THAT democracy is alive in this country cannot be more said than what happened last Saturday at Clark in the resolution of PDP-Laban's intra-party dispute.
As we all know, PDP-Laban is the party that brought incumbent Pres. Digong to Malacañang.
And as they say, democracy is a numbers game.
The camp of Energy Secretary Cusi had the numbers to overthrow last ditch efforts of the Pimentel-Pacquiao camp to save the party from what political observers describe as hostile takeover.
It’s still a guessing game on what Sen. Koko Pimentel with Sen. Manny Pacquiao will do next.
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Pulse Asia Research, Inc. released the top 13 preferred to take the 12 seats in the Senate come next year’s elections.
No. 1 in the list is Manny Pacquiao, followed by Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno, then Sara Duterte, third.
Others in the top 13 are: Raffy Tulfo, Alan Peter Cayetano, Chiz Escudero, Bongbong Marcos, Loren Legarda, Panfilo Lacson, Willy Revillame, Jinggoy Estrada, Migz Zubiri, and at 13th, is Jejomar Binay.
It will really be a tight race for Senate seats next year even when some in that list are running for higher posts.
Pacquiao, Duterte and Marcos are said to be running for president.
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This Pulse Asia survey gives more confidence to the Pacquiao camp it will win in the presidential race.
In many national elections, it is a contest between popularity and machinery. The candidate who has both is a sure winner.
That was what happened in the big win by PRRD in 2016 when he smothered the mammoth incumbent Liberal Party. PRRD was too popular, riding on people’s hope for a strong leader.
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This early, we see names floated to be vying for the topmost position. Daughterte, Pacquiao, Moreno, Lacson, Marcos.
Already, one in that list is said to have dropped out from the race, his principal funder pledging support to Malacañang.
Story going around is that this taipan was called to Malacañang early last week and was seen leaving with a big smile. So from five, we expect a four-cornered fight.
But two of the four are at this time still testing the waters.
Lacson, with Sen Pres. Tito Sotto, is said to be going around for consultation with their leaders in the provinces. Sotto is said to be Lacson’s running mate.
Marcos, on the other hand, is rumored to be wooing Inday Sara to take him as her running mate.
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Next year we expect to see a grand coalition of major parties, endorsing the candidacy of Inday Sara.
And because PDP-Laban is expected to be the lead party in the grand coalition, Pacquiao is expected to bolt PDP-Laban and join either NPC or Binay’s UNA.
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Hot in community whispers is the story of a very high government official (HGO) who is investing in a P1.8 billion township in Bataan and expects to earn P25 billion in five years.
A friend updated me on this, saying, this is an old story, although it is true. This HGO is reported to be running for a senate seat in next year’s election.