AFTER meeting again with President Benigno Aquino, Grace Poe—the polls frontrunner for both the Presidential and Vice Presidential races—has issued a statement that has people buzzing in the way they look at the political crystal ball:
Here is how she was quoted by several news organizations, including my colleague Vicky Robles:
“We talked for about 5 hours in his office. It was a one on one mtg and I could sense the very difficult position PNoy is in right now.
I understand and sympathize with his predicament and situation. I consider him a true and sincere friend and he has my utmost respect.
He reiterated his desire for all of us to continue working together and that he believes that, like him, we can and will do what is best for our country.
In the end, we both agreed to continue, in whatever capacity, striving and working for our countrymen and for the betterment of our children’s future.
There was mutual respect for each other in our conversation this afternoon/evening.
All I can say is that this is perhaps our last meeting before the SONA and, as I said, we both agreed that we both have the best interest of our country in mind in whatever decisions we will make in the coming days.”
The allies of the presumed Aquino Administration’s Liberal Party (LP) candidate, Mar Roxas, interpreted the turn of events as pointing to Aquino endorsing Roxas as his successor. PNoy is expected to declare the administration’s standard bearer after his last State of the Nation Address on July 27.
Some kababayans in America who follow the political development in the Philippines interpret Poe’s statement as a clue to her working with PNoy by agreeing to run as Mar’s VP. They say this would be a winning team that would quash the presidential ambition of VP Jejomar Binay.
Others are quick to doubt if Poe would agree to run second to Mar. After all, she has been beating Mar in all polls. And even if she gives in, some say this will not guarantee a Mar victory. Unlike in US presidential elections, voters in the Philippines do not vote for a ticket/team (which I think should be the case). Voters in the Philippines may vote for Grace as VP but may pick Binay as President.
I asked two prominent Fil-Am community leaders about their takes on what may possibly happen next.
From the West Coast’s ATTY. RODEL RODIS of the US Pinoys for Good Governance:
Chiz will not accept this as it will ruin his pathway to the presidency. A Poe-Chiz tandem will ensure that he will be VEEP to Binay and he will be prez once Binay is impeached or People Powered out.
PNoy has been spending a lot of time with Grace—trying to work out a Mar-Grace tandem or Grace-Mar—because he knows that Binay vs. Mar vs. Grace = a Binay win. Only a combined Mar-Grace or Grace-Mar will spare the country a Binay presidency. But Chiz Wiz will not accept this and he will push for Poe-Chiz even if it means Binay wins. After all, he endorsed and campaigned for Noy-Bi so a Binay presidency will not be bad for him.
I was a strong Mar supporter then. But after Zamboanga, Tacloban and the MRT fiasco, I now have serious doubts about his competence.
I’m leaning towards Grace right now. She may not have the experience but so what? She has intelligence, competence and integrity. And she lives up to her name. The Grace part.
Right now, either Grace or Mar will be ok. One of them has a chance of winning. But if both of them run, then the China-backed candidate will surely win. Kawawang Pinas.”
The East Coast’s ATTY. ARNEDO VALERA of the Migrant Heritage Commission said:
“I truly believed in both scientific and metaphysical explanations of who becomes President or leader of a nation. At the end I will always go with the metaphysics of politics i.e that “Presidents are made in Heaven”.
Mar is destined to be the next President or leader of the Philippines. If he passes this opportunity and gives in for the second time, he will never become President. There was a time in our political history that Mar was elected as the No. 1 Senator. That magic formula needs to be rediscovered and the cosmic energy is just right there waiting at the right moment. Hence, he has “winnability” factor.
Mar has no record of corruption, has the experience and continue to possess that vision that will easily generate political and economic stability in our country. Even if you apply the principle of “choosing the lesser evil,” Mar will still win it.
For now, a good tandem for our country would be ROXAS-POE. What we need in the Philippines are political leaders na may PUSO (Peace, Unity, Sincerity, Order) at ISIP ( Integrity, Sincerity, Incorruptibility, Professionalism). If you believe in “political destiny,” then the Heavens will trump any scientific explanation and will make the final decision.”
My fellow journalist from Manila, BOO CHANCO had this to say:
“I like Mar as a person but are we saying that honesty is enough? how can Mar assure us he will be better as President than he was as Sec of DOTC and DILG? i am just worried electing Mar means six years of the country going nowhere fast.
Grace lacks experience? This is the way I think when I have to go anywhere in Metro Manila and I forgot to check the traffic situation. I know from driving to makati that the other direction to Quezon City on Edsa is not moving. So on my way back, will I ignore that knowledge that edsa is hopeless and insist on driving on Edsa?
Better to try another route through Mandaluyong or C5. Both can end up as bad as Edsa, but at least i am taking a chance that it may not be, unlike Edsa that is certainly bad.
Same with Mar. I know he can’t decide or be the leader we need despite his education and so called experience. So I will risk someone like Grace Poe. She could turn out to be as bad as Mar but she could also prove to be a vast improvement. Now, if only there is no Binay to worry about too.”
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
