Snubbed by Roxas, Poe

Bencyrus Ellorin

SO finally, Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez is settling with Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for president and Liberal Party’s Leni Robredo for vice president.

This ended speculations and the dribbling by the congressman, his Centrist Democratic Party (CDP) and “family-centered” party list Abante Mindanao over their presidential and vice presidential bets.

In an Inquirer report on his announcement whom to support, he was quoted saying he withdrew support from Daang Matuwid coalition standard bearer Mar Roxas in favor of Duterte. Really? Was there really a declared support to Roxas from the CDP/ Rodriguez camp? No.

Of course, the flirting of Rodriguez with the administration party was obvious. The flirting may have been done to project weakness on the local LP standard bearer Mayor Oscar Moreno. But despite the flirting and positioning which can be noticed up to Balay or the LP headquarters in Cubao, such was not given a serious look.

Truth to tell, Rodriguez supported Grace Poe before his turnaround for Duterte. Documents have been circulating in social media about the request by Nazareth barangay chairperson Jocelyn Rodriguez dated Feb. 15 and another one dated Feb. 18, asking city hall for a permit for the rally of Poe on Feb. 22, 2016. Photos of the second district lawmaker with Poe are also abundant in social media.

The Feb. 15 letter to city hall used the letterhead of Barangay Nazareth, and asked the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) to provide traffic enforcers for the rally of Poe at the Rodelsa Circle in Barangay Nazareth.

The Feb. 18 letter had a CDP and Abamin as letterhead, this time asking for the use of the Limketkai parking lot for the Poe rally. My sources said the Poe camp denied authorizing the CDP, Abamin and the Nazareth barangay council to organize a rally on their behalf.

Lest we forget, before turning his back on Mayor Moreno, Rodriguez was bent on running for the Senate. Many thought his role of sponsoring the Bangsamoro Basic Law circus at the House of Representatives was his ticket to gain a seat in the administration’s Senate slate. But the LP did not even consider him even if they raced against time to complete the 12-person Senate slate. The LP in fact chose in the last minute lesser popular but very capable persons namely, Rep. Cris “Mr. Coop” Paez of Coop-Natcco and DILG assistant secretary Ina Ambolodto to complete its Senate line-up.

Thus, the story of CDP/ Rodriguez supporting Duterte can rightly be reported as “Snubbed by Roxas, Poe, Oro solon picks Duterte”.

These facts make the second district congressman and mayoral bet, what? It would not be a surprise however if he claimed to have the support of all presidential candidates as it would be consistent with the character he has shown in claiming almost all government infrastructure projects as his, a tact that gained him the moniker “Mr. Angkon.”

If there were irritants in the local and national LP relations, it would come from the 1st District, over Candy Darimbang’s persistence to get close to the LP standard bearer, owing to his connections in the administration party. Although pissed, 1st District congressman Klarex Uy is the undisputed administration bet. Party strategists are not naïve to put their bet on a weaker candidate.

Political campaigning is a game of impression. A candidate impresses to be strong, to be winnable in order to sway the public to its side. But not all voters go with the purported bandwagon.

E-mail: bency.ellorin@gmail.com