Electoral migration

POLITICIANS CAN and do switch parties as a matter of course. Shift voting domiciles as well. It is not disallowed by law. Motives, moral or otherwise? Freedom of will is well guaranteed not only in the fundamental law but even in the Good Book. Unless it impinges on another’s, of course.

Hence, the public surprise that greeted the transfer of voter registrations of BM Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab and her father “Tatay” Bong Pineda from Lubao town to the City of San Fernando last week caught me by surprise. Aye, the surprise surprised me. There ought to be no surprise about something so mundane, so normal.

Why am I not surprised?

For one, Tatay’s active engagement in the last barangay elections in the city – specifically in the home village of the sitting mayor where her husband was a candidate – was an all-too obvious indication. Especially when he personally delivered bounties to the barrio folk after the triumph of his chosen, and vowed more, much more from his philanthropic cornucopia.

Two, the reported construction of a Pineda residence in one of the city’s barangays is public knowledge, even sans any foto or social media post.

Then too, it is not the first time that an incumbent official – from Lubao, at that – transferred voting rights to the city. Still remember then third-termer town councilor John Susi making a failed bid for the city council in 2022?

Doing his own Susi also last week was Angeles City councilor Dr. Alfie Bonifacio who switched voter registration to Barangay Calulut. After the dentist finished his first three terms, he ran but lost for the vice mayoralty. Maybe, he learned so much from there that with the impending end of his second three terms, he decamped to San Fernando.

There is indeed nothing surprising about politicians transferring their voter registration. It is a fairly common practice. Call me a sucker but I will not disapprove of anyone who, after serving well and fair one constituency, would wish to serve a new one? Service, after all, knows no bounds.  

Former BM Dinan Labung who had had his precinct in Bacolor town from his days as capitan del barrio through his triumphant runs for the provincial board and failed tries for the third district congressional seat and partylist representation cast his vote in Sta. Ana town in the last barangay elections. His express end-in-view – the mayoralty in 2025.  

Then, there is the ultimate electoral migrant – Lito Lapid. Domiciled in Porac in all his terms as Pampanga governor and first term as senator, Lapid ran for Makati mayor in 2007 against then-last termer Jejomar Binay on the platform “Baka naman gustong makatikim ang tiga-Makati ng lutong Kapampangan.” Binay’s winning margin over the Bida was considered the largest ever in an election in the city. In 2016, Lapid ran against incumbent Angeles City Mayor Ed Pamintuan – and lost, also by a huge margin. He has since reverted voting in his beloved quarryland.

Come to think of it, the first electoral migration I came across hereabouts involved a working journalist – the dear lamented Rizal Policarpio of the national vernacular daily Balita. I cannot remember now if it was in a pre- or post-EDSA 1 election, that the one we fondly referred to as “The Other Rizal” ran for the mayoralty of Mabalacat against the legendary Fred Halili.

What I cannot forget was Rizal joining the rest of us in Halili’s regular press conferences during the campaign; the mayor indulging him in his tirades against his administration; and even providing Rizal with a showboat for his campaign. The elder mediamen later prevailed upon Rizal’s intent to file an election protest over a hundred or so – some insisted only 30 – votes he garnered.

From Mabalacat, Rizal moved to Angeles City and made a losing run for the city council; his campaign distinguished by the oversized Philippine two-peso bill with his picture juxtaposed over that of the national hero used as leaflet.

Whoa! Is there some kind of jinx attached to electoral migration? No, not in the case of Rizal which was a losing proposition ab initio. But the unbeatable Susi in three runs for the Lubao council, subsequently disqualified from running in the City of San Fernando where – in the public view – he never had a chance.

The hex appears more real with the ultra-popular Lapid landsliding all pretenders to the Pampanga governorship and landing top half in his first try at the Senate, only to be avalanched himself by the man readily ridiculed as “Nognog” and later bested by EdPam.

Certainly, oddsmaker will make a good deal out of this come election time in the City of San Fernando. In Sta. Ana as well. But degla or not, the outcome still remains in the hands of the electorate. 

Wanna bet?