Too early and obvious to parlay his bet

Many have wondered how lucky VP-elect Jejomar Binay had fared in the May 10, 2010 elections in beating LP bet Senator Mar Roxas, in such unexpected surge at the last stretch of the race.

Many are also at sea how it gave, other than as tattled by "Koala Bear", that is, by manipulating the PCOS through machination of the compact flash cards by transmission of election returns. But the fact remains that Binay is the proclaimed winner.

What has also recently perked up the political grapevine centered on what national post or department be assigned to him by President-elect Benigno C. Aquino III to keep him pre-occupied. VP Binay himself, is still coveting the politically powerful Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and hasn't expressed any other preference except the DILG as the apple of his eye. Drumming up Binay's choice is spokesman JV Bautista who argues that it's in the DILG that the talents of his boss could be maximized.

As expected, however, President Noynoy may have seen the motive behind Binay's opting for the DILG, and appears not acceding to his VP's choice. Upon getting wind of the Palace thumbing down his ploy, it now appears that Jojo Binay is willing to accept whatever is offered, thus: "Payag na ako kung anumang i-o-offer ni my presidente para hindi na ako magdagdag ng problema sa kanya". Well, well… there's no harm in trying, is there?

The most likely beneficiary of the DILG post would be Senator Manuel Roxas II when he eventually qualifies. Noynoy may appease Binay with a "low key" position that doesn't fit his "credentials", but not with what his heart desires as worn on his sleeve.

It doesn't sit well for Jojo Binay to get hawkish for a privilege, much less a right to any position other than that of Vice-President. While no one can impose upon him any duty, or to accept any assignment or post other than that of VP, there's likewise no onus for the President to offer any. Should there be an offer and, the VP accedes, it is a matter of political comity between them.

It can be said that the VP's wish for the DILG is a calculated and well-thought of political strategy for future political advantage. It enables its head to sow seeds to germinate later as a well-oiled machinery nationwide that can be harnessed for purposes of election network already in place. That being so and, VP Binay may run for the highest post 6 years hence upon Noynoy's term shall have expired. Meantime, Mar Roxas might also run for president and, the two shall meet again as Palace aspirants. A political déjà vu of sorts, a probable epic repeat of the mayhem that had been, and probably more frenetic.

Given the lucky break, at least, in capturing the "spare tire" post against long odds and, a greater luck if the DILG seat be his, could Binay afford now to parlay his bet for the Palace? To the uninitiated in gambling idiosyncrasy, parlaying a bet is "compounding" the ante and its winnings - "dobla" or "dobla-dobla" - in local parlance. For instance, in "hantak" or "todas- todas" with "hari" ("heads") to win or "patay" ("tails") to lose, should the original bet of, say, P100 on "hari" win, the next bet is now P200 and becomes P400 if it still wins the third throw, and so on.

In effect, the streak of luck and the chances of winning could be the motivation in parlaying bets. Strictly though, gambling is a game of chance, or aleatory, and gamblers play by the ear when to indulge in parlay betting, thus: "Kon debuynason, hala dobla".

Thus, in the scenario of Binay managing the DILG, he could parlay his chance of landing the highest position, as in fact the odds would be in his favor as controllable by him. Would President Noynoy cotton to the obvious ploy?