PH“A picture paints a thousand words.”
That viral photo of Camille Villar posing beside Vice President Sara Duterte—flanked by Villar’s billionaire father Manny Villar and no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s supposed political nemesis—says more than any press release or campaign jingle ever could.
It’s not just a photo-op. It’s a scathing indictment of Rep. Toby Tiangco’s colossal failure as campaign manager of the administration’s 12-man Senate slate, Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas.
For an administration-backed candidate like Villar to seek the blessing of the vice president currently facing impeachment for, among others, allegedly threatening the life of the President himself, is both ironic and insulting. It reeks of desperation. That photo didn’t just cross-party lines—it bulldozed through whatever semblance of political loyalty remains in the Marcos coalition. That Villar, clinging to the 12th spot in the latest Pulse Asia survey, felt compelled to seek an endorsement from Sara Duterte is a bitter pill to swallow.
The March 2025 Pulse Asia survey is a wake-up call for Marcos. It shows Senator Bong Go leading at 61.9%, with Duterte-backed Ronald dela Rosa tying Erwin Tulfo for second-third at 48.7% and 51.1%. Six of the “Magic 12” probable winners are tied to the opposition, riding a wave of sympathy after former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest and transfer to The Hague.
This isn’t just a shift in public sentiment; it’s a damning sign of Tiangco’s inability to rally support for Alyansa’s candidates. Marcos trusted him to deliver a winning ticket, but instead, Tiangco’s campaign is faltering, forcing candidates like Villar and others to desperate measures.
Villar’s move is a slap in the face of Marcos and Tiangco, who promised a united, victorious slate. The survey shows Alyansa bets like Pia Cayetano (37.5%) and Ramon Revilla Jr. (36.9%) slipping, while opposition figures surge.
It gets worse. Senate President Chiz Escudero, a known Tiangco ally, is openly endorsing opposition candidate Bam Aquino, who surprisingly cracked the Magic 12 at 28.6%, and showbiz figure Willie Revillame, who’s at 35.7%. Escudero’s support for Revillame, who launched his campaign on a private jet alongside Escudero himself, reeks of bad optics.
The clock is ticking. With the May 12, 2025, elections less than a month away, Tiangco’s inaction could hand the Senate to an opposition majority—a disaster for Marcos in this critical midterm referendum.
Credits: Jake J. Maderazo
