Bandwagon

Bencyrus Ellorin .

THE progressive Bayan regrets the disappearance of the opposition, at least in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental.

The group, through its spokesman Wildon Barros, was quoted as saying: “Kung wala na ang opposition, yes, na lang lugar tanan?”

The group said without the fiscalizing role of the opposition, it would be difficult to exact public accountability.

Right.

As an alternative, the progressive group is presenting Bayan Muna and Anakpawis as the remaining opposition. Both party-list groups, according to reports, have registered as regular political parties.

Whether the national democrats could offer itself as a political opposition of what it calls elite democracy and politics, remains to be seen. The leftist movement has yet to fully exorcise its support to the election of President Duterte.

Second, is the Filipino electorate ready for their kind of politics?

The group’s senatorial candidates have failed to win Senate seats despite experimenting of strategies like alliance with Manny Villar’s Nacionalista Party in 2010 to forming the Makabayan bloc in 2016. Their numbers, it seems, is only good for party-list seats in the House. The Makabayan bloc in the House includes Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Anakbayan, Kilusang Mayo Uno and Association of Concerned Teachers.

***

There seems to be a confusion in the reportage of June 15 events here. There were reports that Davao Mayor Sara Z. Duterte was here for the 68th Charter Day celebration.

Yes, she was here while the city turned 68, but to attend to two events, the oathtaking of barangay and SK election winners in Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro.

The guest of honor of the Charter Day celebration which was also the City Mayor’s Annual Report at the Kiosko Kagawasan was Sen. Koko Pimentel.

Indubitably, the presence of the younger Duterte was a strong political statement. Her Hugpong ng Pagbabago is evolving into a party bigger than its official registration as regional party.

Still the administration party is still the PDP-Laban headed by Pimentel. Mayor Oscar Moreno, owing to his closeness to Nene Pimentel, former mayor and Senate president, has joined the administration party from the Liberal Party.

Does this leave the Padayon Pilipino, which supported Jojo Binay in 2016, in the opposition?

Not exactly. Gov. Bambi Emano has been saying that he supports the Hugpong ng Pagbabago of Inday Sara. We thought there were already formal talks between Padayon and Hugpong. Like the public, Inday Sara was quoted as saying that she only learned about the governor’s support from news reports.

Perhaps as an affirmation of the support Mayor Moreno has given to the Duterte administration, Mayor Sara also facilitated the swearing into office winners of the barangay and SK elections who are supportive of Moreno.

The Padayon camp is jubilant with having the Davao City mayor, and so with the camp of Mayor Moreno.

Would this matter in the 2019 elections? No. The Padayon and Rodriguez camps were first to support the administration.

As to Moreno, history would reveal that the Duterte voters sent him to a second term at the city hall despite his being with the Liberal Party at that time.

Finally, from which camp would the next Liga ng Barangay and SK ex officio members of the city council come from? I would bet they will be supportive of Moreno. It does not matter anymore from which political camp they are coming from.