Focus on bailiwicks: Analysts on LP bets

THE Otso Diretso senatorial slate of the opposition Liberal Party (LP) should bank on their strengths and bailiwicks to increase their chances in the 2019 midterm elections, analysts said Sunday.

Analysts were sought for comment on the heels of poor showing by the LP’s candidates in recent surveys, in contrast to the increase in rankings among candidates associated with President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

“Negative ads do not usually work. The opposition candidates should not waste their time and money on negative campaigns. They have to capitalize on their strengths and must stick to the main issues like how they will ensure press freedom, put limits to, if not eliminate disinformation, how they will manage inflationary prices, and how a military solution will never bring us peace,” political science assistant professor Perlita M. FragoMarasigan of the University of the Philippines told BusinessWorld in a phone message Sunday.

“They will have to stress how democracies need checks and balances. That a democratic Senate should not be monolithic. And if elected, how will they ensure that an all-too powerful president will not thrive in this country. They should just focus their campaign in regions where they are strong. Keep their base solid.”