THE CIRCUS of Philippine politics is coming back to life as the May 2016 national elections fast approaches. Undoubtedly, all aspiring candidates are starting to go head-to-head, seeking out for the most votes through all means possible.
Vice President Jejomar Binay became the first target of this crab-mentality competition as he is now facing several allegations of corruption back when he was still mayor of Makati.
As soon as he became open to the possibility of running for president in the upcoming elections, controversies and probes rushed like a landslide. All eyes are now on him, especially those who have also expressed their intentions of taking over the presidency.
Binay is currently facing Senate inquiry on the alleged overpriced P2.28-billion Makati carpark and the ownership of a 350-hectare land in Rosario, Batangas, amounting to P1.2 billion.
His tightest enemies for the presidential post are interestingly the most active government officials participating in the probe: Manuel “Mar” Roxas III Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Sen. Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos Jr., and members of the Senate blue ribbon committee—Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.
Though Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said the investigations are purely done to solve the issue of the alleged corruption and are not meant to destroy the reputation of Binay for the upcoming elections, we cannot deny the fact that his political enemies, especially those who currently have government positions, will not have the slightest intentions to take advantage of this particular occasion.
As reported by the media, these allegations might substantially lower the chance of Binay from winning the presidential elections. His satisfaction survey also continually declined ever since the issue exploded.
To the legislators, instead of using all their time and efforts probing the political issues, they should just elevate the investigation to the Ombudsman.
Leave all the investigative reports to the higher court and stop bubbling allegations in order to appear better than the others.
And while several government officials are busy lobbying issues that could favor their political intentions, they should not forget their real duties to the people. The upcoming elections should not stop the work that is yet to be done by the present administration.
In the end, the hype of these investigations against the Vice President (and other politicians alike) are far from being over so we might as well take advantage and make the most out of it. As citizens of this country, we must utilize this time to take a closer look on the people who we are planning to vote.
Yes, it is the survival of the fittest, especially in the world of politics. And, we, ordinary citizens, are the most powerful because we are the ones to decide who would be the fittest of them all.
This is the best time to be keen observers and wise electorates.
Not everything might be true, but not everything that comes out is neither invented nor false accusations. Every allegation surely has its deeper roots despite its façade intentions.
