AT this point in time, it is now clear that there is a “rift” going on between Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio and Speaker Martin Romualdez. And it seems that even President BBM is aware of the “rift” and appears to be doing nothing to patch up the “rift.”
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The chronology of event, shortened on purpose, goes like this
1. Former President GMA was demoted from Senior Deputy Speaker to a mere Deputy Speaker. She was suspected of plotting a coup against Speaker Martin Romualdez.
2. VP Sara resigned from Lakas-NUCD. Later, in her Instagram, she wrote, “Sa imong ambisyon (in your ambition), do not be tambaloslos.” No need to explain the meaning of tambaloslos.
3. In his Manila Times column, Rigoberto Tiglao openly identified Speaker Martin Romualdez as the one being referred to by VP Sara as tambaloslos.
4. During her birthday, President BBM greeted her and along the way, he said, “At please, ‘wag mo na pansinin ang mga tambaloslos diyan. Happy Birthday!”
5. In one event in Mindanao, VP Sara clarified that in her decision to run for VP, Senator Imee Marcos and loyal party groups were highly instrumental, and Speaker Romualdez had nothing to do with it.
6. One after another, some congressmen came to the defense of Speaker Romualdez and reminded VP Sara of the principle of unity and cooperation in order to fully implement the goals and vision of President BBM.
7. In his column, Tiglao predicted a Sara-Martin presidential battle in 2028.
Now, if this shortened chronology is accurate, then we can indeed expect a battle royale in 2028.
And the key players, of course, are Inday Sara and Martin Romualdez.
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Tiglao mentioned that Inday Sara could possibly count on Imee Marcos as her running mate or as a strong ally.
And then of course, there is GMA.
That plus the Mindanao and the Visayas votes of the combined PRRD and Inday Sara supporters, plus the support of Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia and the solid Cebuano votes, could easily make the camp of VP Sara very formidable indeed.
Naturally, we could not discount the power and influence of Speaker Martin Romualdez.
For as long as he stays on as Speaker of the House, and commands the same strong influence over the country’s political and business leaders, then he could still present a substantial political wallop in 2028.
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But 2028 is too far?
True, but for a presidential wannabe, when the time comes that he or she believes that he or she is already in the right position, the length of time becomes relative.
Especially when he or she believes that he or she needs to gather as much political base as possible.
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One time, I met an acquaintance inside PAL’s NAIA Mabuhay Lounge from way back in my PRRD campaign days.
So we compared notes and in the process, we discussed about what’s ahead in the political horizon.
He said he was on his way to a meeting with VP Sara in Davao and a day after, he posted in the Messenger several pictures of him and VP Sara, together with the “core group.”
He hinted that indeed, the core group is preparing for “Inday’s run for the presidency in 2028.”
Aha…..
That event would not have any significance at all if not of the recent events involving the tambaloslos.
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The removal of the water facilities in the town of Sevilla led no less by Mayor Juliet Dano is, for all intents and purposes, long overdue.
Many months have passed, and several letters have been written and sent about the water facilities constructed thereat by the Balilihan LGU, without the consent and/or approval of the Sevilla LGU, has rendered the actual removal an event that was attended with bated breath.
The letters from Sevilla were simply “ignored” by Balilihan, prompting the forced and unilateral removal of the same.
It is already removed and in one picture, Mayor Juliet Dano is shown looking at the removed submersible pump on board a pickup truck.
The last-minute plea of the Chief of Police of Balilihan to do otherwise proved futile as Mayor Dano was already beyond verbal plea.
* * *
Unsa man kaha sunod mahitabo?
Nobody knows of course.
But one thing sure is, the water distribution system of Balilihan is now effectively disrupted.
Wa nay tubig moagas sa gripo, ma limpiyo o ma hugaw man.
Unsay buhaton sa mga konsumedor sa tubig nga nagbayad aron mahatagan og tubig?
At this point in time, it’s simply a guessing game.
