Seasoned politicians, unknowns, strange bedfellows make up admin coalition

MANILA, Philippines — Experienced politicians, strange bedfellows and unknowns make up the senatorial slate of the administration coalition, which was finally announced Monday after some delays caused by changes in the lineup.

Six of the 12 senatorial candidates of the “Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid” are members of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) while the other six were from coalition partners.

The LP members included in the senatorial ticket are Senate President Franklin Drilon, Sen. Ralph Recto, Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, former Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Francis Pangilinan, former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, and former Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla.

Completing the slate are former senator and rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson, former Pampanga Gov. Mark Lapid, Citizens' Battle Against Corruption party list president and former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) chief Joel Villanueva, Akbayan chairperson Risa Hontiveros, COOP NATCCO party list Rep. Cresente Paez and Interior Assistant Secretary for Muslim Affairs and Special Concerns Nariman Ambolodto.

“These 12 gentlemen and ladies will carry the torch so we can provide a better future for the country,” Drilon said.

Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform, described the LP slate a “hodgepodge.”

“(It is composed of) veterans and newbies, politicians and non-politicians, program-oriented and pragmatic, trapo (traditional politician) and reform. In the end, it's a combination of sure winners, chance winners, and sore losers,” Casiple said.

"Political bedfellows are strange. (It is about) short alliances, short memory, and permanent interests,” he added.

Political science professor Amado Mendoza Jr. said the LP senatorial ticket “is composed of winners, maybes and sure losers.”

“I don’t think the unknowns have a chance,” Mendoza said.

The announcement of the Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid senatorial ticket was supposed to be held last Friday but was postponed to give Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista time to decide on whether to run for senator. Bautista has decided not to join the senatorial race and is seeking reelection instead.

Another factor that led to the rescheduling is the decision of former Metro Manila Development Authority Francis Tolentino to withdraw from the lineup following a controversial lewd show in Laguna early this month.

President Aquino, LP presidential bet Manuel Roxas II and vice presidential candidate Camarines Sur Rep. Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo attended the announcement of the senatorial ticket.

Strange bedfellows

There are strange bedfellows in the senatorial line up, which Roxas claimed was not based on political convenience.

De Lima had issues with her fellow senatorial bets Villanueva and Lacson because of her work as Justice secretary. She sued Villanueva over his alleged channeling of pork barrel funds to bogus foundations when he was the representative of CIBAC.

Villanueva denied misusing his pork funds and admitted previously that he would not be comfortable running with de Lima. The former TESDA chief, however, appeared to have a change of heart as he agreed to share the stage with the former justice secretary.

“There's no such thing as a perfect set-up. We are not waiting for the perfect set up to serve our people and give what is due them. We know what we want to accomplish. We want to increase the jobs and entrepreneurs in the Philippines,” Villanueva said.

The issue between de Lima and Lacson was related to the killing of publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in 2000. De Lima ordered a probe in 2011 to determine if Lacson had a hand in the crime. 

Lacson held a grudge against de Lima because of her threats to arrest him despite a court order lifting an arrest warrant against him. Former police superintendent Cezar Mancao, a witness of the case, has cleared Lacson of any link to the crime. Lacson has also agreed to make peace with de Lima.

Lacson was a no-show during the announcement of the administration coalition’s senatorial line-up.

De Lima, who was introduced as “a woman with balls” during the event, said she will campaign alongside Villanueva and Lacson.

“I don’t feel awkward. I am a professional,” De Lima said.

Mendoza agreed that there is nothing awkward with De Lima being in the same ticket with Villanueva or Lacson.

“She (De Lima) does not have to campaign for them. After all, you are still rivals even if you belong to the same party,” the political science professor said.

Bobby Tuazon, director for policy studies of the Center for People Empowerment (CenPEG) in Governance, said politicians can set aside differences for convenience.

”It's a politics of convenience and expediency. Differences can be buried to make way for political convenience. De Lima and Villanueva have always been identified closely with the titular LP president, Mr. Aquino. There is no reason why they will refuse to join together in the same slate,” he said.

Lesser-known candidates

The Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid surprised observers when it included Paez and Ambolodto – two lesser known figures – in its senatorial slate.

Paez represents cooperatives in Congress while Ambolodto handled Muslim affairs as assistant secretary of the Interior department. Both of them were convinced by Roxas to run for senator.

Paez admitted that it is almost “mission impossible” to win over well-known and seasoned political figures.

“My initial reaction was this is mission impossible. I do not have a name. I’m not like those who have big names. My surname is just Paez,” Paez said.

“But I think behind me is the powerhouse – these are the cooperatives who want to grow. The time has come to recognize the development of cooperatives,” he added.

Paez is optimistic that cooperatives all over the country would support his candidacy.

“If I win, the entire sector, not just Paez, wins,” he added.

Ambolodto said she would introduce herself as a “woman and a Muslim from Mindanao.”

“I came from an internally displaced family but because of hard work and God’s mercy, I was able to achieve what I have now. I want to serve as an example, that poverty is not a hindrance to attain one’s dreams,” she said.

Ambolodto admitted to feeling nervous when she was offered to join the senatorial race.

"I asked myself: 'Can I do it?' The position is too high?’” she said.

“I saw the peace and order situation in our area.  I decided to run so that the peace negotiations can continue.”

CenPEG’s Tuazon believes Ambolodto and Paez were included to fill up the available slots in the administration coalition’s senatorial slate.

“They were picked supposedly to represent the NGO or civil society sector. I doubt however whether they have any chances of securing sizeable votes,” he said.

Experts believe it will be hard for LP to sweep the senatorial race.

“Only the incumbents, reelectionists and those making a comeback - whether from the administration or from other camps - have the advantage in this race,” Tuazon said.

“There is no chance (to achieve a sweep). There are other (candidates who have greater chancesof winning) ourtside LP,” Casiple said.

LP spokesman and Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice is optimistic that Ambolodto and Paez would gain public support during the campaign period.

“We have seven months to campaign and we hope that the people will realize that they have legislators who can support them,” he said.

Where is Pacquiao?

Noticeably absent in the Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid senatorial slate is champion boxer Manny Pacquiao, who was reportedly offered a slot.

Erice said Pacquiao had opted to join the ticket of someone from Mindnaao but did not elaborate. 

Roxas previously said that it was possible to include Pacquiao in the administration coalition’s senatorial slate.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, a rival of Roxas in the presidential race, previously claimed that Pacquiao has given an assurance that he would not leave the opposition party. – with reports from Levi Mae Mora