Aquino-Cojuangco clan and Miners triumph in electing next President

President Aquino has just endorsed someone who he describes as the "tuwid na daan" candidate as his best possible successor. For course, this is somewhat a damper since Senate president Franklin Drilon has just revealed what Pnoy is expected to do after his last State of the Nation address--proclaims his anointed one, and surely, everyone expects him to anoint Mar Roxas.

Aquino's pronouncement yesterday is somewhat an anti-climax because every Juan already knows who he would anoint. Pnoy has no choice but to toe the party line because he risks isolation. The minute Pnoy announces his true preferred candidate, Pnoy loses his main support base. With a Grace Poe-Chiz Escudero tandem looms, Pnoy has no other option except to accept his party's decision to field an unpopular candidate. Pnoy's hands are tied. He risks creating another possible political "enemy" in the camp of Roxas.

With Poe running for the presidency, Aquino's future is already secured. That five-hour dinner aims to  assure the departing Chief Executive that no criminal case would be filed against him. A Mar victory is an icing in the cake. Poe is not expected to do the right thing and punish those responsible for the celebrated DAP/PDAF scandal. Why?

Who supports Poe and Escudero but none other than the Nationalist People's Coalition or NPC which is controlled by Danding Cojuangco, uncle of the president. Aside from Cojuangco, the Zamora brothers and Ramon Ang of San Miguel Corporation. These people are MINERS.

Ang is interested in Tampakan gold mines in Cotabato, while the Zamoras maintain several mining concessions. Of course, the Cojuangcos are active as well in the extractive industry in cement.

Who triumphs if Poe succeeds in her candidacy? It would be the miners. These financiers expect their Return on Investments or ROI, and it will not just be political ROI.

And if Roxas succeeds, who wins? It would be Eric Gutierrez, the mining partner of Edgar Erice, the lapdog of Roxas in the Liberal party. Gutierrez is a protege of Zamora. So, even if Zamora is not physically there in support of Roxas, he has his proxy in the person of Gutierrez.

See those luscious forests in Mindanao? It would surely be gone the minute Poe or Roxas wins. Heard those deaths in Semirara? That would increase the minute either one of these candidates win.

Scoping these candidates for the presidency and surely almost everyone with the exception of Ping Lacson has backers connected with the mining sector.

If Poe or Roxas wins, their backers in the business community also wins. And we all know what happened during the Aquino administration, when no one among his erring Cabinet members got punished for their dastardly sins against the people because they were well protected by the political equity of the incumbent President. This should change with the next administration.

Now, before we even consider who to vote for, please for the sake of our country, our choice should never be an emotional one. The next president should be elected based on meritocracy.

Why? Because the next six years would see this country prosper beyond everyone's expectations. Our politics should mature. Our governance should improve to complement this growth in the economic sector.

The Honesty of Grace Poe and Mar Roxas

In one of the ANC interviews, Senator Serge Osmena articulated one of the observations of the Liberal party on the winnability of their preferred candidate, Mar Roxas. Osmena says, the reason why Pnoy won in the 2010 elections was his honesty. Roxas, says Osmena, has that quality.

Really?

Let me put forth some questions to Mr. Roxas and this he should answer with utmost candor and honesty.

1. Can you tell us, Mr. Roxas, who are your financial backers? Does it include mining firms and oligarchs such as the Ayalas who want to maintain their hold in government to corner juicy real estate contracts and maintain themselves in wealth?

2. Will you tell us Mr. Roxas what happened to the DOTC and why did this agency entered into many questionable contracts that are disadvantageous to government?

3. Will you honestly tell us, Mr. Roxas why jueteng lords still lord it over the provinces and not one big fish was caught during your term as DILG chief?

4. Are you willing to share with us, Mr. Roxas what things did you promise to your financial backers the moment you win the post come 2016?

5. Are you really very willing to share with us, Mr. Roxas if you are truly for the restoration of peace in Mindanao and that you support wholeheartedly the BBL?

I will wait for Mr. Roxas' response.

As to Grace Poe, I will ask her just four (4) things and I'll be very excited to wait for her answer:

1. What were the things that you and Pnoy talked about that changed your mind about running for a higher office come 2016? Does it include rewards to be given to the many companies of your husband, Mr. Llavanzares?

2. What prodded you to change your surname from Poe-Llavanzares to just Poe? Are you ashamed of the surname of your husband?

3. Are you honest enough to tell us, please, Mrs. Llavanzares, what did you do in the states and if you really satisfy the residency requirements needed for you to aspire for the presidency?

4. Honestly, Mrs. Llavanzares, do you believe you are prepared for this? Or you just agreed to be used as a tool by the Liberals to destroy the chances of the vice president and muddle the political pond, anyway, even if you lose, you still have four more years to go before you say goodbye as Senator?

Opps! I want to ask ONE (1) MORE QUESTION...

5. Tell us please Mrs. Llavanzares if you're not ashamed in USING the surname of your popular father to advance your own SELFISH political ambition? Are you certain that you have the blessing of your surrogate mother, Mrs. Susan Roces? Why do you go the alternate way and not emulate what Mrs. Roces did when she refused to be influenced by political forces and thumbed down suggestions of her to run for public office?

Sir, Senator Serge Osmena, sige nga, let these two people prove how honest they are.

Grace Poe, a presidentiable? Wait till you hear who she really is

Those who are convincing Senator Grace Poe to run for the presidency in 2016 are making a big mistake. Just because Poe is a second placer in every survey conducted out there does not guarantee a victory come poll time in 2016. Her placement, a poor 10%, is simply too low to counter a 40% plus survey rating that the Vice president Jejomar Binay gets every single survey.

Honestly, Poe is too young to ascend to a higher position. And I think we are again being misled into thinking that electing her is the best choice for us.

Fact is, we have yet to see and hear a law proposed by Poe. Yes, she has this position on the Freedom on Information bill, yet, others do too. Yes, she has these noisy pronouncements about certain social issues, but that's about it.

The danger of fielding such a candidate such as Poe is THE MINUTE PEOPLE DISCOVER WHO SHE REALLY IS.

AGAIN LET ME REITERATE THIS, AND I BELIEVE HER HANDLERS KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT---THE DANGER IS WHEN PEOPLE DISCOVER THE REAL GRACE POE-LLAMANZARES.

ONE HINT--WHY IS IT THAT THERE IS NO MORE TALK ABOUT THE MISUSE OF THE MALAMPAYA FUNDS?

SECOND HINT---WHAT IS THE BUSINESS INTERESTS OF PEOPLE BEHIND GRACE POE LLAMANZARES?

THIRD HINT----WHO IS GRACE POE LLAMANZARES IN PRIVATE? IS SHE REALLY APPROACHABLE?

These things are still not being revealed yet because there is no need to. Yet, the minute Grace Poe throws her hat unto the ring, then, all bets are off and people will begin hearing and reading things, true things, about Ms. Grace Poe-Llamanzares.

That measly 10% will wither down to a negative rating, I am definitely sure because what we are seeing right now is just a media creation, an invention for us to stay glued with her and see her as a safe bet for the opposition, and a very safe choice as well for this administration.

Yes, yes, young voters are looking for juicy candidates, fresh ones out there. However, we must not be lured into a trap. Just because she got the top senatorial post by the highest number of votes does not mean she deserves the presidency.