And the campaign starts

I have mixed reactions regarding the repartee between and among local officials with the visit of Vice President Jejomar Binay, which to some was obviously an early campaigning for the presidential election come May 2016.

Gov. Alfredo Marañon and Vice Gov. Bong Lacson already announced their preference for Interior Sec. Mar Roxas as their presidential choice and so has Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano for VP Binay which he has been supporting for years now.

Knowing Freddie, he is not one to mince words when it comes to a potential threat to his choice, as such he was in a defensive mode when asked for his reaction of Binay's visit.

I totally agree with Freddie that Mar may just exceed his votes in Negros than in the previous election should he run for the top post. However, while we remain a strong voting population, we are just one among many who would eventually troop to the polls to elect the next president and as surveys are showing, if elections are held today, Binay will still be way ahead of Mar.

Of course, Binay's ambition to sit in Malacañang is now being threatened by a more popular candidate – Senator Grace Poe – who has overtaken him in the surveys.

Poe though needs a machinery and the Liberal Party is not yet keen to give it to her. And so, it is still safe that Binay may still win the elections if Poe does not succeed in getting the nod of the President and of the ruling party.

True, Binay's presence and so with the other senators who've been visiting our province is clearly early campaigning but so was Roxas when he came several times for NIR.

I have stated it many times that I am for Roxas and continue to believe in his capability to run the country although it may help if he works on his sincerity and empathy for the masses.

However, as provincial leaders, our officials should be more tactful in dishing out words against any potential national candidate, particularly with Binay who is still our country's elected vice-president.

In the same manner that those who are for Binay should be careful in giving him utmost attention like giving him the “Ang Murciahanon Award” for which I could not see the merit.

Two scenarios can play out in this case. What if Binay wins? Our provincial leaders will have to deal with him as the country's next president. Or what if he does not? Will Murciahanons be neglected by the next president because their leader vowed allegiance to an opponent?

I hope our elected officials will see the bigger picture and just welcome everybody who wants to win the hearts of Negrenses. This is a free country and we should not shun anyone who wants to help in however they can.

The proper campaign period is still months away yet it is obvious that national candidates are already on the road for this. Senators whom we have not seen since the last elections are making themselves visible again.

I just hope the populace will be wiser now in choosing their candidates. Perhaps we should look back at the accomplishments of these senators and see whether they still need to be back in the Senate or give them an early retirement.

And so with our local officials, many of whom are graduating and there have been a few rumored to tap their own wives to run in their stead so they can still continue control over their cities and towns.

Ahh, I have no qualms about such arrangements if the wives are clearly capable, but if it's simply as hold-over to ensure continuity of their reign then that is another thing – that leaves a bad taste to the mouth and just shows that power does breed greed.*

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