As we get closer to the November deadline for the filing of candidacies, we can expect a minimum of six candidates for president, with some saying there will be as many as 13 - all of them believing they are the “messiah” who will save this country from “the fires of hell.” But when the smoke finally clears, we can only have one “messiah” that will be anointed by the Filipino people.
Manny Villar, under fire from his Senate colleagues over the double insertion issue, has become an easy target because of his early announcement. Nonetheless, he continues to have the OFWs as his support base, together with Noli de Castro who continues to be on top of surveys and is popular especially with the D-E sector. Not far behind are Chiz Escudero and Loren Legarda who still enjoy high ratings particularly from the youth and also the D-E class.
The demographic profile of voters has changed dramatically over the years, with most of them coming from the youth and the D-E sector. Loren and Chiz are actually dividing their solid following, but Joseph Estrada — who’s expected to run with or without the Constitutional question — will only divide their solid votes even further.
Mar Roxas enjoys the support of the upper crust of society where he comes from. With his resources, he is starting to gain ground among the masses with his new padyak-riding image. Gilbert Teodoro has recently announced his intention to run for president, and could easily become the administration candidate with his catchy nickname “Gibo.” Dick Gordon has Bagumbayan Movement as his vehicle, and with his tendency to break into tears easily - it has now softened his image.
As for Ping Lacson, he may get points by throwing a monkey wrench on Villar’s candidacy via the double insertion issue. But he himself will be facing a lot of issues that are now being planned by the Villar and administration camps by reviving the Dacer-Corbito murders, the Kuratong Baleleng case and now the Dante Tan-BW Resources scandal. Jojo Binay and Bayani Fernando are the other two candidates determined to run for president. But knowing Jojo, he will most likely slide down as vice president when Erap decides to run.
At the rate things are going, the more opposition candidates, the better for GMA whose vast resources and machinery will give the edge to her “anointed one,” similar to what happened in 1992 when Cory Aquino supported FVR. If I remember correctly, there were seven candidates at that time, so much so that Malacañang’s support for Ramos gave him a clear advantage, needing only 23 percent of the votes to win. Like in the past, the more candidates there are, the easier for “dagdag-bawas” to take place.
While Joseph Estrada won in a field of 10 during the 1998 elections, the fact of the matter is, inside sources claim that funds supposedly meant for Joe de Venecia were not released by FVR’s party, causing JDV’s campaign to lose steam.
On the other hand, there are those who feel they have a calling from God, like Brother Eddie Villanueva who believes he must save Filipinos from perdition — perhaps thinking he can do better this time. Pampanga governor Fr. Ed Panlilio is being encouraged to run, but interestingly, his own province mates believe this priest-turned-politician won’t make a good president because he can’t even fix Pampanga’s problems.
Then there is El Shaddai leader Brother Mike Velarde who is being urged by many to seek the top post, although Brother Mike says he is still waiting for a clear sign from God. And not to forget Chief Justice Reynato Puno who is spearheading a moral force to “redirect” the country’s destiny and save Filipinos from the tentacles of corruption and decadence. Although he claims this is not a political party, there are many who are encouraging Puno to run. Meanwhile, the global economic crisis has also spawned talks about electing businessmen like Manny Pangilinan whose track record speaks volumes about his ability to make the Philippines an economic powerhouse.
The multiparty system is an unfortunate legacy of the present Constitution which will always produce a minority president — the worst thing that has ever happened to politics in this country. As Inquirer columnist Bel Cunanan correctly pointed out, “a new president needs a clear and strong mandate to institute badly needed reforms” — and obviously, this will not be possible with a minority president who will always be forced to compromise with so many political parties just to maintain his or her hold on power.
As veteran politician Juan Ponce-Enrile correctly pointed out to me, the problems that the next president will be facing are enormous: unemployment, a growing population (projected to reach 100 million by 2011) with about 35 percent living below the poverty line, the global financial meltdown, climate change and the declining demand for OFWs, to name a few.
There are many qualified “messiahs” but we only need one “messiah” with a clear mandate to withstand the kind of “transactional politics” that has been pervasive in this country for the last two decades. Sadly, this is what the 1987 Constitution brought about because of the multiparty system.
That is why the proposal of Congressman Raul Gonzalez Jr. for a run-off election between two candidates who will get the highest number of votes (in case no one gets 50 percent of the votes) is probably the best solution to assure Filipinos that whoever becomes president is the clear “choice of the majority.”
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