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The
COMELEC Senate Tally (at press time) is still 8-2-2 in favor
of the Genuine Opposition. That is a resounding opposition
victory, considering that the two independents (Pangilinan
and Honasan) are not GMA fans.
With
45 million registered voters with a 60% turnout (27 million
voters), the COMELEC has already canvassed 80% of the Certificates
of Canvass representing 21.7 million in total votes counted.
That should leave a mere 5.5 million to be counted.
The
nation gave the Opposition a smashing victory because the
Senate retrains the legislative check and balance vehicle
with the independent Supreme Court as its judicial counterpart.
Without
the recalcitrant Senate, former Agriculture Secretary (what-a-name)
Joc-Joc Bolante would not have been detained in the USA for
the Fertilizer Scam and the puppets in the LGUs and Congress
would have hoodwinked the citizenry into a Charter Change
through the silly, manipulated so called People's Initiative
or even the contemplated Con-Ass (a defining terminology).
Many
people opine the Senate Results seems like a referendum on
the President of the Republic. And it is.
That
the people voted GMA's local LGU cohorts is not necessarily
a vote for GMA as the local polls is really about rapport
among the local players. The largesse brought to the community,
to their view, was something they deserved emanating from
a budget funded by the people's taxes and borrowings - not
a matter of favor.
And
not the least were the people obliged to thank any of the
Administration senatorial candidates with a vote of confidence
because, save for some, they had nothing to do with local
largesse. Senators are viewed as lawmakers, not dispensers
of pork.
No
matter how the spin-doctors stage managed the stock and foreign
exchange market added to the so-called "successful Japan
visit" to project a positive image, the Senate Results
is really a referendum result against President GMA.
People
voted the Opposition Senate in order to vent their anger on
the Administration for its undemocratic edicts and the wanton
killings of activists and journalists with impunity (being
considered) as the administration's answer to critics and
reforms.
People
voted the Opposition Senate for being vocal critics against
corruption particularly the Fertilizer Scam and FG's alleged
excesses.
People
voted the Opposition Senate as protest against the unresolved
fraud during the 2004 elections and made sure the powers-that-be
get the message.
People
voted the Opposition Senate as grudge vote for curtailing
"freedom of choice" through the insipid, insensitive
attempts to railroad Charter Change.
The
Palace knew the PGMA was a political baggage and therefore
her public endorsement was as scarce as Dracula at sunset.
To the Opposition, GMA's hand-raising was a kiss of death,
with apologies to Dracula. Only in clearly and rabidly Administration
bailiwick did GMA dare to be Chief Endorser, for good reasons.
Thus
while the 11th and 12th slots seems to still be up for grabs
with the controversial Mindanao votes still being debated
and investigated, the popularity of such an Oppositionist
stance is clear in the summary of winners (as of press time):
Legarda
- If the Garci cheating is unresolved, then she was perceived
as a victim of fraud and was rewarded with a resounding First
Place finish. Loren did not go to the streets and ask GMA
to resign, instead she protested legally (at great cost) through
the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.
Escudero
- Batting none, the most articulate (Tagalog, English Bicolano
languages) critic of the President GMA with an innocent choir-boy
look.
Lacson
and Cayetano - Two of the harshest administration critics
especially against the excesses portraying the First Gentleman.
Desperate attempts were also made to defang Cayetano's bid
which produced an opposite effect on the electorate.
Pangilinan
- After the 2004 elections, he showed a new-found independence
of mind and judgment that sometimes pestered the Palace.
Angara
- More of a statesman and patriot rather than a Palace lackey,
Angara was rewarded with a winning slot - aside from his landmark
legislation pieces.
Arroyo
- One cannot remove the stripes of this tiger and Joker had
shown remarkable fortitude in criticizing the Administration
even while campaigning with Team Unity. He was thus rewarded
with a victory.
Trillanes
and Honasan - If there is such a thing as a "protest
vote" these two should win it hands down. People perceived
that the two charismatic soldiers were jailed because of their
principled stand to weed corruption in the military and government.
Pimentel
- His name has always been associated with granite opposition
will against the administration through his father Nene Pimentel.
The luster robbed on the son.
Villar
- By a strange alchemy of money, senate presidency and business
like wheeling and dealing, somehow the billionaire senator
is among the Top 5 to date. He said he was not regretting
he stayed with the Opposition. Well.
The
lopsided ratio in the Senate Results and the characteristics
of the winning candidates above indicate that in this battle,
GMA may have lost.
It's
time for her to read the handwriting on the wall, not obfuscate.
It's time for her to do genuine reforms, not exact revenge.
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