Lack of real choice

The Presidential wannabes appearing in that Philippine STAR front page photo should have stimulated enough excitement that the desired changes are at hand. But they did not. None of them really stirred the people’s imagination of a better and brighter tomorrow for our country after 2010.   

There are to be sure a few good men among them like Ed Panlilio, Mar Roxas and Richard Gordon. But sad to say, they simply do not inspire hope of a dramatic and drastic break away from the clutches of the current crop of politicians who brought misery and poverty on this land because of corruption and bad governance.

Given our existing political and economic situation, we are actually looking for somebody like a “superman” who could rescue us from our present predicament caused by the “bad guys” in our midst who continue to hold sway in all aspects of our national life. My sentimental choice is Roxas and I really hope he succeeds. But the mere fact that he has been part of the status quo for so many years and seems helpless or unable to bring about the much needed reforms does not make him like a “knight in shining armor” whom people are looking for at this stage. This is also true of Gordon and Panlilio.

The consensus especially among the middle class, “the silent but potent majority” in this country, is that Roxas, Gordon and Panlilio, sincere and well meaning as they are, will just be gobbled up by the corrupt, inept and transactional kind of politics prevailing in this country now. Their performance in public service can only be considered as “up to par” but certainly not that extraordinary as to make a significant difference.

More dangerous and foreboding among the gallery of aspirants and early birds who joined that debate are definitely Francis Escudero and Gilbert Teodoro. I just cannot discard the deep and nagging feeling that they will once more resurrect the kind of governance we had during the Marcos regime. These two aspirants are undeniably the offsprings of some of the most powerful and influential people during the Marcos era, when we experienced the darkest hours in our country’s history because of the excesses, oppression, rapacity and cupidity that seem to be back with vengeance under the present regime. Supporting them in their run for the presidency may just be resurrecting the hated Marcos rule and perpetuating the dubious means of ascending to, and acquiring power.

Escudero and Teodoro are still young. They still have a lot of time to prove to the Filipinos that they are not chips of the old block and will not be carried away by the pervasive influence of their families and other people who were in power during the Marcos regime. They may have their own time but not in this coming presidential elections. In fact their youthfulness and still relatively brief stint in public service inevitably sow fear that people surrounding them may be the ones ultimately running the government if and when one of them becomes our next President.

Indeed the people behind the party backing up Escudero are people who were once in power during the martial law regime who wants to regain it while those behind Teodoro’s parties are presently in power and would like to retain it. Both parties look like “company unions” such that the victory of any of their candidate will be the “company’s” victory. So electing any of them will just perpetuate the same power elite with more of the same kind of governance we now endure.

Our country’s political future still looks bleak even if the other known presidential aspirants who did not participate in that debate will become our next president. Villar’s alleged altruism as depicted in those scandalously expensive TV ads even before the start of the campaign looks more and more like an investment that has to be recovered once in power. His obsession for power is somehow linked to the enhancement and protection of his enormous business interests typical of other businessmen turned politicians.

Lacson’s shady record as a “law enforcer” showing his supposed involvement in some unresolved “extrajudicial killings” that have not been satisfactorily and conclusively erased or explained up to now is a grim reminder of the kind of presidency we may have under him. The peace and order under his presidency looks more and more like a peace and order mainly based on enforced silence than on unity and harmony.   

Bleaker is the political picture if Lacson’s former boss Erap successfully stages a constitutionally questionable comeback. After being deposed and subsequently convicted of plunder, the country certainly does not deserve an Erap administration part II. And the political landscape does not look any better with the entry into the scene of Makati’s Jojo Binay. Just by gaining a reputation and being tagged as “Erap Jr.” is enough reason for us to be wary of him.

Bayani Fernando was once upon a time the favorite of the middle class because of his no nonsense method of running the metropolis and instilling discipline by strict adherence to the rule of law. But when he started plastering his billboards cum campaign posters all over the place, a big number of his silent supporters started having second thoughts.

So far, VP Noli De Castro appears to be different from the rest of the aspirants. Despite consistently topping the survey, he remains coy about his plans in seeking the presidency. He has so far steered clear of any controversy precisely because he avoids stepping on anybody’s toes. He has no vested self-interest to protect but his enigmatic stance and relatively “safe” moves somehow raises doubts on his capability to lead.

None of the current crop of aspirants therefore enables us to make a real, honest to goodness choice. But if it is a matter of “winability” and ability, the choice may be narrowed down to De Castro and Roxas. They appear to be the least objectionable.

Note: Books containing compilation of my articles on Labor Law and Criminal Law (Vols. I and II) are now available. Call tel. 7249445.

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