Presidentiables

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

BAGUIO CITY – People this jaded newsman asks about who they would vote for President come May 2022 are often mum on the matter – even friends except for a few like lawyer-singer Bubut Olarte who is openly batting for Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo.
    Bubut even had his water tank beside a road here painted with pink, the rallying color of Leni supporters.
    Palanca awardee journalist-writer Frank Cimatu is also a Leni supporter including Benguet Electric Coop. advocate Mia     Magdalena among friends and acquaintances. Did both talk about the matter earlier at Luisa’s?
    A motorcade for Leni was held in this summer capital recently but while passing Session Road, somebody on the sidewalk shouted “BBM latta” while uttering expletives.
    Political analysts say there are die-hard supporters of former Sen. Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. everywhere, despite all the negative news about their father’s reign.  
    Call it regionalism but social media posts from Northern Luzon are giving the jitters among presidential candidates.    
    Those running for the country's top office are presidential aspirants Ernesto Abella, Robredo, Sen. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao, labor leader Leody de Guzman, Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, Sen. Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso and Marcos Jr.
    Among all of the above, it is Marcos who seems to be the most controversial nowadays after a disqualification case was filed against him for not paying taxes.
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Related to the case, a division of the Commission on Elections granted Marcos Jr.'s petition for an extension on the filing of his response to the disqualification case against him.
    Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the 2nd Division gave Marcos five days to reply but said "since the fifth day falls on a Sunday, the last day is actually Nov. 22.
    Prior to Jimenez's confirmation, lawyer Theodore Te, counsel for petitioners, and Marcos spokesman Victor Rodriguez had known that an extension had been granted.
    Comelec records showed Marcos' motion for an extension was granted by the Second Division on Nov. 18 and signed by Presiding Commissioner Socorro Inteng.
    In the same order, the Second Division also said on Nov. 17, petitioners also filed an opposition motion not to grant Marcos' motion for extension, that the respondent be barred from submitting controverting evidence and that the respondent be barred from submitting his memorandum.
    But the Second Division set aside the petitioners' opposition motion, saying "justification was found in the motion for extension to file an answer."
    "In view of the foregoing, for cause shown and in the interest of justice, the Commission (Second Division), hereby grants the motion for extension to file answer and notes the notice of appearance on 15 November 2021 filed by respondent. Consequently, the respondent is required to submit a verified answer on or before Nov. 22, 2021," according to the Second Division.
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Following political acrobatics on substitutions in the Comelec and legalities, President Rodrigo Duterte accused a presidential candidate of using cocaine.
    Although he did not name the personality, the President talked about what he called a weak leader who appeared to be banking on the name of the father.
    "There's even a presidential candidate na nag-cocaine... May kandidato tayo na nagko-cocaine 'yan, mga anak ng mayaman (children of the rich)," Duterte was quoted as saying in his speech during a meeting of the joint national and regional task force to end local communist armed conflict in Mindoro.
    "Kaya nga nagtaka ako, anong nagawa, anong gawa ng taong 'yan? I'm just asking. What contribution has he made para sa Pilipinas? Bakit ang Pilipino parang lokong-loko na supporting? Magtanong lang ako sa inyo, ano ang ginawa n'yan? Nagdo-droga 'yan ng cocaine ang tirada n'yan (I am puzzled, what has that person done? What contribution has he made for the Philippines? Why are Filipinos fooled into supporting? I will just ask you, what has he done? He uses cocaine)," he added.
Duterte said his remark is "not really a warning" but he questioned the qualifications of the unnamed presidential aspirant.
    "Bahala kayo kung anong gusto n'yong tao. Inyo 'yan. Ang akin lang, pagdating ng panahon, basta sinabi ko sa inyo and he is a very weak leader ang character niya—except for the name (What you want is up to you. That is on you. When time comes, I already told you, and he is a very weak leader, his character, except for the name)," the President said.
    "Ang tatay—pero siya, anong ginawa niya (His father, but him, what has he done)? He might win hands down, okay. If that is what the Philippines wants, go ahead, basta alam ninyo," he added.