EDITORIAL - Show of force

As some pundits correctly observed, the recent dinner-meeting between Governor Gwen Garcia and the six congressmen from the province was in reality a show of force. And the show of force was for the benefit of no other than Junjun Davide and the Liberal Party.

The muscle-flexing was unnecessary, though. If Davide and the Liberals failed to take the Capitol in 2010 despite the immense popularity of their standard-bearer, Noynoy Aquino, the more they will fail in 2013, now that Noynoy’s numbers, while still high, are steadily dropping.

To be sure, Davide did well in his 2010 run for the Capitol. But do not ever believe that it was because of Davide himself. Inspite of his name, he has never been a political heavyweight. And you just do not make the jump from city councilor to provincial governor and hope to make it.

If Davide did well, it was because of Noynoy, for whom many people at the time were said to be willing to lay their lives on the line for. But times have changed. 2013 is no longer 2010. Noynoy may still be regarded as a knight, but no longer in as shining an armor as before.

If the steady drop in Noynoy’s numbers reflect a wavering of trust and confidence, it is not hard to see how it will tell on those who, like Davide, must depend largely on the strength of Noynoy to prevail rather than their own.

Indeed, Davide and the Liberal Party must have seen the writing on the wall themselves, which is precisely why, instead of just trying to hang exclusively on the coattails of Noynoy, they are now desperately trying to enlist some credible local backing.

And that is why they are throwing themselves at the feet of vice governor Agnes Magpale, in whom they expect to hit two birds with one stone: Magpale by herself is good and credible material. If they get her, they might also get the Duranos with whom she is related.

But as some pundits have correctly pointed out, the body language of Garcia and Magpale do not bode well for the longings of Davide and the Liberals. And with Red Durano present in that dinner-meeting show of force, little is really left for Davide et al to aspire for.

Things can happen between now and 2013, but as neutral observers now acknowledge, Noynoy is nowhere near his goals than before, Arroyo and Corona notwithstanding. And with all elections really local, you don’t have to be a genius to know where Davide and the Liberals now stand.