Admin ‘presidentiables’ squabbling, as expected

While diverse opposition forces unify for Election 2022, Rody Duterte admin figures are squabbling over who should succeed him. Being undermined by his own PDP-Laban partymates is the presidential positioning of Manny Pacquiao. And the boxing champ-turned-senator is slugging back.

Last weekend Pacquiao publicly scolded Energy Secretary Al Cusi for initiating a draft of Duterte as Vice President in 2022. “Don’t divide the party for your self-interest,” he said through reporters. “Stand by your word of ‘no politics for now, let’s just serve.’ If you go around to help our countrymen, I will applaud. But if you’re politicking, don’t poison the minds of the members.” Pacquiao is acting president, Cusi vice chairman and Duterte chairman of the ruling PDP-Laban.

Thirty party officers signed the plea for Duterte to seek the second highest position. It came after some Metro Manila mayors endorsed a similar call. “I did not allow that, it is not sanctioned, the resolution is unauthorized,” Pacquiao said of Cusi’s initiative.

Pacquiao is often bruited about as president. His name has been included in presidential surveys ever since winning in Congress in 2010. In celebrity- and money-oriented Philippine politics, his global fame and multibillion-peso prize earnings make him a shoo-in. He has not declared such ambition. But in recent weeks videos of him promising to solve poverty and squalor have been circulating in social media. No mention of any position nor of vote solicitation.

A Duterte-for-VP drive arm-locks Pacquiao, PDP-Laban sources say. As presidential contender he would want to pick his runningmate. Since Pacquiao is from Visayan-speaking Mindanao, that partner should be from Luzon, for geographic political breadth.

The only reason to hem in Pacquiao is to promote an admin presidential alternative, insiders add. Duterte often expresses desire to retire from politics after his term and has not reacted to the VP draft. Still his choice of successor carries weight.

Twice in recent weeks Duterte publicly called Senator Christopher Go “Mr. President”. Uneasy, Go requested that he not be addressed as such. Duterte’s longtime aide since Davao City mayoralty told the press the President was only joking. His 2019 senatorial win as PDP-Laban guest candidate has yet to sink into his mind and he wishes to finish his term in 2025, he explained. But pressed further, he said he might reconsider: “Kung ako lang po, hindi po ako interesado. Kung ako lang po, magseserbisyo lang po ako. Magpapabago lang po ng isipan ko, kung tumakbo po si Pangulong Duterte bilang Bise Presidente.”

Given his vast powers, the sitting President running for any other office can easily crush rivals. But it’s constitutionally questionable. The President is limited to a single term precisely so he cannot use the Executive for personal ends. Unclear is the stand of PDP-Laban executive vice chairman Senator Koko Pimentel, a stickler for legality. He has only denied any party rift in the wake of Pacquiao’s outburst against Cusi.

Also being pushed for presidential run is Duterte’s daughter, Davao City mayor Sara “Inday” D. Carpio. Last month videos circulated online of “Run, Inday, Run” tarps being mass-printed, posted in public and motorcaded by fancy sports cars. No “premature electioneering” there, the Comelec said, as no votes are sought. Duterte avows to be dissuading Sara “because the presidency is not for women.” Though non-committal about running she countered in her radio program: “That is his opinion. It is up to the people if they will respect or react violently.” Still, Duterte’s spokesman has signed up with the Inday Cares Volunteers.

Sara for President precludes a Marcos for VP. Having been finally declared loser as Duterte’s 2016 VP runningmate, Bongbong Marcos’ political career is over. Senator Imee Marcos is shut out too for higher office. An Ilocano Marcos-Sara tandem may enhance the Luzon-Mindanao formula, but not with two females, untried in political history.

Also mentioned in surveys is Public Works Sec. Mark Villar. Former and present senator-parents Manny and Cynthia Villar reportedly have long been grooming him for No. 1.

Sara and Pacquiao are shut out of converging democratic and patriotic forces against any Duterte anointed candidate. In yesterday’s launch of the new 1Sambayan coalition, the two were said to represent or support the admin’s extrajudicial killings of drug suspects, authoritarianism and acquiescence to China’s sea aggression. 1Sambayan declared to form a unified opposition ticket for president, vice and 12 senators. Unity can guarantee victory against the admin’s mighty organization and overflowing election war chest, said convenors Antonio Carpio, Albert del Rosario, Conchita Carpio Morales, Bro. Armin Luistro and Fr. Albert Alejo.

In attendance were other 1Sambayan movers: Rep. Antonio Tinio, lawyer Howard Calleja, former audit commissioner Heidi Mendoza, retired Army general Raymundo Jarque, retired Navy admiral Rommel Jude Ong, former governor Rafael Coscolluela, election educator Ricky Javier, beauty-titlist Gazini Ganados, trade unionist Sonny Matula, and former congressmen Neri Colmenares, Rene Magtubo and Etta Rosales.

1Sambayan offered good governance to replace “the incompetent and corrupt current regime.” Announced to be supportive were: present and former VPs Leni Robredo and Jojo Binay, Senators Grace Poe and Nancy Binay, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and former senator Sonny Trillanes.

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