http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=542790&publicationSubCategoryId=64
How fickle a man’s fortunes can be.
Not very long ago, Manny Villar was enjoying the momentary glory of being one of the top two contenders for the 2010 Presidential elections.
Within a week’s time however, Villar finds himself turned from Victor to Victim, thanks to what his people call “mga nag Hudas” or traitors. If last weeks’ glory had to do with surveys, this week’s torture apparently also has to do with surveys.
I am told that this week is suppose to be another “survey week” where a major survey company will be going through town to rate the Presidential candidates and would be senators.
The irony is that, the survey week has become public knowledge instead of confidential information. So all those being surveyed are now giving special performances for media consumption to improve their ratings or destroy someone else’s reputation and ratings.
I’m certain that the intensity of media hype and propaganda from all the candidates and political parties would register on a Richter scale. Unfortunately most of the news and public affairs issues are merely acoustic fire but void of any real substance or truth. For starters, there was the Noynoy Aquino salvo against President Arroyo’s planned appointment of a Supreme Court Chief Justice once a vacancy occurs. The bang turned into a dud because people quickly realized that until a vacancy happened everything was speculative.
In a way, Noynoy’s statement that he would reject any PGMA appointment backfired as pundits retorted with the classic Erap line, “Mag Presidente muna kayo” (first become President).
Now the cameras and microphones are focused on the administration-opposition combination of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and former President Joseph Estrada.
The dynamic duo have been playing like a tag team in front of reporters and prophesying that the surveys will soon be telling a different tale now that the Comelec has decided that Estrada can run for re-election as President of the Philippines.
But the runaway performer this week has been Senator Juan Ponce Enrile. While calling himself an administration senator, Enrile has also portrayed himself as friend and adviser to the leader of the opposition. Which now has people wondering whether former President Estrada is being used by administration forces to determine the outcome of the Presidential elections.
What seems to be certain is that Senator Enrile intends to influence how Erap will influence the elections.
While holding on to the position of Senate President he has taken the position of protector of Senator Ping Lacson who is facing charges of double murder. Yet in the same breath, the Senate President has taken the lead as prosecutor and persecutor of Senator Manny Villar, which is fast becoming the most incredulous investigation ever to be conducted by the Philippine Senate.
All this has given the wily politician so much air-time and exposure beyond what’s needed to get re-elected. So it seems that Senator Enrile is gunning to become No. 1 Senator for the 2010 elections as well as neutralizing the only serious threat to his political and economic interests, which is Senator Manny Villar.
Unfortunately for Senator Manny Villar, Enrile is unforgiving and unapologetic when it comes to crushing or dealing with his enemies. Villar may opt to choose the road of truth and decency, but he must not lose sight of the fact that Enrile never had a problem with faking his own assassination or turning his back on his partner and “brod” in crime, Ferdinand Marcos or Tita Cory for that matter.
Being a legal luminary, Enrile has enough magic in the box to turn rabbits into dragons, allegations into truth, as well as motions for dismissal becoming recantations and condemnations from the “Judas Twelve”.
Sadly, Enrile crossed the line by calling a fellow Senator: “A Coward”.
That mistake will undoubtedly come back to haunt Senator Enrile. Such a very public and very personal assault does not sit well with today’s society. It was socially and politically incorrect.
This mistake may be the break that Manny Villar has been waiting for. The personal attack and label of “cowardice” now removes any pretense or semblance that Enrile and his committee of the whole are merely doing their job.
It is now obvious that the intention is to publicly embarrass and humiliate a fellow Senator who refuses to become a sacrificial lamb to the idols of the Philippine Senate. This explains why the members insist on bringing out its report to the Senate floor even if the necessary signatures or majority consensus is lacking.
In all likelihood, the plan may be to create an impression of guilt and wrongdoing which will ultimately affect Villar’s image and popularity in the surveys.
While Villar chooses to be “Mr. Nice Guy”, he should also get his “pretty boys” to do more than chit-chat at their headquarters. I would certainly like to know the name of the Senators who first signed the resolution to dismiss the charges against Villar then broke their word, their honor and betrayed Villar.
It is one thing to change your mind but that does not change the facts by which you base your judgment. No political party decision should ever override the truth and your word of honor. These are people who should not be elected.
In the end, Villar may be doing the smart thing after all. By remaining the victim, his enemies are actually reinforcing the image that he is also the victim of the rich, the powerful and the politicians. By being the underdog, he is attracting other people to join in the fight. From Victim to Victor.
Within a week’s time however, Villar finds himself turned from Victor to Victim, thanks to what his people call “mga nag Hudas” or traitors. If last weeks’ glory had to do with surveys, this week’s torture apparently also has to do with surveys.
I am told that this week is suppose to be another “survey week” where a major survey company will be going through town to rate the Presidential candidates and would be senators.
The irony is that, the survey week has become public knowledge instead of confidential information. So all those being surveyed are now giving special performances for media consumption to improve their ratings or destroy someone else’s reputation and ratings.
I’m certain that the intensity of media hype and propaganda from all the candidates and political parties would register on a Richter scale. Unfortunately most of the news and public affairs issues are merely acoustic fire but void of any real substance or truth. For starters, there was the Noynoy Aquino salvo against President Arroyo’s planned appointment of a Supreme Court Chief Justice once a vacancy occurs. The bang turned into a dud because people quickly realized that until a vacancy happened everything was speculative.
In a way, Noynoy’s statement that he would reject any PGMA appointment backfired as pundits retorted with the classic Erap line, “Mag Presidente muna kayo” (first become President).
Now the cameras and microphones are focused on the administration-opposition combination of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and former President Joseph Estrada.
The dynamic duo have been playing like a tag team in front of reporters and prophesying that the surveys will soon be telling a different tale now that the Comelec has decided that Estrada can run for re-election as President of the Philippines.
But the runaway performer this week has been Senator Juan Ponce Enrile. While calling himself an administration senator, Enrile has also portrayed himself as friend and adviser to the leader of the opposition. Which now has people wondering whether former President Estrada is being used by administration forces to determine the outcome of the Presidential elections.
What seems to be certain is that Senator Enrile intends to influence how Erap will influence the elections.
While holding on to the position of Senate President he has taken the position of protector of Senator Ping Lacson who is facing charges of double murder. Yet in the same breath, the Senate President has taken the lead as prosecutor and persecutor of Senator Manny Villar, which is fast becoming the most incredulous investigation ever to be conducted by the Philippine Senate.
All this has given the wily politician so much air-time and exposure beyond what’s needed to get re-elected. So it seems that Senator Enrile is gunning to become No. 1 Senator for the 2010 elections as well as neutralizing the only serious threat to his political and economic interests, which is Senator Manny Villar.
Unfortunately for Senator Manny Villar, Enrile is unforgiving and unapologetic when it comes to crushing or dealing with his enemies. Villar may opt to choose the road of truth and decency, but he must not lose sight of the fact that Enrile never had a problem with faking his own assassination or turning his back on his partner and “brod” in crime, Ferdinand Marcos or Tita Cory for that matter.
Being a legal luminary, Enrile has enough magic in the box to turn rabbits into dragons, allegations into truth, as well as motions for dismissal becoming recantations and condemnations from the “Judas Twelve”.
Sadly, Enrile crossed the line by calling a fellow Senator: “A Coward”.
That mistake will undoubtedly come back to haunt Senator Enrile. Such a very public and very personal assault does not sit well with today’s society. It was socially and politically incorrect.
This mistake may be the break that Manny Villar has been waiting for. The personal attack and label of “cowardice” now removes any pretense or semblance that Enrile and his committee of the whole are merely doing their job.
It is now obvious that the intention is to publicly embarrass and humiliate a fellow Senator who refuses to become a sacrificial lamb to the idols of the Philippine Senate. This explains why the members insist on bringing out its report to the Senate floor even if the necessary signatures or majority consensus is lacking.
In all likelihood, the plan may be to create an impression of guilt and wrongdoing which will ultimately affect Villar’s image and popularity in the surveys.
While Villar chooses to be “Mr. Nice Guy”, he should also get his “pretty boys” to do more than chit-chat at their headquarters. I would certainly like to know the name of the Senators who first signed the resolution to dismiss the charges against Villar then broke their word, their honor and betrayed Villar.
It is one thing to change your mind but that does not change the facts by which you base your judgment. No political party decision should ever override the truth and your word of honor. These are people who should not be elected.
In the end, Villar may be doing the smart thing after all. By remaining the victim, his enemies are actually reinforcing the image that he is also the victim of the rich, the powerful and the politicians. By being the underdog, he is attracting other people to join in the fight. From Victim to Victor.
No comments:
Post a Comment