MAR ABSTAINING FROM OCAMPO’S BARGAIN, A WISE DECISION

Sen. Mar Roxas’ refusal on Satur Ocampo’s 2 million guaranteed votes in exchange for five post-election positions and Senate chairmanship by the time Liberal Party bags the presidency by 2010 has been the wisest decision eager presidentiables made so far. Ocampo, who is under the Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan or MAKABAYAN, was said to be bargaining BAYAN Muna and its affiliate PLG’s votes in return for a fall-back once he, Masa and Casiño lose the senate seat. Other than Roxas, Sen. Manuel Villar and ex-Pres Erap Estrada may have also been given the same offer. Apart from such, is the formerly disclosed plan of MAKABAYAN to place one of its senatorial contenders on each Genuine Opposition (GO) led Parties that would be racing seats this coming 2010.

So far, MAKABAYAN had been courting one presidential contender to the next since April of this year starting with the Estradas. The 2 million voter’s ratio had been their sounding leverage in return for campaign resources and just recently their power-sharing ploy for 2010. The obligatory vote which would clearly be generated from MAKABAYAN linked PLGs such as BAYAN Muna is simply a bait out to get all presidentiables’ yeses. By the time either Villar or Estrada agrees to it, there is no telling if MAKABAYAN fulfills its end of the bargain. Besides, MAKABAYAN pledges to end TRAPOs stay in power and that counts Villar and Estrada. These 2 million voters could simply be narrowing-down its votes on all four MAKABAYAN senatoriables and not necessarily mark a ballot on either of these presidentiables. That way, MAKABAYAN would be nailing TRAPOs for good.

The good about getting all of this winnable presidential bets is being able to stay afloat once one of which reigns victorious. At this point, MAKABAYAN is not ignorant of the fact that none of the surveys mean something. The canvassing is too far off and it could be a whole new ball game right after the filing of candidacies. The political waters are far too murky at this point and MAKABAYAN is making sure that they remain afloat.

Other than that, Masa, Ocampo Casiño and Mariano would also enjoy the benefits of getting voters from its tapped Party’s electorate base. The 2 million would be a meager amount compared to what the Estradas or Roxas could eventually assure them. Funny, how other presidentiables salivate on the 2 million MAKABAYAN votes when it certainly could garner more and avoid getting entangled with a possible power-thug between Ocampo’s camps. Besides, in order to make room for MAKABAYAN these parties would have to set aside one of their own.

MAKABAYAN is doing whatever it takes to get all four in the upper arena. This huge and almost reckless effort should mean something more than just “public service”. Disturbingly, this may mean another state fiasco waiting to happen. To which, wide-spread militancy and even socialist dictatorship are both a possibility as MAKABAYAN welcomes the support of the Communist party of the Philippines (CPP) in their endeavor to change state order.