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Could these alternative tandems work together?

Despite presidentiables forming official tandems with their respective running mates, it doesn’t stop local politicians from endorsing whoever they wish.

READ ALSO: 2022 PH Elections: Where Presidential Candidates Actually Agree On

This means that heads of local governments nationwide are free to support any combination of presidential and vice-presidential candidates in the 2022 elections.

During the Commission on Elections vice-presidential debates, candidates revealed their perceptions on “tandem voting” or electing a presidential pair together under one ticket.

Of the seven debate participants, only Senator Francis Pangilinan, Willie Ong, and Carlos Serapio were in favor of tandem voting.

“The tandem is what’s important. Because we don’t want that which is not too partisan. That way, we can avoid conflict in running the government,” Ong said.

Here are the alternative political tandems between presidentiables and vice presidentiables that gained traction during the 2022 election season in the Philippines.

Girl Boss

Two groups, Kalesa and RoSa, have endorsed the pairing of Vice President Leni Robredo and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

This is on top of a growing list of local politicians who had thrown support behind the only two female candidates for the country’s top posts. National Unity Party president and Cavite District Rep. Elpidio Barzaga even went against his own party to do so.

Best bets

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III is the other alternative for Robredo aside from Duterte.

Notable endorsers of the mixed tandem include Sotto’s fellow vice presidential candidate Rizalito David, Cebu’s Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), and Partido Reporma.

One mayor to another

With Manila Mayor Isko Moreno being dubbed a “Duterte lite,” his tandem with the presidential daughter and Davao mayor came naturally to his supporters. Their mutual base formally launched the Isang Pilipinas coalition, including actress Vivian Velez.

This and other efforts in support of the mayor-mayor tandem have not discouraged Moreno’s running mate, Ong.

Dynamic duo

Senator Ping Lacson and Sotto, in separate statements issued in February, have denied the possibility of entering a tandem with any other candidate.

The Lacson-Sotto team will maintain our integrity and stick to issues confronting the country by presenting concrete, implementable and future-proof programs that can withstand the test of time. It will be our living legacy to the next generation of Filipinos.

— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) February 12, 2022

Despite growing rumors at the time of a pairing between Lacson and Duterte as well as Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos and Sotto, the incumbent Senator tandem has already closed the door.

In case of emergency

However, Senator Manny Pacquiao has said that he is open to teaming up with Sotto should his own running mate, Lito Atienza, back out due to medical reasons.

Let’s start the week with a little inspiration to remind us that there’s so much good out there, even in these dark times. Goodvibes lang tayo 🙂 Happy Monday to all! pic.twitter.com/4d47hNe4aL

— Manny Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiao) January 24, 2022

Pacquiao also added that Atienza had already expressed before the election period that he would support the former’s tandem with Sotto if ever.

Banner Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash