How to reverse Leni's 2016 devastating defeat in Metro Manila?

Vice President Leni's greatest hurdles are the solid north and Metro Manila. In 2016, Bongbong Marcos defeated Leni Robredo, Alan Peter Cayetano, Chiz Escudero, Gringo Honasan, and Sonny Trillanes in all the 17 cities and one municipality comprising Metro Manila, or the national capital region. Marcos garnered 2,179,073 votes, Robredo got only 1,361,629 votes while the rest went to Cayetano with 611,329 votes, Escudero with 503,398 votes, Honasan with 70,299 votes, and Trillanes with 52,427 votes. If Leni does not do something draconian, history might repeat itself.

Imagine in Las Piñas, with the Villars and the Aguilars' all-out support for Bongbong, Marcos got 97,641 votes while Leni only obtained 63,456 votes due to the efforts of independent-minded homeowners led by Leni's lawyer, Romulo Macalintal. In Parañaque, where I reside, Marcos got 85,560 votes while Robredo got 80,557 votes. It was only in our barangay where Leni won a clear victory with 13,751 votes but Marcos was not far behind, with 11,187 votes. In Muntinlupa, Marcos garnered 86,252 votes while Robredo obtained 68,843 votes. In Barangay Ayala Alabang, Robredo managed to win with a thin margin of 4,732 votes compared to Marcos' 1,349 votes.

The Binay-controlled Makati gave Marcos 148,883 votes and only 91,059 for Robredo 91,059 votes. The trends show that in rich enclaves, Robredo has the edge. Marcos' strongholds are in urban poor settlements: In Forbes Park, Leni got 1,305 votes while Marcos only got 616 votes. In Dasmariñas Village, Leni obtained 1,787 votes while Bongbong garnered 805 votes. But in Pembo, Marcos was supported by 12,724 votes while Leni got only 4,845 votes. In East Rembo, Marcos got 8,682 votes and Leni had only 3,270 votes. In Comembo, Marcos had 5,112 votes while Leni was credited with only 2,194 votes.

In Pasay, the 2016 poll results were: Marcos, 97,776 votes and Robredo, 51,750 votes. Manila, the city of Isko, gave Marcos 390,356 votes and only 181,421 votes to Leni. Mandaluyong, under the control of the Abalos and Gonzales political alliance, 72,982 votes went to Marcos and only 45,192 votes to Robredo. Marikina, with Teodoro as mayor and Fernando as congressman, gave 69,530 votes to Bongbong and 66,558 votes to Leni. In Pasig, Marcos got 129,145 votes and Leni 103,040 votes. In Quezon City, Marcos got a whopping 412,494 votes and Leni 297,798 votes. The support of the Iglesia ni Kristo to Marcos was a big contributing factor.

In San Juan, Marcos was credited with 26,543 votes and Robredo with 18,696 votes. In Caloocan, Marcos got 243,630 votes while Leni only had 128,321 votes. The Gatchalians who controlled Valenzuela, delivered 116,278 votes to Bongbong with only 66,946 votes for Leni. Malabon gave Bongbong 67,992 votes and Leni 38,045 votes. In Navotas, Marcos got 47,943 votes and only 18,193 votes obtained by Robredo. Cayetano dominated Taguig and Pateros with 134,342 votes. Marcos got 86,068 votes and Leni was third with 41,714 votes. That very devastating debacle should be turned around by Leni. She needs money, organization, and a very astute strategist and tactician. And she should read Sun Tzu's "The Art of War".