Six re-electionist senators, sure winners in 2010 elections, says "The Center"

Ed Malay, the lead of this survey group called " The Center" issued another PR-laden article---six re-electionist Senators are sure winners in next year's elections. And the lucky six are: Jinggoy Estrada, Pia Cayetano, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Juan Ponce-Enrile, Lito Lapid and Bong Revilla Jr.

Okey, so expect two brilliant lawyers, an environmentalist, a former presidential son, and two moviestars again at the Senate. And you know what? I think Ed Malay, even without basing it from a survey, is correct in this one.

I read a confidential report, a study on how Filipinos vote. Two of the top four values Filipinos want their candidates to have are: First, a clean record of public service and second, someone who "delivers", meaning, a candidate who actually extends a helping hand to the poor. This may mean even the most self-serving "medical mission" or a "bike rally cum donations rally" but these schemes work---all the time.

This shows that despite hours and hours of voter education, and hours and hours of trying to raise the level of "nationalism" and the necessity for electing "new faces, new names" in the next elections, the results would still be depressing---two aged lawyers, an environmentalist aligned with the biggest real estate magnate and three moviestars---would still be occupying the six top Senatorial slots.

So, now, all "new faces" would have to contest the remaining six slots. And their chances are pretty, pretty slim since familiar names want their political comebacks come 2010: Frank Drilon (former Senate president and now running under the Liberal party), Serge Osmena III (even as an independent, his name still rings a bell), Ralph Recto (even if you hate him because of the VAT issue, his name still registers strong in surveys), Tito Sotto III (voters already forgot the drugs issue and how he stabbed Erap in the back and made the big jump to the Arroyo camp).

So, these four familiar names enjoy a stable political stock. And in an automated elections, where complicity favors the old, traditional political brand names, newer names in politics stand a losing chance in this forth-coming elections.

There are only at least five new names that seemed very strong not just in surveys but also, basing on my inquiries with grass-roots organizers, are:

1. Teofisto Guingona III or "TG"---the political scion of the Guingona clan.
2. Bongbong Marcos--despite the "Marcos" tag, Bongbong's name resonates very, very well with older and intelligent voters.
3. Susan "Toots" Ople---getting lots and lots of support from the ground due to organizing work and online campaigns.
4. General Danny Lim---every one seemed convinced of his drawing and electoral power.
5. Apolinario "Jun" Lozada---very strong in both the Luzon and the Visayas.

These five names, I believe, with fight it out in the end game. Whoever has the longer strand of hair (:-) will survive the hair-pulling event in the stretch.

Yet, there's a catch---since we don't have a very credible electoral body in the name of the Comolect, err, Comelec, we may yet see at least two more administration names there in the final winning Comolect senatorial list. That would mean violence.

RAM Col. Robles apologizes to Cory Aquino Family

Yesterday, one of the original members of the Rebolusyunaryong Alyansang Makabansa or RAM, Col. Rex Robles tearfully expressed his apologies to the family of President Cory Aquino. Robles, who led RAM's special operations team, revealed that their group nearly assassinated Aquino at the height of coup attempts in the late 80's. To understand the context of Robles' revelation, let's revisit History for a while.

Shortly after the EDSA revolution, then Defense secretary Juan Ponce-Enrile decided to break away from the Cory Aquino government. I still remember the photo of Enrile splashed as the headline of the Philippine Daily Inquirer then. Enrile was photographed walking down the steps of the palace. Enrile had a serious policy disagreement with Cory.

Immediately after that, a series of coups happened. The first ones were led by Marcos remnants. The serious ones were launched by the RAM-SFP-YOU, a group which was formed in 1983.

Robles was part of the RAM. He was one of those who sacrificed their futures for the pursuit of a better society. Yesterday, however, Robles revealed what really prompted them to take strong military action against Arroyo. Robles said their group feared that Cory's government was turning into a Communist-inspired one.

I ask Robles--so that's the only thing? Hindi ba masyadong mababaw?

General Strike Against Con-Ass

Senate president Juan Ponce-Enrile is correct. Mrs. Arroyo is not running for Congress and she'll not direct the Lower House to convene itself into a Constituent Assembly.



Mrs. Arroyo's "silence" is a strategy to keep her still in the power game. So, does this mean that we need to just be silent and tone our protests down.



NO.



Protests should continue. Protests should even be louder than ever. My former Ateneo Law School professor, Father Joaquin Bernas, in his column today over at the Philippine Daily Inquirer wrote:

" I do not agree with those who say that rallies are nothing but useless noise.
They are noise, indeed, but of the type which can invade the consciousness of
men and women in Congress who are still deliberating whether to be honorable or
to be practical. And I believe that there is enough honor in the House that can
overcome reckless adventurism even at the cost of their share in the pork
barrel."

I remember what George Sorel in his Reflections on Violence wrote a century or so ago. He said that the greatest weapon of the People against the threats of elite dominance is a general strike.



Sectors should call for a general strike on or before July 27, 2009.



All change agents should intensify efforts at calling for the downfall of this regime. For example, I call upon my friend and colleague Noli Benavent to transform those 75,000 plus Facebook members of his to warm bodies before July 27.



There are talks that the House will constitute itself into CON-ASS before July 27. This is to avoid sharing the space with the Senate. Earlier fears say that the House leadership will capitalize on the joint session assembled in Arroyo's SONA to justify a convening of the House as Constituent Assembly. Enrile, however, said that he knows his parliamentary procedures and he'll immediately adjourn the Senate after the president's SONA to avoid such an event from happening.



Question--what if certain senators stay at the halls and take part in the deliberations for the convening of Congress as Constituent Assembly. That, my friends, would make my day.



By the way, here's the photo taken during the second FACEBOOK EB of STOP CON-ASS last Friday. Kudos to my friend, Carlo Ople, Susan "Toots" Ople and Noli.