THE FUROR over the Supreme
Court decision that declared Mary Grace Natividad Poe-Llamanzares eligible to
run for the country’s highest post has not died down. And it may not until
after the elections; and should Ms. Llamanzares win, it may live on until either
her term ends or in her impeachment.
But the real question that
should now be answered is whether Ms. Llamanzares is really qualified to become
President. The High Tribunal simply paved the way for her to become a
candidate. Whether she would win the highest post in the country would depend
on the electorate.
It should be noted however,
that should she win, this would be the first time a former American citizen
will become the President of the country. Though she may not really have any
allegiance to the United States of America, this fact would still leave a bad
taste in the mouth.
Her claim that she is running
as an independent has also become very questionable. Several big business
people are backing her candidacy, including the Nationalist Peoples Coalition
chairperson Eduardo C. Cojuangco. This fact alone belies her claim of running
as an independent. As such, her other claim of not being beholden to anyone
should she win is either an outright lie or simple naiveté.
Ms. Llamanzares’ often states
that she will continue what her father started. Her adoptive father, Fernando
Poe Jr., however had not held any public office much less elected into any
office, save for his failed bid for the presidency in 2004. FPJ had helped a
lot of people; but he did in his private capacity. And his 2004 presidential
bid was seen by most as an attempt to help his incarcerated best friend then,
former President Joseph E. Estrada.
For all it’s worth, Ms.
Llamanzares may prove to be better than what she had already shown when she
becomes President. She may end up proving her doubters wrong. And she may even
continue the progress made by the current dispensation.
Or she may end up like
Corazon C. Aquino—grossly unprepared and woefully inexperienced. Though Ms.
Llamanzares will never have the same sincerity Ms. Aquino had exuded and
practiced, she may end up just like her, leaning mostly on advisers, friends,
political supporters and hangers-on to decide what is best for the Philippines.
And should that happen, it
would become the longest six years since 1986.
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