Who’s The Next President? JOJO, MAR, CHIZ, BONGBONG, MIRIAM, RODY, PING: OPEN RACE FOR PRESIDENT IN 2016

By Manny Pinol

Twio and a half years before the end of the presidency of Benigno S. Aquino III, the question on who would be the next leader of almost 100 million Filipinos is starting to be raised.

Strangely, there is no clear frontrunner in the presidential race this late.

Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay, earlier touted to be a cinch to become the next President, is now being dragged down by issues of corruption, his mistress and the Dasmarinas Village-gate scandal.

Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas III, who like the president belongs to an elite political clan, carries the political baggage of having lost to Binay in the last vice presidential contest, although this loss is a subject of an election protest.

Added to that is the perception that he rubs people the wrong way as best exemplified by the Tacloban City issue with Mayor Alfred Romualdez.

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has to contend with issues concerning the heart, mainly centered on his relationship with actress Heart Evangelista and her parents who disapprove of the relationship.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte is a hot choice but the maverick politician has expressly declared he is not interested and if he is, his declaration of interest for the presidency would be like a magnet which would draw human rights groups to his direction.

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., namesake and son of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, carries a name which is both a burden and a gain for him.

He, however, has to contend with the problem that the Philippines is still largely divided by the anti and pro Marcos groups, a carry over from the more than two decades of the Marcos regime, and the reality that he pales in comparison to his late father, who has successfully cultivated the reputation as an intellectual giant.

Former senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, now the newly-designated rehabilitation czar in the Typhoon Yolanda-ravaged areas, is undoubtedly a presidential contender having had an unsuccessful bid in the past.

But aside from the “Kuratong Baleleng” issue which haunts him until today, Ping is considered as a political enigma with a very mysterious personality.

Then there is the fiery and controversial Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago who undoubtedly has a legion of followers and believers, a hold-over from her unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 1992.

Considered a brilliant constitutionalist, never mind her so-so grade in the Philippine Bar exminations, Miriam has been hounded by issues of her mental health.

Who will it be?

Or are there other presidential potentials not included in the list?

In an attempt to help educate our voters in choosing the right President who will lead the country for the next six years after President Aquino’s term, this facebook page, mannypinol.com, will attempt to dissect each of the above-mentioned personalities.

In trying to know who these leaders are, I will not hold punches or cover up any derogatory information so that our followers will be aided in making their choice.

I will extensively use information available in the web, especially data from wikipedia, and inputs I have personally gathered through the years I spent in government.

Followers of this page are encouraged to post comments, positive or negative, and click “like” for the articles featuring a specific presidential potential.

The number of “Likes” will be an initial indicator on who the front-runner and preferred presidential hopeful is.

The “Presidential Series” will start with an article downloaded from the Philippine Daily Inquirer which was written by Gil C. Cabacungan titled “Aquino’s Pick Key To Coalition Unity.”