My Vote, Part 1: Why Not Gibo?

I have been asked by some friends to vote Gibo Teodoro for President on May 10.

Here is my response.

I will concede that Gibo's conduct during the campaign has been laudable––he has stuck to the issues and kept harping on his platform, which is as it should be.

Matalino sya. Magaling magsalita. Dyan, walang duda.

His position on GMA's power to appoint the next CJ is commendable; he believes that the next president should appoint the next Chief Justice––a stand even more commendable because it contradicts the position taken by the Administration that has endorsed him.

I, however, cannot separate this from his previous actions.

As the Administration candidate, the assumption is that Gibo is the President's man––and this is, as pointed out by many, a real "kiss of death;" something that has probably doomed his chances of winning. But the fact is that there are reports that he's not; the "Villarroyo" tag has hounded Manny Villar so much that people now believe that it is Villar, not Gibo, who is the real Administration candidate.

Assuming that's true, why not Gibo?

(As an aside, I don't buy the argument that we shouldn't vote for someone who has no chances of winning. I say vote for the person you think is most deserving, period.)

Because the sitting President is HIS President. He CHOSE to join her Administration. Despite Hello Garci, the Bolante Fertilizer Scam, the NBN-ZTE issue, and a host of other issues hounding this Administration, he accepted the DND post offered by GMA.

One can argue that none of the charges against GMA were proven in court; but come on. As someone in politics, someone who's in the know, Gibo would know firsthand all the crap GMA and her husband are into. And yet he still joined her government.

Okay, let's say he's the type who needs proof of wrongdoing before damning a person, a lawyer who takes the precept "innocent till proven guilty" to heart; fine. But as a UP and Harvard-trained lawyer, how can he respect––much less join––a President who has shown such a contempt for the Rule of Law? So much so that her government repeatedly attempted to trample on our most basic rights (i.e., Executive Order No. 464, which had barred executive officials from testifying in congressional investigations without the express approval of the President; the so-called calibrated preemptive response policy of the Executive Department; and Presidential Proclamation No. 1017, which had declared a State of National Emergency in February 2006). Let's not even go into the extrajudicial killings that spiked during her term.

Alam nya walang respeto si GMA sa batas. Bilang alagad ng batas, anong ginawa ni Gibo? Sumapi ba sya sa oposisyon? Isinama ba nya ang boses nya sa mga boses ng mga abogado (tulad ng IBP, atbp.) na ikondema ang mga ilegal na patakaran at polisiya ni GMA?

Hindi.

Gibo chose to join this Administration. He chose to work for this President.

And that is why I can't vote for him.

A Graph is Worth A Thousand Words

And if that graph is incorrect, it can also lead to incorrect perceptions.

Which is why the Philippine Daily Inquirer should be more careful when it makes the graphics accompanying its articles.

Note the following discrepancy in today's PDI's article on the SWS-BW Survey for VP:

This is the Inquirer Graph, Page 10, PDI April 27, 2010; also available online

Here is the graph at the Businessworld website:

The Businessworld article says "Mr. Roxas’s score, meanwhile, fell to below 40% for the first time: he was down three points to 39% with three weeks to go before the May 10 elections."

So it's obvious Sen. Roxas' rating in March was 42%, not 36% as presented in the PDI graph.

Additionally, here is a table (showing SWS-BW survey results from December 2009 to March 2010) from the SWS website:

While the PDI article says that Sen. Roxas' current rating "is a three-point drop from his March rating," there is no mention of that number (42%) in the article, so the flawed graph in their article only serves to mislead and confuse readers––especially those who don't bother to read the article in full.

Real People Power

For the past month the Senate has been bitterly divided over allegations that Sen. Manny Villar profited from the construction of the C-5 extension. (Click here to read Solita Monsod's concise analysis of the issue.)

On one side are those who consider this a political issue, an exercise meant to damage the chances of an aspirant for the presidency, while improving those of others. On the other are those who wish to get to the bottom of this case––those who want the accused to personally face and answer the allegations thrown his way. (Click here to read Sen. Manny Villar's speech on the matter.)

To those of us who want real change in this country, who want leadership that will inspire hope amongst our people, there is no doubt that corruption is the biggest problem our country faces today. This controversy, like many before it, is just another sad manifestation of this seemingly unsolvable problem. Whether it is the president being investigated or someone in the Senate, our senators' duty as our elected representatives is clear: to ensure that our government and its leaders are accountable to us.

This is not just a legal issue, it is a moral issue.

At its core, corruption is plain and simple stealing. Ito ay pagnanakaw––pagnanakaw sa taong bayan, pagnanakaw ng perang pwede sanang gamitin para paaralin ang kabataan, para magpagawa ng maayos na kalye sa kanayunan, at para paunlarin ang agrikultura para di na natin kailangan umasa sa ibang bansa para sa pang-araw-araw na pagkain.

Sa madaling salita, kawawa tayo sa nakawan. At ang masakit dyan, ang pinakamahirap sa mahihirap ang unang natatamaan pag may nagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan.

One may or may not believe that Sen. Noynoy Aquino is the answer to our country's ills, but one must concede that his call is as timely as it is appropriate: tanggalin and tiwali, itama ang mali.

Whether we vote for him or not, this should be OUR call as well because for the past nine years, we have suffered from one unresolved scandal after another and have had a President who has not been made to answer charges of corruption because she has always had the numbers to thwart any attempt to make her accountable for her actions.

The same is true in the case of the Senate's inquiry into the C-5 controversy.

Sa totoo lang, kahit hindi natuloy ang botohan sa kaso ni Sen. Villar dyan sa Senado dahil sa pagbo-boycott ng mga ilang senador, ang tanong ay bakit hindi maiwasan ng ating gobyerno at ng kanyang liderato ang ganitong klaseng skandalo?

The question we face as we choose our next leaders is do we want six years of more of the same, or do we want real change? Do we want our leaders to continue down a road that has led to the erosion of trust in noble institutions like the Supreme Court, or do we want a government that will restore our people’s faith in democracy?

Twenty four years ago, millions of Filipinos knew how to answer that question. They marched on EDSA to say no to a despotic, corrupt regime. Our people took their fates into their own hands, reclaimed this country, and replaced the dictatorship with a government that was truly theirs.

Their cry was simple: “Sobra na, tama na, palitan na.”

Today we face practically the same problems and are confronted by the same challenges. Today we also have an opportunity to change things, a chance to choose between the principled and the corrupt, a chance to transform this country.

Let's not forfeit this opportunity to reclaim our government and to reject the leaders who have betrayed our trust. It's within our power to stage a new, more significant people power––a people power against corruption, a people power anchored on the ballot we will cast on election day.

Let's vote for candidates not only on the basis of their competence, but on the basis of their character. Not only on the basis of their intelligence, but on the basis of their virtue. Not only on the basis of their experience, but on the basis of whether their track records reflect their ability to distinguish between right and wrong.

Sobra na. Tama na. Kumilos na.

My President, Our President

I wish I had written this.

My president is the president of the powerless and the leaderless.

My president is the voice of those who have no voice and those who are not heard.

My president dreams of things that have never been, and fights for things that must be.

Yes, you know my president.

My president is the biggest critic of the Administration, a tough investigator in Senate inquiries, a crusader in the impeachment of those who betray the public trust. He cannot hide his contempt for abuse of power, and he has no patience for dishonesty in service.

My president is the second poorest Senator in the land. He has chosen the inconvenience of honest service over convenience of easy lobby money.

My president is not the darling of movie stars and gossip hosts. But his is the voice that the public seeks when it needs understanding on the burning issues of the day.

My president is not of the billionaires, and the landed elite. But he is the president of workers, consumers, jeepney drivers, and the riding public who are powerless to stop oil price increases, and the farmers who toil to own the land they till.

My president vows to discard pork barrel funds – one of the biggest sources of corruption in the land, and he cannot be loyal to politicians who never want this privilege to end.

My president rejects the offers of other political parties. He cannot pretend respect for those whose reputations are tainted by money stolen from public coffers, or whose incompetence has wasted the lives of many of our people .

My president ignores the call of those who say it is time to quit. For if he cannot fight for change right now, then when? And if he will not lead the way, then who will?

My president, they say, is too young to be president. But is anyone too young to fight for a better world? Is anyone too young to challenge the powers that be?

My president repudiates the politics of old – the politics of entertainment, the politics of patronage, the politics that treats public service as commerce, the politics of same-as-before, and business-as-usual.

My president stands for new politics – the politics of principles, of conscience and morality, the politics of honest and competent service, the politics for the people, and the politics of genuine change.

My president has bravely declared his independence, but he is not alone. For the Filipino People are his party, and their interests, his ideology.

My president is the president of hope, the president of change, the president of new beginnings.

My president is

Chiz Escudero: Francis Guevarra Escudero.

Now, let us unite to make him, not only my president, rather our president, the president of the Filipino People!

Bakit Si Chiz?

E-mailed to our e-groups by a contemporary from UP. The topic of discussion? The 2010 presidential elections, Noynoy's candidacy, and Chiz Escudero's resignation from the NPC.

Tungkol naman sa kay Chiz Escudero, ni kailanman ay di ako nagduda na sya ay tatakbo. At kailanman ay di ako bumoto batay lamang sa kung sino ang palagay ko na mananalo o di mananalo. Ang boto ko ay laan lamang sa taong pinaniniwalaan ko, yaong bumubuhay ng aking pag-asa sa kapwa at sa bayan. Si Chiz Escudero yun.

Noong namatay si Cory, isa ako sa nagdalamhati. Lumaki akong humanga kay Ninoy at kahit na sandamakmak ang mga kamaliang nagawa ng administrasyong Aquino, ako'y humanga sa busilak nyang kalooban. At noong umurong si Mar Roxas sa laban bilang pangulo, batid ko agad na si Noynoy ang tatakbo. Ang sabi ko sa aking sarili at sa ilan mga kaibigan: "Chiz has my vote but my heart belongs to NoyNoy." Corny mang maituturing pero yaon ang aking pinaniwalaan noon.

Noon yun. Ngayon, ang ginawa ni Chiz na pag-iwan sa NPC, ang pagtalikod sa tradisyunal na partido pulitika, ang pagtakwil sa pork barrel system at work contractualization at iba pa, ay nagdala ng bagong pagninilay-nilay sa akin. Ang kanyang katapangan na iwanan ang NPC sa harap ng napipintong pinakamalaking laban ng kanyang buhay pulitiko ay binansagan ng iba na "youthful naivete" at "political suicide." Pero ito ang pumukaw sa aking damdamin at gumising sa aking idealismo. Sinong kandidato sa pagkapangulo ang iiwan ang partido at makinarya at sumuong sa laban na kulang sa armas? Sino ang kayang gawin ito sa panahon ngayon? Sino nga ba kungdi yaong may tapang at idealismo. Sino nga ba kungdi isang Chiz Escudero.

Ngayon ay kinukwestyon ko na kung bakit animnapung porsyento ng Pinoy ay para kay Noynoy. Sadyang sadlak lang ba ang Pinoy sa kahirapan at kawalan ng pag-asa na kahit wala silang alam sa pagkatao ni Noynoy ay sapat na para iboto syang presidente dahil lamang mga bayani at hinahangaan ang kanyang mga magulang? Ano nga ba ang alam natin kay Noynoy? Na anak sya ni Ninoy at Cory at kapatid sya ni Kris at bayaw ni James Yap? Na dati nyang kasintahan si Korina Sanchez-Roxas at Bernadette Sembrano? Na dati syang kongresista at ngayon ay senador? Ano pa nga ba? Na si Kris at hindi si Noynoy ang "female Ninoy" o "Cory's favorite child"?

Maaring tama ang idolo kong si Conrado de Quiros na hindi magnanakaw si Noynoy dahil di nya yuyurakan ang pangalang iniwan ng kanyang mga magulang. Maaring tama rin si De Quiros na di gahaman sa kapangyarihan si Noynoy dahil sya diumano ay "reluctant candidate." Maari. Pero sa ganang akin, ang katapatan at pagkamatuwid ay hindi lang sa dugong Aquino nananalaytay. Sa katunayan, wala noon sa kanyang kapatid na si Kris. At kung ako ang papipiliin sa isang pulitikong binasbasan ng tadhana at isang gagawa ng sariling nyang kapalaran, ay doon na ako sa huli. Tulad nga ng itinuran ni Robin Williams sa pelikulang "Dead Poets Society" na "carpe diem", pabor ako dun sa matapang at buo ang loob na iguhit ang sariling nyang kapalaran.

Minsan ay matatawa ka sa Pinoy. Pagkaharap nya ay trapo, maghahanap sya ng may idealismo. Ngayong andyan at sumisigaw ng idealismo si Chiz Escudero, pinagdududahan syang kulang lang daw sa pondo. Tulad ng sabi ko sa aking mga kaibigan ng araw na iniwan ni Chiz ang NPC: "ang mensahe ni Chiz ay yaon mismong sinabi nya; you dont have to read between the lines."

Binabatikos rin si Chiz dahil kung ayaw raw nyang ma-impluwensyahan ng partido ay bakit ngayon lang daw nya ginawa ang pagtalikod sa NPC gayong higit isang dekada na syang miyembro nito. Bakit, kung tama at para sa tama ang gagawin mo, kailangan pa ba nating tanungin kung bakit ngayon lang? Di ba ang mahalaga ay nagawa ang tama at may tapang na gawin ito sa harap ng pagbatikos? Mabuti nga at ginawa di ba? Di ba't mas dapat na batikusin ang mga kandidatong walang tapang at idealismo na gawin ang ginawa ni Chiz Escudero?

Sa mga kadahilanang aking nabanggit, kay Chiz Escudero po ang boto at puso ko.

My Country Is Not For Sale

In 1998 I began my first job in government as a member of the legislative staff of one of the reps belonging to the first batch of party-list representatives, Sanlakas' Rep. Renato Magtubo.

It didn't take a full month before my idealism was tested, or shaken. In an elevator with older congressional staff members, I overheard them talking about the contenders for the House Speakership––Manny Villar, Sonny Belmonte, and Joker Arroyo.

You'd think that the staff members were debating about the merits of the three congressmen, but they weren't. They were talking about rumors (later echoed in news reports) that Villar was paying off each member of the Lower House to secure their votes, to the tune of Php200,000.00 each.

That bit of news I was familiar with. I had frequently tagged along with Cong. Magtubo in dinner meetings with Cong. Arroyo and fellow supporters, and with each meal I noticed that our numbers were dwindling. So I had a pretty good idea why.

What I found troubling about the discussion between the staffers was that––despite knowing that Villar was paying off congressmen left and right––these staffers wanted Villar to win the Speakership.

Why?

"Siguradong masmataas benepisyo natin kung si Villar maging Speaker." (Our benefits will surely be greater if Villar becomes Speaker.)

The conversation was so disturbing that I wrote a letter to the Manila Times––a letter that was printed with my name withheld to protect my principal––that condemned this kind of thinking, the kind of mentality that has made Congress truly deserve its title of "The Lower House."

More than a decade later, the same thing is happening again, but this time, there's more than the Speakership at stake. Now it's the presidency on the line, and if the recent SWS Survey is any indication, it seems that Villar's billions are again working in his favor.

I don't know if my outrage is an indication I haven't changed since '98––if that's the case, then I'm glad. Because the moment I lose my capacity to be angered by what is undeniably wrong, then I've lost myself to the cynicism and pragmatism I promised I wouldn't give in to when I swore to give my last breath to making my country A Better Place To Live In.

And make no mistake about it, Manny Villar sitting in Malacañang is just plain wrong. And the fact that most of our people are eating up the crap being shoveled down their throats by his ads is even more wrong.

For God's sake, this is a man who, eleven years ago, practically bought the House Speakership––a fact not proven in a court of law, of course, but a factoid that was oft-reported in the news at the time.

This is a man who says that comedian Willie Revillame is qualified to be a Senator of the Republic, for crying out loud!

A candidate who exploits loopholes in our election laws to engage in widespread, heavy, very premature campaigning!

A so-called leader who does not have the courage to even face his constituents to present his plan of action for this country––preferring instead to have his younger, more articulate proxies speak in his stead!

Is this how far we've come over a quarter century since Ninoy was killed? From a nation of cowards we've now become a nation of idiots? Or worse, a nation of people who can't tell right from wrong?

So Villar says he can give us jobs, and his billion-peso empire is proof of it––so we just say, fine, we'll forget your propensity to shell out cash whenever you need or want something? So, okay, he spends his own money to save abused OFWs from their oppressive employers––is that better than him having a concrete plan for our overseas workers?

Are we so easily bought? Do we so willingly buy this crap?

We complain endlessly about how everyone and everything in this country can be had at the right price. The problem is, we're all talk. When faced with what could be the most important presidential election in our generation, most are content to complain, to hem and haw, to wish and hope.

Enough talk. We want good leadership, we have to work for it. If most of our countrymen can't see the light, then we––those who feel and believe we know better––have to help the unenlightened realize that those courting their votes are not the sum of their political ads.

Kung hindi tayo kikilos, sino? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa? (If not us, who? If not now, when?)

August 21

It is said that heroism is serving others, even at the cost of one’s life.

Safely beyond the reach of a government that had unjustly prosecuted and jailed him, opposition leader Ninoy Aquino could have lived out the rest of his life in comfort with his beloved wife, President Cory, and his five children in the United States. Instead, Ninoy chose to return to the country of his birth––despite repeated warnings that he would forfeit his life if he did, and that his death would be in vain.

Rather than listen to the cynical and the disillusioned, he chose to believe in the Filipino people. Rather than turn his back on his country and its people, Ninoy chose to embrace his fate. At the cost of his life, Ninoy showed a whole country how to act in the face of oppression, how to stand up to injustice, and how to respond to the cries of a people yearning for change.

Ninoy’s faith in us was ultimately rewarded three years after his death by People Power––a bloodless revolution led by his widow. But beyond serving as the inspiration for the restoration of our democracy, Ninoy’s sacrifice imparts a valuable and lasting lesson: that the course of our country’s history can be changed by the choices one makes––by choosing hope over despair, action over indifference, and duty above self.

Today the face of oppression has changed, injustice is prevalent, and our people again cry for change. Faced with these challenges, let us all derive inspiration from the life and death of Ninoy and choose to act and fight for ourselves and our people.

Tuloy ang pakikibaka.