LENI AND BONGBONG : Pinagtagpo ng Tadhana

The recent electoral race for the second highest position in the land – the Vice Presidency, became a highly contested one between Leni Robredo and Bongbong Marcos (as if they were the only two who ran).

And this has not simmered down even with Robredo’s proclamation, due to allegations of overnight cheating done in her favor. Consequently, this has precipitated her closest rival to file an electoral protest before the Supreme Court.

Initially, it was Marcos who was confidently leading the race. But such race became a neck to neck battle during the last few days of the counting wherein Robredo had unceremoniously overtaken him. The Marcos camp was suddenly jolted by the sudden surge of rival votes which relegated their frontrunner to second place position the following day.

Eventually, Robredo won the race but not without doubts and not without a huge lead over her rival.

With Marcos’ electoral protest, everybody now is anticipating a battle royal in the recounting process.

As early as now, such protest is being laced with controversy since the body that will serve as the electoral tribunal is no less the same body that allowed the burial of Bongbong’s father at the Libingan ng mga Bayani – the Supreme Court.

This has agitated the yellow camp, and the recent palace order of barring Robredo from attending upcoming cabinet meetings (which made her resign as HUDCC Secretary) further fuelled their paranoia that the Vice Presidency is about to be stolen from Robredo soon.

However, this was quickly dismissed by Malacañang, and the Marcos camp countered such speculation by lamenting that it was actually Robredo who stole the position.

Two things will emerge from this protest. If Robredo wins, then it will finally put to rest all allegations that she won through devious means and that the position is rightfully hers.  And if Marcos wins, then it will be a concrete proof for his allegation that he was mercilessly robbed of votes – and so he was right all along. 

Currently, there is an asterisk after the “Vice President” title of Leni. An asterisk symbolizing that her position is not yet "permanent" due to the pending recount which shall start soon. Or to be quite harsh about it, the asterisk symbolizes a certain cloud of doubt and irregularity.

To conclude, the names Leni Robredo and Bongbong Marcos are currently being intertwined by fate, history, ambition and yes, the electoral protest. Such that in any discussion about the Vice Presidency under the Duterte administration, the mentioning of the name Leni will inevitably lead to the mentioning of the name Bongbong as well, and vice versa. 

In other words, pinagtagpo ng tadhana.

May the best man or woman win.