Let the battle begin!

In the last 5 days, I’ve put extra attention to the Philippine politics. Last Monday was a milestone for us, the Filipinos, as the country held its first automated national election. Of course there has been last minute glitches with the machines, but the nation was adamant to push through the scheduled day, May 10, 2010. Thousands of position were up for grabs including Presidency: the highest, most powerful, and most controversial position in the highly exalted democratic country.

This is an attempt to summarize what happened during the past days, highly emphasizing on sooner-than-expected reactions of Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, currently the leading presidentiable candidate and practically waiting for an official victory declaration. I have to make my point clear that I’m not for Aquino. In fact, I mentioned here a while I ago, that as much as I want to vote, and if I’m capable of voting, my vote certainly won’t go to Aquino. I may not be perfectly accurate, but most of that follows, apart from personal opinions, are information reported from inquirer.net.

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Barely a day after the end of vote canvassing last Monday, Aquino started to give strong statements on how the new administration will stand. And surprisingly, it started not with promising Filipinos the abundance and betterment of their lives, but with attacks against incumbent President Gloria Macapal Arroyo, I mean Macapagal (GMA). He boldly suggested reviving the Hello Garci scandal and the allegations against Mrs. Arroyo for manipulating the 2004 elections.

The fact that this happened only the next day after the election, and even with his leading points, it is something that is too soon to say when perhaps only about 60 to 70% of total canvassing is done. This first step alone is a huge display of confidence for someone who has done nothing, and became only known through the works of his parents, and maybe even his sister, celebrity host Kris Aquino.

The Concedes. As early as 11AM of May 11, Tuesday, about 16 hours after the canvassing closed the night before, Senador Manny Villar was the first one to concede.

His words:

“Nagpasya na ang mga mamamayang Pilipino. Malinaw na sa kabila ng ating pagpupunyagi, hindi tayo nabiyayayaan ng tagumpay sa halalan noong Lunes (The Filipino people have decided. It is clear that despite our efforts, we were not blessed to win in Monday·s elections),”

“Humaharap ako sa inyo ngayon upang tanggapin ang pasyang ito, upang igalang ang boses ng sambayanang Pilipino (I face you now to accept this decision, to respect the voice of the Filipino people),” he added.

“I fought a good fight·I congratulate Senator Noynoy Aquino on his victory. The challenges he and our country face are enormous and we should all work together,” Villar said.

Two hours after Villar, another presidentiable candidate, Coucilor JC de los Reyes, conceded but later on took back his statement and speak of some evidence questioning the accuracy of the vote counting machines. On the same day, Nicanor Perlas accepted he can’t win the position, but did not concede. Gilberto Teodoro Jr. conceded, along with other candidates, but not ex-convict plunder deposed Joseph Estrada. At the time of this writing, the issue questioning the counting machines is still being pursued by several candidates including de los Reyes, Madrigal, Perlas, and Estrada.

Arroyo’s Reaction. May 12, Wednesday, a day after Aquino’s proclamation of war against Arroyo via the enlivenment of Hello Garci. GMA appointed Supreme Court Associate Justice Renato Corona as the incoming chief justice upon the retirement of Chief Justice Reynato Puno this coming Monday, May 17. Corona was GMA’s chief of staff and spokesman when she held the position as Vice President. When the extremely tough lady (in tagalog, tigasin o kapalin) assumed the presidency in 2001, he became her Presidential Chief of Staff, spokesman, and later as acting Executive Secretary. If you don’t believe Arroyo’s and Corona’s stomach are intertwiwed, you have to broaden your imagination just a little bit more.

Going back to Aquino’s camp. In the afternoon of the same day of GMA’s appointment to Corona. Aquino hinted Arroyo to reconsider her chief justice appointment calling her appointment inappropriate.

His statements:

“Is it too much to ask President Arroyo to not add another problem for the next administration to inherit?”

“Her appointment of a Chief Justice in waiting is at the very least inappropriate. Chief Justice [Reynato] Puno·s term has not ended. There is no vacancy to be filled.”

“We hope she will choose not to add another burden on top of everything else she will be leaving behind. She should instead concentrate on ensuring a smooth transition.”

I’ve lost count of Aquino’s vows and promises to the country but this one obviously added to his list. Once officially proclaimed president of the country, Aquino promised to resolve the problem of the appointment of the Chief Justice “with the utmost consideration for the provisions of the Constitution and the interest of the Filipino people.”

Thursday, May 13, 2010, three days after the election, Aquino, seeming not satisfied with his display of loathe to the midget with a magical mole (which in my humble opinion is starting to lose it’s magic) vowed to use the “enormous powers” of office to probe outgoing leader President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He added in his own statements:

“There was so much opportunity. She had in effect practically two terms,” Aquino said in an interview with AFP on Tuesday.

“She could have brought significant changes to this country but she chose to advance her personal interests, and those who were supporting her personal interests, to the detriment of the country,” he said, referring to the corruption scandals during Arroyo’s administration.

Aquino earned a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1981 from the elite Ateneo de Manila University, where one of his professors was to be later known as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Aquino hopes to do a better job at the economy in the next six years than his former mentor did in nine.

Still on the same say, May 13, 2010, Aquino vowed to put an end to the jet-setting and free-spending ways that marked the Arroyo administration.

Saying,

“As a general rule, I don’t want to travel outside the Philippines.”
“My main point is to generate savings by doing things the cheaper way. Our deficit is so big we really have to save.”

Aquino said that as much as possible, he would deploy lower-level government executives to represent the country in trade and foreign policy negotiations overseas. He added that he was keen on making wide-ranging changes in the attitude of government officials, starting with their spending habits. He cited the big contingents that usually travel with Ms Arroyo and their lavish perks.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is considered the most traveled Philippine Chief Executive with close to 80 foreign trips recorded in her nine-year term.

“I am daunted by the problem we have inherited but most problems have simple solutions. You just have to do it. We don’t have to generate new funds, let us just use what we already have.”

TODAY, May 14, 2010, 4 days after the election, other presidentiable candidates, joined Aquino in his stance against the cute dwarf.

Jamby Madrigal:

“Anyone who is honest and cares for the country should hold all plunderers accountable.”

“The next president should use the full force of the presidency to do so.”

“There must be closure to all anomalies and human rights violations committed against the Filipino people by Mrs. Arroyo.”

“The new President must immediately ask the Office of the Ombudsman to look into Mrs. Arroyo’s crimes against the people and prosecute her.”

From Perlas:

“I think there’s a lot of evidence pointing to Mrs. Arroyo and her husband [Mike Arroyo].”

“Whoever the next President is should prioritize that, so we can lay to rest all those perceived crimes of the outgoing President.”

“Para may closure.”

JC de los Reyes:

“If the next President has prior knowledge of the illegal acts Mrs. Arroyo has committed, then it is incumbent upon him to collate evidence and ask the Department of Justice to draft the complaint or complaints against her.”

“But when they’re filed in court, then huwag na siyang makialam [she should not meddle]. We have to afford her due process.”

Renato Reyes Jr., (Bayan secretary-general):

“Everything that the impeachment process failed to do… likely presidential winner Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III should strive to do….”

“The prosecution of GMA should be a priority. Everything from corruption, election fraud, gross human rights violations and the sellout of national interests should be swiftly investigated and appropriate charges be filed.”