The current presidential contest is full of surprises just like the gift packages that we unwrap on Christmas Eve. Earlier, despite topping all pre-election surveys, we were all jolted when Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio announced that she was seeking the vice-presidential seat after all. She had opted to run in tandem with former Sen. Bongbong Marcos who will be her standard bearer. Her decision had gravely miffed her father that upon learning of his daughter’s action, the President announced in exasperation that he would file his candidacy for vice president to contest his daughter’s bid, although he abandoned it over the weekend and filed his COC for senator instead. In another unexpected move, Sen. Bong Go, who had previously slid down to VP position to open the presidential slot to Mayor Sara, refiled his COC for president under Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS).
The latest development that left us all flabbergasted while lounging in our favorite chair watching Netflix was the breaking news that Senator Go had withdrawn from the presidential race. It even eclipsed Gat Andres Bonifacio’s 158th birthday celebration. It seems that the party’s name under which he refiled his presidential bid is a misnomer. It’s definitely bereft of noble and great blood when its presidential candidate backs out from the race after admitting that he is in a “state of shock” after he filed his candidacy for president. He further said and I quote: “I’m in a very difficult situation. I’m still carefully thinking about it. I am waiting for a sign from God. If He thinks I should stay here, I will follow Him and of course the Filipinos.” Obviously, God did not endorse his candidacy. I can only commiserate with Sen. Bong Go. I know that he has all the best intentions to serve our country but as he himself admitted, this is not yet his time. Anyway, Senator Go can dedicate his efforts in the Senate where he has 3 1/2 years to serve. He can introduce legislation and initiatives like the Malasakit Centers and the Balik Probinsya Program where he is the unstinting champion. As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Sports, he can focus on an agenda which will strengthen our unending fight against Covid-19 and promote programs that will continue our country’s resurgence in various sports.
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Another unforeseen development that has never happened at any point in our political history is the alliance of the families of four presidents, former and incumbent, to present a united front to capture the top 2 positions in our country. The ruling families represented by the Marcoses, Estradas, Arroyos and Dutertes have coalesced to virtually crush the opposition. You may call them the “Gang of Four” or the “Fantastic Four,” depending on your political orientation. The former, as you may recall, was the most powerful member of the political group that became very influential under Chairman Mao Tse Tung. They implemented the draconian policies of the Chinese Communist Party during the dreaded years of the Cultural Revolution in China. Their reign of terror ended when Chairman Mao died. They were all prosecuted and jailed. Of course, the Fantastic Four is the team of superheroes based on the Marvel comics characters who saved our planet from the evil forces who all wanted to dominate the world. I hope that their goals are heroic and noble as the Fantastic Four instead of consolidating their power to impose their nefarious schemes and vicious rule. We don’t want the group to degenerate into a “coalition of the willing”—willing to plunder the country, willing to suppress human rights, and willing to bring back our nation into the dark ages. Each of the component families of the coalition had installed a president. Each one had its own share of glory and shame. Their rabid allies claim that their president had served the country well and contend that the Philippines never had it so good until their term. Oddly enough, instead of the opposition forces unifying against the administration and its partisans, the ruling families and pro-administration forces have banded together to form what looks like an invincible alliance to steamroll everyone who dares challenge their hegemony. We don’t know if this new alignment of forces augurs well for Bongbong Marcos. The latest poll survey conducted by PUBLICUS Asia showed Marcos way ahead of his opponents. He captured 49.3 percent of the votes, with VP Leni Robredo in far second with 21.3 percent. Mayor Isko Moreno got 8.8 percent, followed by Senator Ping Lacson and Senator Manny Pacquiao at 2.9 percent and 2.8 percent, respectively. On the other hand, this formidable show of force may also rally all disgruntled elements behind the opposition. Confronted by a seemingly awesome power, the “forces of light” will perforce combat the “forces of darkness” to survive. This will be an interesting contest that will be waged in the looming battle of Armageddon—the 2022 presidential election.
But the raging question is: Who will the opposition forces rally behind? VP Leni’s camp claims that she is the genuine opposition and so all the anti-Marcos, anti-Estrada, anti-Arroyo and anti-Duterte elements should mobilize under her banner. It’s true that the other presidential contenders have not been staunch oppositionists against Duterte, much less against Marcos or Estrada or Arroyo. Others even claim that they are neither pro- nor anti-Duterte, but they are pro-Filipinos. Unless the others withdraw or give way to one, unity among the opposition ranks will remain a mirage. Marcos will remain the man to beat in the coming election. It will be unimaginable what will happen to our country if the Gang of Four will be at the helm of our government. We can only pray, and that appears to be the only option we have, that they will serve and protect our country like our movie flick heroes, the Fantastic Four. And posterity will be kinder and grateful to them.