Isko managed to unite candidates – against him
When Isko Moreno and his fellow survey laggards announced a presscon on Easter Sunday (of all days), Richard Heydarian’s ideal scenario seemingly came true.
In one of his online lectures, the political professor envisioned three fronts in the electoral race: BBM & Sara’s “Uniteam,” VP Leni’s Pink Wave, and the centrist Isko Moreno.
Isko and BBM share an overlap between followers, according to the latest pre-election survey. Per Heydarian, this means that any gains by the Manila mayor would lead to a decrease for the late dictator’s son.
The prospect of a united front under an Isko banner would actually benefit VP Leni rather than a total withdrawal by the former. Isko will be the “Cayetano” factor that gave Robredo the slim win in 2016.
Dreams do(n’t) come true.
But we all know what happened. Moreno, along with Norberto Gonzales and Senator Ping Lacson, declared that none of them would withdraw. They stand ‘united’, while still competing with each other. How any of this makes sense is lost on us.
The missed opportunity for a historic coalition wasn’t the biggest misstep of the night. Isko, being the showman he is, couldn’t resist chiding Robredo. Take your pick: from the “kasi babae” jab, his tired “Otso Diresto sa inidoro” jokes, to the mental gymnastics of asking the 2nd placer for a “supreme sacrifice” in favor of those at the bottom.
The show of “unity” was eclipsed by Moreno’s theatrics, as evidenced by the constant clarification of the candidates that this was not an ‘Anti Robredo’ presscon.
It didn’t take long for the Internet to erupt in protest, something that Moreno chalked up as an echo chamber. But judging by the reaction of his fellow “united” candidates, this is not the case.
United denouncement
Moments after the “united stand”, the foundation was already collapsing.
Sen. Ping Lacson was the first to voice his displeasure. Speaking with reporters, Lacson distanced himself from Moreno’s plea. Without mentioning names, Lacson tweeted that the presser should’ve concluded: “with the right intentions and without the hidden agenda of the one who initiated it.”
In hindsight, the unification talks would have been concluded by now had it started with the right intentions and without the hidden agenda of the one who initiated it. I came sincere and prepared; the other party was not. Thus, it was doomed from the start.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) April 18, 2022
In an ANC interview, Norberto Gonzales offered his apologies to Robredo, admitting that he was “uncomfortable” with the stunt. He also surmised that Moreno got carried away.
Manny Pacquiao’s campaign manager, Buddy Zamora, thanked divine intervention that his bet couldn’t attend. Pacquiao doesn’t share Moreno’s sentiments about Robredo’s withdrawal per Zamora.
A costly blunder?
Moreno argues that the backlash for his #WithdrawLeni proves that there is “social injustice”, given that he was on the receiving end of #WithdrawIsko last October.
But the Manila mayor conveniently forgets that Robredo supporters, mostly those on Twitter, initiated the call. The VP never publicly backed anyone’s withdrawal, unlike Isko.
Moreno, in third place, had the chips to tip the election into a three-way race. But his stunt, an off-script call, turned a so-so event into a united denouncement, another derogatory jab for those who already see him as an opportunistic, political butterfly.
At 8%, Isko sought a “sub” as the best challenger against Marcos. But after Sunday, he might just fouled out in the eyes of potential voters.
The post <b> Isko managed to unite candidates – against him </b> appeared first on WE THE PVBLIC.
Source: we the pvblic
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