By Atty. Howie Calleja
As the filing of candidacy for the 2022 Polls comes into full swing, we can now best describe our political arena with the lyrics of Frank Sinatra’s song, “Paper Moon” … “It’s a Barnum and Bailey world, Just as phony as it can be…” Indeed, it has now become a Barnum & Bailey Circus, and as circus acts go, the Philippine political version has all of the facets of a great attraction: intrigue, drama, thrill, and an UNSURPRISING FINALE.
Over the weekend, Presidential Aide cum Senator Bong Go filed his COC for the Vice Presidential Race — a surprise move because he was expected to run for President vis-à-vis the endorsement of the PDP-LABAN Cusi faction. Also on the same day, Duterte’s daughter Sara Duterte filed her COC for reelection as mayor of Davao City. She is seeking her third and last consecutive term as Davao mayor. But are these two separate filings really two different configurations or is it all just another predictable plot in our ongoing political circus?
At this point anything is possible — either a MARCOS-DUTERTE or DUTERTE-GO configuration, anything is possible through “substitution”. Case in point: Mr. Duterte, a member of the PDP-Laban party, was able to run for president even if he manifested his intention to do so past the COC filing deadline in 2015. He substituted for party mate Martin Diño, the one who originally filed his COC as the party’s presidential nominee. We should always be cognizant that under Comelec Resolution 10717, an aspirant from a duly registered political party or coalition, who dies, withdraws, or is disqualified for any cause after the last day for the filing of COCs, may be substituted by an aspirant belonging to, and nominated by, the same political party or coalition — so expect another spectacular circus finale.
As political spectators to this political circus we have the power to “shut down” their showtime and demand a better performance. We do show by stopping the applause and standing ovation. Let’s stop encouraging a bad performance by simply giving them the “review” they deserve — a thumb’s down. More importantly, let’s just simply stop attending such circus acts and instead devote our time to attending more sensible and time-worthy political engagements. And, when no one is finally paying attention it will be “curtains down” for them once and for all.
In our country’s political circus there will always be clowns, fanfare and spectacle. In a perfect metaphor for the process of seeking political support, people will offer their heads to the lion but our deafening silence and our strong resolve not to engage their well-orchestrated political subterfuge will end their circus career; and leave them with words of Frank Sinatra’s “Send In the Clowns” … “Where are the clowns? There ought to be clowns. Well, maybe next year”.