Internal conflict

Based on the text messages and tidbits given by various individuals, it would seem that the “Noy” administration is already experiencing an “internal conflict” even before it can administrate.

Only a week after the elections, I received a “text appeal” to be on the guard against moves by “Peping” Cojuangco who allegedly was keen on being a very influential power within the new administration.

A week later, many were amused and surprised by the rise of the “4000” +/- who wanted to send Kris Aquino to the United States inclusive of her very own Internet despedida.

This week, we now hear of innuendos that the twin towers: Balsy and Pinky were influencing the selection process of finding the first set of cabinet members for the “Noy” administration.

Most myopic observers or critic will immediately join the bandwagon and say: “Keep the Kamag-Anak Inc. outside of Malacanang!” Fortunately for me, I’m only astigmatic, so I suspect that the “series of unfortunate events” for Noy’s relatives or siblings is nothing more than the “elimination process” in the latest reality show in town: “Who wants to live in Malacanang?”

If you recall, even the notorious guys at “The Firm” were subjected to a couple of week’s worth of target practice. Obviously there is a team that is working on eliminating or discrediting the other people who have worked with and for “Noy”.

There are many competing interests or “teams who want to make it to Malacañang, and it is clear that many of them will resort to anything and stop at nothing to be on the top of the heap. If the kamag-anaks of “Noy” are under attack, it is clearly intended to get them out of the tournament or out of the way by creating the atmosphere of doubt and suspicion.

The question is: who among those around “Noy” have the concrete reputation for character assassination, intrigues and “black” propaganda? The last ten years is enough of a timeline to find out who has been floating the attacks on “Noy” siblings.

Obviously the lure of Malacanang has brought in a dandy list of finalists.

On Team Alpha we have the much-maligned “Kamag-Anak Inc. version 2010 ”: The Aquino sisters, who in fairness have all done well outside the palace wall in the last 10 years. They are of course, feared by others because being previous winners, survivors and now returning champs, they just ooze with confidence, they can cut down the usurpers, pretenders and plain fakes in the incoming administration.

What makes them even deadlier is that they have nothing to prove and can actually gain more by merely concentrating on their private lives and their personal businesses.

On the bad side, the biggest handicap to the “Kamag-Anak Inc. version 2010 is the very center of their involvement; their kamag-anak: Noynoy Aquino. As President, “Noy” will be under extreme pressure, personal and external, not to show preferential treatment or trust on his siblings or immediate relatives.

There will always be the false need to show his independence. In fact “Noy” will be inclined to exaggerate his independence and objectivity in order to “protect them”. That will be his first act of stupidity. His relatives don’t need his protection. It is “He”, Noynoy Aquino, who will need all the protection he can get.

The best protection he will ever have is from the “twin towers” — Balsy and Pinky who have lived through much of the “Cory” years in Malacañang. Call me crazy but I would place Kris Aquino at the appointments desk for people who have favors to ask or think they got “talent”!

Kris Aquino’s “taklesa” reputation would be a blast to see on video as she interviews people asking for Presidential favors, Presidential appointments or pardons.

No, it is not a joke.

Someone once asked me as a “consultant” what he could do to block or ward off influence peddlers and name-droppers who were muscling in on a government owned and controlled corporation.

I told him that I would clear the members of the board and replace them with prominent clergy from the Catholic Church, the Iglesia Ni Cristo, from the Born Again sector and from legitimate honest media practitioners who had a bone to pick with corrupt people using connections.

Who in his right mind would try to force an issue against a board of clerics, and media? Imagine trying to bribe the “Queen of Endorsers” in the Philippines as well as Presidential sibling?!

That “engineering” solution would effectively ward of even members of the “Kamag-Anak Inc/version 1987”, The firms and their clients, even the blackest and the whitest ghosts around “Noy” as well as the “Balik-bayan sa Malacañang” team.

Just in case you don’t know who the Balik-bayan team members are, here’s a fun game for hot summer nights. Just surf the web for the Cory years and check who were in on the first wave, the second wave and the final heat. JPE and Gringo were shown the door on the first; I think Manong Ernie Maceda was out on the second wave etc. Now some of those who stayed on are praying to get a second crack at greatness, to prove a point or simply to make money the way some people in the past administration did.

I remember a popular line from those early years for cabinet members in the Cory administration: “The revolution always eats its children”.

Based on that, the smarter ones always applied for positions such as Undersecretary or the second or tertiary position. That way when the guy at the top gets shot, they simply moved up. Smart ’no?