In politics, you always look for a winner.
This was the line written by prolific veteran journalist Jose Alejandrino when he was discussing the fate of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), Liberal Party (LP), and Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) party lists once it came to its political survival.
“The LP is in shambles and the PDP-Laban, which the liberals hoped to control through those who abandoned the LP, is now splintering into groups…,” Alejandrino wrote.
True enough, the partylist the President Rodrigo Duterte is part of is splitting into factions after Pampanga Representative Gloria Arroyo took over the Speakership.
Arroyo is identified as an ally of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, whereas the former House Speaker whom Arroyo replaced, Pantaleon Alvarez, was in hot waters with the presidential daughter on grounds of partylist issues, among others.
Thus, with Arroyo in the picture, PDP-Laban met its dwindling numbers with a weaker force.
While the two prominent partylists, PDP-Laban and LP, are endangered, it seems that HNP is enjoying its rise.
“These splintered groups would now like to join HNP, Inday Sara's regional party, but Inday has said she prefers to make tactical alliances with political groups than integrate them into her party,” Alejandrino explained.
In doing so, Mayor Sara becomes “flexible” with her options, evading the same mistakes as PDP where it instituted former LP members as its partylist officers such as Sen. Koko Pimentel, former LP who become a PDP-Laban president.
With all the conflicts within the two other parties, Hugpong ng Pagbabago took a different course where it builds stronger alliance grounded on the same principles.
“Properly organized and properly strategized, the HNP could end up being the biggest party in the Philippines. It has a mass base nationwide and abroad with OFWs, thanks to the popularity of Tatay Digong,” Alejandrino predicted.
While some political parties are tethered by their locality, HNP enjoys the support of around 20-25 million followers.
With the Presidential daughter Inday Sara on the lead for this rising partylist success, Alejandrino opines that the future of the Philippines with the presidential daughter as the president is not far off.
Alejandrino’s full article reads:
ON INDAY SARA'S HNP, PDP-LABAN, & LP
by Jose Alejandrino
The Opposition is understandably nervous because it doesn't know what is coming. The LP is in shambles and the PDP-Laban, which the liberals hoped to control through those who abandoned the LP, is now splintering into groups after GMA, an Inday ally, took over the Speakership of the lower house of Congress from Panty Alvarez, the Sec-Gen of PDP-Laban.
These splintered groups would now like to join HNP, Inday Sara's regional party, but Inday has said she prefers to make tactical alliances with political groups than integrate them into her party. It's a wise move by Inday because she retains her flexibility by way of options. She doesn't want to make the same mistake as PDP-Laban did.
But should it have been a surprise? Koko Pimentel, PDP's president, was formerly LP. His heart has always been with the liberals. He, too, lost the presidency of the Senate. With Panty and Koko no longer in control of both houses of Congress, is it any wonder PDP-Laban members are abandoning ship? As I had predicted, the PDP would go the same way as the LP.
This has always been the problem with Philippine politics. No principles, no party discipline.
Politicians always gravitated from the weak to the strong.
What lies ahead? Properly organized and properly strategized, the HNP could end up being the biggest party in the Philippines. It has a mass base nationwide and abroad with OFWs, thanks to the popularity of Tatay Digong. The other political parties have a limited base confined to a local area controlled by the personalities who make up their party. Offhand, I would say the HNP can easily mobilize 20-25 million supporters. What other political party can match this?
With the PDP-Laban and the LP reduced to size, their finances, too, will dwindle which will make it difficult to sustain the campaign of their candidates. No financier will risk his money on a loser.
In politics, you always look for a winner. That is why Inday Sara will be the next president.
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