CEBU, Philippines - There is nothing new about politicians jumping ship.
Governor Hilario Davide III, for one, said the dynamic is "normal" and he is not surprised that allies in the Liberal Party are moving to the PDP-Laban of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.
"Di na kalikayan because that's a political reality," Davide said.
While he will support Duterte's administration, he will stick it out with LP.
"Whoever is the president, we have to support him. Regardless of party and affiliation, we will support because we only have one country," he said.
In fact, he said some programs of the province will be tailored to complement projects and programs of the new administration. Other programs of Capitol, he said, are already aligned with Duterte's particularly those for countryside development.
Davide sees the "recruitment" of PDP-Laban as an approach to constitute a "dominant party" in the country.
"I can understand ngano sige sila og recruit from other parties. They need more members, they need a majority. And, this is normal," he said.
"I have no objection really if some LP will join the majority basta ang importante magka-allies gihapon mi," he added.
One of the prominent transfers locally is that of Cebu City South District Representative Cebu City South District Rodrigo "Bebot" Abellanosa.
He took his oath before incoming House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez last Thursday.
To this, Davide said, "I understand because it's normal. Lahi ang dynamics sa congress. There's a contest of speakership and committee chairmanship, among others."
BOPK
While he has left LP, Abellanosa remains with local party Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), which supported LP in the recent elections.
Cebu City Acting Mayor Margot Osmeña, wife of BOPK head Tomas Osmeña, said BOPK members are free to support any national political party.
"BOPK naman, of course, it's always been independent, but aligns itself… Tommy has never asked members of the BOPK to pledge (of) allegiance," Osmeña said.
While no less than Tomas said he is friends with Duterte, there are no talks between BOPK and PDP-Laban for a formal alliance, so far.
"I don't think they even talked about it," she said.
The Osmeña couple was among the officials present at a dinner with Duterte after the thanksgiving last Wednesday night.
"The relationship, as I know, between Tommy and president Duterte has been personal," Margot said.
She recalled a time when Duterte and Tomas were both mayors when her husband asked her to go to Davao to show support for Duterte because the city, at that time, had a negative reputation due to the series of bombings there.
"I asked my friends to come. We were mostly women. It was not a political thing. We were about 30 and we went to show him that we're here. And we even had shirts that 'Cebu loves Davao' so it's a personal thing," Osmeña said.
"It really put Tommy in a…. you know during the campaign. But, we made it clear that we are here for Mar (Liberal Standard bearer Manuel Roxas) and Leni (Vice President-elect Leni Robredo)," she added. (FREEMAN)