It’s hip2b2

I do not normally write about local politics since it is out of topic. However, since this is my personal blog, I can write whatever I want right? So, If you (my readers) don’t like it please feel free to complain with a comment.

I just read this analysis article from Inquirer.net that talks about Philippine politics in the light of the latest elections. The author claims:

The Senate results are the outcome the Arroyo administration would rather not see and would like the rest of the nation to ignore to substantiate its claim that it had received a vote of confidence on the strength of local results.

The local results show that administration candidates won 73 out of 81 governors’ positions, 203 out of 219 congressional seats, and 109 out of 119 city mayorships. Those results are countered by the capture by the GO of key and politically strategic cities, most of all Manila, Makati and Naga cities.

The administration lost Manila with the defeat of Mayor Lito Atienza’s son, Ali, by Sen. Alfredo Lim as reelectionist Mayor Jejomar Binay scored a landslide win in Makati, the center of the opposition in Metro Manila. These two triumphs have broadened the opposition base in Metro Manila, reducing the electoral importance of a third key city, Quezon City, which returned Mayor Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte as mayor. These strategic shifts more than made up for the victory of administration candidates in the lesser cities of Metro Manila, where the opposition predictably retained control of San Juan, bailiwick of deposed President Joseph Estrada.

Even on the level of local and House elections, the poll results show the political map nationwide has been redrawn to indicate the weakened control by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on key local electorates. The erosion of this base does not warrant confidence that the President is secure from renewed impeachment attempts in the next Congress, or from urban unrest, given that both Manila and Makati are now in opposition hands.

I got pretty annoyed by this article because it is basically saying that GMA does not get her mandate because administration candidates did not win in Makati and Manila cities? That is strange because I believe that mayor Jejomar Binay and Fred Lim’s wins are testament to their good past performance as chief executives of their respective cities. Does this necessarily mean lack of trust in the presidency? Not necessarily right?

Another annoying statement is the implied definition of “key local electorates”. Key local electorates is implied to be Metro Manila cities. So other cities and provinces like Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo, Davao, Bacolod and many more are not as important? Ok. So let’s revive plans for the creation Independent Bisaya and Illonggo Republics. Since, they don’t matter anymore? Oh well…

This entry was posted on Monday, May 28th, 2007 at 6:32 am and is filed under Personal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.