Pam won not because of the Dutertes

The Dutertes, if they have a sense of propriety and delicadeza, should not claim credit for the victory of Pam over Governor Gwen. Inday Sara never came up with a clear, explicit, and unequivocal endorsement of Baricuatro. Pam won not even because of Pam herself but because the people are already fed up with Gwen and her antics.

Vice President Sara Duterte repeatedly refused to raise the hands of Pam in Carcar City and in Danao City. The vice president never issued a formal endorsement of Pam Baricuatro. Somehow, aside from the peoples' exasperation with Gwen, Pam won on her own merits for the simple and precise reason that she represents an image that is the complete opposite of the incumbent governor.

The Dutertes are claiming credit for Pam's victory but they never accepted responsibility for the defeats of their strongly-endorsed standard bearers like mayor Mike Rama of Cebu City, mayor Jonas Cortes of Mandaue, congressional candidate Red Durano of the 1st District and Paz Radaza of Lapu-Lapu City. The Duterte factor did not make the Cebuanos choose Pam over Gwen. There are many Cebuanos who hate the Dutertes but voted for Pam.

The Dutertes had no links with Samsam Gullas and Rhea Gullas but Pam made Gwen "eat the dust" in the 1st District. Pam won overwhelmingly in Talisay City. She had no leader on the ground. It was the people who carried her to victory. The Dutertes never gave Pam a single cent for campaign money. But Pam won very strongly both in Naga City and Carcar City, although the mayors and their rivals both carried Gwen. The Gullases have a lot to explain to Gwen but it is easy to say that the people could not be prevented from choosing their own favorite.

The Dutertes had no track record of political strength in Minglanilla, San Fernando, and Sibonga. But Pam won in each of these municipalities with large pluralities over Gwen. Pam won because the people in the 1st District are fed up with what Gwen did to the cement factory in Naga City and with the deteriorating quality of healthcare in provincial hospitals and health centers. The people found a viable alternative in Pam. And the Dutertes have nothing to do about these.

The Dutertes have no record of strong electoral and political machinery in the 2nd District. But Pam won in the two first-class municipalities of Argao and Dalaguete and almost all towns including Boljoon, Oslob, and Alcoy, except Santander and Samboan. Pam won in the 7th District with large pluralities in Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Badian, and Alegria, Gwen only won in her hometown, Dumanjug and in Malabuyoc. So, what do the Dutertes have about all those?

The Dutertes have blood affinities with the Duranos (the wife of the patriarch, Don Ramon Durano was Beatriz Duterte, a distant cousin of former president Rodrigo Duterte) but neither VP Sara nor FPRRD was able to help Red Durano survive the sweeping victory of Duke Frasco. The victory of Pam in the 5th District (except only in the island towns in Camotes) was a win that had nothing to do with the Dutertes. Pam won in Balamban, the biggest town in the whole province where Gwen is building a capitol on top of the mountain in the jungle.

Pam Baricuatro even defeated Gwen Garcia in the Frasco bailiwick in Liloan, a town where the Dutertes never won. That means that Pam has her own political strength independent of the Dutertes. Pam persuaded voters in Liloan and never obeyed the Frascos who are relatives by affinity of Gwen, Congressman Duke being the husband of Gwen's own daughter, Christina, the Tourism secretary. Cristina was VP Sara's former spokeswoman, but she is the daughter of the incumbent whom Pam defeated.

It should be made clear for the records that Pam earned her own crown on her own merits. Now that she won, many are claiming credit for her victory. Had she lost, nobody would have cared. Yes, it is true: Success has many fathers. Failure is an orphan.