Like duck to water
Combinations are being explored on who would team up with who, which candidate has the wherewithal to launch a massive campaign, what tandem would be the most viable, etc
Next to the national pastime of basketball, Filipinos take to politics like duck to water.
Here we are, having barely started the year, and we already hear reports of backdoor negotiations among political wannabees, all intended to test the waters of a possible run for next year’s polls.
And Juan de la Cruz could only wonder in amazement.
Like the popular Easy 2, a two-number lotto game, combinations are being explored on who would team up with who, which candidate has the wherewithal to launch a massive campaign, what tandem would be the most viable, etc.
You then hear stories of possible presidential and vice-presidential bets having dinner. Or of this and that lawmaker suddenly getting active in print and social media, issuing statements and press releases on various issues.
Even those regarded as possible presidential timbers have to issue denials that they are interested. But the caveat is, you see their backers staging one motorcade after another urging them to run, kuno.
All these things, sadly, are happening in the midst of a pandemic with the all-important vaccine still to be rolled out.
Here and now
Election season for May 2022 is here and now, although officially the campaign won’t start until early next year.
So, what gives? Here are some insider reports we have gathered:
• A Metro Manila city executive, who says he has no intention to run, is said to be being backstopped now by one of the country’s tycoons who made his fortune in port operations. Although we have yet to confirm this, our informant revealed that it is the reason why the city executive is said to be very active now in various community programs and activities where he is required to make speeches. He is also utilizing his strong social media presence to impart his own agenda to the people. But ask him whether he will be running and he would answer with a curt, “We have a pandemic to even think of that.”
• The reason a national icon is widely seen giving his two cents’ worth in every issue is because he too is looking forward to 2022. No less than his former promoter has branded him as the Philippines’ next president, probably the reason, too, why he is positioning himself as an alternative to the major contenders. Fact is, he has recently been kicked upstairs in his party and now commands some political clout after lording it over the sports arena. Just recently, he reportedly had dinner with the city executive above to reportedly, “shoot the breeze.” We could only guess what they’ve talked about.
• Bereft of any viable contender, the yellow opposition is reportedly even looking at a detained senator to tandem with Vice President Leni Robredo for next year. Our source refused to give more details, but it is obvious somebody in the opposition has been burned by past runs that he is not even being looked at anymore as a frontrunner, but more of a backer because of the family’s big business empire.
• Two senators figuring prominently in surveys are planning to toss their hats into the derby if only there would be moneyed backers to prop them up. They are reportedly just positioning themselves to attract possible “investors.”
• Another source, a keen analyst in the political front, believes whoever has the wherewithal should have an edge in the jockeying for position for the 2022 polls. That leaves those who don’t have the financial resources vying for crumbs, he says. Aside from being a frontrunner, but who has yet to say yes to those endorsing her, a local government executive is said to be being bankrolled by another businessman with extensive resources.
Bloated figures?
Out of the political arena, there’s a disturbing info we received that the reason why active coronavirus cases are not dwindling is because it is intentionally being bloated to maintain the budget being received by the Department of Health in the fight against Covid-19.
Names of patients who have recovered are allegedly not stricken off the list of active cases for reasons only known to them. This, indeed is disturbing if true. Could this be another source of corruption inside the controversial agency? We certainly hope not.