The beauty of politics in our country is that any qualified voter can seek public office in an election, and educational qualification is not an issue. The ugly face of it, though, is when members of the same family run against each other, or when they belong to different political parties.
I wrote last week in my column that this midterm election could be likened to a “shadow poll” between President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and the Dutertes, particularly Vice President Sara Duterte. By the nature of her current position, she could be the next frontrunner in the presidential election in May 2028, where she could be facing an opponent from the Marcos or Romualdez political clan.
Look at Sen. Imee Marcos, older sister of President BBM. She begged off from joining Bagong Alyansa ng Pilipinas, her brother’s administration party, and instead ran as an independent in her reelection bid. At the local level, without naming names, there are several family members running against each other, particularly in Mindanao.
Well, it is obvious that Senator Imee chose to run as an independent because of her close affiliation with the Dutertes, who are now politically at loggerheads with President BBM and his administration party for two reasons: 1) the move to impeach VP Sara and 2) former president Digong Duterte facing issues involving the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
Although Senator Imee claimed that she is running as an independent, she was recently endorsed by VP Sara and Camille Villar as bets under the Duterte-backed political party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP).
Despite her previous statement that she would not endorse local bets in Cebu, during the Bakud Maisog Cebu grand rally on Sunday, May 4, in Danao City, attended by 20,000 supporters, VP Sara joined via video call and endorsed the candidacy of Vice Mayor Nito Durano for Danao City mayor and his slate, and Mayor Mix Durano as fifth district congressional bet running against incumbent Cong. Duke Frasco.
Through her representative, Miss Earth 2014 Jamie Herrell, attending the rally, Senator Imee addressed the crowd through a video message.
Given these political scenarios, there is no doubt that the political lines are now clearly drawn between Senator Imee and her brother President BBM.
The endorsements of VP Sara for the PDP senatorial bets and the local candidates in Cebu simply show that this midterm election is a “shadow poll” between President BBM and VP Sara, and the outcome will determine who would be the next president come the May 2028 polls.
Not to be outdone, Gov. Gwen Garcia, who is now serving a six-month preventive suspension imposed by the Office of the Ombudsman, held a political rally in Dumanjug on Monday, May 5, with no less than PBBM attending and endorsing the entire slate of her One Cebu Party. PBBM was joined by two administration senatorial bets.
In return, Governor Garcia affirmed her One Cebu Party’s total support for the 10 senatorial candidates of the Bagong Alyansa ng Pilipinas. What about the other two administration senatorial bets, Guv? Who are they?
On the other hand, did VP Sara’s visit to Cebu, where she met with political leaders and thanked them for supporting her and her father, former President Duterte, whose situation involves the ICC in The Hague, oblige PBBM to come to Cebu? Or, was it because Governor Garcia needed his personal political endorsement after the Ombudsman ordered her suspension?
The question that now hangs, no malice intended, is: Is the PBBM endorsement good vibes for One Cebu Party, or a kiss of death? Well, we will know the results after Monday, May 12, when the Commission on Elections will have proclaimed the poll winners.