A POTENTIALLY WORSE HEADACHE THAN SCARBOROUGH SHOAL

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"KULANG SA PANSIN"

The existing stand-off between the Malaysian government and the armed group now in Sabah and owing allegiance to the self-styled  Sultan Jamahul Kiram III  of the Sultanate of Sulu is truly unfortunate. It cannot but be another black spot in the Philippine's foreign relations, given the still unresolved Phil-China rift in the South China, or West Philippine (take your choice) Sea.

Given that the Philippine's historical claim to Sabah has remained dormant for quite a time now, and just all of a sudden comes to fore,    there is reason to believe the Sultanate of Sulu may just be behaving  KSP  (Kulang sa Pansin).  As a matter of fact, the present government has ostensibly  ignored Sultan Kiram when the Mindanao leaders to compose the transition commission that will work towards the Bansamoro Entity was formed by the President.  Chances are, before that happened,  President Aquino might not even know  a Sultan Kiram  Kiram III existed.  On the other hand, it is equally ostensible that the Malaysian government does not want either to talk to Kiram directly -- though certainly willing and able to deal with the problem militarily when the worse should come to worst -- in turn making it more of PNoy's than anybody else's diplomatic headache.

Perhaps this unfortunate happenstance has suddenly come by in order to answer a number of very curious questions regarding Sabah once and for all.   First, if the Sultanate of Sulu has really no legal personality on Sabah, why does the Malaysian government still continue to pay so-called "lease money" -- however insignificant it is at present-day valuation  -- to the Sultanate of Sulu?  Common sense simply says one may not lease a property not his own.  Second, Is it really "lease money" or "cession money"  that is involved?  Third, if at all, can so-called "cession money" as Malaysia claims, indeed last  forever?  One recalls that there was only a one-time payment made by the United States to Spain when the Philippines was ceded by the latter to the former.  Fourth, what is this country's final position on its historical territorial claim to Sabah, which has remained in hibernation for probably as long as one conveniently remembers?  Isn't it high time we had finally and officially given up that claim considering that the people from Sabah had already voted in a plebiscite sometime in the early sixties against owing citizenship allegiance to the Philippines?  And, who would really wish to, given this country's still unresolved problems in Muslim Mindanao?

Indeed, let not this age-old problem just come and go -- that is, scratched on the surface only whenever it itches -- without any final resolution.  Let there be an objective dialogue between and among the stakeholders.  Let not either or both of Malaysia and the Philippines use sheer band aids, as in the past,  to temporarily quiet down the Sultanate of Sulu, leaving the matter for future generations to handle when the next Sultanate heir probably turned noisy once again.   Henry Wadsworth Longfellow has this to  say in one of his most-remembered poems: "Trust no future, howe'er pleasant. Let the dead past bury its dead.  Trust, trust in the living present, heart within and God overhead."

SIBLINGS IN THE SENATE

Political dynasty is quite unarguably one of the hot issues in these coming elections.

I have indicated in an earlier blog that I am not likely to vote for siblings or close relatives who are running for senators.  And so, unless somebody convinces me otherwise, I already have a list of candidates I would not include in my ballot, although, I must admit, I know at least a few of them who have rather good credentials.

Without by any means convincing others to follow me, let me list down their names.  Number one in my list is Allan Peter Cayetano, especially after he sunk with Enrile into the gutters following their disappointing word war.  Jack Enrile is next, followed by Bam Aquino, Mitos Magsaysay and Remon Magsaysay Jr., Villar's wife,  Binay's daughter, JV Ejercito-Estrada,  Sonny Angara, Tingting Cojuangco.

Just the other day, I was showing this list to a close kumpadre who would also not vote for relatives in the Senate, when he suddenly remarked:

"Somebody else is missing in your list, Pare." to which I immediately retorted: "Who, in particular?"

He answered: "Are you voting for Grace Poe Llamanzares?"

"Of course, I will," I answered.  "She is the daughter of my movie idol, FPJ! She's actually number one in my list of candidates I will vote for."

"But if elected, she is going to have a sibling in the Senate," my kumpadre replied with a curious smile.

"Well," I answered, "unless Lovie Poe, Grace Poe's only known sibling, is also running.  But she is not."

"Pare ko, don't tell me you don't know I am referring to!  Aba, eh, natutulog ka ga sa pansitan?"

"Eh sino nga, Pare?  Why don't you tell me?" I insisted.

"Ala eh, 'kala ko ga'y magaling kang mag-research sa Internet.   Find it out yourself.  Ayokong sa akin manggaling at baka ako ma-libel!"

Alas, up to this very moment, I am still deeply thinking. Of course, I haven't yet researched in the Internet.  For the time being,  would anyone of my page viewers please enlighten me on this? 

BELIEVE IT OR NOT

I am sure most everybody has heard the latest scoop.  Believe it or not: Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson is gay!  That, or course, was how Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago was alluding to in her latest tirade against Lacson whom she called not Ping but "Pinky" Lacson.  Santiago said that even if the International Court of Judges would call her soon, she would ask for a deferment of at least one month after a new Senate convenes after the elections, in order to continue throwing her bombshells against Lacson in the halls of Senate.

Indeed. that is going to put Lacson at a great disadvantage vis-a-vis Santiago.  Lacson would no longer be senator after this elections, whereas Santiago's term would yet expire in 2019.  Since Senators. and several other elected public officials, for that matter, are not allowed to hold two positions at the same time -- such as Santiago as Philippine senator and ICJ judge -- she would indeed have to ask the ICJ to allow her sometime, probably beginning July, to hold on to her local position and continue with her tirades against Lacson.  Lacson, on the other hand, would no longer be senator, and that seems to be his biggest disadvantage.

Under existing laws, he may not sue Santiago for whatever malicious things or malevolence she would say against Lacson inside the halls of Congress.  Lacson, however, may be sued by Santiago for libel for whatever he would say against Santiago, naturally already out of the halls of Congress.  The way I look at it, it would have been better if Congress were not yet presently adjourned, for then, Lacson could take advantage of his few remaining days as senator to expose whatever skeletons Santiago might be hiding behind her closet  Unfortunately, that is no longer possible.

I don't know if others had noticed it, or, in a manner of speaking, had read something in between the lines of the news report highlighting Santiago's intentions after the elections.  In my view, Santiago was kind of warning Lacson against continuing with her tirades against Santiago  for the time being while Congress is not in session, lest she sued him for libel.  It will be noted that Santiago was not exactly saying Lacson was gay, only alluding to it.  Of course, Lacson had immediately countered, saying Santiago was just once again verbalizing one of  his "lunatic." ideas.  At this point in time, whether or not Santiago would succeed in intimidating Lacson against future exposures about her outside the halls of the Senate is everybody's wild guess.  Abangan!          

COMMON CANDIDATES

I am intrigued by what former President Erap Estrada said when asked by the media regarding senatorial candidate Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares, daughter of his bosom friend and kumpadre,  Fernando Poe Jr.  Erap's quick answer was: "I will not not support her!"  even though Grace Poe's political leaning has been relatively towards Team PNoy rather than to UNA,  I really am a bit confused why Erap had to use a double negative, which, I know. also means something positive, when he could have very well simply said:: "Yes, I will support her!"   For me, the latter  is more authentic.

Of course, Grace Poe -- as well as Loren Legarda and Chiz Escudero -- are "common candidates" of both PNoy's coalition and Bina-Erap- Enrile's UNA.  This is one other matter related to the coming elections that also makes me knit my brows.  Loren and Chiz are undoubtedly sure winners even if they run as independent candidates.  As a matter of fact, when each one alternately interchanged between first and second placers in previous surveys, I am sure it was not as much because of either Team PNoy'S or UNA'S particular strengths, as rather because of Chz and Loren's very own  personal appeal to the electorates.   Grace Poe's is of course an entirely different matter.  While her performance as MTRCB chair had been fairly okay,  she has yet to prove herself in an entirely new arena: politics.  Whether she has inherited the FPJ's charisma with the masses is something yet to be seen.

Of Chiz and Loren, however, I really do not know their real objectives -- well besides, as the familiar saying goes,  wanting to have their cakes and eat them too. Maybe, just maybe, they just want to maximize their campaign resources.   For me personally, such behavior cannot but evoke "greed" or, to be a little bit less blunt,  getting the best of two worlds   I know that guest were not uncommon in the past, but of one party only, definitely not of two.

I still believe that political parties must present to the people different ideologies and political platforms on how to solve the nation' problems, so the people may be able to assess which one to vote for.  That is why very often political parties, officially or unofficially, become associated with different political colors -- such as Cory's yellow ribbon and Erap's pink or red or tangerine yata -- which are used to represent their respective ideological principles. . Politics is essentially a process of choice, and one simply cannot choose both. As a matter of fact, life is a never-ending period of choice..  Every morning we choose between taking a cup of coffee or going the comfort room first, for example, we choose whether we would take the MRT or the jeepney in going to office.    Of course, party coalitions in this country have long become non-ideological vehicles, more intended for candidates purely personal or fractional ambitions.

Having said the above, these common candidates remind me of the game called  "beto-beto," which we always see wherever people are celebrating their town fiesta.  When one is in doubt of how the three dices would roll and turn, a bettor might put his bet in between Two or Five, for example.  That kind of betting, is called, "Baklay"  as compared to the so-called "Tumbok," a bet on only one number.  The Baklay gets only half of the winnings than the Tumbok, assuming either Two or Five comes out.  The same betting is also true in jueteng.  Incidentally, over time, the word Baklay had transcended beyond mere games of chance.  In due course, the last letter, meaning "y" had been eliminated, to mean one who doesn't know where he belongs. Well,  I do not know if the common candidates would be pleased  being called like that.  Just joking!    
   

POLITICAL DYNASTY

Please allow me to use Pilipino once in a while in this blog,. Ang paksang ito ay itinuturing kong medyo espesyal, kung kaya't nais kong maibukas ang buo kong damdamin tungkol sa paksang ito.

The 1987 Constitution,  under Section 26, Article II, provides: "The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasty as may be provided by law.  This constitutional policy  expresses a national commitment to democratize election and appointment to positions in the government and eliminate a principal obstacle to "equal access to opportunities for public service."  The dominance of political dynasties in our midst does not only keep deserving but poor people away from running or winning in elections;  it also allows affluent and powerful politicians to corner appointive positions for members of their clans.   

Ang political dynasty ay masasabing nagsimulang mag-ugat sa Pilipinas noong panahon ng mga Kastila, kung kailan naglabasan ang kung tawawin ay "gobernadorcillos" o "alcaldes," mga taong binigyan ng katungkulan -- meaning appointed, not elected -- ng mga Kastila upang mamuno sa bayan. Even in those early times, that already left a bitter taste in our ancestors' mouth.  Sa panahon ng mga Amerikano, nang sa pamamagitan ng Philippine Bill of 1902 ang mga Pilipino ay mabigyan ng karapatang sumali sa pulitika, nagsilitaw naman ang mga kung tawagin ay "ilustrados" -- meaning educated, karamiha'y mestiso at siempre'y galing sa mayayamang angkan -- at ihalal  ng bayan, gaya ni Quezon, at ng mga Lopezes, Cojuangco, Osmenas, at iba pa.  Sila ay parang kabuting nagpatuloy sa pagdami pagkatapos ng regimeng Marcos.

Political dynasty is equivalent to "oligarchy,"  a system of government where rich families prevail and which has been generally shied away from by most democratic societies worldwide.  It continued to dominate our political horizons, preventing the relatively less-moneyed class to run and win in elections, where guns, goons and gold do indeed prevail.  This was precisely the reason behind the above provision in Cory's 1987 Constitution.

Subali't nakalulungkot isipin na hindi pa lantarang dinerecho ng Saligang Batas ang pagbabawal sa political dynasty;  naglagay pa ito ng kondisyong "as may be provided by law" -- meaning there is a need for a specific enabling law to be first passed by Congress before it could be totally outlawed.  Today, even as not a few such enabling laws have since been filed by some right-thinking lawmakers in the last 25 years, political dynasty still reigns supreme in our midst and times.  'Ika nga naming mga Batangenyo, "Ala eh, loko ga si Pilo,?  -- meaning the Congress, to pass a law that would kill "the duck that lays the golden eggs," as far as they are concerned.

Ang pagpatay, kung gayon, sa malagim na sumpa ng political dynasty sa ating mga halalan ay matanggap na sana nating  imposibleng manyari kung patuloy tayong aasa sa mga inihalal nating mambabatas.  Ito ay isang bagay na tanging ang bayan lamang ang huli at siyang tanging dapat humatol.  Totoo ngang hindi natin ito maisasakatuparan sa darating na halalan, or even in a few subsequent ones.  Pero merong isang kasabihan tayong mga Pinoy:  "Ang pinakamatigas mang bato ay kayang butasan ng walang tigil na patak ng ulan!"  

Umpisahin na sana nating butasin ang matigas na baro ngpolitical dynasty sa ating bayan sa darating na eleksyon sa Mayo.  Huag na sana muna nating isipin na si ganito at si ganireng kandidato ay mahusay naman at may karapatdapat na kakayahan kung kaya't patuloy na dapat ihalal.    Our foremost priority now is to shout to the four winds that we abhor "dynasts" or candidates from political clans to rule the land, because we are for true democracy, not for oligarchy.  If we continue to make our voices hoarse in shouting that and yet also continue writing their names in our ballots, than aren't we becoming sheer hypocrites? 

Methinks there is valid reason to believe that had we only begun the campaign against political dynasty soon after the 1987 Constitution and pursued it thereafter election after election,  either of two things could have happened by now.  First, the needed enabling law had been passed, or second, candidates from political clans would have vanished in our political scenes.  True, given that most of the candidates, especially some senatorial re-electionists, do come from well-known clans,  many voters may still tend to vote for them lest they be not able to complete 12 candidates in their ballots,  'Ika nga'y sayang naman.  No!  So be it,  vote for only 3 or five senators if necessary.  Let's realize that this campaign is a relatively long-term one.   Otherwise, what is sayang is our only chance to start fighting against the incorrigible reign of political dynasts in Philippine society.  Tayo lang naman, among the many democratic societies worldwide, ang ganito, di ba?

For me personally -- allow me to also humbly urge others -- I will vote nect May, and every poll season thereafter, ONLY for candidates without a sibling, wife, brother, sister or other near relatives already in the elective public service.  I may be a bit harsh for some who I know are good, but my first priority is to first eliminate their ilks and kinds in the political horizons. Methinks it is high time we had drawn a sharp  line between a primary and a secondary objective.  As I earlier said, it may take us several elections to achieve our goal.  Let it be so!  The Almighty will take care of the rest.  At the end of the day, the familiar saying goes, "Man proposes, God disposes!"