SHOULD WE VOTE COMMUNISTS TO THE SENATE?

Juan dela Cruz Loses Fair Judgment

Are we really expecting for the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to embrace the democratic process that easily? Is their cadre’s entry to mainstream politics a guarantee that they would hold back their attacks against men in uniform and other unarmed targets they have subjected under their extortion schemes, like the private mine firms they admittedly burned-down to ashes for unsuccessful pay-ups? It does not really matter if groups like Bayan Muna and Gabriela continue to hold their peace on their open secret linkages with the Communist Party. The public have had their fair share of political lies; and, Satur Ocampo yelling his innocence on his detested tie-up with the CPP-NPA is no different.

Ocampo has openly accepted Communist contributions for his campaigns through Makabayang Alyansa ng Mamamayan or (MAKABAYAN), an independent political pool that is fielding his senatorial bid. In fact, not later than MAKABAYAN’s formal launch in April of last year, the CPP-NPA has already allotted 1 billion pesos worth of campaign support for MAKABAYAN that included the 50 million shared on Ocampo. If we swallow Ocampo’s hypocrisy claiming that he has no allegiance with the CPP-NPA, why then would he accept the 50M from the renowned enemy of the state? It is common knowledge that no debt goes unpaid in Philippine politics. One way or another, these political donors would have their intentions clear and their favors presented on the table. Just what is it that the Communist Party wants in supporting Ocampo to the senateship when they are naturally against the current political process that included the powers of the Congress and the Senate?

The CPP-NPA has battled forty years to overthrow democracy and install Communist stewardship in the state. Would you really think they would dismiss their efforts that easily and give-up their ideals by embracing the political process they have tagged imperialistic and oppressive? If they have that much faith with peaceful reforms such as the inception of their democratic participation through Communist adherents being elected in government, why else would they continue arming militias in the provinces? If this could be done peacefully, the CPP should have long ditched the New People’s Army (NPA) who would become immaterial as they embrace legit means of airing their grievances. Ocampo on one hand is as guilty of this deceit. Ocampo’s so-called “unlikely” friendship with the CPP-NPA hierarchy, particularly Jose Maria Sison who has been speaking highly of his political career, should have been one good reason for the voters to rule him out in the nearing senatorial elections.

Ocampo is a confidante of the Godless and enslaving Communist –Sison. Try and imagine just what Sison would ask of him as a “return of investment” for the 1 billion pesos that the CPP-NPA had entrusted to his political machinery. Whose interests will Ocampo try to serve? The man that practically funded his dreams and made his senateship possible or Juan dela Cruz of whom he knows nothing about? Besides, common “tao” never rang a bell on Ocampo’s consciousness as he squandered his nine years in Congress without a single law written for the welfare of the marginalized sector he claims to represent. In fact, he helped promulgate 5 bills all natured to tie AFP’s hand in their operations against the NPA. If he was in Congress to serve as Sison’s legitimate alter ego, what else do you expect from him in the Senate?

BM SILENCED ON C5 CONTROVERSY

There is no question that Bayan Muna Rep. Saturnino Ocampo will reserve his silence regarding the C5 Double insertion. His “no comment” stance is already a done deal after signing a so-called merger with Nacionalista Party in exchange that he be invited on the senatorial slate. Imagine the 2 million command vote of BM and Gabriela being collectively sold to buyers like Sen. Villar. These votes being marketed on Villar’s lap is the same exact reason why Ocampo would not move a muscle against the C5 hullabaloo. Ocampo could not simply bite his client’s head-off.

Rights groups colluding with TRAPOs for the sake of higher office best describes how loose morals pollute politics. What is even more alarming is the part where voters simply do not give a damn on whether flip flops continue to enjoy influence or not. Juan dela Cruzes who buy these political gimmicks are the ones to blame. Even the activists inside BM and Gabriela who all claim they are pushing for the people’s will and fighting against political tyranny are not immune to such thievery of ethics. BM members who let Ocampo vend of their votes to the next best political financier are no better than those vote buying enthusiasts in the province. In fact, they are a shameful emblem among the so-called People’s associations.

What sort of change do we expect from these activists turned politicians? They are no different from the TRAPOs they hated before. Who can now tell whether their protests against the administration was not a matter of playing it smart to help the opposition they now align themselves to? What if those anti-Gloria stances were just a “salvo” in preparation for Villar’s presidency? Bayan Muna keeping their distance on the C5 Double insertion on the basis that they are now under Villar’s payroll proves them as “activists for hire”. They are selling their protests for the right amount of cash or position.

Of course Villar’s Php 500,000 worth of doled-out money to Maza and Ocampo’s candidacies was just the tip of iceberg. Negotiations between these parties could not end at such cheap price. The 2 million command vote of BM and Gabriela supersedes that mediocre “paycheck”. In fact other than being adopted inside NP, the two hopeful activists are also promised of cabinet positions if they fail the senateship while Villar becomes the duly elected president. These post-election positions serve as good leverage that would assure Ocampo and Maza’s positions in mainstream government beyond 2010. Quite frankly, this is what Liberal Party bet- Sen. Mar Roxas declined boasting that his Party could swim across victory solely on Cory’s charm; an insult to the capacity of BM and Gabriela who believe they gather a stronghold of the public’s interests minding their Leftist identity.

Juan dela Cruz is not questioning BM and Gabriela’s no-show with regard to the issue of the C5 Double insertion. Reasons behind this “boycott” are nonetheless obvious as Ocampo and Maza brush shoulders on newspaper headlines. Juan dela Cruz is never that dumb. Soon these flip-flops and TRAPO suck-ups will be dealt with; most certainly, “sa kangkungan din sila pupulutin”.

BAYAN MUNA ABANDONING MANILA STREETS

As floodgates opened and murky water started to sink in across Greater Manila, streets’ avid “borders” like militant activist- Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna (BM) was nowhere to be found. Not that the flood water pushed him on the seaboard but the distinguished statesman is just not that visible whenever people need his help. The recent calamity weathered by Juan dela Cruz that includes dozens still stuck on their roofs and facing hunger is ironically not a matter to be concerned about for militant activists inside Bayan Muna. However, political stunts that have everything to do with ousting President Arroyo draw them almost every day in the busy city corners screaming their lungs-out for what they claim as “public’s welfare”.

Obviously, typhoon Ondoy kept Ocampo off the streets but was it really of the heavy rain and flooding? Or, was it because Ocampo is not that interested with incidents that have nothing to do with building up his political ambitions? Arguably, state at natural crisis does not push militancy but people clinging on their very lives should stir the “humanity” in him. People who had been parading their raised money for the flood victims are way better than people who curl-up on their comfy homes and do nothing but extend their sympathies.

The issue of pump boat shortage or else the contention on the government’s turtle-pacing rescue operations “disturbingly” interest BM solons. They dwell on the issue long enough to simply agitate the distressed victims of Ondoy and box our viewpoints again on politicking that includes the ever worn-out alibi of “crucifying” GMA.

If this calamity asks Filipinos to look back on their complete disregard of mother earth’s preservation, this also put a stop at bombarding political caboodles that stormed the front pages. We are too fascinated about the nearing elections or to whose campaign jingle would reign superior than others that we have complacently claimed that the then nearing tropical depression would not do the metropolis much damage.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Association (PAGASA) or even the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) were both innocent on serious allegations of failure to provide substantive and timely forecast of Ondoy turning into a massively destructive typhoon. Storm signals were raised yet and again and they were all flashed on nationwide tv reports. Sad to admit, the victims are just as guilty as those they blame. But the fault remains among those like Ocampo who “whitewashed” the populace on the delusion that their lives hang at a balance with the elections nearing.

I surely hope that after the metropolis is cleared with the clutter of Ondoy, it remains free from the shadowy outcry of deceptive “reformists”. Ocampo chose to stay distant during this country’s trying times of predicament; he surely deserves to be delisted on my ballot.