Gov. Toto to Pres. Marcos Jr: How can I tell her about you?

 

“Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.”

— J. R. R. Tolkien

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WHEN Iloilo Governor Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. abandoned the National Unity Party (NUP) and recently took an oath as new member of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s ruling Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) in Malacanang, he must have been given the opportunity to engage the President in a tete-a-tete. 

President Marcos Jr. is, of course, aware that Defensor Jr is the chief ally and Iloilo campaigner of former Vice President Leni Robredo, Mr. Marcos’ rival in the May 2022 presidential election.

But because politics is addition and not wanting to miss the opportunity to exhibit humility and leadership, Mr. Marcos Jr. embraced Defensor Jr. and meekly welcomed the Iloilo leader to the fold of the administration. 

Amid the uncanny situation, was Defensor Jr. tempted to ask Mr. Marcos Jr “how can I tell her about you?”

The singular pronoun is no other than Robredo, who was in Iloilo as guest of honor in the 50^th anniversary of of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Iloilo chapter, where she had a lunch meeting with Defensor and Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas on August 11.

It was not known whether Defensor Jr. had “alerted” Robredo during the lunch meeting that several days later, he would officially jump ship from NUP to PFP. 

 

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Did the Iloilo governor also think of telling Robredo “how can I tell you about him (Mr. Marcos Jr. and my plan to switch party allegiance)?

Better still, was it the right moment for Defensor Jr. to tell her about the awful truth?

If she was informed about the impending “party sweetheart shift”, Robredo must have been dismayed but only tried to hide it.

With little influence and no more bargaining chips, she couldn’t stop former partymates from walking to the doors in exodus.

She must have thought there was no more reason for Defensor Jr.—and even Treñas and other NUP Iloilo stalwarts—to remain in the old party and ignore the President’s alluring call for “unity and cooperation” if it would be for the good and benefit the city and province in terms of projects and other favors.

Also, accepting the “invitation” of the Marcos Jr. administration to join the PFP is tantamount to accepting the legitimacy of Mr. Marcos Jr’s win in the 2022 presidential election for Defensor Jr., et al.

 

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As of the lunch meeting in Iloilo and the oath taking in Malacanang more than a week later, there was no official protest lodged by the Robredo camp in relation to the May 2022 presidential election.

Robredo has never issued an official concession to Mr. Marcos Jr. 

Other than speculations that the presidential election was rigged, no one—including Robredo herself—has publicly decried the results of the election and showed aggressive interest to file a formal protest in the Commission on Election (Comelec).

In her many public appearances and speeches in the universities and other organizations where she was the guest speaker, Robredo has never claimed she was a victim of election fraud.

Some of her allies and supporters think she has already decided to move on and was no longer interested to dabble in politics—unless she decides to stage a comeback in the future.

Thus, the likes of Defensor Jr. and Treñas can’t stay in the old party forever and watch other chief executives of the provinces and cities that have decided to join forces with the Marcos Jr. administration partake large slices of the Malacanang cake.

Richard Bach once said, “Don't be dismayed by goodbyes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends.”

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)