Boy Waray:

I suggest that you make all your statements here in tagalog… so that majority of our people (our masa) who must be reading this column now will understand your logical presentation about why you are voting for GIBO instead of Noynoy. Nevertheless, I personally agree with you.

@Boy Waray

Facts: Gibo announced his intention to run in March 2009; He was selected by the executive committee of Palaka in September 2009; He resigned from the Cabinet in November 2009.

Gibo only resigned after being endorsed by GMA and getting the nomination of GMA’s party. He did not resign when he decided to run for president and to be his own man. He resigned because, at that time, it was expected of cabinet members to resign from the cabinet if they are to run for office.

You assert that Gibo is unlike GMA but his past actions as a Congressman (even before becoming a member of the cabinet) had been consistently in support of GMA. From Leilani Chavez’ article (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/12/01/09/gibo-under-gma’s-shadow), “During his 9-year stint in the House of Representatives, Teodoro has consistently sided with Arroyo. He voted to trash impeachment complaints filed against Arroyo in the lower house, and has openly supported motions for a Constituent Assembly in 2006.”

I’m sorry but I don’t get your logic. He agrees with most, if not all, of GMA’s actions and policies but he is the opposite of GMA?

Fact: Gibo is the MAIN complainant in the Complaint for Impeachment against the then Chief of Justice of the Supreme Court, Hilario Davide Jr., filed in October 23, 2003.

Gibo must have a really screwed sense of right and wrong. He LED the impeachment against Davide but could not even vote to impeach GMA.
These are the hard facts brother Boy Waray and please don’t divert the issue to Noynoy.

Hi Diego,

Gibo USED to follow GMA out of obligation because he was a member of her cabinet. He had to toe the line. This was precisely why he resigned from his post when he decided to run for president. Now, he does not need to follow GMA. He is his own man. And he stated that categorically several times. As president, he said he will let the axe fall where it may.

Unfortunately, people tend to regard him as GMA's clone due to his stint in her cabinet and membership in Lakas. But you and I both know that is an assumption not based on facts. We are all angry at GMA (myself included) that we become blinded by rage and fail to see beyond our emotions.

As for me, I would rather vote for GIBO who was endorsed by GMA but does not act like her than vote for NOYNOY who claims to be a reformer but acts more like GMA. I can also tell my family that at least I supported someone who has his own mind compared to NOYNOY who is used and dictated upon by self-serving advisers and consultants.

Brother, I hope you read my comments below with impartiality and then decide if NOYNOY is really the person that he claims to be. Maybe we are just jaded with the idea of replacing GMA with a son of heroes without realizing that we are shortchanging ourselves and the future of our children. Peace.

I find it sad that the recent survey shows Noynoy leading despite the presence of better qualified candidates in the field. It appears that we Filipinos indeed lack political maturity because we let our emotions act without the benefit of intellect. This has always been our weakness and we will continue to suffer bad leadership as a consequence of our own doing. As I see it, the Filipinos’ overwhelming support for Noynoy is anchored on two emotions: 1) our sympathy for Tita Cory and 2) our collected hatred for PGMA.

However, if we shed our sentiments and look deeper into the characters of the presidentiables in our midst, we will find that it is Noynoy who bears the closest semblance to the traits of our most despised PGMA. It goes without saying that his presidency is not the reform we seek. Before you react violently, let me lay down the facts about Noynoy and his family:

1. Noynoy is a traditional politician. As the standard bearer of Liberal Party, he has accepted many political turncoats and corrupt officials to the party’s fold just to grow the party and get more funds. Sen. Serge Osmena recognized this and decided to leave the party.

2. Noynoy’s legislative performance leaves a lot to be desired. He did not author a single significant bill in the House and Senate. In fact, Sen. Lito Lapid filed more bills than him in the 14th Senate. With all due respect to Sen. Lapid, I think that is saying a lot.

3. Noynoy comes from a political dynasty. The Kamag-anak Inc. prospered during the Aquino presidency. Their family had many opportunities to improve Tarlac but they turned the province into their personal kingdom and source of wealth.

4. Noynoy puts personal interests before the nation’s. He has been in power for so many years now yet he has done nothing to resolve the legitimate and morally upright claims of more than 8,000 farmer beneficiaries of Hacienda Luisita.

5. The Aquino presidency was rife with violence. The Mendiola massacre, seven bloody coups, and documented human rights violations occurred while Tita Cory was the commander-in-chief of those who perpetrated the crimes.

6. Noynoy claims to fight the ills of the country but tolerates wrongdoings. Where was Noynoy during the PGMA impeachment case? Noynoy played it safe and didn’t bother to actively participate in the proceedings. Where was he when his uncle and adviser Peping Cojuangco turned POC into his dominion and blocked our athletes from representing the country because of political considerations? Noynoy did not even lift a finger. Is this a preview of a Noynoy presidency? So weak and tolerant that he cannot even control his own relatives in power?

7. Noynoy is a conceited individual. When asked by Sen. Gordon to expound on his accomplishments during a forum, he smugly answered that he does not reply to questions from bottom dwellers. Is it because he has no significant accomplishment to speak of? Does this mean that he will not respond to the needs of the bottom dwellers of society because it’s too much of a bother to stoop down from his lofty perch?

8. Noynoy does not possess the kind of leadership needed to reform the country. He’s campaign is characterized by power struggles and discord among the various factions behind him. Instead of Noynoy unifying them and following his lead, his popularity is being used by people with vested interests. He is a lost sheep amidst cunning shepherds. This is a preview of a Noynoy presidency. Even if he has good intentions, he does not command enough leadership and respect to implement them. His weakness will only be used by his cabals to benefit themselves.

9. Noynoy lacks moral ascendancy. He cannot even guide his own sister (guess who?) from having multiple affairs with married men yet he plans to lead a country of 90 million people from moral decay?

10. Noynoy severely lacks appeal. While not a necessity in leadership, a pleasing countenance and bearing certainly goes a long way. And Noynoy? Let’s be kind and just say that he is as charming as a rock =)

His supporters can argue that he can bring change to the country but his actions clearly do not support this. With all his similarities to PGMA, I think it should have been Noynoy whom she endorsed. After all, Noynoy has already proven that his presidency will not be any different from hers.