Politics the way it used to be

By Al S. Mendoza

IF you know your politics, the more that a politician opens his mouth, the more that he tells lies.

And on that, here’s one from Otto Von Bismarck worth pondering on:  “[In politics] never believe in anything until it has been officially denied.”

But what I hate most is, politics in this country has become as dirty as Beau Belga’s brand of basketball.

Wasn’t politics the noblest profession not too long ago?

It got soiled, roiled, when Ferdinand Marcos started to strut his political wares.

After failing to earn the presidential nomination from the Liberal Party that helped nurture and nourish his political career, he switched parties and became Nacionalista Party’s bet for president in 1965.

After his victory, the rest, as we love to say, is history.

Marcos, knowing that the Constitution disallowed him to seek a third term after having been reelected in 1969, declared martial law in 1972 for his much-hated dictatorship that was overthrown by the Edsa Revolt in 1986.

Under her revolutionary government, President Cory Aquino saw the 1935 Charter replaced by a new Constitution in 1987 that mandates only one term for a President lasting six years.

Thus, in 1992, Fidel V. Ramos succeeded Tita Cory, but not after disobeying the national convention anointing Ramon Mitra as the ruling party’s presidential bet.

Devastated, Mitra, who lost Tita Cory’s ever-precious endorsement to Ramos despite being a dear buddy of Ninoy’s, was routed in the 1992 polls.

Mitra, the respected former House Speaker, would soon fade out of the political scene and would eventually die a sad and bitter man.

And with that, dirty politics has, indeed, reared its ugly head again.

Erap would succeed Ramos but his rambunctious, alcohol-laden, style of leadership, got him kicked out of Malacanang by a second People Power and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, JDV’s winning running mate in 1998, would complete Erap’s remaining three years from 2001.

And despite saying she wouldn’t run for president, GMA broke his vow and, in 2004, she won a six-year term.

But GMA’s reign would be saddled with fund-diversion controversies and an election scandal, foremost of which was she allegedly stole a million votes through the infamous “Hello Garci” fracas to ensure victory over Fernando Poe Jr. by massive cheating in Mindanao.

Ate Glow is now under hospital arrest on charges she had diverted Sweepstakes intelligence funds, not to mention other unresolved election-related cases still to be possibly filed against her.

Politics, the dirty kind, has become a Pinoy staple again—next only to rice.

Seemingly, even Grace Poe, supposedly politically unsoiled, has also become a political animal.

Her kowtowing on Chiz Escudero’s pandering on the eternally vote-rich Iglesia ni Cristo sect sears the soul.  

I guess only Digong Duterte and, yes, Alan Peter Cayetano, are the remaining true guardians of genuine governance?

You tell me.

(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)

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