VP Binay Announces Ceasefire
By Manny Pinol
As a former politician myself, I understand that political popularity and survival sometimes depends on how issues are addressed and handled.
We call it “positioning” and it is based mainly on good judgement on where to put yourself during the outbreak of burning issues and crisis situation.
Vice President Jejomar Binay, who people say is a cinch to become the next President, is an astute politician who knows how to position himself in crisis situation.
In the face of the pork barrel scandal, he volunteered to surrender his P200-M pork barrel and called for an investigation of the scam.
The move is an obvious attempt to project himself as somebody clean and willing sacrifice his pork barrel to give in to the demand of the people.
That’s a brilliant strategy in keeping his head above the mud.
But there are obvious political moves by Vice President Binay which I consider as bordering on the superfluous and ridiculous among which is the effort to save convicted drug mules facing the death penalty in China.
This act I believe is hypocrisy at its worse. It’s a ridiculous attempt to earn political brownie points.
What message are we trying to impart on the Filipino people?
When you deal with drugs in the Philippines, you should be punished but when you deliver drugs to China, you should be forgiven?
“Sobra na nga atik-atik,” the Cebuanos would say.
But the latest gaffe committed by Vice President Binay was his announcement yesterday of a ceasefire between the MNLF forces who attacked Zamboanga City and the government forces.
Reading this report today in the Philippine Daily Inquirer left me open-mouthed:
“MANILA, Philippines—After five days of heavy fighting, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Chair Nur Misuari and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin have agreed to observe a ceasefire and discuss a “peaceful settlement” of the crisis in Zamboanga City, Vice President Jejomar Binay said Friday night.
“In an interview, Binay said he spoke with both Misuari and Gazmin around 10 p.m. Saturday about the implementation of a ceasefire while pursuing a deal to end the security crisis in Zamboanga City.
“Both sides agreed to stop the fighting while pursuing a peaceful settlement. They agreed to implement a ceasefire as soon as possible tonight,” said Binay when reached by phone at midnight.
“He had just spoken to Misuari and Gazmin an hour and a half before the Inquirer interview. He did not say which side reached out first.
“Binay will fly to Zamboanga City Saturday to iron out the mechanics of the “peaceful settlement” deal, details on which he did not disclose yet because of the sensitive nature of the talks.
“He said he will be meeting with Gazmin and will likely talk to Misuari “over the phone.”
“Binay and Misuari were classmates at the University of the Philippines-Diliman.”
Somebody must shake up Vice President Binay and remind him that while he may be a cinch to become the next President, he is not the President yet.
Binay’s move, while it may contribute to ending the stand-off in Zamboanga City is an obvious politicking and leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
Unless he was tasked by President Aquino to work out a ceasefire between the MNLF attackers and the government forces in Zamboanga City, Binay has no business making announcements about a ceasefire.
If he was honest and sincere in his intentions to help diffuse the problem, he could have worked silently and reported to the President his accomplishment.
He should have allowed President Aquino to make the announcement and waited for the President to give him credit for forging a ceasefire.
Vice President Binay should be fairly reminded that sometimes Fate has a way of playing with those who could not wait.
(Photo caption: This picture shows me and my brothers with Vice President Binay. He is a friend and I believe friends should be truthful and frank.)
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