The laggards in the presidential race, especially Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Sen. Ping Lacson are discrediting Vice President Leni Robredo in a desperate attempt to derail the surging momentum of her campaign. They decry what they claim are vile attempts to make them back out, including “hijacking” and bribing groups or parties loyal to them. The clamor for them to unite and rally behind Leni to prevent a Marcos comeback is gaining ground simply because it’s practical and realistic. Why, all indications point to a two-way race between Leni and Marcos Jr. Naturally, Leni’s camp would try to win them over to her side—and this is not to condone foul attempts to do so, if any.
Even more preposterous is Isko’s dare for Leni to withdraw, conjuring up some tall tale that many Marcos Jr. supporters are not really diehards but simply anti-Leni. What kind of logic is that? And he even praised Marcos Jr. and his camp for having the decency not to ask anyone of them to back out. Why the heck should the frontrunner bother with contenders who don’t have a fighting or an iota of chance in the race? He claimed that a Marcos Jr. or Leni win will continue to deeply divide our nation and only perpetuate the perennial and deeply divisive Marcos-Aquino tug-of-war and the politics of vengeance. C’mon! Presidents Cory and Noynoy Aquino are no longer around; who among the members of the so-called yellow brigade remains a force to reckon with? Have any of them ever held sway over Leni’s decisions or programs?
What a show! What a circus!
ARNIE T. ALCAZAR
Makati City