Otso Diretso to where?

Where shall the opposition go from here? The Senate will soon be in the hands of a super majority that shall facilitate the administration's advocacy for federalism, the war against drug, the drive against crime and corruption, and the other programs of the government, like “Build, build, build” and other initiatives. The House also will be dominated by the allies of the president. Most of the governors, city, and municipal mayors are also allied with the administration. The ragtag opposition is expected to be further decimated by a series of turncoatism, which will most probably follow after the assumption of offices of the newly-elected officials. The president has become much stronger after the last polls.

Never has the opposition been so badly beaten since the ‘70s when the whole nation was under martial law. No one from the Liberal Party or the Otso Diretso made it into the Magic 12. In Cebu, the administration's candidate for governor, Gwendolyn Garcia defeated Vice Governor Agnes Magpale with too big an edge than this column estimated. The president's candidates for Cebu City mayor and vice mayor, lawyers Edgar Labella and Michael Rama also won convincingly against incumbent mayor Tomas Osmeña and councilor Mary Ann delos Santos. These developments signal a new wave of politics that does not follow historical patterns.

The complete debacle of the LP in last midterm elections was a very strong message that Duterte is still very popular, and the opposition has miserably failed to offer a viable, and credible alternative program of government. The greatest casualty was Mar Roxas who lost in 2010 for vice president, in 2016 for president, and in 2019 for senator. Where shall he go from here? It would be better if he stays at home to take care of Korina, Pepe, and Pilar. And what about Bam Aquino? He should stop and reflect on the need to cease trying to look like Ninoy Aquino. Both Vice President Lenny Robredo and Senator Frank Drilon have a lot to do in rebuilding the devastated LP.

There are very good people among the Otso Diretso team but they focused on negative campaigning, attacking and attacking Duterte and his administration without offering a cohesive platform of government. Their campaign messages did not ring a bell among the electorate. They were just mouthing the hackneyed and outmoded lines of leftist ideologues and propaganda of Joma Sison and his cohorts. This kind of campaign does not attract support anymore. The people need to know what are their positive, concrete, and viable programs and projects.

The fact that one of the Otso Diretso candidates was a grandson of the late Lorenzo Tañada didn’t matter. He should have presented his own achievements, but he doesn’t have a track record of his own. He relied on the seeming magic of the Tañada brand. The people don’t buy that anymore. Hilbay's being a Bar topnotcher was deemed unimportant by voters. They all lost because they offered nothing but criticism.