New political power bloc emerging?

MANILA, Philippines – A new bloc is emerging as the new “party in power,” easing out the incoming ruling party PDP-Laban, and would likely dominate the administration of president-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

A source close to Duterte said the new group is allegedly behind the appointment of several personalities to sensitive posts and also moving to take control of the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

“Although Mayor Duterte is chairman of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino - Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) the new group was able to set up a tight cordon sanitaire to ensure that their nominees will get key Cabinet posts,” the source said.

But Ben Ranque, PDP-Laban secretary general, dismissed the supposed “power bloc” by saying the announcement of Cabinet members is temporary and they are expecting party chairman Duterte to make the final decision.

“There is no power struggle… all incoming Cabinet members are the personal choice of Mayor Duterte,” Ranque said.

The source, however, revealed the new group has lobbied for the appointment of several in the Cabinet and has been recruiting some lawmakers to join the race for Speaker of the House, but that few congressmen were convinced to join them.

In the Senate, the group is also actively campaigning to install a non-PDP-Laban as Senate president.

The source said that aside from cash incentives, the new recruits were also assured of full congressional support during the Duterte administration.

“Except for the leftist and few PDP-Laban nominees and personal choices of Duterte, all other positions are now reserved for nominees closely identified with new group, ” the source said.