“As long as we elect senators by nationwide vote…we will have to suffer the clowns, the buffoons, the vested interests and the plunderers for a long time to come”
Right after the publication of our Thursday column titled “Let the games begin” where I listed the most probable administration senatorial candidates, I got a lot of questions from friends.
An online publication re-printed the names of the Likely 11, attributing the list to me, as printed in this paper. Some creative socmed practitioners came out with a meme that showed the faces of the 11 with a caption “Bagong Pilipinas, Lumang Mukha.”
The common thread of reactions from many was, “Wala na bang iba?” – which is Pilipino for that memorable clip from Brad Pitt as Achilles in the movie about the siege of Troy.
I responded to friends that I merely culled the list from sources, and had nothing to do with the choices of the administration leaders nor the parties coalesced with it.
That none of the named candidates came out to disclaim their inclusion in the list nor their desire to be part of what is billed as another “Unity” team under the Bagong Pilipinas nom de guerre for 2025 gives credence to the BP 11, or 10, as Ping Lacson has not, as far as I know, made a decision.
This week or next, just before the SONA, research firms should be coming out with their 2nd quarter political survey.
Sometime in early 2023, I discussed with members of our Thursday lunch group the possibility of a third force for the senatorial race in the 2025 mid-terms, of generally respectable persons who would at least make the Senate qualify to be re-branded as the “august” chamber.
For one, we have a preponderance of non-lawyers, except for Escudero, the two Cayetanos, Tolentino and Pimentel, since Angara is soon taking over DepEd.
Not that it is a qualification, but legislation is about making laws.
Neither do we have a medical doctor, considering that health is one of the most important public concern, the others being education, food security and law and order.
Instead, we have so many actors and media celebrities, who should collectively increase if elections were held today.
Which is why I have always advocated for a Senate elected by administrative region, also as a means to give representation to those regions which have not been represented in the present or even previous Senates.
But that is not possible unless we thoroughly revise the present Constitution.
If the BP 10 or 11 becomes a complete slate by the end of September or earlier, the “other” political blocs (not parties because strictly speaking we have none) will be left to the Duterte loyalists in the PDP, namely, Bong Go, Bato, Baste Duterte, and perhaps Philip Salvador, as well as former BbM ES Vic Rodriguez whose recently launched book “Kingmaker” authored by Gerry Lirio is a very interesting read.
The once mighty Liberal Party has thus far only Kiko Pangilinan. His allies Chel Diokno and Bam Aquino fly different flags.
The political Left claim they will field a slate, likely to be headed by Rep. France de Castro, VP Inday Sara’s bete noire.
Will the Left and the yellow-pinks join forces?
Of course it is unthinkable for them to join a coalition with the Davao group or Bagong Pilipinas.
And there is no more space in the administration slate, unless Kiko P is taken in just to project another “Uniteam” after the 2022 original has been sundered irreparably.
There are a few names in the BP’s Likely 10 or 11 that would lend sanity and sobriety to the the Senate, and there are some in all the other political blocs that could have joined together to form a credible “Third Force,” perhaps a credible and winnable Siete (as Ocho Derecho is cursed).
But that is unlikely to happen.
The first reason is incompatibility in political beliefs, or a stubborn disinclination to form coalitions where common ground, even temporarily, could be forged.
The second and more important consideration is money, loads of it, to be able to campaign nationally. Realpolitik is such that big bucks are bet on presidential elections, and little on mid-term senatorial contests.
As I keep stating, it is the system that sucks. It is hopelessly broke.
So for as long as we elect senators by nationwide vote, and we have flags of convenience masquerading as political parties, we will have to suffer the clowns, the buffoons, the vested interests and the plunderers for a long time to come.
