BINAY, THE OPPOSITION’S LOGICAL CHOICE

If you are a true blue oppositionist, there’s no better choice for President of the Philippines in 2010 than Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay. Forget about those other personalities who were presented as oppositionist. They are phonies. They are claimed to be in the opposition now but their personal interest will unravel later and will likely show their true colors as “pragmatic” leaders. Neither opposition nor administration, but more likely to be in the administration. They only look like oppositionist because they are interested in succeeding Gloria Arroyo.

Binay has what it takes to become the next country’s leaders. His administrative and leadership skills are already proven. Binay was able to lead Makati City for 18 years if we have to add his two three year terms in total. The country’s business and financial headquarters are found in Makati, not to mention that the country’s stock exchange is located there. You can’t last as Mayor of Makati even for just a day, if your head is empty or if you knew nothing about leadership and governance. The fact that Binay was able to gain the trust of the people for 18 years speaks something of his leadership.
That’s why it was a shock that Lito Lapid had the gall to offer himself as the next Mayor of Makati.

The residents of Makati can also attest that Binay is not all for business alone. He also embarked grassroots support system among Makati’s constituent by providing them educational and medical assistance to its residents as part of the Binay’s payback to its people for the prosperity that their city had attained. The Pamantasan ng Lunsod ng Makati and the Ospital ng Makati are proofs to that.

Binay’s mettle as an opposition is without question. Along with Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr, and Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, he is one of the few post Edsa 1 people who remained true to their ideals for the country. While others are co-opted with the very same people they ousted in 1986, Binay and his select few of loyalist to the Filipino people remain steadfast in their principles by standing up to the double talk and abuse by those in power in today. No wonder Binay has been charged and ordered suspended countless times on hasty resolutions based on trumped up charges. Countless times too that his constituents stand up for him and thwarted the evil moves to remove him from his post as Mayor of Makati City.

Well, the opposition can choose between Erap and Binay. But why I say Binay is a better choice? Erap was pardoned by GMA. Even if Erap will try to make it appear that the pardon did not affect his stance as an oppositionist to the GMA administration, that pardon could really affect Erap’s judgment in the future, granting that he will be elected again as President. I’m talking about future cases that GMA will be facing. If GMA will be convicted, Erap would likely pardon GMA as payment for his debt of gratitude to Gloria Arroyo who pardoned him. Binay, did not owe anything from GMA. If you are one of those who are aching for GMA to be accountable for her excesses, then your bet is Binay to make it really happen.

Many are throwing issues at Binay as Mayor. But this is normal. Being a Mayor of Makati City is no picnic. You have to be firm. You have to show to the businessmen that you mean business. And you have to have integrity so that people will have trust and confidence in you and for that you have to apply the law equal to everybody. But corrupt people don’t like Binay’s ways because it will affect their racket. Corrupt people can’t make money if leaders like Jejomar Binay are around. That is why they are trying to smear Binay with their own dirt to make him less credible.

At any rate, we have something to hope for in the Binay administration. Perhaps the nostalgia of 1986, where the people are beaming with hope that things will come for the better and where people have high hopes and trust for their government to be more responsive and accountable, will be relived. That is very timely for people aching to get out of this present obnoxious, foul smelling, neo Marcos type of government which is topping even the real Marcos government in terms of abuse of power and utter disregard, not only of the laws of the country, but also the moral standards for an effective leadership and governance in a democratic society supposedly like ours.