The dirty face of Transactional Politics

It's like this in Philippine politics. And we, the People, should end this in the May 10, 2010 elections.

The case of Senator Manny Villar, his life story and how he conducted himself during the course of the C-5 road extension project is a typical story of a poor man's (he claims to be poor) meteoric rise to wealth and power. Villar claims that it was "Sipag at Tyaga" that made him rich, and many people, including me, don't doubt that.

What everybody knows, and I think Senator Manny Villar refuses to acknowledge it, is the role of transactionalism in his rise to wealth.  That Villar played the game of the "big boys" is known throughout the industry which he belonged.

That the main reason Villar became what he is today is the result of playing the "favors and exchange game

Senator Juan Ponce-Enrile today revealed that Villar tried to bribe him. Enrile said that Villar wanted to convince him to render a favorable decision in the C-5 road extension project. Obviously, being a part of this traditional "big boys club" himself, Enrile refused. For Enrile, that is not the way to play the game.

CBCP head Archbishop Quitorio lamented the incident, saying that senators should be playing the game of "principled politics" and not of transactional politics. What Quitorio, however, failed to say and this is much desired, is for these senators to denounce transactional politics. This is divisive and destructive. The Church has the moral responsibility to denounce this trapo tactic.

For me, this very issue of the C-5 road insertion controversy and the conduct displayed by Villar, bolster earlier fears and apprehensions about the Nacionalista party bet. That he will use his enormous powers and influence to benefit his businesses.

There is now, a new face of transactional politics and this is Senator Manuel Villar and his cohorts in the esteemed halls of the Senate.