Roxas loses Mindanao ally to Duterte

RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

Posted at 07 Apr 2016 05:00 PM

Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas. File Photo

GUIMARAS - Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas has lost a key ally in Muslim Mindanao-- LP stalwart and House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Pangalian Balindong--to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Balindong and former political rival Benasing Macarambon appeared in a video with Duterte, which was posted by Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles.

In that video, Balindong said his entire clan will support Duterte, who he thinks is the best hope for unity. Balindong is one of the advocates of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.

Roxas was in Guimaras province, part of the heartland of Roxas' political base in Western Visayas, when he was asked about Balindong.

"Nauunawaan ko yung kilos ni Cong. Balindong. Pinili ng partido ng Daang Matuwid ang kanyang katunggali so natural dun siya sa kabila. Ganun lang yun…This simply has to do with the local politics at nauunawaan rin natin iyon," he said.

The presidential hopeful said he does not see the need to defend his support base amid the defection.

"Hindi naman botante ang pagtingin ko sa mga kababayan natin dito sa Guimaras. Tao na may mga problema, tao na may mga pangarap, tao na nais malaman kung ano ang plano ng daang matuwid para sa kanilang maginhawang bukas. Para sa akin, whether it's Guimaras or Catanduanes or Camiguin, kahit itong mga malalayo, mahirap maabot at maliliit na lugar ay importante na malaman ng mga kababayan natin kung ano ang plano para sa bansa,'' he said.

"Nakikita naman ninyo yung init ng pagtanggap sa atin dito. Sabi nga nung tao dito, mas matamis ang kanilang pagtanggap sa daang matuwid dito kaysa sa tamis ng kanilang Guimaras mangoes at natutuwa naman ako sa suporta na pinapakita nila, napaka-united ng mga kababayan natin dito."

Weeks ago, Roxas' rival Vice President Jejomar Binay also lost the support of One Cebu of the influential Garcia clan. One Cebu promised to deliver one million votes to Duterte in Cebu, the way the province did when Gloria Macapagal Arroyo won in 2004.

One Cebu, however, only controls 11 towns in the province now, unlike in 2004.

Roxas' ally, Iloilo Rep. Jerry Trenas, does not think Western Visayas will go to Duterte, who has Visayan roots.

''Ang latest survey namin sa Iloilo City and I think it's the same in the province, Mar is getting 50% of the total votes so as far as we are concerned, I think for the whole of Panay, including Guimaras and Negros, I think it is the same. We will be able to generate at least a minimum of 50% for Sec. Mar and as the election will come close, probably a little more," he said.

MAR: NO TWO-WAY RACE BETWEEN POE AND DUTERTE

As early as November, an analyst told ABS-CBN News that the 2016 elections will be between Duterte and Senator Grace Poe in the homestretch.

This was echoed by Poe's campaign manager, Cebu Rep. Ace Durano.

Roxas, however, begged to disagree.

''Cong. Durano is a spokesman for Grace Poe. Baka na-heat stroke siya at iyan na lang ba ang tingin niya sa mga kababayan natin? Hindi niya nababasa or na-analyze ng mabuti yung takbo ng mga surveys, yung takbo ng pulitika sa ating bansa ano?" he said.

''Ako'y naniniwala na sa dulo, mananaig ang matuwid, ang matapat, ang maayos, ang malinis na pamamahala - isang pamamahala na handa, may karanasan, may plano."

Political realignments are expected in the last weeks before the election as political forces consolidate around who they expect will be the likely winner.