Miles away from home, overseas Filipinos are hooked with the election ‘teleserye’ in the Philippines as political drama continues to unfold.
The lead characters involve a boxing champion, an actor-turned-politician, a right-hand man of the president, a military general, a son of a former strongman and dictator, as well as a lone woman candidate. They are the six primary presidential aspirants in next year’s polls—all gunning to replace President Rodrigo Duterte.
However, no less than the president and his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, are stirring up the latest elections brouhaha.
‘Last minute syndrome’
Following in the footstep (and political tactic) of his father, Duterte-Carpio filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) for vice president despite her earlier pronouncements that she was not interested to run for any national post. Her last-minute filing by substitution came as no surprise for her election opponents. The plot thickened when it supposedly shocked her own father, who had the same strategy during the 2016 polls.
In an interview with vlogger Banat By on Youtube, the president claimed that he and his daughter have not been talking to each other for months now. He was disappointed not because of his daughter’s political ambitions, but due to her decision not to run for the presidency.
“Hindi ko naman siya sinisisi kasi hindi naman kami nag-uusap. ‘Yung desisyon nila ang ayaw ko, na tatakbo siya. Nagtataka ako, sabi ko, siya ang number one sa survey, kung bakit siya pumayag na tatakbo lang bise. Siya ‘yung mataas ang rating eh,” said the president.
In the middle of a wedding event in Cavite, Duterte-Carpio joined the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD). An hour later, former senator and presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos revealed that his party, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), has ‘adopted’ Duterte-Carpio as his running mate, forming the ‘BBM-Sara’ tandem.
“Itong kandidatura ko bilang bise presidente ay maaaring magbago. Hindi niyo ho maiwasan may mga changes sa pulitika na sabi ko nga napakadumi,” an emotional Go remarked at the opening of a Malasakit Center in Antipolo last Nov. 9.
Bong vs Bongbong
Disappointed that her own daughter, a frontrunner in the presidential and vice-presidential surveys, would be vying head to head and possibly defeat his right-hand man, President Duterte convinced his ally Sen. Bato dela Rosa to back out from his presidential run after his erstwhile running mate Go fielded his name in the presidential race. Despite the noise of Bongbong-Sara tandem, the president now persuades his allies to support the Bong-Sara tandem instead. Recently, he endorsed the pair during a dinner he hosted for over 100 lawmakers.
Apart from the favor given by the president to Bong-Sara tandem, Marcos is also facing several hurdles with three disqualification cases falling on his lap.
Postponed retirement
To help Go in his presidential bid, President Duterte officially joined the circus after filing his candidacy as senator.
This was a change of tune from his earlier pronouncements that he would already retire in 2022. “In obedience to the will of the people, who after all placed me in the presidency many years ago, I now say, sa mga kababayan ko, sundin ko ang gusto ninyo, and today I announce my retirement from politics,” said Duterte in a prerecorded speech in early October.
Pink versus Red
After the final week for substitution, several OFWs in the UAE began organizing campaigns for their preferred presidential candidates. Groups of OFWs were seen wearing shades of ‘Pink’and ‘Red’ —red being the color of Marcos campaign and pink for Robredo.
A group of OFWs who met up at a park was clad in pink to show their support for the incumbent vice president. Meanwhile, several more OFWs wearing shirts with the tagline ‘Husay at Tibay Dapat si Leni’, did their morning walk nearby the shores of Abu Dhabi’s Corniche area. Robredo herself acknowledged the efforts of these OFWs who showed their support on her official Facebook account.
“We are overwhelmed with the outpouring of support from different OFW organizations and overseas Filipino groups. Damang-dama natin na magkakasama tayo sa laban na ito, kahit magkakalayo at maraming pagkakaiba. Hindi ko man kayo ma-tag ngayon isa-isa, nakikita namin ang lahat ng inyong efforts,” said Robredo.
Junlet Tigbalang from Dubai said that it was Leni’s track record in politics and her character that turned her to support the ‘pink camp’.
“Si Leni Robredo lang ang meron pinakamagandang track records, malinis magtrabaho, maka-Diyos, makabayan at kwalipikado bilang mambabatas. Walang bahid ng korapsyon ang kanyang trabaho,” said Tigbalang.
Vic Seguerra was impressed with Robredo’s performance during her stint as Vice President, and believes that she could do more when she takes the country’s top post. “VP Leni will still triumph because of her character, honest to goodness performance in the OVP, and her passionate desire for the betterment of the Filipino people,” said Seguerra.
Meanwhile, another group of OFWs met up at the Heritage Park in Abu Dhabi wearing red to show their support for Marcos. The former senator took to his official Facebook page to thank those who have shown their support for his campaign.
“Nasa ibayong dagat man, di pahuhuli ang ating mga OFWs sa pagpapakita ng kanilang pagsasanib puwersa! Maraming salamat po at lagi kayong mag-iingat!” said Marcos.
Abu Dhabi-based expat Dave Umanos said that it was his father’s influence and stories that convinced him to vote for Marcos.
“(Si Bongbong) Marcos, ang sabi ng tatay ko iyan ang mga maraming nagawa lalo na ang ama niya na si Ferdinand Marcos… Kaya mas naniniwala ako na magagawa ng anak at nakikita ko madami na siyang nagawa sa lugar niya kagaya ni (Rodrigo) Duterte,” said Umanos.
Jhane De Jesus said: “A professional, a humble man and true leader. He is the most qualified to lead the country, loved by many, friends of all and wants us Pinoy to unify in any colors, his vision and focus is for the good of the people and for the country.”
