Political crossroad for BBM?

By Oct. 1, our poor country’s main industry, politics, will shift to high gear. Candidates for the mid-term election will start filing their Certificates of Candidacies for the May 12 election next year.

- BOO CHANCO

At stake are all 318 seats in the House of Representatives and 12 of the 24 seats in the Senate. Local officials will also be elected at the same time.

BBM has barely warmed his seat and half of his term is over. Because his ill-conceived political partnership with Sara Duterte has collapsed, the mid-term election will be a test of strength between the Marcoses and the Dutertes.

BBM’s senatorial candidates must win by a landslide or BBM becomes a lame duck president in the second half of his term. His candidates must also win overwhelmingly in congressional districts if he is thinking of constitutional change to extend his rule via a change in the form of government.

BBM is barred by the 1987 Constitution from seeking reelection. As of now, he has no successor with enough political strength to successfully win a contest with Sara Duterte. His cousin, the Speaker, is aspiring to be that successor but surveys show he is too weak to beat Sara despite all the trying.

BBM’s sister Imee could have been an alternative except that she has cast her lot with the Dutertes and may run as Sara’s Vice President. She and BBM may not have spoken to each other for a while. Imee has supported the Duterte side on a number of key issues from the West Philippine Sea to Quiboloy to Sara’s budget.

BBM’s immediate big problem is putting together a formidable Senate ticket, to beat Duterte surrogates Bong Go and Bato dela Rosa. VP Sara said three Dutertes will run for the Senate and that’s deadly.