“Coalitions, temporary alliances at that, will be the norm for 2025, whether administration, opposition or independent groups”
On the assumption that nothing will disrupt the mid-term elections in 2025, by October this year, candidates for thousands of positions, from senators to congressmen, party-list representatives, provincial governors and city mayors, municipal mayors too, along with their respective boards and councils, will once again be up for grabs in this politics-crazy country.
This circus, which happens every three years, consumes the collective energies of our people, with dynasts and their surrogates pitted against challengers where, on the local level, money flows and more money determines the winners.
But the common interest is in the sweepstakes for 12 senatorial seats, and this early, pollsters are tracking public sentiment on who are the “llamados” and who are “dejados.”
We have seven incumbents whose six-year term ends on June 30 next year, and under normal circumstances, even assuming the performance of some leaves much to be desired, they are considered “llamados.”
There is the presidential sister, Imee Marcos whose first term ends next year, and Pia Cayetano, who has previously served 12 years, then after a 3-year congressional hiatus in Taguig, went back to the Senate for another fresh term.
Then we have three from the PDP-Laban, all formerly key officials of the Duterte government in its first three years: Senators Bong Go, Bato de la Rosa, and Francis Tolentino.
All three are gunning for re-election.
And then there are two from tinseltown, but have served as senators for several terms in the past: Lito Lapid of the NPC and Bong Revilla of Lakas.
Four of them are shoo-ins for re-election, based on current surveys; two are in and out of the winning circle; one is currently in danger of not being re-elected.
Still, an incumbent always has an advantage, both in terms of name recall and the networks they have built during their term.
There are the come-backing senators: former Senate Presiden Tito Sotto, along with senators Ping Lacson and Gringo Honasan, known previously as the “macho bloc.” And not to forget, first-term senator and world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, who ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 2022.
Others who are eager to come back are Liberals or former Liberals Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino, plus, as announced by former senator Leila de Lima, lawyer Chel Diokno, son of the illustrious senator and nationalist Jose Wright Diokno.
The surveys also show former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso and doctor and TV blogger Doc Willy Ong in the winning circle.
And of course, Erwin Tulfo, party-list congressman and brother of the uber-popular Raffy Tulfo consistently ranking quite high in recent polls. One pollster added another Tulfo sibling, Ben, who is also in the top 12, assuming he runs next year.
While the elections are yet 14 months distant, the current survey favorites have made the mid-terms “masikip” for newcomers and less known personalities, no matter how qualified they may be, which is a sad commentary on our politics, where dynasts and celebrities always best the more qualified, such that what was once a truly “august” body has become less and less reputable, and less performance-driven.
From the Marcos Jr. Cabinet, there are DILG Sec. Benhur Abalos, possibly SND Gilbert Teodoro.
From the HoR, Richard Gomez of Ormoc and Bulacan is mentioned often as a senatorial candidate in the mid-terms, and likely some “graduating” three-termers who would want to try their luck in a nation-wide contest.
Another name often mentioned is Medal of Valor awardee Ariel Querubin of the Nacionalista Party.
Entertainer Willie Revillame wants to join his fellows in the present Senate, and I hear even Philip Salvador. Soon we might have an “entertainment bloc” in the Senate, a “macho” bloc, a “family bloc,” and so forth. Ah, the august.
Political parties will find it difficult to field a complete slate from its own members. Coalitions, temporary alliances at that, will be the norm for 2025, whether administration, opposition or independent groups.
That is a result of our crazy political “party” system which are mere “barkadahan” and covens of similar self-interest under ever-changing flags of convenience.
As for the HoR, expect the re-electionists and/or their assigns from family members to win once again, with their humongous allotments disguised in many technical forms to circumvent the Supreme Court decision on the pork barrel.
Likewise the LGU officials who are more often than not part of dynasties, and who have benefited through the years from internal revenue allotments and who divvy up the spoils of public office now transformed into family businesses.
Like I always rue: what a country!