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Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Cabaero: GMA’s loss, Roco’s gain?
By Nini B. Cabaero
Beyond 30
There was a time when Raul Roco was believed by many to be the person right for the job of President of the Philippines.
Until developments — health reasons, ugly rumors about his marriage, having a political weakling for running mate and poor performance in pre-election ratings — pushed him to the sidelines. Then, early results of the May 2004 elections were enough for him to do what was proper: give up his presidential quest and declare that the people have spoken in the election of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Roco is back in the news a year from the elections or, another way of putting it, a year of rest that must have enabled him to regain strength, physical and otherwise. This time he is leading the call for the holding of snap presidential elections and placing himself back into the public’s consciousness.
He said a snap election would be a legal move once Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro resign and they should resign because they cheated in the elections. He did not agree with claims that the opposition did not have good alternatives to Arroyo.
Video clips of Roco in the television news showed him looking healthier than last year when in the heat of the campaign he suddenly flew to Houston, Texas to undergo numerous medical tests. What got reported were Roco’s claims he was suffering then from chronic lower back pain, although others suspected a worse condition especially after he returned to the campaign looking gaunt and several pounds lighter.
His absence from the campaign caused him to lose precious support from his coalition, party mates and the electorate. A Social Weather Stations survey report made immediately prior to the election showed Roco’s rating down from 15 percent in May to 8.4 percent. This lost ground created a positive impact on Arroyo who enjoyed a rise in her ratings from 31.4 percent in March to 35.3 percent in May. Roco’s loss became Arroyo’s gain.
Recent developments on the move to impeach Arroyo and the call to hold snap presidential elections raise this question: Will Arroyo’s loss become Roco’s gain?
Despite pronouncements to the contrary, one thing clear from the series of political upheavals happening now in our country is the self-interest of some of the protagonists.
It is true that vital issues need to be clarified or answered, like President Arroyo’s alleged role in the rigging of the May 2004 polls and the opposition’s sources for those tapes on supposed wiretapped conversations. But, it is true too that some people stand to benefit from the fall of the Arroyo administration. And to these people, the least they can do is be transparent about it.
(ninicab@sunstar.com.ph)
(June 28, 2005 issue)
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