By Gonzalo Duque

 

I sympathize with the bereaved family of former Mayor Belen Fernandez and her siblings on the demise of their beloved mother, Doña Remedios Tan Vda de Fernandez. The Fernandez matriarch was a model mother having been a Pro Ecclesias et Pontifice awardee, the highest award given by Pope Francis to a member of the laity for her faithful devotion to God and the Catholic Church’s teachings. She was a caring mother, a devoted wife and a successful businesswoman all rolled into one.

I had a one hour talk to Belen during the wake of her mother at the Capilla San Juan Evangelista, after former Speaker Jose  de Venecia Jr., his wife Manay Gina and their son Rep. Christopher de Venecia had left, after paying their last respect to the Fernandez matriarch.

I was truly surprised to hear that the De Venecias were at the grand rally of Leni Robredo at the CSI compound last Friday, April 8. All along, I thought they were supporting the BBM-Sara tandem. I knew Manong Joe once loved the Marcoses very much but as things are unfolding today, they are now rooting for Leni to be the next PH President.

As to Belen, I had not written much about her lately but I am certain that I will vote for her again, knowing the issues besetting our city today. I have nothing personal against Brian Lim and his family. Besides, I know that there are also some of our friends in his company.

But after careful consideration of the accomplishments of both parties, Belen deserves to be back at city hall. I am not belittling the accomplishments of Brian but I think Belen did more for the city while at the helm than the incumbent mayor. Sorry to be blunt about it.

We also hope that Vice Mayor Bryan Kua will win a second term of office. He deserves to be reelected, along with majority members of their  ticket.

More on this in our next column.

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I am still puzzled no end why President Duterte has not endorsed Bongbong Marcos. This, even if the junior of Ferdinand already paid a call on the president in Malacanang. The only endorsement that Marcos  got was from the Cusi-wing of the PDP Laban but it is meaningless because Koko Pimentel and Manny Pacquiao are in the other wing of the PDP Laban. 

I suspect that there’s something that Duterte knows about Bongbong that the entire Filipino nation does not know.  

Nevertheless, Marcos seems confident that without President Duterte’s endorsement, he will win the election. Marcos is being pictured by his handlers (and trolls) that he will win presidency and even get the majority votes in this election without joining a debate. 

But based on the mammoth crowd that attended Leni Robredo rally in Dagupan City and other parts of the country, history might repeat itself – with only the two fighting for the lead in the last mile. Remember Leni’s words, “The last man standing is a woman.”

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Two wrong things are happening under our political system. First is the issue turncoatism, yong pagka-balimbing ng mga kandidato. The 1971 constitution says no party member can transfer to another party one year before an election and one year after an election, which  was not adopted by the 1987 Constitution because of the provisions there were meant for a parliamentary system, not a presidential system.

Politicians are changing parties as often as they change their clothes, I attribute this to our multi-party system, including some 1,000 or so party-lists.

During the halcyon days, there were only the Liberal and  Nacionalista parties, like in the US that has the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Our 1936 constitution was patterned after the US constitution.

With only two or three registered political parties, it’d be easy to select their best bets for whatever elective position.

Then, I also consider it a monumental error on the part of the framers of the 1987 charter to include the banning of political dynasties without passing a law institutionalizing such provision. But no congressman was foolish enough to enact such measure because they know they can no longer perpetuate their political power up to the next generation.

Isn’t nearly all elective positions already packed with officials with similar surnames or belonging to the same families?

Hopefully, the next president of the Philippines will call Congress to propose certain amendments on the constitution or change the entire charter to make it more responsive to the needs of the people. In the case of Bongbong, he might push for federalism that his party sought.

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