Cebu as LP stronghold

Last Saturday President Benigno Aquino III  with some of the high officials of the Liberal Party (LP) visited Danao City to witness the formal  alliance between the LP and the Barug Alang sa Kauwagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud) party headed by Vice Mayor Nito Durano.

The alliance also brought with it the partnership of lawyer Hilario “Junjun” Davide III and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale who will run  for governor and vice governor in 2013.  As expected,  the visit of Aquino and the new coalition drew some local officials to the administration party in preparation for the forthcoming polls.  Provincial Board Member Arleigh Sitoy announced that  11 members  in the board are  now allied with the Liberals. Vice Governor Magpale said she can count  eight.

An exodus of mayors from Cebu province to the LP is expected. What for?  Singly for political survival and personal interest.  Am I surprised by the latest development?  No. It is something to be expected given our political culture. This practice has been going on for some time since former president Ferdinand Marcos abolished the two party system under the 1935 Constitution.

A student asked me about the implications of the setup in which a politician can keep  jumping from one party to another depending on who was  in power. This is something that we should not be happy about because elections are now  based on political survival, political convenience and personal interest.  Absent are faithfulness to party principles and commitment to a party platform regardless of the personalities who lead the party.

Today Philippine  politics is basically personality-oriented. Politicians’ lack of commitment has led to confusion in society.  Many people no longer keep their word. They  just follow  the example of politicians.   Marriages are broken because the virtue of commitment has been replaced by personal interest and convenience. This is a copy of the practices of our politicians.

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In Cebu City there is competition between Mayor Michael Rama and Congressman Tommy Osmeña as to who will get the blessing of the LP as  its standard bearer for the mayorship in 2013. The party has not resolved the issue yet. Both gentlemen are waiting.

On this issue the LP is having a difficult time because both men are friends of the party. Mike Rama is a bona fide member while Osmeña is a very good friend of the party leaders.  But the party should not let the two gentlemen wait any longer so that they can also plan their moves.  I believe that their moves should not be dependent on their membership of any party. They can survive without the national party’s backing as shown before by the Bando Osmeña – Pundok Kauswagan phenomenon.

Many like me were hoping that the Aquino administration would usher in a refreshing type of politics away from  the  traditional politics that we have known but sad to say ,  it has plunged itself into the old practice of accepting politicians of all kinds, even Marcos loyalists  and president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who are examples of bad governance and politics.

I think we have given the administration enough time to usher changes in political culture and the system. I think the people should take the lead in ushering new politics in our country.

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Last week I met the well-respected constitutionalist Fr. Joaquin Bernas, SJ. In my interview with him I asked about the case of Councilor Jun Pe who transferred residence from the north district of Cebu City to the south district to run again as councilor.

Fr. Bernas was categorical in saying that Pe cannot run because that would violate the spirit of the law on term limitations. It is hoped that Pe would be guided properly since his term has already ended.