Whose show was it?

Both former Senate President Franklin Drilon and beleaguered Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas have demanded the resignation of their kasimanwa, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, as well as Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Chief Superintendent Wilfredo Dulay for their roles in the infamous assault on the Provincial Capitol. I can just imagine Gonzalez, and maybe even Puno, snorting "Wish nyo lang."

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Well, everybody is getting into the act (except the President?). Philippine National Police Director Oscar Calderon has announced that he is also going (may have already gone when this comes out) to Iloilo to "get the real score." He is expected to talk to people, to officials as well as the police, for their versions of the greatest show ever produced in that province. Maybe he will find someone who will tell him that the NPA redfighters were there, jail inmates carrying armalites were hiding behind posts, and that helicopters and snipers were everywhere waiting to shoot the cops when they come out with a handcuffed governor.

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By the way, what happens to the five million DOLLARS earmarked as reward for whoever captures Abu Sayyaf kingpin Khadaffy Janjalani, who has been confirmed dead after U.S. testing by DNA? They say military men are not entitled to it, they can only get medals and honors, perhaps promotions later, but not the money. I hope then that the funds will be held for another purpose, and that efforts will be made to ensure that the $5 million does not go to any dummy. I'm not saying that such dummy represents either the cops or the military.

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It was saddening to hear that former Senator Francisco "Kit" Tatad had severed his ties with the opposition because of the issue of dynasties as evidenced in the proposed line-up of senatorial candidates of the group. Tatad is said to be appalled at the inclusion of such people as Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, whose sister Senator Pia, who although married, still carries the family name, JV Ejercito who is the brother of Senator Jinggoy Estrada, and Koko Pimentel, son of Senator Aquilino Pimentel.

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Tatad had not mentioned yet the reported deadlock among the Aquinos on the candidacies of two members of the clan, former senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta, and her nephew, Benigno Jr., or Noynoy Aquino. He probably did not need to mention that another son of the President, Dato Arroyo, is also said to be running for congress, where his uncle, Iggy, is also a member, and that another son, Mikey is governor of Pampanga. Or that Guia Gomez, the mother of JV Ejercito, son of former President Estrada, is said to be seeking the mayorship of San Juan, Metro Manila which her son will vacate.

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But that is to be expected, especially with the results of a survey by BizNews Asia that the two most powerful persons in the Philippines are Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (Number One) and Joseph Estrada (Number Two). The survey carried one hundred Filipinos, both officials, retired ones, and business tycoons, and former President Cory Aquino was only the tail-ender! So that explains why the two are believed most powerful, and this power will grow more after the May elections, unless some drastic changes happen.

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I don't know why the Presidential Security Group officials made the issue of the President's having been booed at the concert of the famous Il Divo more important by trying to belittle it, or giving their own version. The story that the audience booed because GMA was late, and booed again when it was announced at the end that the people should stay put because the president was leaving, hardly got notice in most media outlets. The PSG reportedly said that it was not really "Boo" they heard but only "Hmmm …". No wonder some wise guys have started calling the show not of "Il Divo" but of "Il Di Boo".*

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