FORMER senator Panfilo Lacson, who is among the likely winners of the May 12 senatorial race based on unofficial partial tally, yesterday said the administration’s political machinery failed after the “Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas” slate only got six Senate seats, including Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, who was endorsed by Vice President Sara Duterte and her father’s political party, the PDP-Laban.
“The much-hyped administration machinery, especially during the midterm elections, failed,” Lacson, who is in the 11-man Alyansa ticket, said in a statement.
Lacson, a seasoned lawmaker, said that while he is not an expert political analyst, his long experience in campaigns and elections tells him that the failure of the government’s machinery was among the “game changers” in the midterm polls.
Aside from Lacson, the four other Alyansa candidates who are expected to make it to the Senate are Rep. Erwin Tulfo (PL, ACT-CIS), former Senate president Vicente Sotto III, and reelectionist Senators Pia Cayetano and Lito Lapid.
Villar, while allied with the administration, accepted the endorsement of the Vice President, who has been at loggerheads with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. since she broke away from their alliance in June last year.
The Alyansa bets who lost were Makati Mayor Abby Binay, reelectionist Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr, former senator Manny Pacquiao, former interior secretary Benhur Abalos Jr., and reelectionist Sen. Francis Tolentino.
Marcos accompanied the Alyansa bets going around the country during the 90-day campaign period, helping his slate convince voters to support his chosen candidates who would help him realize his vision of a Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines).
His cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez, the president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), had been rallying Lakas governors, lawmakers, mayors and other local leaders to mobilize “every ground force, every local leader and every local community network” to help the administration bets who will push for the President’s legislative agenda.
Lacson said the other game changers were the number of millennials and Gen Z who went out and voted, the role of social media in the campaign, and former President Rodrigo Duterte’s influence despite being detained in The Hague, in the Netherlands where he will be tried by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
The Dutertes campaigned for 10 senatorial candidates of the “Duterte10,” three of which are expected to win – reelectionist Senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Ronald dela Rosa, and Rep. Rodante Marcoleta (PL, Sagip).
The Vice President and the PDP-Laban also endorsed Sen. Imee Marcos, who was initially included in the Alyansa and later broke away after the former president’s arrest last March 11.
Lacson said the “biggest beneficiaries” of the “Duterte10” and the “Alyansa minus two,” referring to Villar and Marcos, were incoming senators Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino and Francis Pangilinan of the Liberal Party.
“To their credit, they are both qualified, and they campaigned hard, to the last day of the 90-day campaign period. I certainly look forward to working with them again in the Senate in case the current trend of the election results holds,” he said.
“There is certainly a lot to learn from the recently concluded midterm elections. One thing is for certain: when all is said and done, it’s the people who get to decide. This is the essence of democracy,” Lacson added.
‘PROTEST VOTE’
Palace press officer Claire Castro dismissed the idea that the results of the midterm elections are a “protest vote” and a reflection of the people’s supposed opposition to the perceived persecution of the Dutertes.
Castro said this is a narrative that the Duterte camp wants to project. “Tao po ang siyang humusga, tao po ang siyang bumoto. Igalang po natin ang mga napili ng mga kababayan po natin. wala po itong repleksyon kung anuman po ang sinasabi patungkol sa mga Duterte (It is the people who made the judgment, the people who voted. Let’s respect the choices of our countrymen. This is not a reflection on anything that is said about the Dutertes),” she said.
Castro likewise shrugged off remarks that the midterm elections were a referendum for the current administration, as she expressed confidence that the public continues to support and trust Marcos, whom she said is “not a lame duck.”
She noted a pre-election survey showing that the majority of Filipinos trust Marcos and that more than half are satisfied with his performance.
Castro also said Malacañang will fight “obstructionists” posing as members of the opposition and welcomed the entry of “legitimate oppositionists” to the Senate.
“Inaasahan din po ng administrasyon ang presensya ng lehitimong oppositionists pero lalabanan po ang mga obstructionists na nagtatago sa pangalan ng oppositionist, mga obstructionists na maaaring pansarili lamang ang kanilang ilalaban (The administration also expects the presence of legitimate oppositionists, but we will fight obstructionists who hide behind the name of oppositionists, obstructionists who may only be fighting for their own personal gain),” she said without naming who the obstructionists are.
She defined obstructionists as those who continuously oppose and criticize the government and only pursue things that would serve to promote his/her own interests.
She said the legitimate opposition are those who, despite their difference in opinion, pursue, promote and protect the interests of Filipinos and the country. – With Jocelyn Montemayor
