The Noli Factor

March 28, 2008  --  Got something to say?
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Street Talk by Greg B. MacabentaGreg B. Macabenta
Whats keeping the fence-sitters from placing their bets on the steadily growing movement for the ejection of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo? Not fear of the unknown but fear of what they think they know.

They think they know that a People Power Three will result in the same post-PP One and post-PP Two disappointments that we all experienced: new crooks taking over the rackets and old crooks managing to squeeze themselves back in. They think they know that a military takeover is like making a pact with the devil. Finally, they think they know that Noli de Castro is too dumb to fit into the presidency.

Before the last presidential elections, I asked the rhetorical question: If the Lopez bloc had such great belief in the qualifications of Noli de Castro for president or vice-president, why hadnt they thought of appointing him president of ABS-CBN or chairman of their business empire?

I also had an interesting exchange with De Castros staff when I was organizing the 3rd Global Filipino Networking Convention in Cebu in January 2005. In response to our invitation for him to speak at the event, someone from his staff inquired if we would cover De Castros airfare and hotel expenses.

My reply was clearly sarcastic: we, the organizers and delegates, were traveling from overseasfor sheer love of country and we were all paying our way. Couldnt we expect the vice-president to do the same?

De Castros office wrote back asking if it was possible for him to speak on the opening day of the convention, instead of on the last day. We agreed. He attended the event.

Some months earlier, we had invited De Castro to keynote the national conference of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) in Chicago. He begged off, explaining that austerity measures had been decreed by the president and he, therefore, had no budget for the trip.

In retrospect, amidst the mind-boggling allegations of greed in the Arroyo government, these two incidents may tell us something about the man and about the kind of president that he could be.

De Castros frugality is almost unbelievable compared to the extravagance of Arroyo, typified by her frequent overseas trips, accompanied by planeloads of bootlicking congressmen and their wives, at the expense of the country.

Come to think of it, De Castros staff inquiring about who would shoulder the airfare and hotel expenses at the 3rd Global now appears so pleasantly nave, compared to that presidential relative who believed he was entitled to a free super suite at a Las Vegas hotel-casino when he went there to watch a fight of Pacquiao.

Pundits say that De Castro hasnt done much as vice-president. But come to think of it, we all know about the public officials who have done a lot while in office, and have the unexplained wealth to show for it.

In fact, De Castros relative invisibility stands out in stark contrast to the nauseating visibility of the presidential relatives, and the gang of Arroyo operators, hustlers, publicity-seeking cabinet secretaries and foot-in-mouth senatorial allies.

In the Philippines, corruption is so ingrained in the system that the official who does not steal is considered dumb. Maybe thats what the dumbness of De Castro means. Otherwise, he has to be the most discreet thief in government.

Im not saying Noli de Castro is a saint. Im just pointing out that in an environment where top officials have not been spared the unrelenting attacks of the media, all we can say about De Castro is that he has been inconsequential.

Lets face it. By any measure, Noli de Castro is a better alternative than the military adventurers and the proponents of the moral revolution led by Joseph Estrada and Joe de Venecia. And De Castro is most certainly a superior alternative to the object of moral revulsion currently holding office.

And, incidentally, De Castro can assume office according to the provisions of the Constitution in case Arroyo is deposed.
Can De Castro be faulted for anything? Of course. Being too careful more likely, too scared to express his views, beyond Motherhood statements.

He has called for the truth to be brought out in the NBN-ZTE scandal. But so have the bishops, Bunye, Ermita and Arroyo. Talk about playing it safe, calling for the truth is as safe as safe can be.

Of course, you can say as much about Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo when Estrada was being impeached, except that, as it turned out, she was actually scheming with the AFP brass to take over the presidency.

I think De Castro is still waiting for signs while Arroyo saw clearer signals from the church, the military and civil society. Arroyo must also have brushed up on Nicolo Machiavellis The Prince while De Castro is still waiting for the Tagalog edition.

One of the aces that Arroyo is hanging on to is the line that all the economic strides she has taken would go to waste in a De Castro presidency. That line is wearing thin as more and more skeletons are pulled out of the Arroyo closet.

The intellectual elitists myself included may sniff at a De Castro presidency. But, just this morning, I looked at myself on the mirror and asked: If youre so smart, why aint you vice-president?
I had no answer to that.
gregmacabenta@hotmail.com

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