What ever happened to PJ Garcia's endorsement of Isko?

Deputy speaker Pablo John F. Garcia may be the most intelligent among the 11 representatives from the island of Cebu, both the province and the component cities of Cebu City, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu. He was a Bar topnotcher like his late dad, Noy Pabling, and his late uncle, Noy Jesus. But his endorsement of Isko Moreno last election was perhaps one of his few political blunders, if I may say so, with due respect.

The biggest loser in the last elections was not VP Leni, not Pacman, not even Ping Lacson, but Isko Moreno. He showed his true colors as an opportunistic, self-righteous, arrogant, and haughty traditional politician. What he did in Manila Pen a few days before the elections, demanding the withdrawal of VP Leni, was his greatest undoing. That is why his biggest financier reportedly abandoned him in the final stretch and shifted to BBM, thereby depriving Isko his needed financial wherewithal, and paralyzed his campaign and election operations. Good for him. He even lost to Marcos in his own home base, Manila. Karma.

Going back to PJ Garcia's endorsement of Isko, the results in the 3rd District were obvious; either PJ Garcia abandoned Isko in the homestretch, perhaps upon the prodding of Manang Gwen, or that Isko really is a weak candidate and not even the endorsement of the 3rd District's unopposed congressman and political kingpin could resuscitate Isko's hopeless run. Let us look at numbers: In Barili, Marcos won with 21,941 votes followed by Pacquiao, 10,033, Leni, 8,594, and poor Isko who was fourth placer with only 3,360 votes. He must be that weak indeed, despite the help of the Garcias, both mayor and congressman.

The same was true in Pinamungajan: Marcos, 18,278; Pacquiao, 15,686, Robredo, 5,068, and Isko, 744 (wow). In Aloguinsan: Marcos, 7,719; Pacquiao, 4,880; Robredo, 2,996; Isko, 473 (wow na wow). In Toledo City: Marcos, 50,883; Pacman 32,409; Robredo, 13,379; Isko, 2,061 (napaka wow). In Balamban: Pacquiao, 19, 219; Marcos, 18,395; Robredo, 4,846; Isko, 1,382 (wa na ko'y say). In Asturias: Marcos, 13,018; Pacquiao, 11,601; Robredo, 4,088; and Isko, 579 (fantastic). In Tuburan: Pacquiao, 15,773; Robredo, 11,038; Marcos, 10355; and Isko, 440 (amazing).

This could only mean that Isko was not able to deliver the logistics to the 3rd District and that the Garcias might have finally consolidated behind Marcos at the eleventh hour, upon the probable prodding of the governor. Isko was junked because he doesn’t deserve the support of the Cebuanos in the 3rd District, in the first place. In most of the towns, Marcos was the winner, and in In Balamban and Tuburan, Pacman won. Leni was always number three or number two. But Isko was very consistent in his being number four in all the towns and even in Toledo City.

The conclusions are inevitable. First, Isko is a very weak candidate. Second, deputy speaker PJ Garcia is an obedient younger brother to Governor Gwen. Third, the Garcias are the most astute politicians in Cebu who should now be declared as the strongest political force in this province. With their alliance with BBM and Inday Sara, I am very sure that the Garcias shall be invincible in the many years to come. Isko will just be a small dot in the annotations of history. The Garcias will rise higher in the political universe.

It is beyond doubt that the Garcias were the biggest winners in the last polls. They made the wisest (I did not say correct) choice, they gambled and won, and will soon reap all the fruits of guts, grit, and great strategies. The Duranos and all their political enemies will bite the dust, except the pure and beloved Junjun Davide, of course.