By Atty. Farah G. Decano

 

LATELY, there has been an avalanche of attacks against new presidentiables. Last month, Senator Manny Pacquiao was Malacañang’s favorite punching bag. Now, Mayor Isko Moreno. The issue against the latter? A non-issue actually – that he wore a bikini in one of his movies when he was still an actor.

It is unbelievable that Malacañang is now into unimportant and trifling matters engaged in only by the likes of Inday Badiday, Boy Abunda and the resident gossipers in beauty parlors and flea markets.   Worse, the palace’s main attack dog is its chief occupant. This is not at all impressive for whosoever it may decide to field as the successor to President Duterte. That he agreed to do so, smacks of desperation to stay in power without any attempt at subtlety.

Ah, since when anyway has this administration been known for finesse?   Even its chief in international relations has occasional difficulty in diplomacy.  If there is any competence that the Duterte Government has demonstrated, it is its expertise in diversionary tactics to remove public attention from questionable policies.

But not this time.

No matter what President Digong’s political party claims that its Bo-Duts (Bong Go and Rodrigo Duterte and yes, it sounds like that silly dance step) as the standard bearers, majority of the public, I guess, believes that it will be Sara- Du (Sara Duterte and Rodrigo Duterte) or Sara-Gibo . Team Bo-Duts is merely a decoy to ward off demolition against the real presidential nominee for the highest post in the land.  If the Sara-Gibo tandem will become a reality, both Senator Bong Go and President Digong will predictably do a Martin Dino – withdraw on the last day of substitution of party candidates.

Going back to the demolition attacks against presidentiables, the maiden shot was long fired against Vice President Leni Robredo. Despite multiple jabs, she remains still the only woman among the opposition leaders. Senator Leila De Lima was earlier struck down.   I wonder about the possible strategies and highfalutin persuasion, VP Leni would employ in order to unify those against the present dispensation including those who have been salivating at the Chief Executive position since time immemorial.  Let us see…

Malacañang should not belittle the Vice President.  The Marcoses did that in 2016 and what happened? She won.

VP Leni Robredo is not a dimwit. She is a skilled political strategist.  Her outward appearance of gentleness like Former President, Corazon Aquino may have contributed to Marcos’ underestimation of her.

Since she is gunning for the presidency, the aura of tenderness may no longer be appropriate. It is about time she wears the appearance of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo: strong, decisive and authoritative.

I am not suggesting that VP Leni should merely be a copycat of past female presidents. She should enhance her own established brand. She is known for her compassion for the poor being an NGO Lawyer for farmers, laborers and indigents, her strong organizational skills and her brilliant programs.  She must not also forget to reinforce her usual – her wit that floored her rivals.  Perhaps, with the combination of these traits, she might end up as the only woman standing in 2022.

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