Politics without principles: Turncoatism and opportunism
If there are scores of traditional politicians who are abandoning the Liberal Party as a so-called a "sinking ship," and joining the emerging bandwagon of the Nationalist Peoples' Coalition, to support the "flavor of the month" tandem of Senators Grace Poe and Chiz Escudero, the truth of the matter is that there are more NPC, Lakas-NUCD, NP and other politicians who are joining the exodus to the LP. Regardless of which direction the political wind is blowing, there is only one immutable truth in Philippine politics. Politics in this country is based on opportunism and selfish agenda rather than on principles and ideology.
Politics in this country are all contests for power and money.
Those who are opting to join the Grace-Chiz team are looking forward to a victory of this untested, sophomoric idealists and the next six years as parts of the hoped-for ruling party, which shall control the pork barrel, the political appointments, and the powers usually vested in the administration party. On the other hand, those who used to kiss the behinds of GMA and are now jumping to the LP, are undoubtedly looking forward to be funded by the big administration booty in the upcoming national and local electoral contests. There are no principles involved, no ideology whatsoever. It is purely about power and pesos. This clearly sets us apart from the US with the Democrats and the Republicans that are divided by ideology and principles.
Philippine history is replete with a series of political turncoatism and opportunism. At my age, I started to see this trend at the time of President Elpidio Quirino. His own secretary of national defense, the former congressman from what was the sole district of Zambales, Ramon F. Magsaysay, transferred to NP and run against Quirino, defeating the latter with a big majority. The next big defection that I recall now was the LP senate president Ferdinand E. Marcos' transfer to the NP. He was promised by president Diosdado P. Macapagal to be supported in 1965. When DM decided to run for reelection, FM jumped to the NP. And that was the great game changer for many years to come.
The transfer of Marcos to the NP has derailed the presidential ambitions of vice president Emmanuel Pelaez. It was the biggest game changer. Here in Cebu, almost everyone joined Marcos in his KBL (Kilusang Bagong Lipunan). Congressmen Ramon Durano, Tereso Dumon of Northern Cebu, the old seventh district, and Manuel Zosa of the old sixth(from Ronda to Toledo), and Calderon of the old fifth (from Alcantara to Boljoon), all joined Isidro Kintanar of the old fourth district or SAAD (Sibonga, Argao, Alcoy and Dalaguete) and Eddie Gullas of the old third (from Carcar to Talisay). All political shifting were driven by greed for power. We have no great moments to be proud of as legacy to our youth.
The only opposition in Cebu was led by Serging Osmeña and his nephew Sonny Osmeña. The Osmeñas fused with the Cuencos, because the Cuencos of the old fifth district (Don Mariano Jesus, Don Miguel and Don Manuel, the forebears of Tony Cuenco) were defeated by the forces of the Duranos, the Zosas and the Dumons who were protected, and supported by Marcos. There were no principles involved then as it is now. It was all political convenience and selfish ambitions. The Osmeñas and the Cuencos were united not by ideology but by their common resistance against the Marcos "dictatorship." It was all personalities. The dreamers and idealists had no place in traditional politics.
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