The United Nationalist Alliance or UNA lost more than just three “guest candidates†when it finally decided to drop Loren Legarda, Chiz Escudero and Grace Poe from its senatorial lineup. It also lost face, and with it, a large chunk of its credibility.
UNA decided to drop the three after they continued to fail to personally show up at any of the party's rallies and sorties, preferring to join instead the campaign activities of the Liberal Party, where they are also listed as candidates.
UNA lost face because it has been had. And it lost some credibility as the loss proved it failed to anticipate the obvious, thus revealing the quality of its strategy and planning. When you have people straddling two opposing platforms, something has to give.
Now UNA is blaming the three for not being sincere and considerate. Is UNA trying to say that it actually believes the two virtues exist in politics? UNA may be forgiven if the fiasco involved some of its own regular candidates.
But trusting the virtues of guest candidates who are also listed in the lineup of another party? What was UNA thinking? Why, you cannot even blame the three guest candidates because it was clear to everyone but UNA that sooner or later they will have to make a choice.
The three went along for the ridiculous ride for as long as it lasted. If you are running for public office, any little accommodation that can translate into votes or help bear the cost of the campaign is always welcome.
Besides, for at least two of the three guest candidates -- Legarda and Escudero -- their showing in survey after survey has consistently placed them at the top of the race that they must have deduced only the worst of fortunes can stand in the way of their winning.
To Legarda and Escudero, the worst fallout from their sorry dalliance with UNA will be a few votes shaved off from people genuinely turned off by double-dealing of any sort. But by and large, their victory is assured. How they place is just a matter for posterity to deal with.