Shoot from the hip and revise history

If the survey trends continue, it looks like there is a strong chance that our country will soon be led by a charming and impulsive shooter from the hip who promises quick fixes. And he could be followed by the filthy rich (P500-million net worth, based on his sworn-to SALN) scion of a notorious dictator who amassed billions of dollars which he managed to stash in overseas banks. The hip shooter has had to apologize several times for also shooting from his mouth. And thirty years after the dictator was deposed and flown overseas, there to die, we have hardly recovered half of the stolen billions. And the family that accompanied him to forced exile is back in the country, occupying elective positions, national and local and frequently appearing in lifestyle pages dressed in all their finery.

Why is this happening? Let me try to quickly analyze, using my experience in post-Marcos political campaigns, my roots in southern Philippines, my probin-syana intuitions and insights into the working classes and the poor, the DEs who actually determine the course of our elections who because of sheer majority in numbers, decide who will run our country.

Amazingly enough, aside from capturing the urban working classes and the rural very poor, presidential candidate Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte also claims the preference of the ABC classes in the polls. I watched environmental advocate Gina Lopez say outright on TV that although she is friends with presidential candidates Grace Poe and Mar Roxas, she is voting for Duterte because she thinks he is antimining and because he has “guts.” Former presidential candidate Lito “Promdi” Osmeña will vote for Duterte because they are of the same mind on federalism; and because Duterte was born in Cebu and is from Mindanao. Lito Osmeña thinks that finally, Visayas and Mindanao will get their fair share of the country’s development and economic resources.

The working class love the way Duterte talks; because they say he talks like them, like the ordinary people in the streets. His often obscene expletives are words that they are used to. He is of the same culture as theirs, they say. The men think that his philandering is one of his charming traits. He is ordinary, like they are. They can relate to each other. They can empathize with him; and he with them.

As for Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., his charm is different from Duterte’s. He is not like them because he is a glamorous celebrity who comes from a rich and famous family. (Ernie Maceda once said that any publicity is good for politicians; doesn’t matter if it’s favorable or not.) Majority of voters don’t remember much about the EDSA Revolution or Martial Law because they were either too young, or not yet born. Or because they feel that EDSA has not made a difference in their lives.

Grace Poe, whose resume is thin, also rates high in the surveys because her parents were among the celebrated couples in filmdom in our country. She also happens to be articulate and always eager to please with promises of “fixing the country” and while cutting taxes, letting the government subsidize this and that, including funding for small and medium industries.

The majority Filipino voters tend to vote with their hearts. Oftentimes negative information is set aside or ignored when it goes against their feelings and “kur-sunada” ( heartfelt preference). Negative information takes time and dramatic effect before it finally seeps down into the consciousness, if it is to alter mind-sets.

For example, there is a rumor here in Cebu that Ding Borja, who is an alleged partner of Salvador “Buddy” Zamora in mining ventures in Caraga, is a backer of Duterte. Vice- presidential candidate Antonio Trillanes IV says Duterte is too “undisciplined.” And cites his consistent tardiness ( by 3 to 4 hours or more) for his appointments.

My own view is that if Rodrigo Duterte cannot discipline his tongue or manage his time, if he continues to talk before he thinks, can we depend on him to weigh his decisions deliberately before he takes action, especially when these are drastic, radical, and/or bloody?

Will he have to constantly apologize after the fact, after so much harm on a national or international level has been done? It is too fearsome to consider the horrendous possibilities. It seems to me he can continue to be a local government executive and be effective there; or be a crime buster. However, the presidency is certainly different. One must not just be a quick fixer. He must also be a role model and leader, and a strategic thinker and decision maker under our liberal democratic system, and the rule of law. I also wonder how much influence Davao- based Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, the self proclaimed “Appointed son of God” will have over Duterte should he become president. After all, as Duterte himself has announced, the wealthy Pastor Quiboloy lets him use his private jet for his campaign sorties. In fact, Duterte has declared that if elected, he will not live in Malacañang because he prefers to sleep in Davao. Anyway, he says, Pastor Quiboloy will let him use his private jet to and from Malacañang everyday.

In a recently published autobiography of retired General Jose “Joe-Al” Almonte (as told to Marites Danguilan Vitug), there are detailed narrations in a chapter entitled “Operation Big Bird” by banker Miguel “Mike” de Guzman on the participation of vicepresidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. in dealing with the Swiss bankers who were keeping the Marcos money in Swiss and Lichtenstein banks. De Guzman recalls his late 1986 visit to the Marcos temporary home in Hickam Airbase in Honolulu, where he met with the former President Ferdinand Marcos, former First lady Imelda Marcos and their son, Bongbong. In a coordinated attempt to safeguard their billion dollars in Swiss banks which were being pressured by the international financial system to freeze the Marcos accounts, Bongbong was the family’s designated coordinator who made several phone calls in the presence of banker de Guzman to their Swiss bank contact whose name was Ernst Scheller of Credit Suisse. If the story is true, Bongbong cannot claim innocence in the matter of the ill gotten and hidden Marcos billions.

So, vice- presidential candidate Leni Robredo (who I hear is now leading the VP candidates in the latest SWS Mobile survey) is right. Bongbong Marcos must first return the illegally acquired Marcos wealth before we can “move on” as he suggests, away from the past into the future.

I think that with all the solid evidence behind the several cases pending before the Ombudsman, presidential candidate Jejomar “Jojo” Binay is done for. US-educated Manuel “Mar” Roxas whose credentials seem impeccable or at least better than the competition, can’t seem to culturally connect with the majority of voters. Will he be able to catch up with the three weeks left in the campaign?

Will our voters be able to learn about and consider these and other facts about their candidates before the 9th of May? No one among the candidates is perfect or ideal. But I hope that we do not have to once more march in the streets in order to depose irresponsible and unworthy leaders. But we will, if we have to. The easier way is to choose wisely and well enough. n

I hope that we do not have to once more march in the streets in order to depose irresponsible and unworthy leaders. But we will, if we have to.