Halalan2022: A memo on the top 4 Presidential Candidates 10 days to the polls…

A teddy bear, a son of a dictator, a soft-core actor and a boxer. What do these all have in common? Well, they are now a part of the final stages to the polls in the Philippines. The stage is now getting set and COMELEC is preparing things. The final preparations are in order and the last part of the campaigns are happening too.

Now, the ones who haven’t made up their mind …. they got and should. The teams are already there. The Front-Runners have been clear for month. Two candidates have run high and mighty. This being Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos Junior and Leni Robredo. They are stark contrasts and very different.

Former Senator BBM or Bong Bong isn’t very transparent or accountable. No, he is very selective and defensive. Not the sort of fella that you can interview or question. By any means… he prefers prefixed questionaries and puff pieces. The sort of man who is arrogant and entitled to return to the Presidential Palace like his father did in the past. The son of the dictator who has never supported or been part of EDSA. You can wonder if he will do that in office or dismiss it. As he remembers that as the time the Republic fought his father’s tyrannical reign and the agony of the marshal law. Alas, the son might be different, but he shows utter arrogance that would linger in office.

While Vice-President Leni Robredo is open, participating and answering. You might not agree with her or every political stance she has. However, everything isn’t scripted prepared or even published as fluff. No, she is pushed, dragged and belittle all over. Not just for the colour scheme of her campaign, but for whatever she does. She has even been asked to sacrifice her candidacy for others. Therefore, Robredo has stood tall.

Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso, the mayor of Manila has created a storm and been in the wind. His campaign has never taken off and neither has his Duterte-Light approach to the campaign either. Isko is just one of those guys. He is the man who asked Robredo to sacrifice her role and called her a “bully” for standing tall. That just shows how he is a brat.

Emmanuel “Manny” Dapidran Pacquiao the senator and well known boxer. A man who has gone up the ranks and become an established politician. Nevertheless, his own party dismissed him and the PDP-Laban threw him out, as he stood for Presidency. While they instead have endorsed “Bong Bong” much later. That just shows how weak the PDP-Laban was into this election. While Manny is far from totally seasoned or had a powerful team behind him. He has fought and sells himself a people’s champ. However, he will not switch to southpaw and win this one. No, this is going down for the count and he is not close to the 3rd position even. Though his doing it by showing his true cadence and character, which is more than “Isko” and “Bong Bong” ever did.

I don’t know how this will go, but my prediction of the whole machinery behind Bong Bong Marcos was justified. That Robredo would be second or a front-runner was expected too. It wasn’t without a reason she was able to become the VP in the first place. So, now the question is… how will these two fare. That is something I don’t know and cannot tell.

What I do know… is that these will be ones to follow. The margins of error is slim. BBM haven’t really tested the waters and he will not do it now. He will continue his onslaught of prepared and prepaid content. While we can wonder what the others will do. Nevertheless, what ever Manny and Isko is doing will become more and more meaningless. It might help their next run or campaigns. But right now? Well… it won’t amount to anything. Not because they are no good, but because their reach aren’t close to BBM or Leni.

They have to fight a cute teddy and a dynasty. These two cannot match that. Neither can anyone of the not mentioned here. Since they are so far from the four mentioned. That I don’t even care to say their names. Even if one is a long standing Senator and other took a noble stance after the Withdrawal Party. Still, the facts remain…

It is a two horse race and we can just wonder who finish first at the finish-line. Peace.

 

Kenya: Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Communique regarding Panel to Vet and make Recommendations regarding the Party’s Deputy Presidential Nominee (27.04.2022)

BTOB Philippines: Statement of Support for the Presidential and Vice Presidential bid of the Incumbent Vice President Leonor “Leni” Gerona Robredo and Incumbent Senator Frances “Kiko” Pangilinan (27.04.2022)

Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP): Expose AFP units campaigning for Marcos-Duterte tandem (27.04.2022)

Kenya: Civil Society Organisations file petition in Court seeking Pronouncement on the Final Custodian Institution for Chapter 6 of the Constitution (27.04.2022)

Somalia: Farmaajo is losing influence in Parliament and sent the authorities to block it

There is a reason why things are tense in Mogadishu. The prolonged agony of elections and postponements has been affected the politics of Somalia. This here is all for a reason and that’s the “interim” and former President, but current Mohamed Abdillahi Mohamed Farmaajo. Who is has been keeping the position hostage from 8th February 2021.

President Farmaajo has tried to get control of the Lower and Upper House of Parliament. There been so much back and fourth. The elections of MPs have been crucial and been a mess as well. It has been so many twists and turns, as well as the elections of former NISA agents to MPs, which are in favour and loyal to Farmaajo. That has been the outcome and done with a reason.

So, today’s actions is clear that Farmaajo still tries to influence and get total control of the elections in the Parliament. As the Senate has already voted for the opposition and not for speakers of which are in favour of him. That’s why Farmaajo is using the military and authorities to his advantage.

Here is the recent updates:

Senator Abdi Hashi was re-elected as the Speaker of the Upper House on Tuesday following an election at the Afisioni tent in Mogadishu. He received 28 votes, narrowly defeating Salah Ahmed Jama, who was able to garner 24 votes. Osman Dubbe, received two votes” (Somali Live Update, 26.04.2022).

BREAKING: Tension brews as Somalia’s secretary of Lower House has been kicked out of Villa Hargeisa while trying to issue ID cards to the 16 MPs elected in Elwak. It is unclear what impact could have on an election for the Lower House leadership slated to take place on Wednesday” (Shabelle Media Network, 26.04.2022).

Commanders of Somalia’s police and presidential guards forced parliament staff to vacate their headquarters ahead of a crucial vote, senior parliamentary official said on Tuesday, a day after interim speaker of parliament said he had escaped an attack by government forces. “The chief of police & commander of VS [Villa Somalia] security have forced the staff of parliament to vacate Villa Hargaysa, which is the headquarter for the staff of Parliament,” Abdirizak Omar Mohamed, chairman of a committee tasked with the organization of an election for parliament leadership tweeted” (SomaliGuardian – ‘Police force Somalia parliament staff to ‘vacate’ headquarters: MP’ 26.04.2022).

Sources say the police confiscated ballot boxes and other materials for tomorrow’s lower house election during the raid” (Hussain Mohamed, 26.04.2022).

As we see the authorities did breach the Villa Hargeisa and the Lower House elections after the Senate or Upper House voted for someone who isn’t in favour of Farmaajo. That is certainly happening as an effort to ensure control of the Lower House, which must be the will of Farmaajo.

We have to see how it will play out, but this is how Farmaajo rolls and he intends to do so too the end. He intends to use force to get his will. That’s why his still in Villa Somalia and occupying the Presidency unelected to this day. His term has long ended, but his using the power and the authorities for his advantage. That’s why we know there been tension and brewing trouble between him and Prime Minister Roble. This will occur again, if there is sudden and obvious outlooks, which is not going in favour of the former President. Peace.

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Philippines: A Commandment of Love for God and Country – Statement of Individual Support from Clergy and Religious of the Diocese of Kalookan (24.04.2022)

Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL): ANFREL Launches International Election Observation Mission to the 2022 Philippine National And Local Elections (23.04.2022)

Somalia: Villa Somalia – President Farmajo issues decree on Parallel Elections in Gedo Region (22.04.2022)