The "crucifixion" of Jejomar
Not everyone knows that the meaning of JEJOMAR is Jesus, Joseph and Mary. Legend has it that when the Vice President was born, he was allegedly too small and too dark that the comadrona was reported to have exclaimed: " Hesus Maria Y Jose," which is commonly an invocation for the blessings and protection of the Holy Family. The current '' demolition job'' being executed against the Binays may be based on the merits of the specific charges leveled against the Vice President and his family. But the timing and the ''dramatis personae'' are very apparent.
In law school, any freshman would tell us of the Latin maxim: "Res ipsa loquitor." The thing speaks for itself. We do not need a Harvard or a Stanford degree to discern the obvious. All these much ado about the Binays in Makati are directly related to the next presidential elections. One has to be a moron or an imbecile not to see the hand writings on the wall. What is being done to Jejomar Binay nowadays are not unlike what were done to then Presidential candidate Manuel Villar in 2010. If you are number one among the aspirants, you will get all mud and the ''slings and arrows of outrageous fortunes."
If not for the fact that the Vice President has the best showing in all public opinion surveys, nobody would ever give a damn on what the Binays are doing in their turf, Makati. If not for the fact that VP Jojo Binay has announced his 2016 Presidential candidacy, no one would be interested in that parking building adjacent to the Makati City Hall. If not for the fact that there is no one else who could hold a candle vis-a-vis Jojo's popularity especially among the '' masa,'' all these hullabaloo would not have come about.
This is the price that the leading aspirants have to pay. They are open targets for demolition, especially if the rivals are very very far behind. This is the tragedy that Vice President Jojo has to face squarely and courageously. Jejomar has always been a fighter. He was a street parliamentarian in the eighties, a human rights lawyer, and an activist who was "wounded and scarred" during the darkest days under martial rule. He stood up to the Marcos regime. He offered his head on the block. And so, these attacks and mudslinging are expected by Binay. He has had too many ''battles'' in the arena of life. In most occasions, he came out winning.
The crucifixion of Jojo Binay can either result in massive sympathy votes from the "masa" and from the middle class. Or, it can end like how Manny Villar's dreams died, courtesy of the opponents' massive propaganda and psy-war operations. As between Manny Villar and Jojo Binay, I boldly predict that Binay has the better strategy, the better organization and the needed funds and logistics. Villar had the money but his opponents had the techniques and tactics. If Binay does not commit a major blunder between now and 2016, he is a sure ball for the Presidency. But he should not be overconfident. It will be a very hotly contested polls. But at the end of the day, it will be Binay. Mark my word.
- Latest
