Accusers, parkers, and partners

Due to the overwhelming distraction of political separations, abandonments and divorce, very little notice has been given to the fact that Senator Manny Villar was reportedly cleared of all charges made by fellow Senators Panfilo Lacson and Jamby Madrigal regarding double insertions and abuse of authority regarding the C-5 extension projects.

Without a doubt, Senators Lacson and Madrigal caused serious damage to the personal and political reputation of Senator Villar. That does not mention the damage they also inflicted upon Villar’s wife and children.

Villar’s exoneration comes a little late in the game considering the damage the faulty or false accusations certainly restrained Villar’s political take-off and rise way ahead of the pack.

Whatever their motives or agendas, Senators Lacson and Madrigal owe a lot of people a very public apology. First, for the false or faulty accusations they hurled at Villar with contempt, and second, to the Filipino people for all the wasted resources, manpower and time used up in what turns out to be a mistake, a very costly and very damaging mistake.

The title “Your Honor” now dictates that Lacson and Madrigal do the honorable thing: to apologize.

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The political events of this week has certainly shown us the difference between partners and parkers. For purposes of definition, “partners” are people who work for a common good and a shared vision. Partners make investments and come together because of the strength and commitment they achieve by being partners.

“Parkers” on the other hand are transient or temporary entities who park their political interests alongside people who are willing to finance, accommodate or collaborate with people they have nothing in common with, except to win an election or to harvest the votes of a certain bailiwick.

What started out as a semblance of principled selection of leaders has slowly crumbled into nothing more than collaboration and accommodation among parkers. It can be said that “word of honor” or palabra de honor became as meaningless as a foot mat for many.

A week ago, a “Presidentiable” told me: “Niloloko lang tayo ni Loren. She already made a deal with Manny and will abandon the Nationalist People's Coalition in a weeks’ time”. I found that hard to believe but that prophecy has come to pass.

I guess I’ve always believed that people are inherently good and decent and that has blinded me from the fact that Loren qualifies as the first lady of “Parkers”.

Ever since Gloria Macapagal Arroyo entered public office, Loren Legarda has parked her political interests with so many groups.

First was with the PGMA forces to impeach President Estrada. When the Arroyo camp began to stink and Loren’s political ambition started to face a dead end, she parked her ambitions with Erap and FPJ, in the hope of becoming Vice President.

Truth be told, she moved around so much, I never caught wind that she had moved in with the Nationalist People's Coalition until the election fever started to spread.

Now we find Senator Legarda parking in the Nacionalista Party Camp once again hoping against hope to become the next Vice President of the Philippines.

She has unabashedly defended her moves by stating that it’s all about politics. In Loren’s experience everything is based on pragmatic and strategic positioning and alliances. There are no real parties, no permanent enemies and no permanent friends.

But what does Manny Villar hope to gain out of this political affair? Initially, it may be an investment on Loren’s consistent popularity in surveys, or to garner the women’s votes. Or is Loren the catalyst that Villar hopes will bind certain secret alliances?

Villar should remember his lessons well: survey leads just gets you into trouble, the idea of another woman vice-president has become unpopular among women voters, and you will reap what you sow in darkness or in secret.

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On the other side of the fence, we hear of Ex-Senator/Ex-NEDA Director General Ralph Recto and Governor Vilma Santos-Recto joining the Liberal Party as a package deal. I must confess that I don’t know whom to confront on this partnership.

On one end, people wonder how Ralph Recto can simply abandon the Lakas party and put the blame on the Batanguenos by saying that this time it was the voice of the Batanguenos that convinced them to join the Liberal Party.

Recto is no fool, but neither are we.

The administration party failed to save or help Recto when he lost the last elections because of the Value Added Tax law that he proudly authored. Then the administration put him in a secondary cabinet position equivalent to stock room clerk. So I would think that he had no love lost for the administration. But please don’t blame the Batanguenos for his switcheroo.

Given his loss and potential continuing rejection due to EVAT, it is possible that he is also not on the most favored list of the Lakas leadership, which means that in terms of funding, he would have to settle for a share like the rest. He may have Vilma but from the looks of it, Vilmanians only vote for Vi and not for Ralph.

At the end of the day, the parking arrangements between the Rectos and the Liberal Party is really all about getting the Southern Luzon vote. It is as they say a “marriage of convenience” with the Liberals hoping that Ralph can deliver Southern Luzon.

My only concern is can Noynoy Aquino’s Moral inheritance bankroll all the strategic and pragmatic alliances? Or will people ultimately discover that Noynoy Aquino is merely being used as an icon or poster boy by “trapos” in the party.

Aside from burning his “moral inheritance”, does Noynoy have any idea who will bankroll or fund the campaign of his new allies? In this country, politicians don’t join and contribute to party funds. They join but expect the party to pay for their political expenses! Wake up little Rosebud, because the manure is beginning to smell.