The PDP question
IBy N the hiatus of then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s equivocation to be a candidate for president, I recollect my TV interviews with his close supporters. Barangay Chairman Martin Diño warming the PDP (Partido Demokratiko Pilipino) seat in the meantime, should Davao’s chief executive decide to plunge into national office. There was the Sal Panelo statement of an 80% chance of Duterte’s candidacy, first made in my program Republika (Tuesdays, 8pm., Ch. 8 Destiny & Ch. 213 Sky). What followed was the slate of “Duterte senatoriables” – Rafael Alunan, Dante Liban, Dionisio Santiago, Greco Belgica, etc., coming on board for an interview.
Even then, there was an uneasy alliance, the “senatoriables” intimated behind camera. Their presidential candidate embraced PDP, and necessarily vice-versa. However, the party founded in Cagayan de Oro, shunted the standard bearer’s personal endorsement of his Senate slate. It will be recalled, in my lone interview with presidentiable Duterte, two of his candidates stood behind him for 50 minutes. They were advertised by Duterte to rally support for his chosen few. According to one “senatoriable,” they were not welcome to PDP rallies and a high party official campaigned only once for them. The question they asked: Is the president PDP? Or was it a case of the party availability, and the latter in deep need of a Duterte to matter in a presidential race?
As practiced in recent times, fire-exit evacuation of politicians to the winning party ensued. A congressman friend, queried if he was PDP, replied, “I only have one party. Whatever is the president’s party.” Part of the error in accepting the deluge of political refugees entering PDP was “ideology” surrendered to political addition. Never mind what majority they formerly came from. Party stalwarts managed the party without the courtesy of actually seeking advice and counsel from the “titular head” of the party – President Duterte.
The removal of the Senate president plus House speaker, both party pillars, by their newly accepted members in the House, was writing on the wall. The chasm further exacerbated when a faction of PDP re-organized themselves as party officers. Presidential intervention was answered with “Solve your own internal problems” to re-unify the party. Why is Mayor Sara Duterte remaining a non-PDP? The birth of “Hugpong ng Pagbabago” is body language which has the full blessings of the Palace.