THE GREAT RAID?
As soon as I settled in my cubicle at the press working area (Tuesday noon), my colleague who has been looking into the Third Force story with me since the start of the week, told me that he got this tip that “some members of the Spice Boys are being considered to spice things up inside the Third Force.”
Two names were mentioned: Secretary Mike Defensor and Bukidnon Representative Miguel Zubiri.
I immediately called up this person who is part of the “movers and shakers” of the move to form a third Force, to get confirmation of the tip.
The “very reliable” person on the other line seemed, “not surprised” about “the names”, but was straightforward when he/she told me that he/she’s “not aware that their people are talking to any of the two.”
But my “story partner” insisted, “they (the two names) are IN.”
Later in the day, Mike (after the reporters’ endless pangungulit) obliged to an interview at the lobby of the New Executive Building.
Straight from the horse’s mouth, he declared that someone form the Third Force approached him and invited him to join the senatorial slate that the group is trying to assemble… but he can’t reveal the identity of the person who talked to him about the issue.
Then he went on to say in front of the TV cameras that the invitation was also extended to Zubiri… and then, he didn’t stop there. Mike surprised us by including one more name in the list of administration bets “supposedly” being eyed by the Third Force proponents in their slate: Chavit Singson. (!!!… and I will tell you why later…)
Mike had to pause after the mention of Chavit’s name because he surely saw the shocked faces of the media members in front of him, the kind of reactions that obviously denote: “we are not buying that hard sell attempt, Mike!”. Nobody had to ask a follow up question, Mike automatically defended his statement by saying “well, that’s the choice of the governors and local government leaders” (yeah, but not the choice of the 3rd force proponents!). Geez, when one has to automatically explain and defend his or her statement, it surely says a lot about the intention and persuasion of the declaration. Right?
He only had to look at me, because I gave him this “are you trying to pull a fast one on us?” face, and yeah, I’ll tell you why later.
Okay, if it is true that the 3rd force is wooing Mike and Miguel, then something is indeed shaping up in the slate.
If it is also true that the group is wooing Noynoy Aquino, Chiz Escudero and Allan Peter Cayetano, then the possible inclusion of Mike and Miguel smells a lot like a reunion of the young politicos of the 11th Congress.
And if negotiations will bear fruit, then these “younger set” will once again be led by the House Speaker during those times: Manuel Villar. The present Senate president who is reportedly leading the move to form an alternative group with his senate colleagues Kiko Pangilinan, Ralph Recto and Eduardo Angara.
And you know what else is said to be common with the young senatoriables and Villar?
Erap. They are open to an idea of giving the former President “a certain amount of freedom.”
THAT (ERAP) IS PRECISELY THE REASON why I really doubt that Governor Chavit has a place in the line up of the 3rd force. Including Singson in the list makes one hear the famous Sesame Street song: “one of these things are not like the other…” (Pano na lang isasali sa ticket si JV?) download A Touch of Class
Insiders believe that Loren Legarda’s joining the slate is more possible than having Chavit on the list. The other slots could be offered to Lacson and any other admin or oppo personalities NOT YET TAGGED as “has beens”.
How about the Lacson and Angara situation? An insider said that this kink can easily be ironed out by stating the importance of having the leader of the COMELEC recognized LDP on any party or group’s side when vote counting begins.
But again, these are just possibilities. All are still pending while the consultations continue to prosper.
According to Mike Defensor, they will have to ask the President to grant them permission to join the unity ticket. He hinted though that “it is possible”. It is like they are saying that if their supposed, possible “two viable and winnable” bets will be allowed to join the unity ticket, posible daw, in effect na ma “dissolve” ang administration line up. (???)
Possible, despite claims that the administration party (Gabby Claudio) already has a list of 20 possible senatorial aspirants but is still not ready to release them to the media, “because they will have to trim the list, still”. (I’m personally puzzled about the figure: 20)
Some observers in the administration camp are saying that if and when the ruling party allows their supposed winnables to join another slate, “mas malamang na pakitang taong slate na lang ang ilabas ng admin”.
These sources are the same ones who believe that the President is not really “crazy about going all out in the senatorial race” because she had long accepted the fact “na dehado sila sa labang ito.”
Hence the President’s supposed desire to organize, strengthen and build up her KAMPI. So she can really focus on winning more seats in the local race and make her sleep better at night that she won’t have to deal with the problem of facing yet another impeachment attempt in the lower house IF more “kalabans” get inside the lower house (among other concerns). Hindi rin pwedeng pabayaan ang mga LGUs. (We all saw on TV the reports of how KAMPI is growing, and growing, and growing day by day, right? And we have been seeing luxury vehicles owned by local politicos lining JP Laurel street these days, too!)
(I’m puzzled #2: Where are the LAKAS stalwarts and what role is the LAKAS party playing these days? In days like these, when ironically the “smallest in membership party” NP is supposedly calling the shots in the third force moves, when the divided LP is making lots of noise and playing key roles in the coalitions and when the likes of NPC, LDP and even KAMPI are included in the talks? Why the silence? Gabby Claudio should join ES Ermita’s weekly presscon later and make sense of LAKAS’ silence.)
Going back to the on going third force negotiations…
If there indeed is a “great raid” that is happening, it is quite evident that the 3rd Force isn’t training its eyes on the administration party alone, but is also the trying to “raid” the slate of the United Opposition or UNO.
It makes us think what UNO’s real reason is, when it decided to defer the reveal of their Magic 12 to the public.
At this point, I can’t help but quote Mike Defensor when he told reporters this afternoon that:
“Ewan ko ba maski ako naguguluhan eh, I am as confused as everyone!!!”
Really confusing.
Daytime Hijacking | The BLIPS Network Said:
on July 28, 2009 at 12:30 pm
[...] Jove Francisco calls The Great Raid I call simply as Hijacking in broad [...]