The Political Landscape

The recent decision of Manila Mayor Francisco “Isco” Moreno and his Vice-Presidential bet Dr. Willie Ong to join the presidential race has entirely changed the political landscape on the national level. Many were caught by surprise with this decision as they believed all along that the erudite Manila Mayor would run for re-election, or at most for the Senate which he would handily win. With Senator Rafael “Ping” Lacson and Senate President Vic Sotto, Senator Manny Pacquio and his probable running mate, VP Leni G. Robredo of the Liberal Party and likewise her possible running, the possibility of three or more candidates for president and vice-president is not far-fetched. Some political analysts however, have expressed the view that the Moreno-Ong tandem would have to go to the grassroots level in order to woe the electorate and make their presence felt. They say that campaigning through social media like the facebook will not be sufficient to catapult them to Malacanang. With this development it would seem that the coming presidential elections would be interesting.

On the local level, incumbent Mayor Nelson Legacion is likewise facing no less than three (3) possible political rivals with the entry (again?) of the tandem of Fortunato “Tato” Mendoza and his team-mate Rasty “Tut” Dequiros and former Mayor John Bongat and his running mate retired and former City Judge of Naga Zeny Bragais. Not to be discounted also is former Naga City Councilor Louie Ortga who never misses trying his luck every local election. Just like the national level, Naga’s local election is bare watching.

Parenthetically, this column wishes to encourage our first time voters to register and vote. We are glad to note as per tv and print media reports that many are cueing up before the Comelec to register. Indeed, exercising your right of suffrage is not only a privilege but one’s right as well. Let us preserve our democratic institution by exercising this right.

TRIVIA:

The crawler this writer saw on tv reports that an RTC Judge in Naga was dismissed by the Supreme Court from the service has kept us make some inquiries from lawyer/judges friends as to his identity. It turned out however, that the RTC judge referred to had long resigned from the service. Why it took so long for the Supreme Court to decide the case is beyond us.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:

“IF YOU DO NOT TAKE INTEREST IN THE AFFAIRS OF YOUR GOVERNMENT, YOU ARE BOUND TO LIVE UNDER THE RULE OF FOOLS” - PLATO

FOR OUR WORD OF LIFE:

“BLESSED IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD, THE PEOPLE HE HAS CHOSEN AS HIS HERITAGE” - PSALM 33:12