‘VP Leni, on the other hand, projects herself as the exact opposite of the Dutertes — in speech and manner and values. This appeals to the voters…’
THIS is the question most politically inclined friends of mine are asking each other today, in reference to the two most prominent, talked about potential presidentiables for 2022. Of course, I refer to Vice President Leni Robredo, and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
For different reasons both are considered the titular leaders of the opposition and administration. There are many other claimants to the title but in a way they can all be considered “pretenders.” These include Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao for the anti-Duterte groups, and Sen. Bong Go and former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos for the Duterte forces.
Their claim to the “throne” can only ripen, in a way, should any of the two beg off from leading their respective tickets in 2022.
Speculation is evenly split about the two women leaders actually throwing their hats into the ring or actually walking away — VP Leni to run instead for the governor’s post in Camarines Sur, and Mayora Sara for re-election as mayor of Davao.
Of course, it’s not outside the realm of the possible that one or both could opt to be the junior member of a presidential ticket, though this seems less likely for VP Leni than for Mayora Sara. Some, in fact, speculate that while Duterte the elder has accepted his nomination to be the vice presidential candidate of the PDP Laban, Cusi wing, he will give way, some say, for Mayora Sara in a “looming” BBM-Sara matchup.
I cannot really see VP Leni doing the same, though.
Sara, I believe, is the strongest potential presidential candidate of the Duterte-Davao-Sino group (DDS di ba?). She has the image and reputation of a no-nonsense leader who keeps a distance from her father and is more her mother’s daughter; people do like that in a woman leader. She doesn’t have the political baggage that the other potential DDS candidate for president has; I, of course, am referring to Sen Bong Go. Plus, she has the surname that still has considerable value to a significant segment of the electorate.
It seems one can never be neutral towards the name “Duterte.”
There are whispers, though, that a health issue is what is keeping Mayora Sara from plunging into the wild ride that is the campaign. We hope though that this is not true, whoever has the health issue on her family immediate family.
VP Leni, on the other hand, projects herself as the exact opposite of the Dutertes — in speech and manner and values. This appeals to the voters seeing a 180-degree turn away from the last five-and-a-half years and that’s what’s driving the Leni volunteers and their social media drumbeating to convince her to run.
It is a fact that she needs some convincing to run that is becoming both an asset and a liability. On the one hand, her hesitation is being portrayed as proof that she is someone who is not lusting after power and would prefer at this time of the pandemic to focus on addressing the sufferings of the people. On the other hand, her hesitation is also being used as an argument to prove that she does not have the balls needed — especially by a woman — to take the reins of government.
Furthermore, her delayed announcement has opened the door for the “pretenders” to stake an early claim — many times with deleterious consequences for the late comer.
The early bird gets the worm applies to politics as well, whether this be attacks by the rivals, or commitments from potential supporters. A late comer is spared being the object of mudslinging, true, but sometimes finds out that those whose support matter have already committed to others.
But will she or won’t she? Or, should
I say, will they or won’t they?
And will someone again declare “May the best woman win!?”
I guess we will know soon enough!
