Palace on fall of Estrada dynasty, rise of Dutertes’: Local polls have different dynamics

May 14, 2019

Malacanang said on Tuesday that local elections have different dynamics following the fall of some so-called political dynasties and the rise of President Rodrigo Duterte's own political empire.

Incumbent Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is set to get a fresh mandate, while her younger brother Sebastian ran unopposed for vice-mayoralty post.

Duterte's eldest son, former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, is expected to win the congressional seat in the first district of Davao City.

While a Duterte dynasty is rising, the 50-year political empire in San Juan City of former President and incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has fallen.

Estrada's granddaughter Janella Ejercito Estrada lost to Francis Zamora in the mayoral race in San Juan City. Janella is the daughter of former Senator Jinggoy Estrada who appeared to be losing in the senatorial race.

Estrada's other son, re-electionist Senator JV Estrada Ejercito, on the other hand, was at the 13th place based on the transparency server of the Commission on Elections as of 1:53pm on Tuesday.

Estrada was defeated in his re-election bid in Manila by former Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso.

"Local elections have different dynamics. They (people) are the ones who know their situation with respect to what is called as dynasty," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing.

He said the electorates would still vote for particular candidates belonging to the same family if they believe that they are effective.

"But if they don't believe anymore on them, it is expected that the (people) would reject them already. That's what happened," said Panelo, also chief presidential legal counsel.

Asked if the Duterte administration would push for the anti-dynasty measure in the next Congress, he said, "We will leave it to the members of Congress, to their good conscience, to whatever they think is good for this country."

There were speculations Sara would be running for president in the 2022 elections.

But recently, Duterte kept warning his daughter from seeking the presidency, saying that she could be destroyed by her critics.

Asked if it was just a strategy of Duterte to let the people know that his daughter might run for president, Panelo said, "He doesn't have to say that because everybody wants her to run. I mean, a lot of people are egging her to run."

"I think that's a genuine concern for this President. He loves his children; he doesn't want them to suffer," he added.

Aside from telling Sara not to seek the presidency, Duterte also told her and her two other siblings that the sooner they get out of politics, the better. Celerina Monte/DMS