do not like specific candidates the party is fielding and prefer another from another party will just have to give up the perks of being a Hugpong member if they are willing to gamble into the other candidates’ favor.

Why some members would even entertain thoughts of disloyalty points to a general weakness of our multi-party system. A multi-party system as defined a system in which multiple political parties have the capacity to gain control of government offices, separately or in coalition. In the frivolous ways of Philippine politics, this has nurtured the hierarchy of vested personal interest over party interest. We’ve seen that before, we’ve been seeing that over and over again, the political turncoats who chance sides whenever it pleases them.

Tough for the ones with Hugpong, however, because there is but two major choices in Davao politics: for or against. Thus, the turncoatism encouraged by national politics limits the field of the turncoats in this part.

The Hugpong members should have known this and should have toed the line. They simply have to stop believing they can enjoy the trust of the party leadership while giving their support to other candidates. They should by now realize that party allegiance goes beyond personal allegiance; that’s just how politics work.

To grumble against the party choice but vow all-out support to the standard-bearers doesn't a party member make, this is the lesson Hugpong members will have to learn, and fast.