Davide and Rama: Sliding down as brilliant master strokes

Sliding down from governor to vice governor and from mayor to vice mayor were not spur-of-the moment decisions. They were results of inner soul-searching and thorough analysis. The force that led to those decisions was Malacañan's attitude towards Cebu politics. Intelligence reaching the Davide-Magpale tandem indicated many LP mayors in Cebu might get undue pressure if Davide pursues reelection. On the other hand, Agnes Magpale is more acceptable to President Duterte. She is related to the Almendrases, Duterte's distant cousins. In Cebu City, Edgar Labella is PDP-Laban while Mike had been unfairly labeled by no less than Duterte. Sliding down for both Junjun and Mike were one step backward, five steps forward. To me, such were brilliant moves.

When Mike and Junjun decided to give way, many were pleasantly surprised. Others said it was a waste of political mileage. But upon deeper reflection, expert political analysts say the moves were brilliant. To Mike it was a virtual hole-in-one. Tomas Osmeña will find it more difficult to hit Edgar because his image is more endearing to the people. Mike was affected by Duterte’s allegations. Edgar appears as clean as a whistle. The BOPK will find it very difficult to find an issue against him. Tomas and Mike already beat each other but Tomas has never defeated Edgar. With Mike at his back, Edgar is a harder nut to crack.

The truth is both Tom and Gwen Garcia’s strategists have been derailed in their plans. All their “bullets” were aimed at Rama and Davide. All of a sudden, targets were changed. The opponents were caught off-guard. It will be very difficult to find an issue against Agnes, a silent performer like Gwen but a more difficult adversary with a very strong bailiwick and support from Malacañan. Davide has no such support or connections. The LP is now much weaker. Sliding down was a very strategic move bound to make both Agnes and Junjun win.

In Mike’s case, his move seals his victory. With due respect to Tom's vice mayoralty bet, she might be good material but she is too inexperienced, only well-known in Lahug. Mary Ann Delos Santos will find it very hard to win in the south district dominated by Mike’s supporters including the Cuencos and Joy Pesquera, whose rising political star cannot be ignored. Even those who will vote for Tomas as mayor will also choose Mike as vice. Our village-by-village analysis shows Mike will get more votes than both Tomas and Edgar, Along this line, Junjun will get more votes than both Gwen and Agnes.

If Gwen wins in the province and Tomas in the city, they can never be sure what the Ombudsman does. If they are perpetually disqualified, then Junjun and Mike take over. If Agnes becomes governor, she can be appointed by the president as DSWD secretary, and Junjun will be governor. If Edgar wins, he can be a very good permanent replacement of Harry Roque or Jose Calida as solicitor general, then Mike will be mayor. Well, anything and everything can happen if Malacañang makes it so.