Fearless forecasts

On the boat to Dumaguete, it just so happened that I found myself seated beside two gentlemen from Dipolog who were animatedly discussing the national political situation.

After a smile and exchange of introductions and pleasantries, I joined them with an attentive ear and questioning mind. I learned that our most active conversationalist practiced law and was conversing with a client. Asking permission to share the story of the conversation elicited the witty remark concerning client information confidentiality but the ad joiner waived the right except for their names as the forecast events, when such happens, may be incorrectly attributed to them.

To facilitate the conversation, I inquired if Joseph Estrada would be convicted of plunder and the legal mind confirmed the conviction with the addendum that this was also meant to strike at the keel of the United Opposition's boat that would send Erap's ship to the bottom of the sea. The client provided the explanatory note that this was why some of the opposition senators and want-to-be-senators-again are joining the administration.

So, the soon-to-be-elected opposition senators will again face the choice of joining the administration and the soon-to-be-reorganized new political opposition. Who would be the new political opposition? With a wink, the analytical mind gave a briefing that the political alliance of Lakas and Kampi is currently heading for Splits Ville as gleaned from the recent statements and body language of Mike Defensor and Eduardo Ermita.

This has to do with control of the lower house. As more and more candidates align themselves with Kampi, then Congressman Luis Villafuerte may be the next speaker of the house. The current upstaging of the Mindanao conflict carries the next stage of the saga of Nur Misuari who is said to be tasked with leading the swing votes to further ensure the President's continued stay at the helm of the nation. The legal mind predicted a future pardon if the condition of delivering the needed votes is achieved.

After victory is secured at the cost of clean, peace and honest elections the next important task of the 14th Congress would be to proceed with Constitutional Change with a Constitutional Convention and then we would have a President transformed into a Prime Minister at her terms and not on those imposed on her by a cigar chomping former President.

To add more spice the fearless forecasts, the legal mind further foresaw that Makati will have a very unusual number of army personnel on duty to ensure peaceful elections. Since the member of the AFP on duty are given the privilege to vote where they are on active assignment, you can be almost certain that these soldiers will not be voting for Jejomar Binay. We parted with the ritual exchanging cell phone numbers to keep in touch regarding the fearless forecasts made.

To the legal minds may we attempt to humor you with this anecdote. Lawyers should never ask a feisty grandma a question if they aren't prepared for the answer. In a trial, a small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness, a grandmotherly, elderly woman to the stand. He approached her and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know me?" She responded, "Why, yes, I do know you, Mr. Williams. I've known you since you were a young boy, and frankly, you've been a big disappointment to me. You lie; you cheat on your taxes, and you manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs. You think you're a big shot when you haven't the brains to realize you never will amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher. Yes, I know you."

The lawyer was stunned! Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know the defense attorney?" She again replied, "Why, yes, I do. I've known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster, too. He's lazy, bigoted, and he has a drinking problem. He can't build a normal relationship with anyone and his law practice is one of the worst in the entire state. Not to mention he cheated on his wife with three different women. One of them was your wife. Yes, I know him." The defense attorney almost died with mortification. The judge asked both counselors to approach the bench and, in a very quiet voice, said, "If either of you idiots asks her if she knows me, I'll send you to the electric chair."*