Nacionalista Party-KBL alliance, game changer in 2010 Elections

Imee Marcos thinks of frogs when describing politicos

‘Tis the season of frogs, says Imee Marcos, daughter of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos. Was Imee just being prophetic? The first ones who filed COCs were Manok and Messiah. Palaka is sure to follow.

Imee was just describing the frenzy that is Philippine politics, when every Tom, Dick and Harry who thinks that he has the money, the looks and the connections to make it big in politics. The Marcoses know that. The family’s patriarch, the late dictator Ferdie, knew that. He even did that, albeit, with flourish.

Yet Imee is not describing Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), the party founded by her late father. KBL members are not leapers. They are excellent survivors. They survived the onslaught of Cory, made peace with Erap and even flourished under Gloria.

Now, KBL is on the roll, agreeing to a merger of forces with the perceived strongest political party in town, the Nacionalista Party.

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. described the KBL-NP merger as “historic”. Let me quote what Inquirer published about the merger.

“The joining of forces of the two parties is historic. The KBL was formed with a dream for an orderly Philippine society while the NP was formed by our forefathers to strengthen democracy in the Philippines,” said Marcos in Filipino.

Marcos’ sister Imee, a former congresswoman and KBL secretary-general, said that the upcoming 2010 polls “should no longer involve those who passed away, but should focus on the candidates themselves, according to their qualifications and fitness for public office.”

The merger is expected to cement Villar’s hold over the North since the Marcos family still exerts a tremendous influence over other Ilokano political families (except probably the Ilocos sur-based Singsons who are still Liberals).

Question really is–what happens to Joseph “Erap” Estrada who will file his Certificate of Candidacy on November 27?

With the KBL aligned with the Nacionalista, Manny Villar’s chances of clinching the presidency is stronger than ever. If the Marcoses once more flex their political muscle, the once mythical Solid North votes would definitely change the political fortunes of candidates.

This would affect Gilbert Teodor’s chances who once claimed that the North will go for him. This also spells doom for Estrada who counts the political support of the Marcoses as critical to any campaign. This will surely affect Noynoy Aquino’s chances since it is still uncertain what areas he dominates.

This NP-KBL merger is a game changer.