THE PEOPLE'S BET by Ricky Poca, Cebu Daily News

Sen. Noynoy Aquino in Davao City

The national political scenario is fast developing as we near the November deadline for the submission of the certificates of candidacy for the 2010 election.

The administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD selected its standard bearer, Gibo Teodoro, with Ronnie Puno as his running mate.

The Liberal Party firmed up its bid yesterday, with Mar Roxas as Noynoy Aquino’s wingman.

The Nationalist People’s Coalition is looking at Chiz Escudero as its presidential candidate, with Loren Legarda as vice presidential bet.

Nacionalista Party’s presidential bet Manny Villar is hoping to partner with Noli de Castro, who remains unclear about his plans.

Former president and plunder convict Erap Estrada is posturing for another presidential race. Some say he’s just securing a bargaining chip to have his son Jinggoy run for vice president under the Nacionalista Party.

For administration bets, I think they have to start capturing the imagination of the people. Take note that the administration is in a bind because of the unpopularity of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and people don’t want business as usual in Malacanang.

Gibo is highly qualified to become president but people are, in a way, scared of his affiliations, being an Arroyo man, a nephew of Marcos crony Danding Cojuangco, and one of the congressmen (the “Brat Pack,” together with Chiz Escudero) who impeached then Chief Justice Jun Davide in the Lower House. The Davide court had ruled that the Coco Levy Fund was ill-gotten.

Ronnie is known as a king-maker, a smooth operator in the strictest traditional political sense, who had worked with Fidel Ramos, Erap and Gloria.

Noynoy’s candidacy, on the other hand, has in way simplified the election into a fight between good and evil. (The other candidates from the opposition are believed to eventually become irrelevant as the election nears.) Noynoy’s bid has inspired citizens to volunteer for his campaign, raising funds and promoting awareness about what his candidacy stands for.

Never have I seen such a vast number of people organize themselves, volunteering to help get Noynoy elected as president. This has become another phenomenon in our country’s political landscape, not unlike what we as a people achieved in 1986, with Cory Aquino as our inspired leader.

This is bad news for the rest of the opposition. The people have simplified the 2010 election, choosing Noynoy as the true and worthy opposition candidate, even if other ambitious anti-Arroyo “presidentiables” won’t bow out.

The most rabid critics of Noynoy’s candidacy are mostly Palace sycophants and traditional politicians who learned the tricks of the trade during the dictatorship. So there is really nothing new in our political complexion. We shall be seeing again the Aquino group against the Marcos group. Good versus evil.

I think that after Erap and Gloria, people are sick of corruption and dishonesty in governance. They are seeking a leader who is the opposite of Ferdie Marcos, Erap and Gloria.

Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas, both of good political stock and who have kept their good names unsoiled by traditional politicking and corruption, represent a brand of leadership only a few good men among our present crop of politicians are worthy and capable of promoting.

Some say Noynoy’s perceived popularity is just media hype, but I beg to disagree. I believe his popularity is a result of the people’s clamor for integrity in governance, and they see in Noynoy his mother Cory’s values.

Following Cory Aquino’s death, having remembered her moral leadership, people started egging Noynoy, who had no desire at all to run for higher office. They see in his quiet but sincere track record in public service, in his hesitation to heed the popular call for him to seek the presidency, and even in his humble dealings with family and friends the qualities that set him apart from the rest of the pack.

Others are saying that Noynoy will not win because he has no political machinery, but the same argument was used against his mother when she ran against Marcos and his vaunted KBL machinery. Cory won despite massive cheating and vote buying.

Critics also argue that Noynoy has no sterling performance to be proud of. The same argument was used against the housewife who ran against a brilliant Bar topnotcher who controlled all branches of government. Government, it turned out, was no match for the people’s wrath and heaven’s design.

Other opposition candidates today carry ugly baggage from the Marcos, Estrada and Arroyo regime. They are excellent poseurs and have mastered the art of persuasion, as the devil had. They present themselves as the real deal, so we must see through the nice packaging and know who they really are and what they represent.

Now is our opportunity to register our abhorrence of another six years of corruption and dishonesty. Let’s not waste this chance. Let’s join the campaign for competent and honest leadership.