ALL politics is local, it was often said, and this might just have some grain of truth in it. It is because local politicians most of the time make things happen for candidates seeking national positions.
Local leaders make or break a presidential bet's dreams of victory, especially if the concerned local leader is from Muslim Mindanao, as astute politicians like Gloria Macapagal Arroyo knows.
It is a practical fact that local leaders, to be effective in delivering votes, should be well funded. First, they need the money to oil their political machinery. Second, they themselves are running and are in need of funds.
Dumping Ping
For all the explanations and hemming and hewing of former speaker Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte first district — about why he and his Reporma Party (no reforms, there, actually, but just the same old trapo character) — dropped their presidential bet Sen. Panfilo Lacson in favor of Vice President Leni Robredo.
Alvarez had said that it's because Leni is strong in the surveys, translated as "Lacson, being weak in surveys, might lose."
Now the senator from Cavite who always had some sort of intelligence sources since he headed the Philippine National Police during the time of President Joseph Estrada, has uncovered an explanation.
Lacson said it was not the surveys but, rather, funds for campaign expenses of Partido Reporma local candidates which he could not provide.
800-M Reasons
The senator claimed that Alvarez’ chief-of-staff asked for P800 million additional funding for the party’s local candidates.
Alvarez is the president of Partido Reporma party, a forgotten group formed by then Defense Secretary Renato de Villa.
When Lacson and Alvarez agreed to join forces and revive Reporma, both hailed each other's adherence to the rule of law, pursuit of happiness under a democracy, equality, patriotism and some such lofty ideals.
Such mutual praise is no more as money matters reared its ugly head as the major consideration in these elections, and in every election past, present and probably in the future.
“He (Alvarez) also cited pre-election surveys as his primary reason for switching his support which of course I don’t believe because he forgot that like me, Mayor Isko [Domagoso] and Sen. [Manny] Pacquiao, his newly chosen candidate is also lagging far behind the survey leader,” Lacson said in a text message.
Leni Is It
“Time to call a spade a spade. It was actually more about the issue of campaign expenses for their local candidates. His chief of staff was asking for P800 million pesos in additional funding which I honestly told him I cannot produce,” he added.
The only tiny thing wrong in what Lacson said is that it is Leni Robredo, and not Manny Pacquiao, that Reporma under Alvarez is supporting.
Lacson left Partido Reporma in disgust, and opted to run as an independent candidate for president.
Such is the fate of many idealists who still put their faith in the fairness of Philippine politics.