Open Line Column by Bobby Ricohermoso
Open Line

The Sara factor

Oct 18, 2021, 12:37 AM
Bobby Ricohermoso

Bobby Ricohermoso

Editor

THIS is a statement that would surely send shivers down the spine of current crop of presidential aspirants especially Vice President Leni Robredo.

In his most recent interview, Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, who is running for president under the banner of PDP-Laban Cusi wing albeit on interim basis as many political pundits believe, said there was 40% chance of presidential daughter Sara Duterte running for president.

Clear signal

As everyone knows, Bato is one of the most trusted men of President Digong and issuing a statement like that, could send a very strong and clear signal to other aspirants especially to the Robredo-led opposition.

It could mean that he was actually already paving the way for the sudden change of heart of Sara who earlier categorically stated that she was not running for president in next year’s elections.

Currently, the whole nation especially the presidential contenders are in suspended animation and in bated breath wondering whether Sara would indeed run or not.

Incomplete list

Following the conclusion of filing of certificates of candidacy last October 8, among the more prominent names that emerged who were gunning for the presidency aside from Leni are Senators Ping Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, former Sen. Bongbong Marcos and Mayor Isko Moreno.

Although most of them are considered as serious candidates and are actually capable of leading the country, but somehow, somewhere many people felt that the said list is still incomplete until after the dreaded date of November 15 had lapsed.

They know that a Sara candidacy could still happen and that’s one thing that these candidates dread the most.

Possibilities

For sure, there will be realignments and changes of political camps once Sara opts to run.

Maybe, Bongbong could give way and run as her vice president or it could be the other way around.

For Leni, because of her extreme desire to prevent the return of a Duterte or Marcos to power, she could sacrifice and instead run as VP to a candidate like Pacquiao or Isko who has greater chances of winning than her.

Political juggernaut

Maybe Isko, Ping and Pacquiao could join forces and form a triumvirate to give them a bigger chance of beating Sara and Bongbong’s political juggernaut.

That is not to mention the fact that political operators as well wheelers and dealers would be so busy shuffling their political cards to come with the best strategies to lead their bets to victory.

We can also factor in the big role traditional and new media could play in what appears to be a very exciting presidential elections.

Real threat

Certainly, there are thousands of possibilities that could happen once Sara enters the presidential race.

Indeed, for many of these presidential bets, they know that Sara is the only real threat to their ambitions of occupying Malacanang Palace in the next six years, and the perks that come with it.

That is not to mention that out of more than 110 million Filipinos, they will surely be included in the hallowed list of Philippine presidents whose portraits are prominently displayed at Kalayaan Hall.

Sara factor

But what makes them really afraid of Sara?

For one, she has been leading in all pre-election surveys and people are captivated by her perceived tough persona which she obviously inherited from her father.

Although her popularity could also be a product of the Duterte brand, people could not help but wonder if she could do better than her father if elected as president.

Many also believe that she is independent-minded and they fancy if she will usher in a leadership that is unique and distinct from her father.

Blame Bato

One thing more, the floodgates of support from all big businesses and politicians would surely open once she makes herself available which could all but shatter Leni’s and other aspirants’ dream of winning the presidency.

And once that happens, all these presidential bets have no one to blame but Bato whose only fault was being a true and loyal friend of Digong!

Well, that’s life!


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