Opposition continues to take own sweet time
THE administration continues to solidify its ranks by drawing the support of various political parties while the opposition appears to be taking its own sweet time, waiting for opposition leader Vice President Leni Robredo to decide if she will seek the presidency next year.
The Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of former President and Manila mayor Joseph Estrada and the People’s Reform Party (PRP) of the late former senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago announced yesterday they are throwing their support behind the presumptive presidential bid of presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
The two parties made the announcement after the Lakas-CMD led by House majority leader Martin Romualdez and the National Unity Party (NUP) of businessman Enrique Razon vowed to renew their alliance with Duterte-Carpio’s Hukbong ng Pagbabago (HNP) in the run-up to the 2022 national elections.
Former senator Jinggoy Estrada said the PMP will back the presidential and vice presidential candidates of HNP amid reports that the two parties are forging an alliance.
“We will support her (Sara) 100 percent,” Estrada told ANC, saying the PMP wants President Duterte’s daughter to gun for the presidency and is just waiting for her to announce her decision.
The younger Estrada said he, his friend Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and the senator’s family had lunch with Duterte-Carpio last week at the Bonifacio Global City to catch up.
He refused to say if Duterte-Carpio sought their support for her possible presidential bid, saying the lunch-meeting was just a “renewal of friendship” since Sara helped them campaign in the 2019 senatorial elections under the administration ticket.
Jinggoy said the PMP is also prepared to support Manila Mayor Isko Moreno if the HNP will eventually choose him as its candidate either for the presidency or the vice presidency, saying he is “qualified to run for the vice-presidency or presidency” and would be a “formidable contender.”
Moreno, who defeated Estrada’s father in the 2019 mayoralty race, has kept his cards close to his chest as to what position he would seek in 2022 but he has partnered with Robredo for a COVID-19 vaccination hub project in Manila.
Estrada also said he is “inclined” to run for the Senate again after his 2019 defeat although he would prefer that only one Estrada seek a Senate seat next year.
He said he would have to discuss the matter with his half brother, former senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, who also lost in the 2019 senatorial race.
“Mabuti na ‘yung iisa lang ang Estrada ang tumakbo kasi minsan nalilito ang ating mga botante kung sino sa aming dalawa. Siguro (perhaps) it’s high time that we get to talk to each other (It’s best that only one Estrada will run because people get confused who’s who between the two of us),” he said.
‘MIRIAM’S PRINCIPLES’
For its part, PRP announced through its president Narciso “Jun” Santiago Jr., widower of Miriam, that the party “will give its full support to Mayor Sara if she decides to run for president in the 2022 elections.”
“As party President, I want to state that we in the PRP believe that Mayor Sara Duterte can continue the advocacies and principles of former Senator Miriam Santiago. We are are hoping that Mayor Sara will heed the strong clamor from the people for her to run for the highest post in the land,” he said in a statement.
The PRP president said their party forged an alliance with HNP in December 2018 for the 2019 polls and the same thing could happen in the 2022 elections.
“This alliance may be renewed. PRP and HNP share many things in common; both parties focus on reform, discipline, leadership and fighting corruption in government,” he said.
The presidential daughter has made it clear that she drop her plan to seek the presidency if her father will run for vice president because a Duterte-Duterte tandem would not look good before the public, citing the principle of checks and balances in a democracy.
The PDP-Laban has announced it could adopt a presidential candidate who is not a member of the party, like the younger Duterte, since it is not unusual for political parties to support individuals from other parties.
‘TRUE OPPOSITION’
Magdalo party-list Rep. Manuel Cabochan III, a member of the opposition, said political parties are free to form alliances to boost their choice’s chance of winning next year’s elections, “in this case Sara.”
While it is true that the opposition has yet to field or even name its standard bearer as it waits for Robredo’s decision, he said former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a Magdalo member, will carry the torch.
“If VP Leni decides not to run, then it leaves only one true opposition in the person of (University of the Philippines) prof. Sonny Trillanes,” he said in a text message. “Against a lineup of traditional politicians, a true alternative may standout to be the leader we need.”
The Vice President will decide if she will gun for the country’s top post, seek a lower post or just opt out of the next elections.
Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte, who is a member of the Nacionalista Party (NP), earlier said Robredo cannot run for governor of the province because she is a resident of Naga City, an independent component city of Camarines Sur.
He said Robredo can run for representative or mayor of Naga City but not for governor because the Commission on Elections has ruled that registered voters of Naga City are disqualified to run for a provincial post.
The lawmaker was referring to the Comelec’s 2013 resolution, declaring former Solicitor General Jose Anselmo Cadiz ineligible to run for governor of Camarines Sur for being a resident of Naga City.
Meanwhile, a member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission said the 1987 Constitution allows Duterte to run for vice president in the May 2022 polls but he cannot succeed the president if the need arises.
“There is no prohibition for him to run as vice president. But, if elected, he will have no right to succession,” Novaliches Bishop emeritus Teodoro Bacani said in a radio interview.
“Thus, if he wins as vice president and the president dies, he cannot succeed as president again. The successor will then be the Senate president.”
Bacani said the 1987 Constitution explicitly prohibits a former president from assuming the post again.
“The prohibition for a president, who serves his full term, to hold office again as president is absolute,” he said.
“He can never be president again,” he added.
Last week, Duterte said the public may consider him as a candidate for the vice presidency “at this time.” — With Gerard Naval
