“Some candidates are getting desperate.”
President Duterte has vowed to stop any attempt to disrupt the upcoming May 9 elections in which the Filipino nation will choose his successor.
We share the President’s appreciation of the importance of the national exercise as it will determine the continuation of the administration’s programs of change and nation-building.
Thus directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to be on full alert and stand by to pave the way for clean, fair, and honest polls.
Duterte’s stern directive came in the wake of reports of alleged “threats of terrorism” if Vice President Leni Robredo loses in the May 9 presidential elections.
Robredo’s camp strongly denied any involvement in plans to mount unlawful and violent acts before, during and after the elections.
Her supporters, however, believe that the only way she can lose is by wholesale cheating by her opponents in the automated polls, a grossly ridiculous claim as she trails Presidential race frontrunner former-senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. (BBM).
Despite their denial, the PNP is not taking the alleged threats lightly, according to PNP Chief Operations chief Maj. Gen. Val De Leon.
De Leon said the PNP, in cooperation with the AFP, is ready and able to exercise its mandate to serve and protect the integrity of the conduct of this year’s elections.
“We are ready and able to respond to any eventuality, as we are mandated by law regardless of who wins or loses on May 9, 2022,” Gen. De Leon said.
It is understandable that frustration has set in the minds of some candidates as they face the specter of defeat in the upcoming electoral contest.
BBM has consistently and constantly increased his lead in voter preference, more than 30 percent according to major surveys.
Political analysts say BBM’s nearly 60 percent share of votes in the surveys in the past several months.
There are 65 million registered voters and a good number is expected to turn out on election day.
According to the experts, it is the first time in the recent history of Philippine elections that a presidential candidate leads by such a huge lead that seems “insurmountable” at this point of the race, reaching the homestretch towards the finish line.
Poll experts say the majority of the electorate may have made up their minds in favor of BBM as their preferred President and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio as Vice President for the next six years.
Even if the so-called Opposition unite and coalesce behind one candidate against BBM, it might be mathematically impossible to catch up, much less surpass the frontrunner’s lead over two weeks till election day.
A divided Opposition just does not stand a chance against the looming runaway presidential race victor.
I am confident that the Filipino will not be cowered by terrorist attempts to manipulate or influence the outcome of the presidential elections.
Alleged threats of another “EDSA People Power” uprising in the face of a Marcos return to Malacanang Palace is pure hogwash.
Over 36 years since EDSA, the Filipinos just won’t buy it anymore because nothing has changed after Marcos Sr. left Malacanang.
