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The battle lines were drawn.
The adversaries fired salvos against each other,
and it streaked through the airwaves like cracks of thunder.
Opposition politicians and anti-government
groups are now looking for an opportunity to mount a sustained
attack. The administration on the other side is digging in and is
looking for ways to counterattack. Which side do you belong? Please
don’t rush to retrieve your gun from the old family trunk, or
bring down the sharp bolo kept on top of the aparador to prepare for
battle. It is entirely unnecessary.
Not one of the contending parties plan to send
foot soldiers to the battlefield. In fact, the signs point to a
mano-a-mano battle of champions representing each side.
The champions are Jun Lozada representing the
opposition and anti-government groups and Benjamin Abalos from the
side of the government. It’s not a typical battle for the hearts
and minds of our people because one woman other than the wife said
she lost her heart to Lozada, and some people now refer to the two
champions with the question: “Have they lost their minds?”
Lozada seemed driven by his passion to tell the
people the opposition’s perception of the truth. He has gone on a
speaking tour of the school campuses, where he was received by
screaming students like a movie star. “I’m not used to all this
(attention), and I’m not looking for it,” he told the crowd at
Adamson University a few days ago. “After all, those who sang
hallelujah were the same people who demanded (the Lord’s)
crucifixion.” (Is this a prophecy?)
Abalos could hope the students would have a
change of heart and demand Lozada’s crucifixion. And he has
demanded that he be given a chance to address the students as well
so he can tell them about his own version of the truth about the
telecommunications deal he was accused of brokering for a $130
million fee. Abalos has resigned from his job as chairman of the
election commission in the wake of the scandal.
Abalos challenged Lozada to a public debate over
the issue. “I don’t care,” he told reporters. “I will face
even a demon.” (Is he referring to Lozada?)
As the two champions circled each other and
grappled to get at each other’s throats, supporters shout
encouragement around them.
“Ibagsak, Ibagsak,” Lozada supporters said.
“Mabuhay tayong lahat,” Abalos supporters
countered.
“Hoy, kayo lang ang buhay sa NBN (national
broadband network) deal.”
“Hindi tayong lahat,” Lozada supporters
shout back.
The fight seems to be tilting in favor of Lozada
if the number of supporters is any consideration. Lozada admitted in
a public forum that he was a sinner. People who claimed they were
also sinners banded together to throw their support to the sinner
Lozada. They called themselves the “Sinners Club” and described
their membership as manginginom at sabungero.”
Bob Baylon, the recognized leader of the group
said: “As Jun said, he has done some permissible sins . . . so we
said that if we did our part, we will be like Jun, all sinners who
have good in us.”
We have not heard Abalos admit that he is also a
sinner or that he has “done some permissible sins.” Will the
Sinners Club also back him up if he did? There are millions of
reasons to make some sins permissible.
If Lozada can inspire sinners, can he do the
same to philandering husbands, the moderately corrupt and the probinsyanong
intsik? Didn’t he admit to all three?
You don’t need to be a math wizard to know
there is a big number of Filipinos who are philandering husbands,
moderately corrupt and probinsyanong intsik. If they are as well
organized as the Sinners Club, they can make Lozada president of
this country.
Can Abalos match Lozada’s claims? If he lacks
any of the three, the administration better act fast and send
instead their best philanderer, most oderately corrupt, and a new
probinsyanong Tsinoy.
Right now, the prospects do not look promising
for Abalos, whose dark complexion would belie any attempt to claim
he is a P.I.. And he has only his lawyer, Salvador Panelo, rooting
for him. Panelo has accused the schools of being unfair by inviting
Lozada to speak to students without asking to hear Abalos’ side.
“He’s (Lozada) trying to use students to back up his lies,”
Panelo said. “He’s trying to drum up emotions and students are
lapping it up because they haven’t heard the other side.”
Panelo is a good candidate to replace Abalos if
he wants it. But first he must admit he is a sinner, a philanderer,
moderately corrupt and a probinsyanong intsik.
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