Babe's Eye View article

Earlier this week, people were treated to a political drama as they watched the entire spectacle at the Senate with senators practically trying to kill each other over the C5 controversy. This is a long drawn-out issue that has been hounding Manny Villar since 2008, with his opponents pushing it even harder at this time due to obvious political reasons. While a “ceasefire” has been declared, the battle will likely continue with the anti-Villar faction determined to see the beleaguered senator censured and humiliated at the very least.

In the beginning, people wondered whether Villar—the Nacionalista Party standard bearer—was really involved in the so-called double insertion issue or not, with Ping Lacson and Jamby Madrigal tag-teaming to push an ethics complaint against Villar for an alleged “conflict of interest.” Late last year, the issue seemed about to be resolved when several senators signed Senate Resolution 1472 clearing Villar of any misconduct. But instead, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who is also chairman of the Senate Committee of the Whole, came out with Committee Report No. 780 recommending Villar’s censure due to alleged misconduct.

However, the timing, plus the manner by which the Committee Report was presented to the public, has put into question the credibility of the Senate. It was obvious from the very beginning that partisan politics was at play and many people I talked with are seeing right through it.

But more than the partisan politics that became very apparent during last Monday’s Senate showdown, what really appalled people was the rude, crude—and some rightly say, vulgar—language used by senators from both sides of the fence. Jamby Madrigal drew first blood, even going so far as to use “choo-choo” in describing Villar’s allies. As everyone knows, it was a boorish reference to “chu-chu”—the gay lingo for sycophants.

Yet the other side didn’t come out smelling like roses either, with Alan Peter Cayetano giving in to a catty urge by referring to Madrigal as “saling-pusa” (a brat who is included by others out of sufferance). The worst moment came from Nene Pimentel’s indelicate “insertion” joke which was tasteless, to say the least. It was very ironic to witness that kind of gutter language and un-parliamentary behavior by the senators during a session that was supposed to resolve a question thrown before the Ethics Committee—the watchdog for senators’ actuations.

How can these people set an example to Filipinos, particularly the young, with the way they behave and talk? Not one to mince her words, Miriam Santiago hit it right on the spot when she urged everyone to resign because they have become useless and do not deserve to be senators, ironically because of their use of unethical language.

On the other hand, perhaps the advice for Manny Villar not to attend the sessions is proving to be correct because he knew very well that everything will be contrived against him with his accusers also acting as judge, jury and executioner. But Manny Villar is planning to attend the closing of the Senate session and is expected to say his piece.

No doubt the whole controversy is politically motivated, allegedly driven by the Partido ng Masang Pilipino of Joseph Estrada who reportedly wants to see whether the controversy will drive down Villar’s rating’s and push himself up. The classic Filipino crab—putting somebody down to bring himself up.

While Noynoy will most likely retain the number one spot in the next survey, there’s every possibility that the controversy will affect the results, and the ones who will probably suffer the most are those who have been trying to topple Villar. And if an honest-to-goodness survey were conducted right now on who will most likely benefit from the Senate circus, people will probably point to Gilbert Teodoro as the biggest gainer—simply because he has been focused on important issues and is out of the fray.

While others were engaged in mudslinging and muck-raking, Gilbert (or Gibo as he is now popularly known) conducts his campaign on a high plane—literally and figuratively with his new jumbo jet commercial. This mindset is evident even with Gibo supporters who issued a manifesto for positive campaigning.

In every presidential forum, Gilbert always stands out for his clear-cut and concise answers, impressing the youth and members of the academe with his intellect and his grasp of issues affecting ordinary Filipinos.

That’s probably why people could not help but wonder if it’s no mere coincidence that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines came out with a pastoral statement urging Filipinos to choose somebody based on qualification and not on political ads or perceived winnability as indicated by surveys. Going by those criteria, discerning Filipinos note that Teodoro is the candidate most deserving of their vote. Who knows, people may even see a repeat of 1992 when FVR, who initially lagged at 4th place, came out the winner with a slim 21 percent of the votes.

Gilbert has stayed on track with his campaign strategy to be issue-oriented, straightforward and above partisan politics. But what is more important is his attitude of not looking at the presidential campaign—and the presidency itself—as the be-all and end-all for him. While he definitely wants to win, he knows his destiny is firmly in God’s hand. This is the kind of attitude that people certainly appreciate from a presidential candidate.

Like in basketball, one minute is a long time. And definitely, three months before the elections is a very long time. The ballgame is far from over.