“Here’s what I think.”
In a TV interview last week, Davao del Norte Representative and former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez proved that he does not think before he talks.
Alvarez was interviewed after he announced that his political party, Reporma, had withdrawn its support for the presidential run of Senator Panfilo Lacson, and is now gunning for the rival bid of Leni Robredo.
Lacson disputes Alvarez’ claim, and said only Alvarez’ provincial chapter of Reporma joined the Robredo camp.
Alvarez himself admitted to the media that he was very upset that some P800-million in campaign funds supposedly promised to Alvarez by Lacson were not forthcoming.
In my opinion, the incoherent Alvarez was desperately avoiding the pointed questions directed to him by the interviewer.
For instance, the interviewer asked Alvarez how Robredo reacted to his sudden shift from Lacson to her camp, considering that even before the start of the official campaign period for the presidency, Alvarez had been describing Robredo as unfit for the presidency.
The interviewer also reminded Alvarez that the latter even tried to get Robredo impeached by the House on a previous occasion.
In response, Alvarez said he had already apologized to Robredo, and Robredo welcomed him to her camp.
It was noticeable that instead of explaining the reasons for his complete turn-around, Alvarez kept quiet about his past criticism of Robredo and sweepingly claimed that Robredo is the best bet for the presidency.
Alvarez also urged the electorate not to vote for ex-Senator Bongbong Marcos (BBM), who is the leading candidate for president in past and current opinion surveys. Alvarez’ reason? BBM is not as intelligent as his father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos.
Asked why BBM is leading in the opinion polls, Alvarez said that poll surveys are good reasons not to entrust democracy to Filipino voters.
It appears that Alvarez idolizes President Marcos because of the latter’s known intelligence and political savvy. He also distrusts the electorate. A Freudian slip on his part, perhaps? I think so. It’s either that, or Alvarez did not understand what he was talking about. Whichever it may be, Alvarez has zero credibility.
Comparing BBM to his late father in terms of intelligence is beside the point as far as the current race for the presidency is concerned.
BBM is the ideal candidate for president, and he is the most qualified for the presidency in this year’s election. His platform for government is sound and feasible, and good for the country.
Unlike his rivals, BBM has never said anything unwarrantedly derogatory against their persons, notwithstanding the unfounded accusations and nasty things his rivals have been hurling at him.
Worth emphasizing is BBM’s experience in local government management as the past governor of Ilocos Norte, and in national legislation as a former senator. BBM’s vast experience in public service makes him the right choice for the country’s next president.
Unlike Robredo, BBM has the bearing of a real leader, and can speak in straight English.
Despite all the vilification thrown his way by the Aquino family and their underhanded allies in the intolerant, judgmental pinklawan army, BBM has weathered the times. He harbors no ill will against the Aquinos and he is not vindictive. During his tenure in the Senate, BBM even sponsored a law naming some infrastructure after the late Ninoy Aquino, who was the staunch political adversary of BBM’s late father.
In contrast, Robredo is patently unfit to be president.
I believe Robredo has no laudable achievement as a non-descript member of Congress (2013-2016) and as accidental vice president (2016-2022). As VP, Robredo did nothing but cause division in the government, and unjustly badmouth the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Moreover, Robredo’s public statements underscore her insufficient knowledge of the Constitution and pertinent laws.
So what is the real reason why Alvarez shifted his allegiance to Robredo? Can we conclude that they truly deserve each other?
No wonder the Duterte administration agreed to unseat Alvarez as House Speaker in 2018, after just two years in office.
