YPS

I know my views may be limited, but I think theres a bit of the solomonic in Noys decision to hold the DILG for himself for now.

He cant afford to isolate any potential support Binay has made for himself ( whatever, with whoever, and for how much) with the LGUs (and the voting public) and given the numbers that both of them generated on May 10, the worst that Noy can do is to look like inaapi niya yung representative ng mga mahihirap ( yuck) in favor of someone who doesn’t have the same “mandate” pero ka-rancho niya.

Fortunately Binay backed himself into a corner with his rash DILG or nothing statement.

By taking on the cloak of DILG for himself and for now, he makes himself the focus of attention of LGU activity till such time that he, despite his less than proletariat roots, can prove that he is also pro poor ( Binays alleged constituency…though typically stolen from Erap and Villars “pro poor campaign) and that Binays constituency doesnt need Binay to be katulad ng Makati.

If in the near future ( impossibly but, fingers crossed, within the 100 days) Noy can show that his policies and front line cab secs are on a pro poor heading ( even if via anti corruption activities and short term wins in education and health) then Robredo can come in, work his LGU magic in the trenches, and with nary a tell tale flutter from the butterfly that causes the hurricane.

If you notice, Noy ( to me anyway) has strong pro poor representation in the personalities of some of his chosen cab secs. This anti poverty core can lay also the foundations for bridging the LGU gap which the LP might have.

Choosing anyone but himself for DILG right can at best satisfy an internal faction within the Noy camp ( go for Binay) and at worst alienate the masses of voters that voted Binay ( go for Robredo).

But rather than slicing the baby in half, Noy decided to raise the baby with himself as the father-head and his anti poverty cab secs as the surrogate mothers.

Good call.