Why Jejomar Binay running for president is a good thing for Philippine ‘democracy’

Here’s a timely reminder to all political “experts” out there. Philippine ‘elections’ are really all about winnability. Specifically, at this time in particular, who’s gonna WIN in the 2016 presidential elections. So far there is only one horse running the race — current Vice President Jejomar Binay. So unless someone steps up to mount a credible challenge, Binay will win.

Binay commands a strong following amongst the Philippines’ masses of voters. But he also cops a lot of flak from pundits both in mainstream and ‘alternative’ media. The question to ask ourselves is quite confronting, nonetheless:

How much of the Vote are these pundits in mainstream and ‘alternative’ media able to influence?

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The broader society of the Philippines remains focused on idiocy rather than on issues of consequence to the future of their country.

The broader society of the Philippines remains focused on idiocy rather than on issues of consequence to the future of their country.

That remains to be seen. While political chatter on social media surrounding the Binay circus may be intense, the chatter amongst Filipinos overall paints a different profile of what is nationally “trending”. Much of what interests Filipinos at the moment remains pretty much inconsequential to political outcomes that matter. So the best strategy Binay and his handlers can take up is to go dark (pardon the pun) on the issue of the Makati City Hall building and the Batangas property and work harder at traditional campaign — i.e., making the rounds, shaking hands, kissing babies, etc. It’s the old political drill any 72-year-old traditional politician should be quite familiar with.

This, Binay spokesman and Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla echoes in his official statement to the press:

“Now is not the time for talk but for action. The Vice President realized that engaging a debate with Senator Trillanes is a disservice to the millions who still have to recover from the Yolanda tragedy,” Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, Binay’s spokesperson for political concerns, said in a press statement.

He added that Binay is prioritizing the country over himself, “recovery over bickering, the people over himself.”

“He will be in the Visayas next week putting all his efforts into the task of housing given to him by the President. The truth of the allegations is now in the hands of the Ombudsman,” Remulla said.

Indeed, in that space, Binay has a proven track record. He is a master of the subtleties of effective epal campaign, a brilliant name placement artist, and a proven dynasty builder. The results of all this hard work are in plain sight all over the place. Suffice to say, no one from the current crop of Filipino traditional politicians who are likely to challenge Binay in the coming elections have carved out head space within the collective psyche of Filipino voters that is anywhere half as big as what Binay currently enjoys there.

Reeling in Filipino voters is like fishing from a barrel.

Reeling in Filipino voters is like fishing from a barrel.

We may as well call Binay the imminent incumbent, and those who oppose him, the Opposition. So what is the Opposition’s position against Binay the incumbent? Cue in sound of chirping crickets.

Other than the noise Mutineer-turned-‘senator’ Antonio Trillanes IV is drumming up to keep the fire in his Senate “inquiry” burning, the Opposition is loud in the way an empty steel drum rings when hit by stones. It can even be said that electoral politics is plumbing new depths. In the past, winnability was the dirty word and the politics surrounding that doctrine reflected the focus of doing anything and everything to win an election even at the expense of the triumph of ideas and platforms. Today, however, with the Opposition utterly bankrupt of winnable candidates, it has become all about destroying the winnable — essentially the only strategy left to those who seek to stop a Binay presidency.

The demonisation of Binay has all but distracted the public from the reality of those who oppose him — that they lack a winnable candidate. The only thing that unites them is a personality issue — their common dislike for Binay. Take Binay out of the equation and they will likely re-direct their claws at one another.

And that is why Binay is good for Philippine politics. He is the man to beat. And because he is a very strong winnable in the coming elections, his presence in the race will force the Opposition to shape up. Whether or not that Opposition is up to that challenge remains to be seen.

Abangan ang susunod na kabanata.

35 Replies to “Why Jejomar Binay running for president is a good thing for Philippine ‘democracy’”

  1. I agree with you but Binay winning the presidency will not be good for the country. There is already allegations of corruption against him. The opposition will push this then another EDSA will happen. Not good for the economy.

        1. Di ba? Di BA? Di Ba?

          BINAY did many projects sa makati. Kaso… bakit ganun… nakatago sa ganda ng mga gusali at bilang ng libre sa makati ay ilang form ng corruption.

          May over pricing daw…
          – Kung ihalintulad ang pagkakayari ng makati cityhall “PARKING” building sa kaparehas na presyong pampribado na gusali tulad ng isang condo or hotel… e di mas hamak na pipiliin mo yung pagkakayari ng pribadong sector. Di ba?
          Within that price na naka sulat sa papel at ginastusan ng makati ay makakagawa ka ng mas may kalidad at may mas functions na gusali. Sa tingin mo taong bayan?

          We do not need an evidence like “Hello Garci”. A written evidence ng presyo at actual structure to compare sa ibang proyekto – ay napaka sapat na ebidensya.

          Maybe tama ang ilang religion… dapat umiwas sa pulitika. Maybe because, politics may let you be near to the door of hell… only you can escape, if you will return all the things that must be belong to others….

          May mabuting hangarin ang proyektong tulad nito… ngunit sana… ito ay binantayan at di nabahiran ng corruptions…
          Sayang yung SOBRANG GINASTOS … pinangbili na lang sana ng libreng gamot, mas maraming libro, mas maraming kawani or empleyado para sa mas magandang serbisyo or di kaya… na donate sa mga nasalanta ng mga kalamidad… di ba?

    1. Maybe tama ang ilang religion… dapat umiwas sa pulitika. Maybe because, politics may let you be near to the door of hell… only you can escape, if you will return ALL the things that must be belong to others….

      Eh.. how you will return the things you got from people…if you have a great risk to be put on jail… the door of hell will just open for them who corrupted others.

      HOW CAN A POLITICIAN WHO HAVE FALLEN TO CORRUPTION TO SAY THAT HE/SHE REALLY SORRY IF THEY WILL NOT TRY TO UNDO THEIR ACTIONS… IF HE/SHE SAY SORRY.. THEY MUST MEAN IT… THEY MUST DO SOMETHING FOR IT.

      “…truly, politics with stain of corruptions is near the gates of hell…”

  2. Why does it always have to be about Binay in 2016?

    1oo million Filipinos and this is all we can come up with for 2016?
    The question of the VP’s corruption, though still needed to be proven in a court of law is very simple to answer, as there is no-way the Binay Family can amass the amount of wealth they currently have with out dipping their dirty hands in the City’s coffers. As I have said this still needs to be proven legally, but does not change the fact that VP Binay is corrupt. SO, what now?

    I would really like to see the NTC-National Transformation Council (whatever that means) or any other group do some real transforming and start a campaign to inform the BOBOtantes that there are other choices out there, Men and Women with real concern for the country.
    Mainstream Media could also help by limiting coverage for these Senate sponsored MORO-MORO’s.

    It’s a scary thought, knowing that my children will have to grow old in this current state of society we are in now.

    1. GISING GISING PO FILIPINO!

      Wake up! Linawan ang iyong mga mata sa mga proyekto sa makati maging sa ibang lungsod at bayan.. Isang bahagi ng corruption ang PAG GASTOS at paglalagay ng pangalan at larawan ng isang pulitiko sa kanyang proyekto… ultimo notebook a Tshirt ay kalaki ng ng mga larawan nila – kailangan ba ito or namumulitika lang. Pondo naman ito ng bayan ah at buwis ng mga mamayan. Kahit nga relief goods… may mukha at pangalan pa – sayang naman po ang ink o ginastos sa pag imprinta – pinambili na lang sana ng mas maraming bigas at dilata – Pondo naman ito ng bayan di ba?

      Di kailangan magaling sa Mathematics or maging inhinyero para malaman kung may over pricing sa isang proyektong pang gusali. I compare lang yan sa ibang proyektong pam publiko at pribado – compare the price and the output – dito pa lang malalaman mo na may problema na.

      Maybe karamihan ay corrupt. Nagkataon lang na ang makati ay mayaman na lungsod. Many projects can be implemented sa income nito. Sad to say… may mga issues ng corruptions. In addition, sa likod ng mga gusaling pam publiko… quality of services are not that competitive to consider world class or to be future world class. Health center… isa lang ang available na doctor at kahaba pa rin ng pila… and will only cater first 50 patients or 30minutes bago mag 5PM ay cut na yung line – saan kaya napupunta yung pondo. Maganda nga yung gusali… KULANG NAMAN SA TAO AT SA MGA GAMIT. Maging sa makati hospital na pinaglagyan ni Napoles… kaunti ng doctors and staff na mag aasikaso sayo at minsan kahit may health card ka ng makati ay nagkukulang pa rin ng gamit. At nakapagtataka rin… yung ISSUE sa Pharmacy ng Makati. Kamahal ng gamot kung i compare mo sa labas ang presyo – bakit kaya mahal… eh, public hospital naman ito.

      Makati schools also lacks teachers… kaunti na nga lang ang population ng makati at di naman gaano karamihan Ng taga ibang bayan (mahigpit kaya ang makati na tumanggap ng students sa ibang bayan or lungsod… unless.na malakas ka kahit di matalino). I hope maging ideal sa ratio ng teachers and students ang makati… as they said… aiming na maging world class.

      Makati has only half million popuation and earning a great income…. we must expect better service than other cities and town. Mas marami pa ata ang letter “B” naka molde sa mga gusali, bakod, notebook, t shirt, papel, picture frame, tarpolin kaysa sa angkop na kalidad ng serbisyo na expected sa isang first class na lungsod at financial capital.

      Having the real competitive people na maging empleyado sa makati ang makita… yung mga taong angkop sa trabaho nila at may malasakit sa mamayan. Hindi yung palakasan at may kapit daw kaya naka upo sila.

      There are many forms of corruption. But corruption is only one thing – it makes a person, people, a nation and the world to be sick. It against the good moral of man and rule of the Creator.

  3. i hope he really wins so that he can f*ck up the country more and then the people will finally realized and open their eyes on how f*ck up our system really is
    and when the time comes hopefully they will do something about it..
    hopefully..

    1. The problem is that people are too freaking retarded to realize. A chimp in the zoo has a better chance of evolving.

      Over the past 75 years the only thing Filipinos do after getting screwed is just spread their legs wider. Somehow Darwin’s theory just doesn’t apply to the Philippines. Amazing!

      1. they do realize but are just too lazy to do something about it..
        they just don’t mind being screwed or
        they probably even like being screwed

    2. I said the same thing to my colleagues the other day. The only way the electorate across all classes will wake up is when someone like Binay gets to be president and fucks the whole place for EVERYONE. The problem however is that once the rich get hurt they’ll orchestrate another people power; Remember Estrada. LOL

      1. @ Hawkeye, WTF? “When someone like Binay gets to be President and fucks the whole place for EVERYONE…”, W-W-W-W-WHAT ?

        BWAH HA HA HA !!!, that is too funny,

        MAYBE YOU DID NOT NOTIVE BUT THE ‘WHOLE PLACE’ is TOTALLY FUCKED ALREADY and has been TOTALLY FUCKED for decades ! OMG, this is too funny.

      2. @ Hawkeye, WTF? “When someone like Binay gets to be President and fucks the whole place for EVERYONE…”, W-W-W-W-WHAT ?

        BWAH HA HA HA !!!, that is too funny,
        MAYBE YOU DID NOT NOTICE BUT THE ‘WHOLE PLACE’ is TOTALLY FUCKED ALREADY and has been TOTALLY FUCKED for decades ! OMG, this is too funny.

  4. If Binay wins despite overwhelming evidences of corruption, our great heroes all died in vain…goes to say, Filipinos are NOT worth dying for.

      1. That’s true. That’s why if you guys can disown the country because its governance is disowning you anyway…for the sake of your children’s future…I’d say leave !!! … Philippines is hopeless.

        1. If the USA handed out immigrant or even tourist visas to every Filipino who wanted one, the Philippines would still be a cesspool, but an empty cesspool.

  5. It is not a case of Binay winning the election. It is the issue of improving the quality of elected political officials. Binay is a Feudal Oligarch; who built a family political dynasty. I have not seen any good contribution of this Trapo to the country. He is 72 years; and maybe suffering from dementia.

    We want vibrant;young and committed public official. Who can produce a good platform to solve our country’s problems.

    I have no confidence on Binay, Roxas, etc…all Trapos…same old politics, going on and on and on…

  6. Viewing what’s going on, as an outsider, I am always left stunned at the thought that with millions of Filipinos out there, may be out of a few thousands talented and potentially pure-hearted nationalists, are there no alternatives to rule the country? I am sick to the stomach that all that is in the limelight governing or would govern the country are these trapos who use the gov’t as a BUISINESS ENTERPRISE. I do not think that irrespective of who wins, the Binay case is good for democracy. It remains a scary thought that if Binay wins, we are back to the pre-Martial law then to Martial law era. Show that the culture of corruption can be toppled as early as now; not withstanding the fact that the “Matuwid na daan” concept is only as good as the implementor.

  7. “While political chatter on social media surrounding the Binay circus may be intense, the chatter amongst Filipinos overall paints a different profile of what is nationally “trending”. Much of what interests Filipinos at the moment remains pretty much inconsequential to political outcomes that matter.”

    -I blame the Main Stream Media for this. Mass Media has always shifted the people’s attention from the important issues to non-important ones. Public figures who contributed to the decline in Moral and Educational Standards are continuously glorified as free thinkers and intellectual leaders, turning our youth into zombies who only focus on what is “USO” or trending.

    You want proof? KriSTD is considered as “QUEEN of All Media”.

    I agree with Diegong Tabak above, we need “pure-hearted nationalists” and I still believe “they” exist among us. Problem is, our society does not provide an environment for “them” to really flourish.

  8. Valid points, but clickbaity title is clickbaity.

    The opposition has no one to field because they’ve been tripping over their feet since day one, and don’t have the luxury of being able to wash their hands of admin bumbling, then stand with the crowd and point, unlike our most esteemed VP.

    Binay, p-Noy, they’re mostly the same, working in the same scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours system. Binay, though, is clearly dynasty (and bank account) building, and is incredibly rotten. If he wins, it’ll set us back decades. Especially since his kids and relatives/flunkies have already infested several levels of government.

  9. We think we’ve come so far. Torture of heretics, burning of witches, is all ancient history. Then, before you can blink an eye, suddenly, it threatens to start all over again.

    Villains who twirl their moustaches are easy to spot. Those who clothe themselves in good deeds are well-camouflaged.

    People like them will always be with us. Waiting for the right climate in which to flourish, spreading fear in the name of righteousness.

    Eternal vigilance. That is the price we must continually pay.

  10. Maybe tama ang ilang religion… dapat umiwas sa pulitika. Maybe because, politics may let you be near to the door of hell… only you can escape, if you will return ALL the things that must be belong to others….

    Eh.. how you will return the things you got from people…if you have a great risk to be put on jail… the door of hell will just open for them who corrupted others.

    HOW CAN A POLITICIAN WHO HAVE FALLEN TO CORRUPTION TO SAY THAT HE/SHE REALLY SORRY IF THEY WILL NOT TRY TO UNDO THEIR ACTIONS… IF HE/SHE SAY SORRY.. THEY MUST MEAN IT… THEY MUST DO SOMETHING FOR IT.

    “…truly, politics with stain of corruptions is near the gates of hell…”

  11. Honestly, it’s really pointless bickering over what will eventually become a BINAY Presidency. I’m just totally OVER and FED UP with the way this country is being handled.

    My Spanish citizenship has been approved and I’m gone in 2 months.

    ADIOS POR SIEMPRE, FILIPINAS!!!

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