Tight battle for the presidency

In an election where the race for the presidency is very tight, anything can happen, especially that to win one does not need a majority vote; a plurality of votes would be enough. The coming presidential election is looking like it will be very close and could end up to be a contest between popularity and machinery. Sen. Grace Poe and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte are popular; but Vice President Jejomar Binay and former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas have well-oiled political machinery.

In post-Edsa elections, the popular candidates did not always win (Ramos’ machinery vs. Santiago’s popularity = FVR won; Arroyo’s machinery vs. FPJ’s popularity = Arroyo won); neither did those with well-oiled machinery (De Venecia’s machinery vs. Erap’s popularity = Erap won).

P-Noy’s election was due to the INC machinery and his popularity. But his closest opponent in that election, Erap, with only his popularity, gave P-Noy a run for his money. Machinery did not work that time as local politicians jumped ship when they sensed that the administration candidate had no chance of winning.

If Duterte wins, it will be historic as he will be the first president from Mindanao. But with due respect to those who are saying a revolution will ensue if he loses, come on, are we sore losers? Yes, Duterte is a good leader, he inspires, and we can easily relate to him, but it is not for his supporters alone to decide the winner of this election. Ours is a democracy, not anarchy.

If Roxas wins, let’s give him a chance to prove himself. Let’s give the “daang matuwid” another chance; maybe it will be more effective and efficient this time around. And maybe we will really feel the benefits of progress and prosperity with him as president.

If Binay wins, he was very creative when he was mayor of Makati in terms of providing social services. The idea that “if a form of service is not prohibited by law, it is allowed by law” guided him to giving quality social services to his constituents and to Makati’s sister-cities. But with all the criminal charges waiting to be filed against him, if later on found by the courts to be true, then he should face the music. It was so with Erap and Gloria, and maybe with P-Noy, too, after his term.

If Poe wins, she is very idealistic and progressive. And she can engage the services of good advisers to run this country and competent staffs to help her. Indeed, she will have to prove her critics wrong.

The way the presidential election looks to me right now, it will be a three-way battle between Binay, Roxas and Duterte. And Poe, well, with due respect to her, this is not yet her time. But then, maybe, she might yet prove me wrong.

The election contest is like Lex Luthor vs. Batman vs. Superman vs. Wonderwoman. But unlike in the movies, it may only take a plurality of the voters to decide who of the four wins this “eleksyonserye.”

—ANTHONY DINNES C. PANTUA, atty.adpantua@gmail.com