Let it be Leni vs. Sara

By Herbert Vego

PRESIDENTIAL daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio seems to have “inherited” the trait of his father – doing the opposite of what was said.  Nobody took her seriously when she said, “I am not running for a national position. Only one of us will run for a national position in 2022.”

She refers to her father, outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, who is running for vice-president in tandem with reluctant Sen. Bong Go as standard bearer.

Alas, not even Bong Go himself is serious in aspiring for the presidency. A “photo bomber” and presidential alalay to succeed the boss? No way! This has only created the impression in the public mind that he is a mere decoy aimed at confusing the enemy.

The hosts of the  TV talk show “Wag Po” on Channel 5  seemed to show their preference for her on Monday when they agreed without batting an eyelash that Sara “is still No. 1 in the survey.”

They were probably referring to the unbelievable last survey of Octa Research with 1,200 respondents, where Sara scored the highest with 28 percent against all other possible presidential contenders including Vice President Leni Robredo, alleged tail-ender with only 6 percent.

The low number is no doubt aimed at discouraging Robredo from running for President. With not a whiff of graft and corruption that could be raised against her, however, she stands as the most winnable opposition to whomever Pres. Duterte would anoint.

Oh well, nobody has yet come up to argue why the Filipinos nationwide would want the daughter to replace the controversial father who is now facing charges before the United Nations’ International Criminal Court (ICC) for “crimes against humanity”; and whose Cabinet members are in hot water over familiar multi-billion peso anomalies now being probed by the Senate.

Why the entry of Octa Research into the fray? Are pollsters SWS and Pulse Asia no longer credible in mind-conditioning the voting public?

One recalls that, last September 6, the House of Representatives, in compliance with Resolution No. 2075, began investigating why the group seems to have taken over the role of the Department of Health (DOH) in declassifying statistics on the “surge” of Covid-19 cases.

Unmindful of that, Octa Research is trying hard to establish credibility by delving into Covid-19 statistics and rattling surge projections independent of the government.

This corner agrees with 1Sambayan’s opinion on the need for a unified opposition to best the administration bet and the Johnny-come-lately “graft busters”.  As of this writing, Robredo and popular Manila Mayor Isko Moreno were said to be discussing a “formidable team-up” between themselves. Logically, it would have to be Leni for President with Isko as running mate.

There used to be three of them talking to unite. Unfortunately, Sen. Manny Pacquiao could not be appeased into giving way.

On second thought, good riddance. Manny’s “anti-corruption” image would look skin-deep.  His split with the Duterte camp undeniably sprang from nothing but his realization that Duterte would not endorse him as PDP-Laban official candidate for President.

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, who lost the vice-presidency to Robredo in 2016, would likewise fail to draw opposition groups primarily because he is the son of a fallen dictator.  There are sources saying that it is he who would be Duterte’s standard-bearer in case Sara backs out.

The tandem of Senators Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Tito Sotto, which kicked off on an “Ito ang simula” outcry, could likewise not detach themselves from the issue of “collaboration” with Duterte in all five years of his administration. The duo is best remembered for having authored the “Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020”, which would allow warrantless arrest and imprisonment of suspected dissidents.

The present government has failed to effect changes in the life of Juan dela Cruz. With only 11 days to go before the start of the eight-day filing of certificates of candidacy on October 1, let us base our May 9, 2022 decision on their track records. Now na!

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JUMPERS AND TAMPERED METERS ‘DANGEROUS’

FROM 65,000 paying consumers, MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) has registered almost 20,000 more since February 29, 2020 when it took over the operation of the distribution utility in Iloilo City from Panay Electric Co. (PECO)

Job well done! There used to be 30,000 non-paying illegal connections, whose power consumptions were charged to paying customers as “system’s loss.”

The massive reduction of power pilferage has contributed to the decrease in MORE Power rates, which is now P7.99 per kilowatt-hour, or three to four pesos below the rates of the three Iloilo Electric Cooperatives.

According to MORE Power spokesman Jonathan Cabrera, it’s because power pilferers have already sensed danger to themselves, knowing the increasing number of court cases filed in court against those caught stealing electricity.

A celebrated case in point is the one filed against the Tiu family due to five tampered meters discovered in the family compound. Under the law  (R.A. 7832), power pilferage is punishable by reclusion temporal (12 years and one day to 20 years) or a fine ranging from P50,000 to P100,000, or both, at the discretion of the court.

MORE Power has employed unidentifiable security men who move around the city 24/7 to catch individuals connecting “jumpers” to homes not listed as electricity users.  They also randomly monitor poles and meters for whatever irregularities.

Since their whereabouts are known to both the MORE office and the police, these anonymous “watchers” are never without backup security when confronting suspected pilferers or disconnecting illegal connections.

Now the  power pilferers remember the saying, “Crime does not pay.”