A Grace without a Chiz and a Mar without a vice
There is a growing sentiment among political wizards that Grace Poe will be better off without Chiz Escudero. It is their considered view that the more politically astute and supposedly ''designing'' senator from Sorsogon will only dictate on the less-experienced and purer Grace, and will thus ultimately become the real power behind the throne. Chiz Escudero, while looking young and fresh, compared to such veterans as the likes of Juan Ponce Enrile and Vicente Sotto, is allegedly an expert player in the dirty games of politics. If Grace is not careful, in her dealings with Chiz, these political pundits would surmise that the latter will have his ways all the way.
The best advice that has been given to Grace is one that emanated from our very own Senator Serge Osmeña who likes Grace, not as a presidentiable in 2016 but as a sure winner for the 2022 presidential polls. Thus, Grace should run for vice president next year, and the only compatible team mate for her will be Mar Roxas. Not Binay. Not Duterte, not even her rumored half-brother, Bongbong Marcos. A Mar-Grace tandem is much better than a Mar-Garin (Health Secretary Janet Garin), or a Mar-Vilma (because Senator Recto vetoed it) or a Mar-Leny (Robredo) because the three daughters said No.
As to why presidentiable Mar finds it very difficult to find a partner, it is quite intriguing to many of us. Are the female vice presidentiables (Vilma Santos, Leny Robredo, Janet Garin, and others) afraid of Korina Sanchez-Roxas or of Judy Araneta-Roxas? Should Mar Roxas start entertaining the possibility of talking to Kris Aquino? Or should the Liberal Party commence to explore more seriously the suggestion to have President Noy Aquino to run as the vice presidential candidate of Mar Roxas? Well, in Philippine politics, nothing is impossible. Even Alma Moreno is running for senator. If she has the right to aspire for that lofty position, why not Boy Abunda and Vice Ganda?
Going back to Grace and Chiz, the two have projected an image of being inseparable. It has been reported that when some kingmakers would ask for a meeting with Grace, Chiz would always insist on tagging along. It would seem that they are a package deal. Their closeness started way back when Fernando Poe, Grace's adoptive father, run for President, Chiz was his official spokesman. Chiz has been advising Grace in the Senate like an older brother and a more learned and experienced legislator, who knows his way around. The two have seemingly entered into a pact that they should always be together. But then again, in the Philippines, anything and everything is possible.
There are some quarters however who advance the theory that the series of meetings of Mar Roxas, Grace Poe, and Chiz Escudero with the President, had already produced a blood compact, a secret covenant. And so, as of today, the four aces are just dancing the pandanggo, as Senator Serge Osmeña would put it. They are playing games while testing the political waters and misleading their "mortal enemy," Jojo Binay. This school of thought has concocted the theory that from many months back, there has been a done deal already: Mar and Grace will run as a tandem, and the two strategists are P Noy and Chiz.
As we always say, never say never in Philippine politics. All deals are possible. All combinations are plausible. All tandems are compatible. It depends on how you package them. A Mar-Grace tandem is unbeatable. Mar will have the big business, the oligarchs, the Church, and the US behind. Grace will attract the youth, the labor sector, the women, the actors and actresses, and the marginalized sectors. Mar and Grace, what a team. The two complement each other. They can reinforce each other. And they will jointly make sure that PNoy will not go where GMA and Erap went. That is the LP's main goal. Mark my words.
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