dora la chika dora

By: James Laperal

The recent ‘defection’ of QC 2nd district Rep. Annie Susano—the erstwhile Lakas-Kampi chairman for Quezon City—to Erap’s Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino, with her announced support for the former president (in Erap’s birthday party no less!) instead of Lakas bet Gibo Tedoro has raised some eyebrows, to say the least.

First of all, what is her motive behind her support? “The party knows what I am doing. Whatever their decision will be, so be it...My people and the people of Quezon City love Erap," she said in an ABS-CBN report. So what is the powerful Quezon City Congresswoman doing anyway? We all know that Rep. Annie Susano and Mayoralty candidate Mike Defensor are long-time allies…

During a bloggers function, Mayoralty candidate Mike Defensor said he is running under the PRP (People’s Reform Party) of re-electionist Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. Defensor’s running mate is Councilor Aiko Melendez under Erap’s PMP (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino) and both candidates (Mike and Aiko) are said to be supported by former President Estrada. But, Mike is at the same time endorsed by presidentiable-senator Manny Villar’s Nacionalista Party as their mayoralty candidate in Quezon City.

Secondly—and more interestingly—consider this: Susano, who is running for QC mayor, is not only supporting Erap Estrada but is also at odds with Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista. Aiko Melendez, the Vice-Mayoral bet of her opponent Mike Defensor, is Estrada’s “close” partymate and is endorsed by former President Joseph Estrada himself. Councilor Aiko Melendez is also a known nemesis of the comedian Herbert.

The question of why would Rep. Annie Susano is supporting a presidentiable who is in turn supporting one of her main opponents in the QC mayoralty raises many eyebrows. Is there more to her political move than meets the eye?

Clearly, comedian Vice Mayor Herbert “Bistek”Bautista is the odd man out!

The (mayoral) plot thickens…