A Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) story has reported that Rep. Manny Pacquiao is sticking with Vice President Jejomar Binay, to whom he had pledged to support for the 2016 presidential elections.
While nowhere in the story apart from the headline (?Sorry Duterte, Pacquiao sticking with Binay? ? PDI, 28 Nov 2015) said Pacquiao apologized for the non-support to a fellow Mindanaoan who is seeking the highest post in the land, it suggested that the world boxing icon appears to be a great loss to the maverick Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
The loaded headline could not be less wrong than what it suggested.
New Philippine presidential front runner Rodrigo Duterte, mayor of Davao City. Pic by Edwin Espejo
Rather, it will be more of a Pacquiao loss if he ignores the sentiments of Mindanao legislators, local government officials and growing numbers of Duterte supporters on the island.
Sun. Star Davao, in its headline Sunday (November 29), said 80 percent of Mindanao politicians are likely to support Duterte, albeit some rather covertly at this stage of the 2016 election fever, according to Duterte spokesman Peter Lavi?a.
Surveys are likewise pointing to an overwhelming win for Duterte in Mindanao in the 2016 presidential race with a source saying Duterte will get 70 percent of the Mindanao vote.
So is it a loss for Duterte if Pacquiao, despite a standing invitation for him to join the senatorial slate of the Davao City mayor, will campaign hard for Binay and reject a possible alliance with the man Time Magazine once called The Punisher?
The Duterte camp had been warned that a late announcement of his presidential bid could hurt his chances of gathering support from election financiers, local government officials and politicians.
But former Duterte chief of staff and outgoing Maribojoc mayor of Bohol Leoncio Evasco Jr had always said they won?t mind and will gladly accept whoever is left behind to support him.
Senator Allan Peter Cayetano was rewarded for his patience and belief while Ferdinand Marcos Jr lost his chance of teeing it up with Duterte.
His late entry into the race also worked to Duterte?s advantage. He was able to shed off the excess baggage that is Marcos; the thought of them winning sent shivers to human rights advocate Carlos Conde and Human Rights Watch.
Duterte, despite his earlier pronouncement that the presidency did not appeal to him, kept the conversation going. And without spending so much for continued media mileage, he kept himself in the limelight while the likes of Grace Poe, Mar Roxas and Jejomar Binay spent millions on TV ads.
By the time he decided to jump into the fray, Duterte?s stock had already risen to overtake Poe in the critically vote-rich Manila in the survey conducted by Pulse Asia.
So what are Pacquiao?s chances of winning a seat in the Philippine Senate with him under Binay?
Many are still baffled by Rep. Manny Pacquiao?s choice of political allies. Pic by Edwin Espejo
Without any argument, Pacquiao is probably the most recognizable name and popular cult figure who will be joining the Senate race.
He was statistically tied for 7-11th place in the poll survey of likely winners for senator 10 days before the October 16 deadline for the filing of the certificates of candidacy of election aspirants.
Pacquiao placed 9th in September.
But his continued association with Binay could pull him down. Binay has slipped to 3rd behind Duterte (34 percent ) and Poe (26) at 22 percent in a voter preference survey also conducted by Pulse Asia.
A source also said Pacquiao had been advised by a politician from the North that he could potentially lose seven million votes in the solid north (northern Luzon) because of Binay.
Cebuanos also are said to be wary of Pacquiao in the Philippine Senate because of his chronic absences in the House of Representatives although the congressman from the lone district of Sarangani has vowed to retire from boxing and concentrate on his legislative work once he wins in the 2016 senate election.
On his home front, many town mayors and local officials are likely to campaign for Duterte.
In fact, before the October 16 deadline, the People?s Champ Movement, the party founded by Pacquiao, was set to declare its support for Duterte.
That has changed in favor of Binay. But it could also change overnight if the Duterte momentum continues.
Even closest ally and General Santos City Mayor Ronnel Rivera has said it would be awkward for him not to support Duterte.
Among all candidates for the 2016 presidential election, only Mar Roxas has not taken the lead in voter preference.
Binay had his time but was toppled due to allegations of massive corruption, an issue that Pacquiao will be hard pressed to defend.
The initial euphoria of Poe appears to have subsided and questions over her citizenship appear to have weighed on her.
Roxas only reached as high as second place in the survey and is now back to near bottom.
Taxi drivers in Cebu were disappointed Duterte failed to file his certificate of candidacy in October. So were they taxi drivers of Metro Manila.
Taxi drivers are men of the streets. They are a good source of gauging the pulse of the people. Now that Duterte is in the ring, they could be his loyal campaigners.
Pacquiao appears to be detached from the pulse of the people and continues to be politically insensitive.
The PDI headline looks like it will not help him a lot.
Pacquiao also has the knack of supporting unpopular friends and allies, putting a premium on loyalty rather than their political reputation and public service record.
A Binay loss coupled with a Roxas win, could spell political and financial trouble for the political kingmaker in Sarangani.
A Poe win will not likely embrace him in a post-election coalition especially if Escudero also wins. Both Escudero and Pacquiao could be rivals in the 2022 presidential election.
Duterte is known to keep political adversaries at bay. Just ask former House Speaker Prospero Nograles.
Ah, the PDI headline?
Duterte may well also say, ?Thanks, but no thanks!?
