Volume V No 12 | SEPTEMBER 2015 | www.kalatas.com.au | [email protected] | facebook.com/angkalatas | +angkalatas | @angkalatas
2015 MPA CANDIDATES
EIGHT young women are vying for the 2015 Miss Philippines
Australia and Miss Charity Queen titles in a beauty pageant that has
been a traditional highlight in the annual Fiesta Kultura organised by
the Philippines Australia Sports and Culture Inc. >>> Page 12
PHILIPPINES: Election Watch
So, who’s running
and who's not...
SOCIAL media was abuzz. Die-hard fans of Davao City mayor
Rodrigo Duterte were excited for the big announcement he was
to make on September 7.
AND then it came: “Hindi ako
tatakbo pagkapresidente.” (I
am not running for president),
Duterte announced before a
group of shocked supporters.
Duterte over the past few
months was perceived to be a
‘presidentiable’ ranking third
or fourth in the national polls.
His cowboy image, a rather unconventional approach to enforcing discipline, and his tinkering with the idea of a federalism pulled many supporters
to join a ‘Duterte for President’
movement.
But Duterte made it clear –
he’s not running.
If that were true, then so
far there are only two politicians who had stated clearly that they are running for the
presidency next year: that’s
Vice President Jejomar Binay
and Aquino’s anointed, Secretary Mar Roxas. At least they
are the two from the dominant
parties.
Others are still playing
the guessing game. The filing
of official candidacies for the
2016 elections after all will not
take place until next month.
Many are still waiting
for Senator Grace Poe to announce her real intentions –
whether she’ll run for president or not. She has topped
most national surveys (at least
before her INC brouhaha) and
she appears to be up and about
with what looked like campaign sorties around the country.
Meanwhile, in the vice
presidential race, only one
has clearly stated that he is
running for the number two
post. That’s Senator Antonio
Trillanes IV. Other names being floated as possible VPs are
Senator Chiz Escudero (who
is believed to partner with Ms
Poe should she run for president) and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano. Both Roxas
and Binay have not announced
their VP candidates as yet.
Yet, it’s still a full month
before the filing of candidacies. The names and the
game can still change. As for
Duterte supporters, many are
still hoping he’ll change his
mind come October.
In Pinoy politics, it is not
unusual anyway for politicians
to change their minds.
Rodrigo Duterte (Photo: Wikipedia)