Vying for the Presidency in 2010

Published on January 26, 2008

Glossed over in the frenzy to see who the leading presidentiables are is what political agenda they are bringing into this race for power, what they stand for with regard to issues most urgent to the people, and who the probable major beneficiaries are from their candidacies. The electorate deserves no less than the whole truth about these questions.

BY THE CENTER FOR PEOPLE EMPOWERMENT IN GOVERNANCE
Posted by Bulatlat
ANALYSIS
Vol. VII, No. 50, January 27-February 2, 2008

Over the past two months, there has been much noise about the next presidential race which is still two-and-a-half-years away. This is unfortunate not only because it is too early to talk about it but also because once again it is narrowing down the choice of the president into a popularity contest and a battle of personalities.

Not much attention is being paid on the fact that over the past several years, the office of the presidency has been subverted brazenly: It has been used to dispense political favors, to commit monumental corruption, and to attack the democratic rights of the people. The frailties of the presidency are taking place alongside the continued domination of the legislature by political dynasties while the judicial system is crippled by the breakdown of law and order.

All these have led more and more quarters and an increasing number of disconcerted Filipinos to believe that only by replacing the country’s dysfunctional political institutions with an alternative form of governance can the current political crisis be meaningfully addressed. From this perspective have emerged in the past two years two differing options: the putting up of a civilian-led national transitional council and a transition junta borne out of the withdrawal of support to the presidency by a military faction.

Floated as the early birds in the 2010 presidential race are at least seven senators: Manuel B. Villar (Senate president), Manuel Araneta “Mar” Roxas, Loren Legarda, Panfilo Lacson, Richard Gordon, Jinggoy Estrada, and Chiz Escudero. The others are Vice President Noli de Castro, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte, and MMDA chair Bayani Fernando. Not to be counted out is deposed President Joseph Estrada himself.

Some of the aspirants aim to increase their marketability as presidential contenders in order to increase their chances as vice presidential nominees or as senatoriables. Except for De Castro, Belmonte and Fernando, all are identified with the anti-Arroyo opposition camp.

So far those who have strongly indicated their intention to run are Villar, Roxas, and Lacson. Villar of the Nacionalista Party, controls the multi-billion dollar Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc., and is 24th in Forbes Asia’s list of 40 richest Filipinos. Roxas, president of the Liberal Party, is heir to the vast Araneta Cubao property. Known to be pro-globalization, Roxas supports the Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), the current bane of labor, peasant, and small businessmen’s groups.

Lacson, presently non-affiliated, is believed to be popular among the Filipino-Chinese business community but carries the stigma of having lost his presidential bid in 2004.

A staunch Arroyo ally, De Castro has increased his media visibility. It remains unclear whether the Lopez clan which owns the giant ABS-CBN TV-radio network where De Castro had a high-paying job as anchorperson, would back his candidacy as they did in 2004. Legarda, who claims to being cheated by De Castro in the 2004 vice-presidential contest, has consistently topped previous senatorial polls and is leading current surveys on the presidency. She is from the Nationalist Citizens’ Party (NCP) which is headed by magnate and known kingmaker Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco.

Binay is closely associated with two former presidents, Corazon C. Aquino and Joseph E. Estrada. The Makati mayor, who has supported Estrada through thick and thin and played a key role in efforts to unite the traditional opposition for the May 2004 elections, is a battle-scarred local politician but running for national office is an entirely different game.

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