Who's with whom?

As the date for the filing of certificates for candidacy comes closer, the political atmosphere is polluted with a lot of speculations as who is going to go with whom. People who get dizzy with all the speculating on who's going to unite with whom have taken a prudent stance – wait until who gets to file with whom.

Political parties are like atoms splitting and attaching to whoever happens to be on the lead. When Vice President Jejomar Binay was leading the early polls, politicians were eager to be seen with him. After his star started to fall, the Vice President cannot even get a politician to run with him.

Recently resigned DILG Secretary Mar Roxas is heir presumptive to President Aquino although the latter took time to decide and thus, encouraged Senator Grace Poe to consider running for President. With that in mind she rejected overtures from the President to run with Mar. Now Mar cannot find a suitable replacement for Poe. Some are pushing in Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano who is also tainted with charges of corruption and would make him an awkward partner to Mar who is running on the platform of matuwid na daan (straight path).

In the meantime, after the blessing of President Aquino who is believed to have set aside billions of public works funds and more by slowing down public expenditures, hundreds of opportunistic politicians took their oath to join the Liberal Party. It does not matter that public pulse trends to show that Mar may lag behind. The LP commissioned survey however showed that in a one on one with Binay, Mar would reap three fourths of the vote. If there are three candidates, how much will Mar get?

The important thing is that these politicians get campaign funds that they ought to spend for Mar but might not. Instead they spend for their candidacy and in many instances they pocket most of the money.

Of course this goes with Binay who is also reported with billions to spend. Poe is also reported being backed up by money mostly from the business and industrial sectors based in Makati. These billionaires are reportedly disgusted with Binay and uncertain with Mar. Will Poe rise to their expectations? It seems so from the way these billionaires are putting their bets on her. However, they still have to convince her to run.

Occidental Negros provincial election is interesting. So far the war is limited to throwing verbosities. Vice Governor Eugenio Lacson belittles the claim of his possible opponent, Cong. Jeffrey Ferrer who said most mayors will support him. Well, Lacson has yet to say he is running.

The failure so far of Vice Governor Lacson to decide which office to run for or even to retire, is placing his Love Negros in limbo. Congressman Alfredo Benitez is believed to take a different route from that of his allies in LN. He is reported to be inclined to the support and, probably provide funding for Senator Poe's campaign. I don't think he will ask Senator Poe for campaign funds.

Where does that leave the LP in Negros and for that matter the LN? I think many mayors and barangay officials who look up to Benitez will go with him for Poe and thus drain LN of vital funding and organization. Who is going to take the slack in this case? Who will leave LN for Benitez and Poe?

The chances of Lacson running for vice governor is high but not for governor. For the sake of LN he has to otherwise LN will be without a candidate for governor and vice governor. If that happens, LN which is a coalition will disintegrate and the members will return to their mother den.

Kabankalan City Mayor Isidro Zayco who is the NPC chairman in the province has already declared that they will not field a candidate against Governor Alfredo Marañon but at least Lacson should consider running for vice governor. “These are the times that tries men's souls” as Patrick Henry orated to urge Americans to revolt against England.

Indeed this is the time that will test the mettle of Vice Governor Lacson, to sacrifice for the party. He might win or he might lose, but it should not be said that he shirk when duty called.

Lacson seems sure of the support of most of the mayors. If this is true what is there to fear? LN might be divided on the presidential bet but not so with provincial candidates.*

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