Is the country ready for Grace?

PERRYSCOPE
Perry Diaz

Some people call someone who is in the right place at the right time, lucky.   Some say it’s destiny.  Grace Poe, who was elected to the Senate in 2013 with the most votes in a crowded pack, must either be lucky or destined to be a senator.   

A survey taken by Social Weather Stations (SWS) last March showed Sen. Poe in a statistical tie with Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay in popularity.  For the first time, Binay’s popularity rating went down by 1% to 36% while Grace’s popularity rating shot up from 21% to 31%! But with the bombshell that the Court of Appeals (CA) dropped on Binay last May 11 freezing 242 bank accounts and insurance policies belonging to him, his family, and alleged “dummies,” Binay would have difficulty convincing his supporters to stay with him.   

Speculation is rife that Binay would eventually drop out of the race. With two plunder complaints filed against him and his son Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. before the Office of the Ombudsman, it’s just a matter of time – as early as June? – before the plunder charges are filed with the graft court Sandiganbayan.  And at that time, theSandiganbayan would issue arrest warrants against them.   The plunder cases are in connection with the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Makati City Hall parking building and the Makati Science High School building amounting to P1.2 billion and P1.33 billion, respectively. And because plunder is a non-bailable offense, they'd be put in detention. 

Crowded field

Although Binay could still run for office while his plunder cases are pending, he would not be allowed to leave detention to campaign.  But whether he will run or not, Grace would have a good chance of winning the presidential race.  However, if Binay dropped out, the number of presidential wannabes would dramatically increase, which would be numerically advantageous to Grace.   In a crowded field of seven or more candidates, all Grace needs to win is 25% of the vote, with the other 75% spread among the other candidates. 

With only one election to her credit -- a senatorial run in 2013 -- Grace would need an organization to make sure that she’d retain the support of those who voted for her in 2013.  She may also be the benefactor of the “command vote” of her father, the late Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ), who ran for president in 2004 against then incumbent president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo but lost the election due to massive electoral fraud.   With the support of the loyal admirers of FPJ, it would provide Grace with the boost she needs to carry her over the top.  

Maturity

But what seems to be the difference in next year’s presidential derby is that for the second time since the country’s independence, there is a female candidate who doesn’t fit the mold of the “trapo” -- traditional politician – that plays realpolitik at the expense of the public good.    

In the two years that Grace has been a senator, she has shown the maturity of a responsible public servant.  Her singular effort to press for the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, which President Aquino refused to include in his legislative agenda and certify as “urgent,” speaks highly of her dedication to the mandate entrusted to her by the electorate.   

It’s interesting to note that with her personal advocacy for the FOI bill, it easily passed the Senate.  However, it’s not moving in the House of Representatives because the President’s allies wouldn’t pass it without the President’s endorsement.

Cheap shots

Grace’s critics – including Binay -- were saying that she is not ready for the presidency.   The other day, Binay took a cheap shot at Poe, saying: “It is dangerous to pass the leadership of the country to leaders who lack experience and competence as it would aggravate the problems currently being experienced by the country.”  But Mr. Vice President isn’t it true that the biggest problem in the country today is corruption?  

In response to Binay’s attack, Poe said, “More than experience and competence, what the country needs is an honest leader.”  And this hit a sore spot in Binay because he and his family members are currently being investigated by the Ombudsman for allegations of corruption.  Grace urged Binay to face the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee and answer these allegations.  And when she was asked if she thinks Binay did not possess the quality of an “honest leader,” she said that Binay has yet to explain the corruption allegations. 

But for a San Francisco-based Filipino-American group, Grace’s qualifications for the presidency are questionable.  The group even questioned her qualification as chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to which President Aquino appointed her.  Heck, Grace’s parents – FPJ and Susan Roces – were rock stars in movieland!  Isn’t that good enough?

Dual citizenship

The group even claimed that Grace is a U.S. citizen.  True.  But what they forgot – or choose to forget – is that Grace is a dual citizen just like most of them.   And since these were the same people who advocated – and worked -- for the passage of Republic Act 9225 or the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act, they know that a “dual citizen” could run for office in the Philippines.  Yes, a dual citizen is as “first-class citizen” as JojoBinay.

But the difference between Grace and Jojo is that Grace is not tainted with allegations of corruption while Jojo refuses to disclose how he accumulated his “unexplained wealth,” which by Philippine law makes him guilty of corruption.

Indeed, it comes down to honesty vs. greed.  And which one would you like to lead the 100 million Filipinos: an honest and unseasoned person or a greedy and skilled person?   Here’s a hint: an inexperienced person can learn to become competent while a greedy and corrupt person will never be honest and an honest person will never be corrupt. 

With all the brouhaha about Grace’s qualifications for president, Grace has yet to declare whether to run or not.  However, there are subtle signs that she is going to run.  The fact that she made it known that she’s not interested in the vice presidency narrows down her plans for 2016.  It’s either she is going to run for president or finish her term in the Senate through 2019.  And what’s in store for her in 2019?  Run for reelection or retire.   But that would be a waste of her talents.  Like they say, strike while the iron is hot.  Yes, it’s now or never, and Grace is aware of that.

At the end of the day, Grace knows she’s ready to lead her country.  But the question is: Is the country ready for Grace?(PerryDiaz@gmail.com)