Another season for turncoatism

Last week, 32 traditional politicians took their oath before the leadership of President BBM's so-called political party, the Partido Federal Ng Pilipinas. That palpably opportunistic move in preparation for the mid-term polls in 2025, has nothing to do with platforms or principles, ideology, much less political philosophy. It's all about politics of opportunism, patronage and the strategic advantage of being with the party in power. These trapos are pushing the country to political retrogression.

Five congressmen who ran and were elected under the banner of President Rodrigo Duterte's PDP Laban jump into the bandwagon of President BBM. Even the DILG secretary and many members of his family have taken their oath as Partido Federal new members. Nothing has been declared as to what this Party stands for. Is this pro-US, anti-China? Is it leftist, rightist, centrist or it has no ideology at all. In this country, the politicians do not consider principles and ideology as important. What matters most to them is who can make them win in the next elections. Who is in control of the money and the political organization? The welfare of the people has nothing to do with it at all.

It has been reported by all national broadsheets that the turncoats included the following members of the Lower House:  Marlyn Primicias-Agabas of Pangasinan, Linabelle Villarica of Bulacan, Florida Robes of San Jose del Monte City, Ralph Wendell Tulfo (son of the senator) of Quezon City, Maria Jamina Katherine Agarao of Laguna, Leody Tarriela of Occidental Mindoro, and the perennial political butterfly Richard Gomez of Leyte, as well as Francosco Benitez of Negros Occidental. Agarao's father, former congressman Benjamin Agarao Jr joined in the mass turncoatism. It is expected that this move will trigger a bandwagon effect and all the trapos are soon jumping into the well-oiled and well-funded Partido Federal.

All the turncoats from the Lower House were PDP Laban members, except Tulfo who supposedly belonged to the Nacionalista Party, Agarao from Lakas CMD and Tarrila who used to profess to have been with Duterte in what they called Pederalismo Dugong Dakilang Samahan. Last Friday, congressman Sandro Marcos also took his oath as a member of his father's party. It now appears that BBM and his core loyalists are building up this Partido Federal. Reminds us really of how FM Sr. built the behemoth KBL or the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan. History seems to be repeating itself to the tune of a political deja vu. Many LGU officials had been recruited including Quirino governor Dax Cua.

The Abalos political dynasty has started the exodus of turncoats, led by the DILG secretary, Benhur, his nonagenarian father, mayor Benjamin Abalos, Carmelita Abalos, the wife of the DILG secretary, and their two children both city councilors, Benjamin Abalos III and Charisse Abalos-Vargas. Almost all the councilors of Mandaluyong have joined the bandwagon, as well as the presidents of the league of the Mandaluyong barangay captains. Pasay City mayor Imelda Calixto Rubiano, Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez as well Cabanatuan City Vice Mayor Myka Elizabeth Vergara, Henry Villarica of Meycauayan City, and Henry Bendita of Surallah, South Cotabato jumped into the new bandwagon of BBM.

All these are not surprising given the very unprincipled traditional politics practiced in this country, Any Tomas, Dikoy or Enrico can create a party. There is no need for an ideology and platform. It's all about power, money and position.  Nothing to do with the peoples' welfare or the future of the nation. I want to migrate to Jupiter or Mars or to fly to the moon.