SCROLLING DOWN: Two separate surveys by BOPK and Barug-PDP Laban reportedly placed Councilor Dave Tumulak as winner against any opponent in the vice mayor’s race. What are Tumulak’s options? ... Former senator Serge Osmeña said he would not appeal any Comelec ruling that would delist him from the roster of candidates for senator in 2019. He’d leave his bid to return to the Senate to the Comelec...
First, what people talk about
* The inflation rate stayed at 6.77 percent in October but “prices have eased up.” What does that mean? Prices are still high but aren’t going higher, for now.
* Presidential spokesman and chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo insists that the president did not endorse Freddy Aguilar’s candidacy for senator when Duterte (a) raised his hand and (b) asked the audience to vote for Aguilar, “anyway there are 12 senators to be voted upon.”
Seriously? Panelo says Digong just said people should recognize Aguilar as an “outstanding” individual.
Tumulak topped surveys?
Cebu City Hall watchers say there is a rumor going rounds that BOPK councilor had not been pleased by the choice of Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos as their party’s candidate for vice mayor in next year’s election.
Initial indication of Tumulak’s sentiment was his failure to join BOPK colleagues in their mass filing of COCs last October 15. The explanation for Tumulak’s “conspicuous absence”: he still needed to get his Cona (certificate of nomination and acceptance) from his national party, which he did not disclose. That bit of oddity didn’t set off any speculation until several days after, which erupted in radio talk shows after the long holiday.
Dave’s options
Atty. Frank Malilong of “Frankahay Ta” on dyCM radio theorized that Dave must want the VM slot because of his showing in the separate surveys. Besides, in the 2016 elections, Tumulak polled more votes than de los Santos: he led in the south with 144,727 votes (beating Margot Osmena); she was only #2 in the north with 101,590 (second to Alvin Arcilla).
But what are Tumulak’s options? He could not argue with the basic political wisdom that if the mayoralty bet comes from the south, his running mate should be from the north. Both Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Dave are from the south. Mary Ann is from the north. Could he change Tomas’s mind about the north-south formula? Highly unlikely unless Mary Ann’s ratings would continue to dip and BOPK would make a switch on or before November 29.
Dimmer is the chance that Barug, the party he bolted from and deserted in August 2016 (to join BOPK in March 2017), would drop former Mike Rama and take Dave back.
Serge’s Senate bid
Former senator Sergio Osmena III, who filed a certificate of candidacy for senator in the 2019 elections, wants to return to the Senate but his wish may not be as intense as in past elections.
Two indicators: (1) If Comelec would disqualify him for allegedly failing to file his 2010 and 2016 statement of election contributions and expenses (Soce), he would not appeal the decision. (2) He would not seek an endorsement from President Duterte.
He said Tuesday (November 6) that he filed his 2010 statement late but he did file it: his having taken the oath of office is proof that he filed his Soce. As to the 2016 statement, he had asked for extension of the deadline but Comelec en banc didn’t respond to his request.
As an independent bet, Serge said he would welcome Digong’s endorsement but would not seek it. He is ranked #11 in the last Pulse Asia survey.
Day’s quote: ‘Pag ayaw ng Comelec’
“Pag ayaw ng Comelec, eh ‘di okay lang.” That’s how media quoted Serge Osmeña when the Cebuano ruled out the option to appeal the ruling if Comelec would disqualify him.
Serge, the last Cebuano senator in the Senate (1995-2007; 2010-2016), places his chance of being disqualified at 10 per cent. He will take that chance, he said. “Hindi naman ako segurista, eh.” Serge will turn 75 this December 13.
He may also be looking at the number of candidates similarly situated as he is: more than 400. If Comelec would delist him, so would it drop the many others who failed to file their Soces.
The Supreme Court upheld last May 2017 the 2016 Comelec ruling that perpetually disqualified Joel T. Maturan who failed to file his Soce for the 2010 Basilan gubernatorial and 2013 mayoralty elections. The language of Section 14 of Republic Act #7166 is clear, the SC said. Comelec has “absolute discretion” to impose the penalty of perpetual DQ after a second offense is committed.
***
Tell us about it.
[paseares@gmail.com]