Whats in a name?

By: J.G. Azarcon Esq

Before the death of his mother, the late President Cory Aquino, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, Jr. was not even on the radar screen as presidential or vice-presidential material. Its either he was observing the rule- “No talk, No Mistakes” or he was just very secretive about his vision for the nation.
Then Cory passed away. The common people came out in droves lining up miles along the road just to wave goodbye at her coffin. People remember the administration of Cory as the dawn of a new era. Yet other than preserving the democratic institutions by its successful suppression of military power-grabbers, it really had very little to show as far as improving the lives of the people.

There was one thing however that must have stuck in the minds of the people. The first family was never embroiled in any corruption scandal. Never mind if the nation suffered from frequent power brownouts, if Cory was not stealing when the lights went out people think they are better off.
If not for his name, Noynoy could just be Senator Anybody. But Filipinos are sentimental. Honor Cory by electing her son. Suddenly out of nowhere, the scion of Cory and Ninoy catapulted to the top of the charts among presidentiables. Please Noynoy, if and when you become president, do not do in Malacanang what you did in the Senate. Do something. People demand honesty of their leaders, and something more to feed their hunger.
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There are reports that Sen. Noynoy Aquino will meet with former president Erap Estrada purportedly to unite the opposition parties. Not too long ago, Estrada was convicted of plunder, a capital offense in the Philippines. Would Jesus ever consider playing on the same team with the devil? Noynoys running mate, Sen. Mar Roxas at one time paid his respects to Erap by visiting the latter at his then detention home. Do we really have a new breed of politicians who would not compromise on moral principles? Why would they dignify the status of somebody who is the personification of greed? Noynoy, please dont.
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The drip by drip expose of Philippine senator Pamfilo Lacson implicating former president Erap Estrada to the murder of a PR man and his driver is keeping people on the edge of their seats.
Bubby Dacer and his driver was abducted and killed when Erap was still president and Lacson was head of the anti-crime crack unit. Dacer was believed to be holding derogatory information on Erap.
With the extradition of two police officers who opted to become state witnesses, all bets are off for Lacson and Erap. The state witnesses could tag Lacson or Erap. The lower minions in the anti-crime unite would not likely move against a thorn on the side of Erap unless some big shot ordered it.
Now that Lacson has pointed to the former president as the god father who ordered the hit, Erap is more bent on running for president. Winning will be his salvation. On the other hand, Lacsons salvation depends on pinning the blame on Erap. Sinner or saint, if Lacson can prevent Erap from taking the presidency again, the former could end up being the hero- the man who save the people of the Philippines from being fooled by a convicted plunderer one more time.
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The Philippine Senate recently passed a resolution authored by Sen. Miriam Defensor- Santiago urging the Arroyo administration to abrogate the Visiting Forces Agreement between the U.S. and the Philippines. The senator argues that the agreement is unconstitutional and that the Philippines is just getting military junk in return for allowing U.S. forces to operate in the Philippines on a temporary basis. The resolution passed on second reading without any objection. On the issue of constitutionality, the Philippine Supreme Court has twice ruled in 2000 and in 2009 upholding the constitutionality of the agreement.
Who is getting the better end of the bargain here? The senators need to go to the southern hinterlands where the visiting forces are operating and listen to the people. Do they appreciate road building and health clinics? They also need to listen to the Philippine military if they are benefitting from the joint exercises. Can the senate find the money to buy the equivalent of this “military junk” from the U.S.? The nationalist temperature in the senate may be cooler in the countryside.