Toby, Sara, BBM

May 15, Alyansa campaign manager Toby Tiangco blasted away at Congress, blamed the impeachment of VP Sara for the poor showing of BBM’s Senate slate in Mindanao, even claimed that he had been approached to run for Speaker of the 20th Congress, but which key Congress bloc leaders denied, reaffirming their allegiance to Romualdez.

Hmmm. Toby is family, married to a Romualdez na pinsan nina BBM at Martin, so medyo unexpected na tinira niya si Speaker Martin, unless it’s all palabas, with the Speaker’s permission, anything to spare BBM from the blame game? https://opinion.inquirer.net/

May 17, VP Sara announced na “full throttle na” ang preparations for the impeachment trial — even if her lawyers are also looking for ways to stop it from taking place. “Sinabihan ko na rin sila: I truly want a trial because I want a bloodbath talaga.” And she alleges that her accusers are “motivated by personal gain” and “desperate for cash, cocaine, and champagne.”

Which reminds me of her line, back in October 2024, that she has a list of 5 impeachable offenses by PBBM. I wonder if that’s part of her arsenal. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/

May 19, BBM, in a first presidential podcast, said yes when asked if he was open to pakikipagkasundo with the Dutertes. “Ako, ayaw ko ng gulo. … ang habol ko ay ‘yung stability, peaceful, para magawa namin ‘yung trabaho namin. …  I’m always open to any approach na, halika, magtulungan tayo. … Kahit na hindi tayo magkasundo sa polisiya … Gawin mo yung trabaho pero huwag na tayong nanggugulo.” https://pco.gov.ph/

Pure PR, nagpapabango sa publiko, asking not for blood but for peace. The prez knows full well that the Dutertes would have none of it. For the DDS to take him seriously, he would first have to bring Digong home. And even if he could, that ain’t happening any time soon.

But the rest of that podcast turned out interesting, informative even. The part where the prez talks about the rice situation na dinatnan niya in 2022, for instance.

Dahil ang Pilipinas, ang mga opisyal, nai-spoiled. Basta’t import lang nang import. Tapos ‘yung importation na iyan, illegal and legal. Ang katotohanan, ang nakita namin, ang pang-control doon sa presyo ng bigas ay ang smuggled na bigas. Kaya nagho-hoard. … Ang isa sa una naming ginawa, nag-raid kami ng mga warehouse. … Ito ang pinakamalupit.  Sinabi namin, ba’t may ganito? … Dahil ang nag-i-i-smuggle, mga opisyal din ng gobyerno. Kumikita sila … Pasok lang sila nang pasok. Hindi nila iniintindi ang production. Hindi nila iniintindi ‘yung sistema. Hindi nila iniintindi ang presyo ng palay, ang presyo ng bigas, ang kikitain ng magsasaka. Wala, walang ganoon. … Noong pag-upo ko … inipit namin ‘yung mga smuggled at nire-raid na namin ‘yang mga warehouse, nabawasan ‘yung supply.  Kailangan namin ayusin ‘yung NFA. Lahat ‘yan, ‘yung mga changes na ganyan, hindi ganoon kasimpleng gawin. May batas na kailangang palitan. Mayroong mga taong kailangang palitan. Ibang konsepto na. So, ngayon lang namin nabuo lahat. https://pco.gov.ph/

There’s more, stuff like this, telling what it was like after six years of Digong, and reminding that hard times didn’t start with BBM.