By Leonardo Micua

 

UP to this writing, Senator Bong Go has not gone to the Comelec to sign and file an instrument of withdrawal despite his pronouncement on Bonifacio Day that he is backing out from the presidential race. And up to this time, his supporters are still  hoping he will  still change his mind, recalling that old adage – Only fools will not change their mind.

Until he signs and files his certificate of withdrawal before the poll body, he remains a candidate. That’s the rule. And his name will still be included in official ballots for May 9, 2022 elections.

Go’s supporters were stunned when he broke the news that he’s withdrawing his candidacy for the presidency mainly due to pressure from his own family and the fact that he’s not ready to wage a big battle ahead of him, insinuating that his run for the presidency did not have a blessing from his family.

If he makes good on his decision to withdraw from the race, the ruling party PDP Laban will be left without any standard bearer and a candidate for vice president. Many believe that after Bong Go, President Duterte will follow and will also withdraw his senate bid.

As for Bong Go, I’m not really surprised why he is backing out from the presidential race. Perhaps, he is not prepared mentally (but not financially). Remember, he first rejected PDP Laban’s offer to be its standard bearer but he instead filed his candidacy for vice president, a position which the party originally reserved for President Duterte.

Then out of the blue, De la Rosa came rushing to the Comelec to file his candidacy for president to pair with Go.

But in view of the turnaround of presidential daughter Sara Duterte, who abandoned her bid for reelection as mayor of Davao City, and instead substituted a candidate for VP of Lakas-CMD, after taking oath as party member, PDP Laban scrambled for a quick change of its candidate for president.

As Bong Go will find himself in direct collision course with Sara, he was forced to substitute the also reluctant candidate for president De la Rosa in the hope that the voters will support a Go-Duterte come May 9, 2022, which to me sounds very remote.

Since Bong Go finally made up his mind to withdraw from the race for president after making some sorties in the provinces, it means he will no longer have the chance to continue the legacy of President Duterte as his ads on TV convey.

And whom will President Duterte support for president later still remains hazy for now.  *          *          *          *

On the local front, somebody pulled the rug from under Governor Pogi Espino when he was erroneously reported by an online news media that he spent P92.5 million in radio ads. The governor, in a public statement a day after that item came out issued a public statement denouncing this as “grossly false, utterly baseless, and downright malicious”.

 He said it is obvious that the story is politically motivated, intended to besmirch his reputation as governor and running for reelection.

 While he did not name those behind the malicious story, his two other allies, Mayors Balong Ventenilla of Mangatarem and Julier Resuello were also mentioned as having overspent on radio ads, too, when they clearly do not have that kind of money for ads.

*          *          *          *

We heard the report that one barangay kagawad, who was helping usher persons getting vaccinated at the People’s Astrodome was whispering to would-be vaccinees that the vaccines are being made available through the “panangaro nen mayor”(translation: courtesy of the mayor).

Of course not! These vaccines were donated to or bought by the national government and since payments for these vaccines were through loans by the government from foreign sources, it means from taxes paid by the people.. The mayor has nothing to do with the vaccines.

This is a classic example of how COVID-19 vaccines are being used by politicians to advance their political interests. This is highly deplorable and should be condemned by all taxpayers. Paging the regional IATF, DILG and DOH.

Corollary to this, one Sunday while I was scanning my computer, a woman called outside our gate. When I went to see her, she asked for the names of persons in our house, together with their respective birthdays. When I asked her for what purpose this will serve, she mentioned a certain candidate.

I politely turned her down. The woman left in a hurry.

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments