Trillanes: Problem or solution?

Dismissed Navy officer, Lt. Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV, was at last proclaimed yesterday by Comelec. He has been a political phenomenon in Philippine politics.

What is the future for him and for the country for whom he staked his life in a mutiny pursuing his own idealism? As the country ponders the answers, we ask the question: Will Trillanes be a problem or a solution?

The Opposition, lacking colorful, good-looking candidates for the Senate, fielded Trillanes as he represents the real opposition.

They did not expect him to win. Being in jail, he could not personally campaign and had no money for media exposure. But he won.

In mid-April Pulse Asia and the Social Weather Station put him in the 21st place, ahead of movie idol Richard Gomez. In the same survey three weeks later or a week before election, he jumped to the 15th place.

In the exit poll surveys or surveys made in their homes after voting with 10,000 respondents, Trillanes placed No. 9. He came out in No. 11.

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I repeat the question, will Trillanes be a problem or a solution?

First problem, radicals, leftists, and even rebels claim they helped him win. I doubt this. Rebels like Trillanes will be bad for radicals, leftists or other rebels unless they are using each other.

No one helped Trillanes. It was the people's mandate to show opposition to the administration. And the people believed he can fight for them, suspecting most politicians are only for their own interests.

The second problem, will the court allow him to attend to his Senatorial functions as the supreme political power mandated it? And his other court cases? His lawyers can take care of that.

Gringo Honasan faced many cases. These were what made him win, like Trillanes. And more persecution will make them win again. The Armed Forces should have known what to do. I understand they are making a survey of all soldiers.

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Now, his fellow Opposition members. They will eye him with suspicion. With his never-say-die attitude, he will most likely grab the limelight from the Opposition. A threat to the ambitious.

Remember Trillanes has a sharp tongue. Even before he was proclaimed he already talked of working for the President's impeachment. He put his foot into his mouth and fellow Opposition Senators Honasan and Escudero gave him a stern lecture.

The administration was very quiet. Of course, following Sun Tzu's "Art of War," when an enemy is making mistakes, keep quiet and let him make more. But Trillanes clammed up.

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But he can also be the solution, if he follows what he advocated for. He will not be liked by politicians, especially by the military, if he denounces graft and corruption in government, especially in the military, where billions and billions of pesos are pocketed by corrupt officials.

And there is something that will instill fear in the hearts of his fellow lawmakers if he asks for a comprehensive audit of the pork barrel funds of both Senators and Congressmen. Senator Ping Lacson does not like pork barrel, but out of camaraderie, just keeps quiet about it. But Trillanes can be a loose cannon ball. He is new and daring. He is young and an idealist.

Congressman Pablo Garcia, in his fight for the Speakership, demanded an audit of the pork barrel of Speaker Jose de Venecia. Many were asking, why de Venecia alone?

Trillanes will face problems and he can be a problem himself to many. But if he chooses, he can be a solution. If he only becomes consistent and stands by his idealism that catapulted him to the Senate, he can be a super hero if he can stop graft and corruption in the legislature of its unaudited pork barrel and the missing funds in the military.

Antonio Trillanes, will he be a problem or a solution? The answer is his to make.

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We missed to report yesterday of the trip of the Sunshine Boys to China. We received the report of Willy Mirano late Thursday night.

Thursday, they had lunch with Congresswoman Yuanyuan Fu of the Congress of Guanzhou and in the evening had dinner with Chairman Lim and Vice-Chairman Go of Guanzhou City.

Friday, they flew back to Xiamen and are flying home tonight.

In the trip organized and led by Charlie Javellana were Ric Yanson, Pompey Querubin, Toti Ramos, Willy Mirano, Honey Galeno, and Ed de Guzman.*

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