"The upright and honest-hearted man who strives to do the best he can, need never fear hell's damnation." - Robert Burns
MANILA, Philippines - As the man said, there will be no estrangement between President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, the son of Cory and Ninoy, and Vice President Jejomar "Jojo" Binay, the loyal friend of the family.
In this respect, there will be no split as the family friendship is cast in stone.
Should the life of the President be at risk or in danger, Vice President Binay has assured President Aquino that he will be there to defend him, presumably even with his own life.
However, when it comes to national issues and serious concerns, independent-minded Vice President Jejomar Binay is his own man, and he has unequivocally made this clear to the President.
Notwithstanding the fact that he had been honored with a Cabinet position, Vice President Binay was clearly elected to the Vice Presidency on his own merits; with his own political party; beholden to no one other than his supporters and party, which is not even a coalition partner; and is at the peak of the public's esteem, satisfaction, and approval ratings.
Thus, rather than sow intrigues and provoke a split that does not exist between the President and the Vice President, do-gooders and honest brokers should instead forge a win-win tandem or complementation with the President, who cannot wait for his term to expire and is currently a passive Chairman of the Liberal Party whose lackluster President, Sec. Mar Roxas, has alas marginalized himself from mainstream politics. The phoenix-like resurrection of the PDP-Laban with young pro-active leaders, in contrast to the reactive Aquino administration, are in turn, attracting the best and the brightest of this young generation.
In a word, instead of detractors from both sides forcing or driving a wedge between the two, let the President appoint VP Binay as his senior advisor, or understudy, or heir apparent since both have the same mission objectives of love of country, rising GDP, job creation, straight path, alleviation of poverty, peace, and eradication of the culture of corruption.
Truth to tell, the PDP-Laban party of Chairman Jojo Binay is the political juggernaut to reckon with in 2013 and 2016. In contrast, the Liberal Party of Aquino/Roxas will rise, or fall on the performance and fate of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino.
Further, with the gearing up and preoccupation with the coming elections, the continuing persecution and vendetta against Chief Justice Renato Corona and former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo can only add to the aggravations and divisiveness that come with the impeachment trial, plunder hearings, and early electioneering.
When all is said and done, the win-win solution is to forge a solid personalized partnership between the two complementary leaders, and let the two emerging dominant political parties namely, the PDP-Laban and LP, run their own course to their logical endings.
If the Filipino people will allow these operators and manipulators to sow intrigues and foment internal strifes, the nation may retrogress, and we will be back where we started.
From where we are perched, as the star brightens for Vice President Jejomar Binay, the twinkle in the administration will tend to dim as frustration and ennui exact their toll on the Aquino administration.
You be the judge
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( For comments and views please e mail chaff_fromthegrain@yahoo.com.ph)
