Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Chiz Escudero: missing the forest for the trees


Chiz Escudero: missing the forest for the trees
[I]f ever he made up his mind, [Senator Francis] Escudero said there was zero probability of him teaming up with Villar due to the C-5 double funding controversy the former Senate president was embroiled in.

Escudero declared his commitment to good governance and... said his conscience would not allow him to team up with Villar.

He said he would rather run with former president Joseph Estrada, who supported his candidacy for the Senate in 2007.

-- “Escudero: Yes to team-up with Estrada”

So let me get this straight. Chiz Escudero is hoisting his image and possible candidacy for higher office on the issue of corruption by refusing to associate with Manny Villar. Villar is currently battling charges of anomalous legislative behavior on the Senate floor. His case has yet to be brought to court, his guilt or innocence still far from settled. He may or may not be guilty, but in Escudero's mind, Villar's stench is now so great that it wouldn't be in his best interests to align his stars with the one politician who's been leading in most presidential surveys.

However, Escudero would gladly team up with Erap. As in Joseph Estrada, the ex-president booted out of office and eventually convicted of plunder by a court of law after a trial that lasted more than five years, during which Estrada and his top-flight lawyers enjoyed all the opportunity to present his defense in full. The trial itself was preceded by a closely-watched Senate impeachment process that, while prematurely aborted, brought to light serious proof of crimes and misdemeanors by Estrada and his minions.

The pardon Estrada received from GMA was no absolution; it did not expunge his guilt or declared him innocent of his crimes. On the contrary, the pardon could be given only after he had been convicted in court, after his perfidy had been conclusively established. Officially, irrespective of the presidential remission he now wields with shameless alacrity, Estrada remains the country's first plunderer-president.

How can Escudero justify his professed advocacy for good governance and anti-corruption when he shuns Villar but embraces Estrada?

I happen to be from Sorsogon, the province Escudero represented as a congressman and the home base for his quick leap to the Senate. I am one of his constituents, and he is, in effect, my representative in Congress. Not that I am proud of it. I have never voted for Escudero, and have never bought into his putative promise as a new kind of modern, no-nonsense, trapo-busting politician. His record speaks for the man.

During the height of the Estrada scandals and EDSA II, Escudero stood by Estrada all the way to the end. His only defense against the avalanche of evidence testifying to Estrada's gargantuan incompetence and corruption in office was loyalty--loyalty then, and loyalty now, to the kingpin who had invested in him and helped fast-track his ascent in politics and the celebrity circuit. It's possible he had sincerely believed in Estrada's innocence, which only raises the question--especially in light of his fulminations now: How bad a judge of character is he?

Then, in what was clearly an act of revenge for Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide's tough, even-handed management of the impeachment trial, Escudero and a bunch of young congressmen under Danding Cojuangco's Nationalist People's Coalition tried to impeach Davide on the flimsiest of grounds. That outrageous act put the country at risk of a full-blown constitutional crisis. Does anyone remember now what Davide's supposed sins were? Does anyone remember, for that matter, that Escudero was one of the leaders of a youthful gang of rising political stars who attempted to hijack the Republic to their bratty, dangerous tantrum, who were perfectly willing to rend this country apart and put it through a potentially disastrous upheaval?

Quite a number have been taken in by Escudero's slick facade--the obvious intelligence, the preternatural calm and self-assurance, the flawless, eloquent command of Filipino. As with most everything else in this sentimental country, he straddles politics and showbiz with ease, and Escudero himself is not shy about banking on his Internet-savvy rock-star status particularly among young people, helped along by vapid media commentators who have hardly called him out on his political behavior. He has compared himself and his youthful politics to US president Barack Obama.

But scratch that PR-buffed persona by examining his history and what do you get? A man so afflicted by myopia that he sees the trees and misses the forest. A man whose moral compass tends to swing not only narrowly but selectively. Every time he rails against GMA for corruption, I remember TV interviews of him strenuously defending Estrada when his favorite president's Boracay mansion was all over the news. When he slams the Arroyos' lavish spending, I remember NOT hearing him condemn the Bacchanalian lifestyle that Erap and his cronies indulged in. And now that he sees fit to twit Villar for his supposedly crooked ways, he then proclaims his fealty to the biggest plunderer this country has managed to convict so far.

Estrada, GMA, Villar--all of them reek of rot and corruption, if by varying degrees. If Escudero were the least bit intellectually honest, if he were even half-serious about promoting the new kind of clean, honest, conscientious governance that he has loudly pledged his brand of public service to, he'd be denouncing ALL of them, and not only those whose political patronage has not been as generous or accommodating enough to earn his tribalistic sense of loyalty and gratitude.

A plague on all their houses. But reserve an extra swarm of locusts and frogs for a hypocrite like Francis Escudero.

By Gibbs Cadiz

16 comments:

Alamo said...

I have not read much about Francis Escudero but I have watched his TV interviews.
“ There is no comparison between him & Obama.”

He’s nothing but a hypocrite wanna be intellectual rock star.

I am glad that I am not his constituent.

bicolano said...

Surely there must be some rabid supporter/Bacongnons of Chiz.

Speak up please.

JJ said...

Escudero would rather bed with convicted politicians than associate with one yet to be proven guilty of any wrong doing.

Blindfolded said...

I will not vote for Francis Escudero nor re-elect him as Senator.

Why shoud I?
Should we re-elect Joseph Estrada who is a convicted politician if he's from Sorsogon?
Then why should we vote for Escudero simply because his father is from Sorsogon?

Blind fold me yet my eyes are wide open to Francis Escudero's hypocrisy.

jenny said...

Sadly, the Philippines is imploding, albeit miraculously made a bit slower perhaps by a few good people (?) or by the balancing act of its citizenry, by all means necessary, just to survive. Everything is just for survival now, not really living anymore. To most, what could be misconstrued as living is actually just a façade to perpetuate what seems to be working. This necessitates charades of every form. It is such an ugly image or picture, or more precisely, reality. Pity the youth who has very few choices. He/she is likened to a sponge soaked in or dropped into dirty water.

Nicki said...

That's true.

Jenny said...

To Nicki: Thank you for acknowledging.

The problem is, even if many know what’s going on, lack of cooperation, envy, timidity, selfishness, and the “bahala na” attitude overpower the slightest hint of a desire to help improve the nation, which in a way should start small: from family, to local communities, to towns, to provinces, and so on. And one thing is also sure: this is no task of only one person.

Politics is a very strong, and seemingly the only foundation in Filipino life. It shouldn’t be; but, to think otherwise is naiveté. Who the Filipinos place in this encompassing, playing field is therefore, in reality, what makes the difference in attempting to obtain the proper atmosphere for daily living and for endeavours that will provide a decent, bright future for our children.

Perhaps, there is a need to teach the children now, in homes and schools, on how to put the right candidates, and what basic respectable rules to establish, in this enormous, challenging field of politics. And include what the effects are on the country, its image, its economy, its character (down to the core of every Filipino persona), etc. If there is such a thing as Good Manners & Right Conduct in our old school cards, why not inject a course or subject called Good Politics & Right Conduct. Examples, models are mandatory, though.

chance observer said...

NOT ON THIS TOPIC, BUT JUST TO CALL ON OTHERS:

Father Roy Eco, gusto co tabi maaraman man con ano ang obserbasion nindo tanganing matabangan man lamang ang satuyang banua.

i read Alexander C. Dellosa coming into this blog also. i would like to read more what he has to say.

London said...

Please Enough of this Chiz Escudero.
Please, can we go to another subject or issue? Pretty please?

Dukha ng Bacon said...

Chiz Escudero? Sino 'to? Ito ba yung gumawa ng paraan para maging DISTRITO nalang ang Bacon? Wala na ba kayong pagmamahal sa sarili ninyong bayan? Pauupuin ninyo ito sa mataas na posisyon? Para ano?

Mas mabuti pa ang ama nalang nito ang paupuing muli, at least, may naitulong pa ito sa Bacon.

not among you said...

Exactly what I was trying to point out in the Bacon Report of Nov. 2, 2009! It is also one of the concerns Dukha ng Bacon has pointed out! Ya, WHY?

What are the chances of the father becoming a puppet to the whims of the son? He may have done things for Bacon before but time has a way of changing people. No offense to the old man. Just checking.

Botante sana said...

Huwag kang mag-alala "not among you"
natututo na rin ang mga botante sa Pilipinas.

Maaaring nagbebenta sila nang boto pero pag dating sa mga presinto binoboto pa rin nila ang napipili nilang kandidato.

Kaparis ni Pacquiao nang nag kandidato nang pagka congresista, marami siyang gastos noon pero hindi pa rin siya lumabas.

not among you said...

So, Botante Sana, what is really missing are sincere honest to goodness political candidates. I am saying this because all the years nothing has improved in the country be it morally, politically, socially or economically. Even the spiritual side has already been poisoned by the political or moral questions.

Thank you for adding your views.

Anonymous said...

To Dukha ng Bacon,

Hindi si CHIZ Escudero ang major proponent ng pagiging distrito ng Bacon. Si Mayor Leovic Dioneda ang may pakana na maging distrito ng Sorsogon City ang Bacon. Ng malapit nang matapos ang 3rd term ni Dioneda noon as Mayor ng Bacon yan ang naisip nyang paraan para patuloy ang "playboy" upsss...political career nya. Si Chiz, bilang Congressman noon ang siyang nagtulak ng batas para maging city ang Sorsogon kasama ang Bacon. To cut it short, sa maruming sistema ni Dioneda sa pulitika na pwersa nya ang BAcongnon na manalo sa plebisito ang YES to citihood ng Sorsogon kasama nga ang Bacon. Money,guns and harassment ang ginawa ni Dioneda, natakot ang mga taga Bacon at nanalo ang Yes vote. Unfortunately, ng magkandidato si Dioneda as mayor noon sa first citihood ng Sorsogon natalo siya ni Mayor Sally Lee. Sabi ngani sa BAcon, balik sa pag uway si Dioneda. Kan dai sa pwesto, siring sa dati, kun haen may gadan, yaon siya. Kun haen may fiestahan, yaon siya. pahiling (kuno)sa tawo na mahal ang mga BAcongnon. Otro election, binuligan na naman kan mga Escudero na makakandidato bilang Mayor. Nanalo. Balik sa dating gawi. Sabi sa Bacon, dakul na naman an narawrawan na mga babaye sa Sorsogon. Gamit an poder bilang Mayor. Kawawang mga babae. Yan si Leovic Dioneda. Gwapo (daa).

Anonymous said...

To Bacongnongs Living Abroad'

Sa Bacon mas maraming inpormasyon ang makukuha natin pag nakinig ka o namamalengke sa palengke ng Bacon. Pulitika man o ekonomiya. Hindi galing sa mga "may sinasabi" daw na taga Bacon na hindi mo nga nakikitang lumalabas ng bahay, moreso, pumunta ng palengke o kaya pumasyal sa ibang barangay ng BAcon,tapos mag bibigay ng mga comments dito sa Blog. Number 1 pa rin na problema ng Bacon ngayon ang mga NPA na patuloy na gumagala at nanghihingi sa mga tao lalo na sa mahihirap na taga baryo. Bakit di ito matigil. Mga pulitiko ang dahilan. Ang mga bodyguard ni MAyor Dioneda ay NPA, ang mga bodyguard ng mga Lee ay NPA, gayon din ang mga Escudero. Tanungin mo ang mga pulitikong ito kung papano mahinto ang NPA sa Sorsogon at walang kongkretong kasagutan ang maibibigay.Mamamayagpag na naman ngayon ang mga NPA dahil sa nalalapit na eleksyon. CAMPAIGN TAX.

Sa ngayon sino ang dapat na botohan ng mga taga Sorsogon City sa pagka Mayor.One on one daw ang laban sa pagka Mayor ng Sorsogon city. Dioneda vs. Atutubo. Sabi sa plaza sa Bacon, may nag mayor na ngaya na tunay na lalaki (Dioneda) nan tunay na babaye (Sally Lee) an Sorsogon City, Purbaran ta man ngonian an "BINABAYE". Pero hindi ko kinakampanya si Atutubo, huh! Na isa daw B..........! Haaay Nakwuuu!

Si CHANCE OBSERVER, pig aapodan an atensyon ni Fr. Roy Eco kun ano an obserbasyon nya para matabangan an mga taga Bacon. I think you are knocking at the wrong door! Sabi ko na ngani bako ini an makatao ki tunay na hitsura kan Bacon sa ngonian. Sabi pa kan sarong contributor digdi, na nagpapasalamat siya ta parehong DIMAANO na Padi an nagkakapot kan parokya kan Bacon ngonian. Pero an hapot ko, nata ta ngonian dai ki naako na maging HERMANO Y HERMANA sa parokya. An sistema daa ngonian sa parokya kan BAcon, grupo-grupo an naglilingkod sa simbahan kada semana. Ano daw tabi an problema, FR. DOUGLAS DIMAANO,? Naghahapot lang. Kulibat ko, asintado ini si Father mamadil ki bayong. Kaito, kan nadestino ini si Father sa Casiguran, yaon ini pirmi sa kakabas-anan aga nan hapon, namamadil ki bayong. arog baga kan bayong na tikling. pag uli kaan namimiwog an darang mga binadilan na bayong. Pan o ta daw maboligan an mga taga Bacon? Iyan an dakulang hapot, bako ining diskursuhan digdi sa blog, paharalangkawan ki English! An Bacon naghahalat na maging Bacon giraray. Padagos an pagtirios. Masakiton na an pagsira maski na ngani an pag oroma. Pirmi na sanang mauranon. An dagat, kun dai an mga kabalayan sa may pigsabunan, siguro ko, an tubig dagat maabot na sa dating munisipyo. Minsan dai ki eskwela sa Bacon East Central School ta pirmi nang pigbabaha, diit sanang uran. Arog kaan an Bacon ngonian.

ay, naku! said...

Anonymous, huwag mong kainisan ang mga nag-i-English. Baco man maraot iyan. Dai ta paggibuhan ki maraot na kahulugan ang opinyon na hindi kabagay ng ating pananalita. Yan ang hirap sa ating mga Pilipino. Maski dai man ki nahihiling na maraot na kagibuhan, basta sana bacong uyon ta o bacong parareho can hiro o taramon ta, pigtataw-an ta ki salang opiniyon. Lawakan ta an satuyang pag-iisip. Maray para sa tuya na ang mga nagtata-o ki opiniyon ay halo: may halangkaw na kaaraman, may ordinaryong natapusan, may mga kapot na titulo, may maray magtaram, may maray magsurat English, Tagalog o Bicol, may pranka, may magalang, may bacong masyadong magalang, may Bicol, may Tagalog, at may English sa kung anong damdamin ang ibig ipahayag. So kun sisay man ang muyang mag assess kan satuyang mga opiniyon, hiling gabos, sabot gabos, ta iba-ibang style ang puedeng pagpilian, kun ano ang tugma sa pag-isip ninda. Kon intiro sa muya ta sanang tararamon, pan-o kita makakuwa qui dacul na opiniyon? Su dai naka Tagalog o Bicol, dai na maiba sa tuya. In other words, the exchange of remarks will be limited, and that limits what we all can explore. Ika nga, to progress, think big also. Arog ka iyan sa Bacon, ang mga politiko, dai nag-iisip ki dakula. Su para sa inda sana ang muya. Maski maka-pakarhay can gabos, dai madutdot ta bacong comfortable sa bacong kinasanayan. Ano ang mga kinasanayan can mga an?

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