Some Mindanao politicians tried to rig the national election of the 17,000-strong Philippine Councilors’ League, but some alert Bicolano councilmen foiled their plot and forced the League to declare a failure of elections. This not only gave the Duterte administration its latest political blackeye, but, more than the current leadership squabbles in the House of Representatives, also exposed the widespread political infighting in the ranks. The political crisis has reached the grassroots level; it cannot go lower than this.
This happened at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on Feb. 27. The councilors from 146 cities and 1,448 municipalities were supposed to elect their national officers during their three-day meeting. PCL chairman Danilo Dayanghirang of Davao was running for reelection, with the apparent support of the President’s daughter, Davao City mayor Sara Duterte Carpio, while his challenger Jesciel Richard Salceda of Polangui, Albay, a nephew of Albay Congressman Joey Salceda, had the support of Mindanao’s boxer-senator Manny Pacquiao and outgoing PCL president Luis “Chavit” Singson.
Dayanghirang campaigned under the shadow of President Duterte, whose photos and presumed endorsement figured prominently in his propaganda posters, while Salceda relied on the support of Pacquiao and Singson, both close friends and supporters of the President. Singson, for one, took out a newspaper ad explaining why Salceda deserved to be elected. His uncle, Congressman Joey, who chairs the powerful House Ways and Means committee, chose to keep his distance from the campaign.
According to reports, Mayor Sara went out of her way to help Dayanghirang run unopposed, if possible, but her pleas to her fellow mayors were largely ignored. The biggest blow was seeing Pacquiao and Singson, two of DU30’s closest allies, openly campaigning for Salceda, who was also reported to be supported by other powerful Mindanao congressmen and some Iglesia ni Cristo members. On voting day, the Bicolano councilmen arrived ahead of their colleagues from Davao, and got to test the voting machine before anybody else did. They wrote Salceda’s name on their test vote, but the confirmation page showed Dayanghirang.
It was not the first time computer “glitches” marked an election—our national elections have become rather infamous for them—but this was the first time since DU30 came to power that an expressed desire of his administration to favor a certain group of politicians has met with vigorous resistance. Is a rebellion brewing? A committee of three councilors—Raul Corro of Muntinglupa, Raymond Alvin Garcia of Cebu, and Darwin Icay of Taguig, all lawyers, was formed to work with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and find a way out of this mess, but so far no new date has been announced to conclude the election.
Whatever happens next, the public sympathy now appears to be with Salceda rather than with Dayanghirang. And the days of dictating the results of small or big elections may soon be over.
In the House, the problems of leadership have risen to another level. Alan Peter Cayetano’s stint as Speaker appears threatened by reported moves by Rep. Lord Allan Velasco of Marinduque to prepare to take over, pursuant to a “term-sharing” arrangement the two congressmen had entered into in July 2019. Under that agreement, Cayetano was to act as Speaker for the first 15 months, and Velasco would succeed him for the next 21 months of their three-year term. Both congressmen are regarded as DU30’s proteges, but in reaction to Velasco’s allegedly “provocative moves,” Cayetano has removed from their committee positions congressmen enjoying Mayor Sara’s political protection. This is not easy to digest.
The congressmen and the public expect the two protagonists to live by the terms of their gentleman’s agreement, but in the end the congressmen should have the ultimate say on who is to be their Speaker and when he should take over. Whether we are looking at the councilors or the congressmen today, what we are seeing is simply a portent of bigger things to come. As 2022 approaches and the matter of choosing DU30’s successor becomes the most important item on the nation’s agenda, the old political alignments will tend to fall apart and those seeking elective office will probably discover that closeness to the Dutertes has ceased to be the controlling factor.
fstatad@gmail.com