Dramatic changes in the political landscape

Tewnty two dead members of the Abu Sayyaf in an encounter with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Patikul, Sulu with no casualties on our soldier's side is great news that we haven't heard in a long time. Unfortunately we do not see the dead bodies of the Abu Sayyaf lined up for the press to take photographs. But for us, this is the biggest number of members of the Abu Sayyaf killed in action in Sulu in this retaliatory attacks started by the combined troops from the Philippine Army and the elite Scout Rangers in Barangay Latih.

The message that President Rodrigo "Digong" Duterte is sending out to the Abu Sayyaf is not much different from his message to drug lords, that they would all be killed if they do not surrender. For too long, the Abu Sayyaf had the advantage of using the terrain as their cover. But now that Philippine Army troops are scouring the entire Sulu Province, the Abu's are on the run and hopefully soon, they would disappear forever! But we should not claim a total victory yet until all the known members of the Abu's Sayyaf are either dead or captured, with more about this in the months to come.

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Call them the biggest bunch of political butterflies ever to switch sides so soon after the May elections of 2016. Yes I saw the photos on my Facebook page which made it to the front page of the local dailies of former Team Rama councilors led by Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella and yes, Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing and his Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna and all their city councilors who once belonged to the Liberal Party.

Leading the oath taking at the Sacred Heart Center last Saturday was no less than House Speaker Pantaleon "Bebot" Alvarez and Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino and this included Deputy Speaker Gwen Garcia, Representative Benhur Salimbangon, and Presidential Legislative Liaison Officer Adelino Sitoy. The total net haul was 300 plus officials from the major cities of the Province of Cebu. At this point, I suggest that Governor Hilario Davide III and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale that they might as well sign up for the PDP-Laban so that once more the Province of Cebu will be solid for Duterte. There is no point in staying loyal to the Liberal Party!

So for all intents and purposes, there is no longer any Team Rama, except for former Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama whom I heard wanted to join, but was kept at bay so as to clear his name first. Another fellow that remains in Team Rama is Councilor Pastor "Jun" Alcover Jr. whose dislike for Duterte is splashed all over his Facebook page and this includes Councilor Hans Abella. So in the end, the political landscape has once more changed with the oathtaking of former Team Rama members as PDP-Laban.

For sure there will be jockeying of positions and in the next few days, we would know who would be the majority in the Cebu City Council, whether it is the PDP-Laban or the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan? Take note that Team Rama Councilor Dave Tumulak earlier jumped shipped to BOPK, but whether his move caused an earthshaking shift remains to be seen. Meanwhile, there is no sense for Mayor Tomas Osmeña to also stay with the Liberal Party at this point in the game because they are fast losing their numbers and consequently their political power.

At least in Mandaue City, the PDP-Laban thanks to Quisumbing has brought his entire government to the PDP-Laban party. For sure the political landscape in the Halls of Congress would also change with the entry of a new bunch swearing their oaths as members of the PDP-Laban. Mind you, this new political strength would come in handy when the issue of our shift into a parliamentary-federal form of government will be debated in Congress.

Incidentally, there is an up coming debate which I know would be led by the House Speaker Bebot Alvarez himself when he declared a week ago that he wanted to abolish the Sanggunian Kabataan and the Barangay Councilors. Frankly speaking, I have been asking for the abolition of the SK since time immemorial simply because this was the political toy that the Marcos dictatorship created for then Imee Marcos to play with. But despite its supposed to be apolitical, we know too well that scions of politicians or their loyal followers have taken advantage of the SK, misusing it for their own political agendas.

I would rather prefer the abolition of SK and all those who once belonged to the SK consider membership in the Boys and Girls Scouts of the Philippines simply because this international organization has the right and proper template to train better citizens for the country. As for the Barangay Councilors, if you ask me, they too should be abolished. I would rather create Barangay Sitio Leaders than Barangay Councilmen.