What makes a Filipino senatoriable?
A year before the 2019 senatorial derby, it is time to screen who should be senators.
I am disgusted by the alleged wannabes. What makes Freddie Aguilar and Mocha Uson senatoriables? And Lito Lapid again? Is PDP a party of principles or of personalities? Why is LP recruiting Agot Isidro to run for the Senate? Is that an Upper House of entertainment with boxers, comedians and "second-rate, trying-hard copycats" trying to become lawmakers and judges of future impeachments? Why not let PDP-Laban field Coco Martin against Vice Ganda?
What is wrong with the ruling party? The weakness of big political parties is that when mid-term senatorial elections polls come, too many wannabes jump on the bandwagon. This was the problem of KBL during the time of President Ferdinand Marcos, also of the GMA's Lakas-NUCD, and even of PNoy's LP. Jockeying for a slot in the party in power's lineup is now causing tension. There is a supposed list prepared by the senate president who is the party's top leader next to the president himself, but another list has reportedly been prepared by Speaker Bebot Alvarez.
It is lucky the two lists have eight candidates in common; former Senate President Koko Pimentel, Former MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino, Presidential Assistant Bong Go, Davao City representative Karlo Nograles, Mindoro Oriental congressman Reynaldo Umali, Maguindanao Representative Sajid Mangudadatu, Bataan Representative Geraldine Roman, and Presidential spokesman Harry Roque. The Alvarez bets not included by Pimentel were Negros Occidental Representative Alfredo Benitez and Undersecretary Mocha Uson.
There were incumbents in the Pimentel list excluded by Alvarez; senators Juan Edgardo Angara Jr., Cynthia Villar, Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, and Taguig representative and former senator Pia Cayetano. Neither Pimentel nor Alvarez listed JV Ejercito, Bam Aquino, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Revilla, Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, Silvestre Bello, Rodolfo Farinas, Imee Marcos, or Sarah Duterte-Carpio. By the way, four incumbent senators can no longer run for re-election; Loren Legarda, Francis Escudero, Gregorio Honasan, and Antonio Trillanes IV.
The difference between the Pimental and Alvarez lists can be easily ironed out. The intervention of the president can break the impasse. Those who are excluded by PDP-Laban can run under LP with Senator Bam Aquino or as an independent if there will be a coalition between PDP-Laban and the Nacionalista Party, then Senator Cyntia Villar shall surely get one of the slots. There shall be 13 open slots because of one vacancy created when Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was appointed to the DFA. There is a third force emerging; the Hugpong coalition being led by Sarah.
Instead of making the Senate a gallery of jesters like "Eat Bulaga" or "Showtime" let us tap the ranks of dignified professionals who have distinguished themselves in public service. Why don't we urge Atty. Eileen Lizada of LTFRB and Persida Acosta of PAO to run? Why don't we appeal to statesmen like retired chief justice Hilario Davide Jr. and Mayor Eduardo Gullas? These are the caliber of men that will give honor to the Senate, not Mocha Uson or Freddie Aguilar.
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