Punchline
Bongbong’s politics
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
NOT a few in Pangasinan, have wondered what kind of politics Sen. Bongbong Marcos is playing.
Consider these situations. First, he announced that he secured an understanding with Sen. Miriam Santiago that they will form the tandem for the presidential elections – Miriam for president and Bongbong for vice-president.
But his words about the tandem became fleeting when his campaign posters and subsequent political statements were eerily silent about the tandem. All the posters and statements were about Bongbong aspiring for vice president, and nothing about Miriam as his presidential candidate. In sharp contrast, shortly after Davao Mayor Rody Duterte announced his decision to finally run for president (with Sen. Alan Cayetano as his vice presidential tandem) posters and campaign billings about Duterte-Marcos tandem suddenly appeared across the country. Isn’t Miriam the presidential bet of Bongbong, wondered a confused electorate in Solid North.
Of course, it is no secret that it was the Ilocanos’ group in Davao that started it all. But Bongbong was never heard to reject the Duterte-Marcos tandem to the consternation of Miriam’s supporters and Bongbong’s admirers. And as if rubbing salt to injury, Bongbong continued to distribute campaign materials without any indication that Miriam is his presidential tandem.
The only time Bongbong appeared to be true to his word was when he invited Miriam to Ilocos Norte for their proclamation rally. But what was not lost to Miriam’s and Duterte’s supporters in Pangasinan was the fact that Duterte was accorded an even warmer reception when the latter visited the province on the invitation of Bongbong.
Hence this question: “Where is Bongbong’s loyalty? To his anointed partner or his preferred partner? Or to himself?”
Then comes the perception: If Bongbong can’t be true to his word, can he be trusted to be true to the Filipinos? To Pangasinenses whom he ardently refers to as part of the touted Solid North? Does Bongbong give any importance to his sense of loyalty to anybody and anything as a person and as a politician?
Indeed, think that through.
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MARCOS ARROGANCE. Then, there is the perceived arrogance with which Sen. Bongbong responds to demands that he apologizes to the nation for the abuses of the martial regime that his father and mother ruled.
“Why should I apologize, I did nothing wrong and I will only apologize for something I knowingly did wrong, “ was how people remember his quoted reaction.
Well, apparently there still are close watchers of the Marcoses around who can point to one single act that Bongbong acted against the interest of the people. No, it’s not about the many lavish parties that the Marcoses hosted while members of the opposition and the underground were mercilessly killed, raped and detained. They point to that picture of the Marcos family at the height of the 1986 EDSA Revolution, shortly before the family flew out to Hawaii, courtesy of US’ Reagan administration.
President Marcos and his family appeared at the balcony of the Malacañang Palace fronting the Palace grounds to greet the cheering partisan crowd. Bongbong appeared in an army fatigue uniform while his father, mother and sisters were in civilian clothes.
His detractors now ask: What was Bongbong doing in an army uniform when he was not in active duty? Didn’t he appear in that uniform to signal and to intimidate the people gathered at EDSA that he was prepared to go to battle and kill those who oppose the martial regime? To defend their ill-gotten wealth?
Perhaps being young at the time, accustomed to being rash and brash as the President’s scion, Bongbong thought it as a good image to be seen as courageous being in an army officer’s uniform at the height of the tension, ready to do battle with the people.
That is enough reason, they say, for Bongbong to apologize to the Filipino nation – Bongbong personally and directly intimidated the people who stood up against his family’s rule.
But will Bongbong apologize? Many doubt it given already his known proclivity to speak arrogantly in defense of the martial law regime. He believes his father did no wrong on every turn.
Bongbong as vice president in 2016 and president in 2022? Tsk-tsk think again.
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NO NIGHT BLINDNESS. One of the officials of LTO and LFTRB must have figured in a vehicular accident involving jeepneys cruising at night for the agency’s enforcement teams to begin cracking down on jeepneys and their drivers who take to the streets at night. What for?
It’s about the jeepney drivers who refuse to turn on their headlights while cruising at night, picking up passengers along the way.
But out here in Pangasinan, it seems both LTO and LFTRB find absolutely nothing wrong with this practice of jeepney drivers because they claim that their headlights work against them – their would be passengers can’t see their destination routes when the headlights are on!
Isn’t there any one with traffic safety consciousness in the two agencies (and the PNP and local traffic enforcers) know that the practice is waiting for accidents to happen every night?
The LTO and LFTRB know it is a violation of a national law. If so, why isn’t the police enforcing that law against motorists (including motorcycle riders) who drive at night without their headlights on?
Will Dagupan police chief Chris Abrahano show the way soon? Motorists in the city are praying he would. Many of the “blind” jeepneys are plying Downtown, Bonuan, Caranglaan, Perez, Tapuac and Tambac Roads.
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NOT BE-ALL, END-ALL. It’s certainly encouraging to hear KBP Pangasinan chapter Emmanuel Sibayan appeal to his peers and colleagues in the broadcast industry to strictly observe their industry’s code of ethics and professional conduct particularly during the campaign period. Ditto for my colleagues in the print media.
His appeal is well placed not only to help maintain sobriety among political groups but for the safety and welfare of the broadcasters themselves.
There is life after the 2016 elections. Making one’s self a critical factor in making a political patron win can’t be the “be-all and end-all” of one’s life and practice. In fact, the politicos don’t view it like this at all. The astute politician is always keen on having media practitioners in his pocket like his walking jukebox but also quickly dismisses them without much ado if they stop being useful as he/she looks forward to the net and beyond to look forward to.
So why should a media practitioner risk one’s life and integrity for politics when a political patron’s sole motive and agenda is to survive each political battle?
(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)
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