Phl politics: Never say never

The country’s political scene was astir over the weekend following reported pronouncements from probable candidates grooming themselves to run in the coming May, 2016 presidential elections. The latest came from former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson who broadly indicated he might try to make a second attempt at the presidency.

“If you are asking if I have the intention, yes, I have the intention,” Lacson was quoted saying over the weekend. He hastily qualified that his final decision to run or not in the presidential polls will hinge on a number of factors but did not elaborate.

Lacson first ran but lost during the controversial presidential race in May, 2004 won by then incumbent President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Lacson landed third next to the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. Earlier, Lacson’s name was being linked as possible running mate of Sen. Grace Poe, daughter of the late actor.

Ironically, Lacson was also first groomed to run as vice presidential running mate of Sen.Poe’s late father. It was former President Joseph Estrada who tried but failed to woo Lacson to slide down in favor of his bosom friend. Estrada is also close to Lacson who served as directorgeneral of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during his shortened presidency.

Detained then while undergoing plunder trial at the Sandiganbayan, Estrada tried to broker a common presidential candidate of the opposition with Poe running against Mrs.Arroyo. As figurehead of the opposition, Estrada urged Lacson to join forces with Poe. However, negotiations fell through. Poe instead ran with Sen.Loren Legarda as his vice presidential candidate while Lacson ran on his own without a vice presidential candidate.

This early, Estrada announced he is not interested in another attempt at the presidency. He ran but lost to President Benigno “Noy” Aquino during the May, 2010 elections. Estrada, turning 78 this April 19, opts to continue his dreams of restoring the old glory of the city of Manila and will run for re-election.

Thus, Estrada renewed his call for the opposition to field a common presidential candidate in the coming May, 2016 election.

In media interviews last Friday, Lacson expressed his “intention” to take another shot at the presidency despite his having gotten 1% in the latest mock polls. However, Lacson got a higher rating in the mock polls for senatorial bets in 2016 with 58.3%. He came a close second to incumbent re-electionist Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III who topped the Pulse Asia survey on senatoriables.

What would make up Lacson’s mind whether to run for the presidency or not? Lacson told groups of retired police and military officials helping his candidacy “to validate” first if his high senatorial rating could be translated into votes for presidency instead.

The mock polls conducted by Pulse Asia from March 1 to 7 showed Vice President Jejomar Binay, despite being investigated in the Senate for alleged irregularities in Makati when he was still its mayor, even increased from 26% in November last year to 29%.

Sen.Poe retained the No. 2 spot but her rating dropped from 18% to 14%. Estrada got a higher rating with 12% ( up from 7%). Another new presidential candidate, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who was previously not included in the survey choices, tied with Estrada in fourth place.

Sen.Miriam Defensor-Santiago got 9% while Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. came in next with 6%.

The other names that came out getting voters’ preference included Liberal Party’s (LP) presumptive presidential candidate Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II who got 4%; Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero (4%); Alan Peter Cayetano (3%) and Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV (2%); and Philippine Red Cross chairman Richard “Dick” Gordon (tied with Lacson at 1%).

On the other hand, Poe remained as the top choice among potential vice presidential candidates. However, her rating also dropped from 33% in November to 29% in March.

The rest of the top 10 possible vice presidential aspirants included: Escudero (16%), Cayetano (13%), Duterte (11%), Marcos (11%), Trillanes (6%), Estrada (4%), Senate President Franklin Drilon (3%), detained Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. (2%); and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo (0.4%).

In the senatorial polls for 2016, incumbent senators and former senators lorded it over in the same Pulse Asia survey. After Sotto and Lacson, the rest of the top 15 senatorial choices included: Marcos, Secretary Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Drilon, Sen. Ralph Recto, former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Sen. Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III, Gordon, former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, former Sen. Jamby Madrigal, Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, Taguig Rep. Lino Cayetano and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao.

Unperturbed by surveys, former Manila mayor and now Buhay partylist congressman Lito Atienza was the first to announce his plans to run for the Senate. Atienza is among the Senate bets in the line-up of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Vice President Binay. Atienza said he would rather not run again for mayor of Manila. Atienza also revealed his son, Manila Councilor Ali Atienza will be running for Vice Mayor of Manila.

Appearing as our guest last week at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay, Atienza disclosed his El Shaddai-backed Buhay party-list is coalescing with UNA supporting the presidential bid of Binay in 2016. Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino is allied with UNA. Estrada said he will meet by July with Vice President Binay and the rest of UNA leaders to finalize the common senatorial ticket of the opposition in next year’s elections.

The Commission on Elections set the filing of candidacies in October this year. Presidential wannabes, senatoriables, and other aspirants in the local and national elections in May, 2016 have between now and October to make up their mind. In Philippine politics, it’s never say never.

* * * Former DILG Secretary Rafael Alunan and popular actor Robin Padilla are the featured guests in our Kapihan sa Manila Bay this Wednesday (April 15) at the Luneta Hotel in T.M. Kalaw St., Manila. This week’s topic: the government’s peace process in Mindanao, including the passage into law of the controversial Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). Come and join us in the breakfast forum to discuss the future of the peace process in the aftermath of the Mamasapano incident.

The Commission on Elections set the filing of candidacies in October this year. Pres ident ial wannabes, senatoriables, and other aspirants in the local and national elections in May, 2016 have between now and October to make up their mind.