The country’s 2022 electoral landscape changed in just a day.
Saturday became a day full of twists and turns at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as key administration politikos changed their minds on the national posts they are vying for in the 2022 elections.
One of the breaking news that emerged on Saturday is the imminent face-off between President Duterte and his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte in the vice presidential elections.
The President, who ends his six-year term in 2022 and is constitutionally prohibited from seeking reelection, plans to file his candidacy for vice president on Monday, according to Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.
Umiwas kay Inday Sara! Duterte runs for senator instead of VP | (politics.com.ph)
Duterte’s former aide Senator Bong Go pulled out from the vice presidential race and decided instead to run for president. Another administration ally, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, also withdrew his presidential candidacy in compliance with the decision of the PDP-Laban party wing.
Mayor Sara meantime opted to run for vice president instead of president, ending weeks of speculations about her political plans. She has been adopted as the running mate of presidential bet former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Sara Duterte defends alliance with Marcos Jr in 2022: ‘Walang inaaway, pinapaiyak o inaapi’ | (politics.com.ph)
The latest political changes drew mixed reactions from some politikos, media personalities, and netizens. Some welcomed the new political alliances while others frowned on the last-minute substitutions.
Senator Bong Revilla apparently welcomed the Marcos-Duterte tandem in 2022, commenting “Dream team” on Facebook.
Senator Sonny Angara also commented about the crazy day at the Comelec, tweeting: “Democrazy.”
Former Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo agreed with Angara’s statement. “You said it.”
Saturday’s events also amused Senator Nancy Binay. “Napadami akin ko ng popcorn today,” she tweeted.
Television host Bianca Gonzales is puzzled by the political development on Saturday. ‘What is happeninggggg,” she tweeted.
Comedian and director John Lapus wrote: “Nakakatakot at nakakasuka yung combination. Alam mong may mga balak.”
Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes said the Duterte regime was “on self-destruct mode.”
Lawyer Barry Gutierrez, spokesman of Vice President Leni Robredo, said the Duterte leadership was playing games with the country’s electoral system.
Former lawmaker Antonio Tinio also tweeted about Dela Rosa’s pullout from the presidential race.
Veteran broadcast journalist Karen Davila tweeted: “So what’s the play?”
Davila also commented how the supposed allies of Mayor Sara who claimed she would run for president “got her all wrong.”
Journalist Ces Oreña-Drilon also denounced the politikos for “making a mockery of the democracatic process.”
Read other interesting reactions to Saturday’s changing poll candidacies.
