By Gonzalo Duque

 

RECENT developments in our country may not look good for the Marcos administration in the light of the “illegal” arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

In my previous columns, I wrote that unless there is a  “triggering factor” where the administration of PBBM might suffer defeat in the forthcoming senatorial election, the administration line up will be a sure hit.

In fact, when the administration line up was launched by PBBM, everyone in the administration ticket was cocksure about their chances of winning.

Then came the so-called arrest of Digong where he was instantly brought to The Hague in the Netherlands without observing the proper protocol or due process enshrined in the Rome  Statute, particularly Article 59, making it mandatory that in case an arrest becomes valid, Digong should have been brought first  to the proper judicial authorities in the Philippines.

Suffice it to say, this act became counter-productive for the administration.

It made Digong a martyr and a hero and BBM and company as the oppressors.

This becomes the trigger that may eventually bring down the Marcos administration and his cohorts, including his senatorial line up  in the May 12 election.

The rage, both silent and angry protestations of our countrymen, can be felt. Everywhere and wherever the  Alyansa ng Pagbabago  would conduct their campaign, they are met with cries of “Duterte, Duterte”, clearly showing rage against the administration.

With this growing rage, many of the senatorial  candidates of the administration no longer want to identify themselves with Alyansa.

Imee Marcos, Camille Villar and possibly Ping Lacson and Pia Cayetano are some of the names appearing to abandon the Alyansa and go solo in campaigning.

Nakakaawa naman si Bongbong. Kasi, wala pa siyang tatlong taon as puwesto, lumalagpak na ang trust rating niya.

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The warning of General Romeo Brawner  Jr., AFP chief of staff, for the Northern Luzon Command to prepare in case China attacks Taiwan is an indication that we are facing a war or a conflict that will affect our existence as a country.

As I understand it, China may potentially employ economic sanctions against the Philippines, because the Marcos administration has failed to balance the interest of China and that of the United States, making it appear that our country is committed to help the U.S., in case the invasion of Taiwan takes place.

If the economic sanctions of China against the Philippines take effect, our country will surely lose a lot of investments coming from China, and projects funded by China will be affected. 

On the other hand, will the U.S. allow the ‘unpopular government’ of President Marcos to continue in the light of all these critical moments in our nation’s history?

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I listened to the press conferences of the team of Celia and Brian Lim, where the latter discussed some issues affecting our city.

The elevation of the roads, which he said he would not have allowed if he was still mayor, and the aborted Mother and Child Hospital caught my attention.

On the road elevation, this was an issue already brought to the attention of our voters when he blamed Mayor Belen about the constant flooding in Dagupan City.

But since Brian won the mayoralty in 2019, he did not do anything about it except forming a Flood Mitigation Commission that did not accomplish much.

Maybe that time, Brian thought that he would be reelected as mayor, but he was rejected by the people of Dagupan City when he trailed Belen in the 2022 polls with the biggest vote-margin of 14,000 plus, a first in the history of Dagupan politics.

The contention of Brian that the elevation of the roads would discourage investments, citing closures of Jollibee and McDonald’s along Arellano as examples, is not meritorious.

He did not make good his research as the franchisees of these establishments admitted they need a bigger space for their drive-through services, which could not be provided by their previous locations.

Belen can just show that a lot of investments have flourished in Dagupan during her stint as mayor, thus belying the claim of ex-mayor Brian.

I believe that Ermin and I ought to interview Belen in our weekly Podcast for her to clarify the issues brought against her by ex-Mayor Brian especially the failed MCH construction.

Teka muna, bakit si Brian ang nagsasalita palagi. Hindi si Celia, who is the mayoralty aspirant?

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

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