‘Gibo’ makes it easier for Noynoy to win

Happy Weekend
Gina Dizon

Defense Secretary Benigno “Gibo” Teodoro as the administration’s Lakas-Kampi presidential candidate is making it easier for his cousin Noynoy Aquino to win as president in the May 2010 elections.

Blessed by the approving ‘kiss of death’ of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo, the presidential bid of Teodoro is afflicted right at the start. GMA carries an administration which projects a corrupt and a laos (washed out) image which is not anymore relevant to the ordinary Filipino people’s existence. Arroyo herself is perceived as the most corrupt among the Philippine presidents according to a Pulse Asia survey.

With millions of overseas contract workers leaving the country in search for jobs means the Philippines is not in a stable economic and political situation made worse since she stepped in to take over as President in 2001. GMA’s all out policy on sending Filipinos abroad as OFWs already speaks of diverting focus in building local industries for longer term economic effects.

The Philippines during GMA's time is considered most corrupt in Asia according to a Hongkong –based consultancy group. Now, the country has slid steps backward to compete with Bangladesh, one of the poorest countries in the world; while neighbors Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, are sailing up the economic ladder.

What is wrong with Arroyo’s administration? Obviously, Arroyo tried to lift an economically poor country to its feet with a shaky stand. Her administration reeks with corruption and being anti-human rights with already a record of nearly 1,000 cases of extra-judicial killings and more than 200 cases of forcible disappearance since she power in January 2001.

Let us take Teodoro’s position on the VFA which of course reflects Malacanang’s stand on the hotly contested issue and other positions as well which in most cases are obsolete and overly pragmatic to the state of not having any long term dreams for the future.
Teodoro forwarded a categorical stand on favoring the Visiting Forces Agreement which allows US forces to be deployed to the Philippines for training Filipino soldiers ‘against terrorism’. Senate earlier approved on second reading Resolution 1356, which urges the Department of Foreign Affairs to renegotiate the VFA, or terminate it if the US government refuses renegotiation.

The controversial VFA has been heavily opposed especially among the progressive left as it infringes on the country’s sovereignty which the Constitution heavily guards. Bagong Alyansang Makabayan for one, called for the treaty’s review early this year.

As the country awaits what Noynoy Aquino will say, Teodoro has already moved on to say that he supports the review of the VFA only after the 2010 elections “to avoid having it caught up in politicking.” Gibo is also seen to be lacking interest in human rights which the progressive left is keen about.

Noynoy, if he plays his cards right, will have a winnable stance in the upcoming 2010 elections. What does he say about the Phil-US treaty? Noynoy’s response on the VFA which is a hotly contested issue among the militant progressives needs to be made clear by him if he wants to make a clean breakaway and win the elections. What is his stand on issues of human rights?

The people await his response. Playing the oppositionist will surely be a positive edge on his side and highlight dreams of a better Philippines. At this time where Filipinos are weary and tired of poverty, corruption, human rights violations and a floating identity, changes for the better seemingly is brewing hot in the air.

Aquino, son of well loved former president Corazon ‘Tita Cory’ Aquino and democratic icon Benigno Aquino, Noynoy virtually carries the dreams of a better Philippines up his sleeve. Carrying that democracy charisma which is left by his parents, Noynoy’s positions on a number of democracy-related questions on poverty and sovereignty will surely be awaited by the people. It means he has to prove his mettle that he is also a true opposition and a freedom loving icon not just by carrying the name Aquino.

Noynoy Aquino so far has made a strong commitment to recover the Marcos ill-gotten wealth. His response on the Hacienda Luisita issue that the Cojuangcos might leave Hacienda Luisita was good enough. Yet, it remains to be seen if he is going to make good if he will be elected President.

This, while posing questions of what he has done when he was a senator and a congressman heading the committee on agriculture. These and other issues will surely be hurled at him as the presidential campaign heats up and clears the muddy waters which cloud non-transparency of candidates.

Meantime, the aces up are up his sleeve without him making an effort.
Sentiments of the people are strong with him just recently on the death of his mother. This psychological attachment of people on the death of a family member in connection to their preference on a rcandidate has posed positive votes for Noynoy in one way or the other, based on a recent survey where Noynoy placed first in vote- rich Luzon.

Noynoy also comes from the vote- rich areas of the Visayas where his family hails from. With people’s tendencies to vote for their kababayan, Noynoy gets sizable votes here. Also, Aquino’s progressive stand may woo the militant bloc to his side. Even if Bayan Muna’s congressman Satur Ocampo is with the Nationalista Party headed by presidential bid Manuel Villar and Akbayan’s Risa Hontiveros is likewise with the elitist Liberal Party, chances are the militant progressives would be swayed to Noynoy Aquino if he will play his card rights.

Gibo’s posturing of a pro-government which clings with Uncle Sam and an obvious dislike to human rights causes is already sending the message that Noynoy is to counter it well and good. The spotlight will focus on the two cousins as they slug it out as relatives and as ideologues on opposing scales.

Meantime, Nationalista Party headed by Villar and the Liberal party headed by Noynoy Aquino are mudslinging at each other and each claiming to be the true Opposition Party. Based on reports, Iloilo vice Governor Rolex Suplico, a member of the NP, called the LP “a party of collaborators” and said it has no right to call itself the opposition because it is in fact “sleeping with the enemy.” Suplico slammed LP for not supporting the three impeachment complaints against Arroyo.

Quezon province Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tanada III, LP spokesman refuted Suplico’s claiming that “We’re the party that contributed the biggest numbers to the impeachment. The LP came out very strong in our position in 2005 for the resignation of the President,” he said.Is there hope in the Opposition?