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We
agree with most political analysts that the Estrada pardon
last Friday benefited both the disgraced President and the
cute President.
The
rousing welcome for Estrada last Friday night in San Juan
turned sour after he came up with enough guts to mention the
phrase "Thank You, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo."
The bombastic eloquence of Erap turned kaput when he further
asked his supporters to give GMA a round of applause. Only
a few did.
And
so it came to pass that GMA has now a newfound friend in Erap
as against the rising opposition coming from the spouses Joe
and Gina de Venecia under the blessings of the cigar-chomping
former Pres. Fidel V. Ramos.
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Indeed,
there's no permanent friends in politics but only permanent
interests. Let's watch in the next few days whether this GMA-Erap
unholy alliance could spell the difference in the political
turbulences that lie ahead in the Arroyo administration.
At
least for now, the impeachment and national broadband (ZTE)
issues took the sidelines with the outbreak of the Estrada
pardon last Friday.
The
most pressing issue that confronts us now is tomorrow's political
exercise.
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Speaking
of tomorrow's barangay and SK elections, we see a highly-energized
electorate up with their both hands, and even feet. Happy
days are here again.
From
matches, lighters to sardines, from P20, P50, P100 and even
P200 vote-buying seem to be the order of the day. It looks
like a real local election. If you are not yet convinced of
the vote-buying, try looking for these bills in nearby stores
if these are still available.
At
the rate this vote-buying is going, the 2010 local elections
would then be more expensive compared to the last local polls.
How we wish that the old law providing no compensation whatsoever
to barangay officials would be restored. The barangay and
SK elections tomorrow would be so boring and dry.
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Anyway,
office workers will be having a grand vacation next week considering
that there will only be two regular working days, Tuesday
and Wednesday.
We
are still awaiting words for Malacañang to declare
a half-day work on Wednesday "to give ample time for
the government workers to go home to their provinces and visit
their departed love ones."
With
the vote-buying spree, who says the weekend vacation would
be that boring?
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POSTSCRIPT:
We are reserving this portion to greet the matriarch
of the Bohol Chronicle Radio Corporation, Mrs. Rosario Pernia
vda. de Dejaresco, our godmother, a very happy birthday today.
An outstanding mother and wife, Ma'am Charing deserves all
the accolade during her natal day today…
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For
comments and suggestions, just e-mail to the following e-mail
addresses: obiter@boholchronicle.com
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