JDV's Revelation--a dud?

Two days ago, the Philippine Daily Inquirer got the bait and released JDV's bold prediction: the Arroyo administration will fall if he testifies before the Senate on the anomalous ZTE deal. In a matter-of-factly, the former Speaker proclaimed that he knows everything about the deal. And he'll reveal it in the proper time.

This is the last statement made after previous statements of opposition figures emerged in the last few weeks prior to the expected fireworks in the resurrected ZTE Senate probe. However, I hate to say it, but the Speaker's claim that his revelation will bring down this regime is...well..dubious.

One, the timing is off. He should have said this at the height of the controversy. Why did it took him months before this epiphany? When after all things have been said and done, here comes JDV positioning himself as the man of the hour. Right now, people, like myself, are doubting about JDV's integrity and the clarity of his objective. What prodded him to tell the world about this now? Is this his way of again, pressing for favors before the palace? We know JDV to be another wheeler-dealer. Is there another compromise, former Speaker? Is this some sort of attempt to pressure or even gain some favours given that you're now, out of power?

When you were speaker, you had that great chance to help your suffering people improve their lives by just allowing those impeachment complaints to pass the test of validity. Yet, you thumbed them down.

You had the chance to pass legislation that would shield us from cha-cha, yet you allowed this ghost to haunt us until now and even gave additional powers to the one that deposed you.

How sure are the people that what you are doing now is really above board?

Second, JDV's image and reputation has been destroyed beyond redemption. He does'nt have the savvy swagger of a Chavit nor the PR naturalese of a Mary Ong to pull this regime down. People still see him as your average Joe the Trapo. His handlers, whoever they are, failed to cleanse his name.

Lastly, probably a few people will rally behind JDV for one simple reason--he's not a charismatic leader. He does'nt have a proven track record in boosting the morale of people. In fact, ask his provincemates and they'll tell you that Joe dances with Europeans and Americans more than he dances with them in their regular Saturday parties.

It would take more than a JDV revelation to bring down this regime. It'll take an honest revolution of the intellectual entrepreneur to change this system and jail these pseudo-leaders including JDV and install a Council of Intellectual Capitalists.