Category Archives: Politics

SENATOR NANCY BINAY WILL REPLACE HER DAD AS CANDIDATE IF HE WITHDRAWS FROM PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL RACE

The Binays - L-R: Junjun, Nancy, Jejomar, Abigail, Elenita
The Binays – L-R: Junjun, Nancy, Jejomar, Abigail, Elenita

MAKATI CITY, Philippines  (The Adobo Chronicles) –  There is a lot of speculation that Vice President Jejomar Binay will eventually withdraw from the 2016 Philippine presidential race because of dwindling ratings as well as graft charges he could be facing as recommended by the  Office of the Ombudsman.

In order to maintain the Binay political dynasty, Senator Nancy Binay is reportedly ready to replace her dad as candidate for president should he decide to withdraw from the race.

Speaking of political dynasty, now that the Vice President’s son, JunJun has been dismissed from the service as mayor of Makati City, — also because of graft charges — another Binay daughter, Abigail, said earlier that she is prepared to run for mayor in place of her brother.  Abigail is currently serving as an elected representative in Congress, and will soon be termed out.

To keep everything within the family circle, Abigail’s husband, Luis Campos,  will run to replace her on her Congressional seat.

And what does Elenita (the Vice President’s wife and former Makati mayor) think of all this? “Politics is in our blood. The more Binays in politics, the better,” she told reporters.

 

 

CNN TO HOST FIRST-EVER PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE, ANDERSON COOPER TO MODERATE

imageMANILA, Philippines  (The Adobo Chronicles) – In election years in the Philippines, there are mass political rallies, but no televised live debates.  But that could soon change if a lawmaker’s proposal to create a Presidential Debate Commission is approved by Congress.

Representative Estrellita B. Suansing (1st District, Nueva Ecija) filed the proposal last year which aims to benefit presidential and vice-presidential candidates as it will provide them a good venue to present their platforms and positions on issues that affect the country, and also clarify matters facing the candidates themselves before the voters.

“I hope it will merit the approval of Congress and the president during the remaining months of the 16th Congress so we can already have a Presidential Debate Commission in place prior to the May elections. The Presidential Debate Commission shall obligate all presidential and vice presidential candidates to participate in the debates, and thus, will help the voting population discern who to vote for,” said Suansing, who is also the vice chairperson of the Committee on Women and Gender Equality.

The proposal embodied in House Bill 5269, otherwise known as proposed “Presidential Debate Reform Act”, has already been referred to the House Committee on Government Reorganization and has a counter-part measure, Senate Bill 1797, submitted by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

In anticipation of the first Philippine presidential debate, CNN Philippines has offered to host and broadcast it live. The cable news network has even designated its star anchor Anderson Cooper to moderate the proceedings.  Cooper was moderator in last night’s U.S. Democratic presidential debate on CNN.

Cooper is extremely popular in the Philippines.  His ground zero coverage of the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in Tacloban gained him the respect and admiration of the Filipinos.  Following his stellar coverage of the disaster, Cooper was rumored to being considered the next U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines.

Upon learning of the news, broadcaster Korina Sanchez, wife of administration presidential candidate Mar Roxas, registered her strong objections to Cooper being named as debate moderator.

Many will recall that Sanchez had her own debate with Cooper when she accused the American news anchor of not knowing what he was talking about in his coverage of Typhoon Haiyan.  Cooper challenged her to leave her airconditioned broadcast studio in Manila and do her own live coverage at ground zero in Tacloban.

“Cooper, because of our conflict, will not be a fair and balanced debate moderator since my husband is one of the presidential candidates,” Sanchez said.

PHILIPPINES’ IRON LADY WILL RUN FOR PRESIDENT, CHOOSES CAMPAIGN SLOGAN

Santiago (File Photo by Tony Pionilla)
Santiago (File Photo by Tony Pionilla)

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, the witty, tough-talking ‘Iron Lady’ of the Philippines, has declared her intention to run for president in the 2016 elections.

Santiago, sidelined from her Senate duties for the past year because of a cancer diagnosis, said her prognosis is no longer terminal.  “I beat cancer,” she announced.

As with all political campaigns, Santiago has chosen her campaign slogan.

President Aquino ran under the slogan, “Tuwid na daan,” (straight path), to represent his anti-corruption platform.  His anointed successor, Mar Roxas, decided on a slogan to continue the straight path: “Ituloy ang tuwid na daan.”

Vice President Jejomar Binay chose a presidential campaign slogan that rhymes with his name: “Gaganda ang buhay kay Binay.” (Life will improve with Binay).

Senator Grace Poe, who has led the polls for many months now, has chosen the slogan, “Walang Maiiwan.” (No one will be left behind)

So back to Santiago. What’s her campaign slogan?

“Stupid is not forever!”

It is a take-off from her book, “Stupid is Forever,” and its sequel, “Stupid is Forevermore.” Both are best-sellers.

It wasn’t clear whether her slogan refers to elected officials, or the voters who keep electing  corrupt and incompetent politicians.

In any case, Santiago’s slogan is sure to be another best-seller and may be her ticket to Malacañang Palace!