“Cockpit style” politics

The saga for Manny Villar and Gibo Teodoro’s search for a Vice President and Loren Legarda’s search for President continues. Manny Villar, the self proclaimed leader of the Nacionalista had a difficult time finding a running mate despite his early pronouncements of his candidacy for President. Gibo Teodoro on the other hand, has been shopping for a partner like one searching for a tie in his wardrobe. This just goes to show that no matter how moneyed and how well oiled is their machinery, it is not enough to convince the voters to go for either of both of them.

On the other hand, Loren Legarda’s fate is one of a kind in the world. For where can you find here on Earth, a Vice Presidential candidate announcing her candidacy ahead of the supposed Presidential standard bearer.

When Loren announced her candidacy, she has somewhat sent a message that she is available, either to the highest bidder or to the best man who can provide her a nice vehicle towards the second highest position in the country today. Together, the three are sizing up with each other. Gibo-Loren, or Manny-Loren. The scene is not unlike in our hometown cockpit.

Before a cockfight, owners of fighting cocks would huddle, something like a weigh in where owners would pair their cocks (the chicken, of course) to make the fight fair and balanced. The fight will then proceed after the sizes are determined to be more or less equal and when the bets are agreed upon.

I can imagine there is so much talks going on and who knows horse trading in the backchannels. This is transactional politics at its best or at its worst, depending on ones perspective. So party politics simply went out of the window.

Now this is difficult for us voters because it is quite hard for us to account responsibility in the government. Electoral pairings are no longer based on party platforms but rather on personalities. In this way, you cannot easily rely on our politicians. The difference is blurred.

I may not agree to some premise that we should forget party based politics in this country because, it was never practiced in the country ever since. Thats not quite true. In the pre Martial Law era, the political battle lines are clear. Its either you are a Nacionalista or a Liberal. The party standard bearer tandems then are comparable to the U.S. elections now. Just look at the past pairings. In 1945 elections, the Nacionalistas had Sergio Osmeña as President and Eulogio Rodriguez as Vice President who are pitted against the Liberal Party’s Manuel Roxas and Elpidio Quirino. The Liberal tandem went on to become Presidents at some point in time. In 1949 Quirino of the Liberal Party teamed up with Fernando Lopez to beat Japanese era President Jose P. Laurel and his running mate Senate President Jose Avelino of the Nacionalista Party. In 1953, however, Quirino and his runningmate Jose Yulo lost to the Nacionalistas Ramon Magsaysay for President and Carlos P. Garcia for Vice President. There are othe notable pairings like Liberal Party’s tandem of Diosdado Macapagal and Emmanuel Pelaez which beat Nacionalista’s incumbent President Carlos P. Garcia and his runningmate Sen. Gil Puyat.

Now these are just examples of the high quality of Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates of the past. Candidates are chosen because of their ability and perceived capacity to lead. The Vice President especially is chosen with the idea that in the event that something happens to the President, he can readily assumed the Presidency at any time.

Thats a far cry in what is happening today where news anchors, media personalities, boxing legends, movie actors and actresses and clowns have become convenient fall back to weak and dull Presidential candidates. This explains why Noli De Castro never left Gloria Arroyo at the height of the scandals rocking her administration. De Castro might have been apprehensive that he is not ready to become the President should the Gloria Arroyo resigned. That is why, he never left the side of  Gloria Arroyo even several sectors are already eyeing him as the viable replacement of Arroyo then.

This kind of abhorrent practice in selecting runningmates, also explains why, Secretary Eduardo Ermita has caught the attention of Senator Bong Revilla to become the running mate of Gibo Teodoro in case talks with Loren Legarda bog down.

“Iyan ang kabutihan ng magandang lalaki eh (That’s the advantage of being handsome), ”

Ermita referring to Senator Revilla.

Anyway, whatever be the outcome of these talks, the electorates should already have the idea to whom they would trust their votes this coming 2010 elections. Voters should now realize that they should only entrust the future of this country to the people who have clear visions, consistent reputation for integrity and honesty and with a clear political platform based on the ideals of the party.

This party is present. Clue. Its the only party which has no difficulty in forming a presidential ticket on its own based on the strength of its members.