The May 2028 presidential elections may still be two years away.
But in the Philippines, where political futures are plotted even before the final votes are tallied, political analysts are now expecting the battle lines to be drawn even now.
Allies turned rivals
In San Pedro City, for instance, the battle for political dominance has already begun with the souring of what was once one of the “closest” alliances in the city.
We are talking about incumbent Barangay San Antonio captain Eugenio “Jun” Ynion, who is now at loggerheads with former Cabinet Secretary Melvin Matibag - wife of incumbent 1st District Representative Ann Matibag - on the issue of flood-control.
To recall, Ynion was one of Matibag’s biggest allies, particularly during the 2025 midterm election when he came out in support of the Matibag slate (notwithstanding the fact that Melvin Matibag declined to run for city mayor following alleged maneuverings by former House Speaker Martin Romualdez).
Towards the end of the year, however, it became clear that the former alliance has soured, particularly as the billion-peso flood-control scandal became headline news following the July rains that plagued Laguna province.
Ynion started 2026 with a virtual bang as he called out alleged anomalies in flood-control projects in San Pedro City.
Here’s his actual words:
“Ano ang itatawag ninyo sa isang flood control project na nagkakahalaga ng daan-daang milyong piso, ngunit itinayo sa tuktok ng bundok at sa lugar na kailanman ay hindi binaha? Higit pa rito, wala man lang itong pampublikong anunsyo o konsultasyon. Ito ba ay matatawag na simpleng katangahan, o isang malinaw na anomalya?
“Para kayong may mga sports car, naglalakihang mansyon, at mamahaling kagamitan, ngunit wala namang lehitimong negosyo na makakapagpatunay na kaya ninyo itong pundar. Ano iyan, magic? O baka naman galing sa kaban ng bayan?”
While Ynion did not mention any particular official or project, a quick check by OpinYon Laguna’s research team did reveal several flood-control projects from 2022 to 2025 that were allocated to the so-called “Upper Villages” of San Pedro City.
For instance, in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), at least six out of 11 flood-control projects allocated in San Pedro City are located at Saint Joseph Village (in Barangay Langgam), Bagong Silang, Bayan-bayanan (in Barangay San Vicente), and even in Ynion's own barangay of San Antonio (near a private subdivision in San Antonio's upland area).
Shotback
While Ynion did not mention any particular politician, Melvin Matibag immediately took to social media to refute unspecified allegations of corruption hurled against him and his wife.
Again, we’re using Matibag’s actual words here:
"Ang dami mong sinasabi at ang tapang mo dito sa FB. Sa totoong buhay, duwag ka naman ata. Tapusin na natin ito...doon tayo sa Plaza… Debate sa harap ng mga taga-San Pedro."
Barangay polls
But it shouldn’t be a real surprise that Ynion would use the issue of corruption against Matibag, political analysts say.
Corruption is set to be the dominant issue that will pervade not only in the 2028 presidential and local elections but even in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, now scheduled for December this year.
Ynion, in particular, could be distancing himself from a potential political crisis on flood-control projects in San Pedro City.
It should be recalled in prior reports by OpinYon Laguna that some flood-control projects in the city had been awarded to the controversial contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya from 2022 to 2025, according to records from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Not to mention that San Pedro City was allocated a whopping P890 million in flood-control projects in 2025 alone according to DPWH records, with most of these projects contracted out to Discaya-linked firms.
Incumbent (and former) barangay officials are mistaken if they think that they can get away without being questioned by the public on flood-control projects.
“Actually, isa sa mga pinaka-vulnerable sa isyu ng corruption ay mga opisyal ng barangay,” a political analyst who requested anonymity explained to OpinYon Laguna.
The reason is too simple and obvious: no flood-control project would have been possible if not for the cooperation (read: connivance) of barangay officials who request or propose these projects to legislators.
“Sa palagay ko, imposible rin namang wala ring nakuhang share ang mga opisyal ng barangay mula sa bilyon-bilyong piso na inilaan para sa mga ghost project na ito. At ito dapat ang isa sa mga tanong ng mga botante sa barangay elections: hindi kaya ang korapsyon sa flood-control ay umabot na rin sa mga barangay?” the analyst added.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonNews #RambulanNa #PoliticalAllies