Opinion: Duterte don’t need to endorse anyone, the PDP-Laban has already done it for him…

“(I repeat), you better disabuse your minds about getting into guesses and assumptions. There is none. I will not be endorsing any presidential candidate now until December” – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (03.05.2022)

At this point in time and so close to the end of the campaigns, the incumbent and outgoing Philippines President Duterte don’t need to endorse anyone. However, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas Ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) did endorse Presidential Candidate Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos Junior and Vice President Sara Carpio Duterte on the 21^st March 2022. That’s 43 days in between and shouldn’t be forgotten so few days before the polls.

The PDP-Laban National Executive Committee Resolution No. 26 of 21^st March 2022 was crystal clear and Duterte is a part of the Cursi faction. He knows the stakes and what his party did. So, Duterte is by association and the voice of the PDP-Laban endorsing the UniTeam without signing a document or release an official statement from himself. At this point… Duterte don’t need to do it, because the PDP-Laban party has already done it.

The party has done the job already and his neutrality is pointless. We knew that he wouldn’t go pink or support any other person than his family. The UniTeam is his place and we all know it. Not like he would endorse Isko or Robredo for that matter. If he did… it would be a shocker, but hard to believe, as his party has already resolved the matter long time ago.

That’s why today’s neutrality statement is pointless. He should just say that he will back the ticket of his daughter and current Davao Mayor Inday Sara Duterte. That’s something people would believe and it would be sincere. Because, the PDP-Laban doesn’t have a direct Presidential Candidate or Vice President. That’s why we know the party is endorsing and working for the UniTeam in this campaign.

The whole time there was a squabble and uncertainty, the PDP-Laban having various of tickets and candidates, which all backed out of the race, including Duterte himself. There was a month or so where the party toyed around with two three types of tickets, which all ended in a clean slate. Therefore, the UniTeam is the only for Duterte…

The PDP-Laban isn’t Switzerland or someone who acts like a neutral party. No, the PDP-Laban has already decided and you cannot backtrack that. Especially, when we know the drill and the reasoning behind it. He can hide behind his own “neutrality” but we know that it’s not totally true. The same with his party, which plenty said they would back Inday Sara. It was inevitable …. and bound to happen.

President Duterte can take us all for fools, but we know better and it’s just posing for the public. We know very well where his heart is and if it wasn’t he would betray his own family. Which we know the President would never do. He like anyone else wants a political dynasty and ushering the daughter to become VP would be the continuation of that legacy. Peace.

Opinion: “Doy” Laurel’s legacy soiled in this election

“The United Nationalist Democratic Organization (UNIDO), is now backing the UniTeam on the May 9 National Election and their call for unity. UNIDO formally reemerged as a regional political party on Saturday, around two weeks before the May 9 polls. In an event at the Manila Yacht Club, it announced its support for Marcos and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. Senator Francis Tolentino, one of the party’s honorary trustees, said UNIDO’s revival is an answer to the call for “unity,” which is the main theme of the Marcos-Duterte duo’s campaign” (ISIP Pilipinas 2022, 24.04.2022).

It is hard to imagine, but one man who worked for years to overthrow Marcos would allow his party and coalition to endorse the son of the dictator. However, that is now official, because the UNIDO is endorsing the UniTeam and Presidential Candidate Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos Jr. and Mayor Inday Sara Duterte. So, here we are and the current UNIDO is betraying it’s existence.

It is really striking and tragic that both PDP-Laban and UNIDO have both endorsed the UniTeam in the upcoming polls. The parties of the EDSA, Aquino and Laurel are now behind the son of the dictator, which they fought in the 1980s and chased from the office in 1986. Now, they are backing the son and this shows how times are changing.

I just want drop some of his own words and the reason for the UNIDO in the first place. “Doy” Laurel should be remembered and what he stood for. His now long gone and is late, but his legacy will live on.

Just read this:

“Scene I: On June 12, 1985, I was unanimously drafted presidential standard bearer of the United Nationalist Democratic Organization (UNIDO) in a national convention attended by 25,000 delegates held at the Araneta Coliseum. Cory subsequently threw her hat into the ring and announced that she had heard “the voice of God” and that she had been presented a “million signatures” urging her to run. Her announcement threatened to splinter the opposition. To prevent such a split — which could have only entrenched the Marcos regime — I accepted Cory’s written offer and settled for the vice presidency” (Dr. Salvador H. Laurel – ‘THE UNPLANNED SHOWDOWN AT EDSA’ – Salvador H. Laurel Museum and Library, 06.01.2021).

Also this:

“At the last minute, Laurel, looking at the example of his father who stepped aside for Ramon Magsaysay in 1953, gave way to Cory Aquino and ran as her vice president. The event moved the Archbishop of Manila, Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, to say upon Laurel’s death: “He gave of himself so completely to the quest and helped recover freedom for the people, not by forwarding himself, but by volunteering to slay his own personal ambition.”” (Fernando del Mundo – ‘Doy Laurel: Forgotten patriot of Edsa I’ 23.02.2013, the Philippine Inquiry).

That’s why I am writing this today, as the one who has inherited the party or coalition of UNIDO is not carrying the Laurel legacy well. They are forgetting the reason for its existence and why it was a force to reckon with. The ones who is running UNIDO is banking on the fact that UniTeam will be the next administration and have good favours, but they have sold the soul of the party by doing that.

UNIDO is now a shell of what it used to be. The “Doy” Laurel era is long gone and been for a moment forgotten too. Maybe, the leaders of UNIDO hopes people are forgetful. Nevertheless, there will always be someone who can remind you and tell the honest truth. It is distasteful and disgraceful… “Doy” Laurel legacy had deserved better… but we know that influence and power corrupts. The current leadership cares more about their future, than about the legacy of the party. It is sold on the altar of possible power and be in proximity of Malacañang Palace. Peace.

One Cebu Statement: Endorsing BBM-Sara (12.04.2022)

Opinion: PDP-Laban endorsement of the UniTeam was anticipated [and that means “Lakas ng Bayan” supports a Marcos!]

It is now revealed that the PDP-Laban and One Cebu Party has both endorsed the UniTeam. This means the PDP-Laban, which haven’t had an official candidate for the Presidency and the Vice-Presidency is vouching for Presidential Candidate Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos Junior and Vice Presidential Sara Duterte.

Not that this is shocking this late in the game. That the PDP-Laban Cusi faction did do this after both “Bong” Go and “Bato” pulled out of the race. The same did the incumbent President, which was slated to be the VP in the up-coming election at some point. Therefore, this was in the cards after everything that has been said and done.

The ones that didn’t see this happening. Haven’t recalled the whole fiasco of the nominations and the internal bickering within PDP-Laban. That’s why this bound to happen eventually. Especially, since Inday Sara is on the ticket and “Bong” Go even promised loyalty in that regard.

So, everyone knew this was bound to happen and now it’s reported on. The papers from March 2022 is revealed and it was a planned effort. It has been a prolonged and an agony to reveal or even state it. Because, it is weak that the PDP-Laban couldn’t muster candidates directly on their own, but is vouching for the UniTeam.

They should know this. Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) which was ironically the coalition party that challenged the late dictator Marcos in the 1986 elections. Now close to 40 years late. The party of Aquino is now endorsing the son of the late dictator “Bong Bong” Marcos Jr. and the daughter of the incumbent Inday Sara. That is reality here.

The People Power (Lakas ng Bayan) is now supporting a Marcos. That is extraordinary in one way or another. That Duterte would isn’t causing a stir or anything. He has entangled himself with the political dynasties and given them way in his time in office. So, from his perspective and position his ensuring more strength and political backing of his daughter.

That the PDP-Laban doesn’t have challengers or candidates itself is striking. Senator Manny Pacquiao stood up as a Presidential Candidate, but was ousted from the party. Which meant the PDP-Laban Pimentel wing went for him. So, officially Pacquiao is running for the party of Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiatives or Probinsya Muna Development Initiative (PROMDI) in the up-coming elections. Even if he was the one who really wanted within the PDP-Laban to begin with. We all knew “Bato” And “Bong” Go was a no show and replacement candidates to begin with. The only reason for “Bong” Go to do anything. Would be to continue to serve Duterte and that’s it. “Bato” on the other hand was a just a paper-tiger for the time being.

That’s why the endorsement of UniTeam isn’t only striking, but revealing of how much influence and power Duterte has in the PDP-Laban. As he can ensure this to happen. The former resolutions of the party is long gone and his “retirement” is legit. Because, he believes Inday Sara and Marcos Jr. will not touch him after his reign. These two will carry on where he left off and that’s it really.

That the PDP-Laban endorsed a Marcos should shock, but it isn’t at this point of time. The “People Power” endorsed a Marcos. It should shatter some minds, but here we are and this is how things are playing out in the Philippines. Peace.