Official Tandems for 2016 Philippine presidential elections: BInay-Duterte, Poe-Francis, Mar-Bong

This came from various sources considered highly reliable.

The Grace Poe-Chiz Escudero is not anymore a shocker. You know that. It would only change if Mar's group led by Erice force the issue and present a Roxas-Poe tandem, which at this point, is welcomed weakly by people.

The rumour is that Poe-Escudero would be supported by the administration in a broad coalition led by Liberal party members, several members of the Kapatiran party, Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), and some members of the Nationalista party.

If this happens, Mar Roxas' group will gravitate towards the Nacionalista party. The Nationalista party, thru Senator Cynthia Villar, has intimated its desire to coalesce with a party. Villar mentioned that three of its senators, namely, Alan Peter Cayetano, Antonio Trillianes IV and Bongbong Marcos want to run for a higher position.

Cayetano announced that he will decide by June if he's gonna throw his hat unto the ring, while Trillions IV is all set to run for the second highest post since he believes he has a better chance of winning when he does that. Bongbong, by the way, is being torn by personal friends edging him to try and run for the presidency, yet, as surveys show, he has a very strong chance for the VP post if Poe runs for the presidency.

So, what is shaping up is that, if the main Nationalistas aligned themselves with the Liberals, it would be a Mar Roxas-Cayetano or Mar-Trillianes or Roxas-Marcos or to some, Mar-BongBong.

The Vice president's political party is also taking shape and in the Philippine political environment, these two forces are trying to snatch one group from the other. Visualise them as two whirlpools. UNA is more organised now than before, because of the entry of several Lakas-NUCD heavyweights and former UNO aligned politicians. There are likewise, strong Estrada allies coming into the fore.

What would "shock" the public is the imminent announcement of a Binay-Duterte tandem which is entirely possible and feasible, if you ask me. Aside from the skin color, both offers two unique items in the table: they are all experienced local chief executives and they are all lawyers. The public perceives the two as tough, strong-willed and with a vision for the country. If this happens, this is, by far, the best tandem.

How about Panfilo Lacson, what about him? Will he throw his hat unto the ring?

Lacson will up the ante just so to push his re-election bid to a much higher level of awareness. But, insofar as really and seriously pushing for his presidential bid to its logical conclusion, Ping knows he does not have a chance with Binay and Poe as opponents.

So, 2016 is shaping up to be a titanic fight between "experience" and "youthful idealism." Who will snatch the public's attention more? Who between them would successfully prove that one is better than the other?

Poe-Chiz Trial Balloon?

After hearing about a possible Roxas-Poe tandem, here comes another--a Grace Poe-Chiz Escudero or being popularised as "Poe-Francis." Many media friends attest that this is the tandem being formed by most trusted and closest allies of President Aquino. Of course, this will not sit well with the Binay group which continues to support Aquino.

Seems like these people are positioning Poe as a political prostitute. Is she?

Like any other, this so-called "tandem" is just a trial balloon, something being tested by several people. The only question really is, will this tandem be "acceptable" to critical sectors of society, particularly of business? For some members of the business community, yes.

Others say, the Poe-Francis tandem is being floated about to discourage Roxas from running. Roxas knows that he does not have any chance against Vice president Jejomar Binay, who continues to be the frontrunner in any presidential survey.

Is a Poe Francis tandem a direct threat against Binay? At the surface, it seems so, but in reality, it does not.

Popularity does not win elections. Every veteran of political wars out there knows that. You're popular now, but months from now, that's a different case altogether. You could lose your popularity overnight.

Network and a supportive constituency win elections.

Several political analysts think that Poe shares the same constituency as those of Binay and she is the perfect counterpoise against the veteran political campaigner. Well, they can always hope that she does but Poe does not. How about Escudero? Is he enough to trounce Binay in a one-on-one? No.

Escudero may have the best and the brightest political operators but as things stand right now, his network pales in comparison with Binay's.

Now, this analysis would change if Estrada's network is involved. Estrada's political power still exists and packs enormous strength.

If Estrada lends his support behind Poe, that's a different case altogether because that would surely create cracks in Binay's own network.

Admit it---Binay is really the man to beat this coming 2016 elections. Poe is still politically immature. She might be popular in urban cities but I don't believe the bulk of the voting population would rally behind her come election time. For one, Poe does not have anything to prove in the "help department" something very important in any election.