Is PBBM’s endorsement a kiss of death?

The supposed show of force campaign rally of the administration’s party in Dumanjug, Cebu, last Monday revealed a glaring detail: Only one senatorial candidate showed up. Andrew E’s contract is definitely cut short!

Where were the other administration-backed senatorial candidates? Why didn’t they prioritize a campaign rally in a vote-rich province? Why didn’t they drop everything, given that no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (PBBM) and suspended Governor Gwen Garcia were leading the event?

Everyone has noticed that although this year’s election is a midterm, the political environment is highly unusual. It feels like a proxy political war between former President Rodrigo Duterte (FPRRD) and incumbent President Marcos Jr.

While loyalists exist on both sides, Duterte supporters have expressed their sentiments through voluntary mass actions. They have shown outrage over what PBBM has done to the Dutertes.

People remember that, of all the former presidents, only FPRRD permitted Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s remains to be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani. They also believe that without Sara Duterte as his running mate in 2022, PBBM could have lost to Leni Robredo like what happened in 2016.

But what has PBBM done for the Dutertes in return? The most glaring incidents include the impeachment case against VP Sara and the sending of FPRRD to The Hague, in the Netherlands. People are stunned by what they see as an act of betrayal.

With due respect to those who opposed Duterte’s war on drugs from the beginning, PBBM is not one of them. His actions appear purely political because he supported FPRRD and leveraged VP Sara in his political comeback. These incidents have caused his approval and trust ratings to plummet, while VP Sara’s numbers continues to soar.

Recent surveys show Sen. Bong Go consistently holding the number one spot, with Sen. Bato de la Rosa statistically tied for second with Erwin Tulfo and Sen. Tito Sotto. As a result, Sen. Imee Marcos and Camille Villar have distanced themselves from Alyansa and instead secured endorsement from VP Sara.

It is noticeable that astute politicians, especially senatorial candidates with a fair chance of winning, have avoided making statements against the Dutertes. They understand how to read the political landscape.

This is why the Alyansa’s senatorial candidates deliberately skipped the Dumanjug, Cebu rally. PBBM’s endorsement is now seen as a “kiss of death”. They have changed strategies, opting to campaign individually and focus on their performance and qualifications.

But if PBBM’s endorsement is indeed a “kiss of death,” does this also apply to local candidates? Is the national dynamic the same at the local level? Why are senators more cautious on issues of public interest compared to congressmen?

The Duterte factor might influence local candidates too. However, unlike senators, local officials often maintain personal interaction with constituents. Mayors down to councilors build emotional rapport with their communities as they are the frontliners. Voters might consider this factor also. Thus, they treat senatorial candidates differently from mayors and councilors.

How about gubernatorial candidates? Will voters view them more like senators, given they lack the same close connection with the public as mayors? Let’s see how this plays out in the gubernatorial contest between Duterte’s bet, Pam Baricuatro and PBBM’s candidate suspended Governor Gwen Garcia.