The Baby Pineda-Gloria Arroyo Gamble and What it means to all of us

And so the ending turned out to be just a numbers game. And what was betted upon was no petty sum. They actually gambled the very essence of democracy and what it really means when we say "clean elections".

The Comelec second division yesterday declared Lilia "Nanay Baby" Pineda, winner by a breath against Priest-turned-politician Ed Panlilio in the 2007 gubernatorial race. First, Pineda countered cheating, which did not really jell. Then, what obviously follows is simply countering by numbers. 

Malacanang, as if by cue, immediately issued a statement saying that all sectors should respect the decision, as if they expected a huge outpouring of disgusts and hatred against the Comelec's decision. No one went to the streets nor any one got his firearm and cried foul. What had happened here was simply a developing social phenomena that is more dangerous than any coup or a pseudo-EDSA.

The slip is showing, says one kibitzer. The palace probably knew the results even before the Comelec formally issued its controversial decision penned by no less than homophobic Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer. What is NOT surprising is the fact that the entire Republic already knew that this administration will turn things upside down and will do whatever it takes just to satiate the hunger for power of one of their most trusted underlings.

Pineda won, Panlilio lost. But it was not only Panlilio who lost this one---the Comelec lost all credibility when it issued this decision. And it puts the entire May 10, 2010 at the stake.

It was clearly a gamble to test the strength of public tolerance. It gambled the very belief of the public in the forthcoming polls, that, despite automation, a poll body peopled by individuals with dubious traits and characters will definitely exercise its powers and just whisk its wand and change the entire political scenario. 

Such is the gravity of this one that had it happened in other countries, it would have placed the entire country under a state of alarm. Yet, there lies the extreme irony of it all--total silence. 

But, don't think that silence means acquiesce. No. Silence just means that people are preparing for the final burst of monumental anger, just quelling, waiting to explode.

Pineda may have won and jueteng may have triumphed over decency, but the fact remains, and this is quite evident---in this next elections, Kapampangans should rise up and show the world that they are not as brazen and as walang hiya as these two ladies--Gloria and Baby Pineda. 

Next elections, Kapampangans should really show the entire Nation that they hate injustice, that they hate the prevalence of jueteng and they are not of the same kind and stock as that of Gloria Arroyo and Baby Pineda and they will do the right thing---vote overwhelmingly on the side of good, rather than shameless evil.