Signs of junking started to manifest within the ranks of administration senatorial bets less than two weeks before Election Day on May 13.
In Cavite, an established political bailiwick of senatorial bet Bong Revilla, three members of the 13-man Hugpong ng Pagbabago senatorial team were excluded from campaign posters and flyers being distributed by allies of the former senator.
Taguig-Pateros Rep. Pia Cayetano, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, and broadcast journalist Jiggy Manicad are not among the senatorial candidates endorsed by the Revilla campaigners.
Manicad said he does not take this against Revilla as he pointed out that he never approached Cavite-based politicians to help him campaign. “Sa tao ang tutok ko. Kaya di ako affected,” he said.
Some pundits believe that Manicad’s slogan: “Hindi magnanakaw at hinding-hindi mag-nanakaw” may have earned him the ire of the Revillas.
Revilla has claimed that his senatorial bid is being slowed down by a smear campaign on the plunder charges filed against him in connection with the P10-billion “pork barrel” fund scam.
Although detained for nearly three years as a result of the filing of charges, the former senator was acquitted by the Sandiganbayan.
Before the reported junking started, HNP chairperson and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte said local leaders supporting the regional organization are given the freedom to choose HNP senatorial bets they will support. (Ben Rosario)
