PANGASINAN, Philippines – Political alliances are more than what meets the eye.

On Wednesday, March 30, Asingan’s reelectionist mayor, Heidee Ganigan Chua, welcomed presidential bet Grace Poe and running mate Francis Escudero to her town. 

It would have been an ordinary sortie for the two, except that Chua revealed she is only supporting half of the tandem: Poe.

The mayor is supporting another vice presidential bet – Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, Escudero’s closest rival.

“Bongbong dito sa Asingan. Pero I think kahit na, di naman natin matuturuan ‘yung mga tao, kung ano man ‘yung gusto nila, ‘yun pa rin yun mangyayari,” she told reporters.

(Here in Asingan, it’s Bongbong. But I think even if we tell the people whom to vote for, whatever they want will still happen in the end.)

Asked why she is rooting for Marcos, she said: “Kasi ‘yung prinsipyo ng solid north (Because of the principle of solid north). Well, it’s about the Ilocano people having the unity to work together as one.”

It was not the first time the idea of a Poe-Marcos tandem floated. On Monday, former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada endorsed the two.

The idea began when Poe visited Ilocos Norte and was welcomed by Governor Imee Marcos. Decades-long rumors – denied by both families – have it that Poe is the daughter of former President Ferdinand Marcos. (READ: Imee teases Grace Poe: HOw about two Marcoses winning in 2016?)

Still, Escudero found an ally in Chua’s town – former Senator Leticia Ramos Shahani, who endorsed the tandem.

Contrary to what the mayor said, the Ilocano former senator claimed there is no such thing as a “solid North” vote.

“There is no ‘solid North’ vote, I beg your pardon. I’m an Ilocano and Marcos was my second cousin, but it does not mean we will automatically vote for [Bongbong] Marcos,” Shahani said in a chance interview in the town of Asingan. 

“We have other priorities, and I think our experience under martial law was not good, and I hope it does not come back again. I’m sure many Ilocanos share that hope and wish that we have no martial law again and that no other Ilocano would declare it,” she added.

Shahani’s brother, former President Fidel Ramos, is supporting administration vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo.

Solid?

Some reports alleged that groups within the Poe and Escudero camp are pushing for Poe’s partnership with other vice presidential bets – something that the two denied.

During the past weeks, too, Poe and Escudero had been campaigning separately.

This move became more evident at a time when Escudero and Marcos’ ratings became statistically tied in pre-election surveys.

But Escudero dismissed the issues as part of black propaganda. After all, for him, these are par for the course. 

“Walang friction, walang problema, Kasi kami matagal na kami magkasama at magkaibigan eh, sila ngayon lang sila nagkakilala. Baka kaunting tulak lang sa kabila mag-away at mahiwalay na eh. Sa amin imposibleng mangyari ‘yun,” Escudero said.

(There’s no friction, no problem. We have been friends for a long time, unlike other tandems who only knew each other now. Maybe with just a little nudge, they might end up fighting and breaking up. That would never happen to us.) 

Escudero claimed it is normal for people to support bets from different groups and tandems. (READ: Single ticket: How about voting for president and VP together?)

“Sa pulitika naman talaga at eleksyon ganun, kung maalala ‘nyo maski ako iba-iba pinipili kong sinusuportahanag pangulo, ikalawang pangulo, sa nagdaang panahon. Expected naman ‘yan sa election,” he said, referring to his endorsement of Benigno Aquino III and Jejomar Binay or “NoyBi” in 2010.

(That’s how it is in politics and elections. If you recall, even I supported a different president and vice president in the past.)

Poe, for her part, maintained there are no issues between them. They have to campaign on their own, she said, as they need to cover more places.

“Di naman, andito naman kami ni Senator Chiz sa Pangasinan, itong lugar ni FPJ. Gusto ko rin naman dalhin dito lagi si Senator Chiz para ipakilala s’ya sa ating mga kababayan. Natural lamang ‘yun sa lawak ng Pilipinas na minsan di kayo magkasama ng tandem ‘nyo. Pero pag nag-iikot naman ako, lagi ko naman binabanggit si Senator Chiz at ganun din naman s’ya,” Poe said.

(No, Senator Chiz and I are here in Pangasinan now, in FPJ’s hometown. I want to bring him here often because I want to introduce him to our provincemates. Because the Philippines is so big, it’s just natural that you are sometimes away from your running mate. But whenever I campaign, I always mention Senator Chiz and vice versa.)

As the election draws near, Escudero said political camps tend to re-assess their strategies.

“Hindi nag-a-adjust talaga ang kampanya kada nararating namin ang kalahating yugto ng kampanya. After the 45 days, tinutukan muna namin ang mga lugar kung saan kailangan n’yang tutukan na iba sa kailangan kong tutukan. Pero sa mga lugar na pareho at sabay kaming dapat magtungo at mapuntahan dahil pareho naming kailang magpunta dun, magkakasabay kami palagi,” he said. 

(No, campaigns really adjust when they reach the first half of the period. After 45 days, we focused on the places we need to focus on – her areas might be different from mine. But in places where we need to go together, we campaign together.) – Rappler.com