Ang Daang Matuwid: Under (de)Construction

A year ago, I published “Beyond the Amber Ribbons”, a blog article that tackled my own set of personal observations and concerns over the whirlwind candidacy of then Senator Noynoy Aquino. During the time when emotions seemed to undermine reason, I posed serious questions on his candidacy. I have done so amidst allegations that I’m a paid hack of other candidates.

We already know what happened after May 2010. Noynoy won with a significant margin over the second placer Estrada. With the way things turned out in the campaigns and in the administration, a serious query was posed on the Philippine Political Situationer. What happened a year after? Do the questions posed to the then-presidential-candidate Aquino remain relevant and valid now that he is the sitting president? Here is a look on what have happened a year after.

GMA’s Queen Gambit

During the past few weeks leading to 2010 Elections, an ordinary newspaper reader would probably see the continuous line of news pointing to the alleged “defection” of a number of candidates from LAKAS-KAMPI-CMD to Liberal Party. Some claimed that over 100 administration executives and legislators have taken their oath as Liberals, including prominent administration names like Sonny Belmonte, Herbert Bautista, Vilma Santos, Ralph Recto, Jonjon Mendoza, Cesar Montano, Jerry Treñas, Hernani Braganza and others. The alleged exodus also spanned the entire country, focusing on key voter’s areas, like Pangasinan, Bulacan, Cebu, Iloilo and others.  All of these signs seem to point to something: that LAKAS-KAMPI-CMD is losing steam and LP is emerging as the major political party this 2010. Or is it?

Opening Malacañang’s Pandora’s Box

The recent news of GMA filing Certificate of Candidacy to run as Representative of Pampanga in 2010 Election has catalyzed so much uproar from anti-administration Filipinos. The move has been seen as an attempt of the sitting President to hold on to power, finding her way through the legislative loophole provided by the 1987 Constitution.  While it is true that doing so gives Arroyo a chance to put the Putin Formula at work, this explanation is too obvious. Given the way the Malacañang work, this issue looks more like a smokescreen to hide vulnerability and to hype impunity. This paper presents an alternative theory on why the Chief Executive decided to leave all pretenses and filed her certificate of candidacy to run as a legislative representative in Pampanga.

VP: The Easiest Road to Presidency

If there’s a position less preferred in the executive department, it would be the Vice President. The Vice is seen more as a jumping ledge not only for presidency, but even to the top local executive positions like mayoralty and gubernatorial ones. It is seen more as a support position than a full-fledged executive one. The provisions of the 1987 Constitution as well as the 1991 Local Government Code could further attest to the over-arching power of the Chief Executive over the affairs falling under his area of responsibility.