BACKBENCHER
Rod P. Kapunan
3/3-4/2012
The most unusual thing that transpired in that latest circus of politicians who still entertain the thought of cashing in on that swindle was the presence of deposed President Joseph “Erap” Estrada. Many believe he has completely lost his sense of political history, forgetting he was a victim of Edsa not only once, but twice! In Edsa I, he was removed as mayor of San Juan, and his mandate was not at all respected by the new overlords. As he narrated, it was then Major Panfilo “Ping” Lacson who told him to vacate, if not they will be forced to drag him out.
He tried to put up an indignation rally for the shabby treatment he got. He joined the march of that maligned “holdouts” of Marcos loyalists. Estrada, together with his followers, were savagely beaten up for defying the order not to march by the government that just proclaimed to the Filipino people their liberation from the “dictatorship.” It was his defiance to be on the side of the underdog that made a destiny out of a municipal mayor. The people — not only of San Juan — loved him for that. Instantly he became a national figure.
Nobody then dared to be identified as a Marcos loyalist because they thought it would amount to committing political hara-kiri. Charismatic Estrada, after losing his post, then started to aim for a higher political office, although people could sense he avoided being identified as a Marcos loyalist. Nothing was wrong with that for in fact people admired him for trying to build his own identity and political mass base over that simmering discontent of people who realized that Edsa was all but a political swindle.
Estrada then began his “long march” to define his political history. In 1987, he ran for senator under the hastily organized Grand Alliance for Democracy, and only he and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile won. It was his election as senator that firmed up his ambition of wanting to become President, but clever enough, refusing to be identified as a loyalist, although the Marcoses were openly campaigning for him. In 1992, he ran for vice president with business tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, Jr. as his presidential candidate. He won with a sizeable number of votes, but his presidential running mate failing to make it despite the all-out support from their traditional bailiwick, Iglesia ni Cristo.
Estrada had no reason to fear the yellow horde despite being treated like political lepers. The overwhelming votes he obtained when he ran for vice president were more than enough to convey the ominous message that he would be the next President. It was from that grim prospect of the Yellow Era about to come to an abrupt end with a closeted Marcos loyalists wresting power that the conspiracy of hatching another Edsa came about.
One of the notorious plotters that engineered his ouster was there. It was Ramos, who even scolded him publicly when he was President, who worked out that hideous strategy; that should they fail in dissuading the people to vote for him, they could well proceed to discredit him by fabricating charges of corruption, incompetence, and for wallowing deep in vices. Once the black propaganda reached their saturation point, the people would have no choice but to go along with the idea of kicking out the President they overwhelmingly elected.
Indeed, another of that dark chapter in our political history came, and it focused on how the President elected by more than 50 percent of the voters was unceremoniously removed from office. The hypocrites succeeded, but not without seeing Estrada’s followers going berserk. Had it not for the now jailed political hijacker’s determination to hold on to power, the May 1 bloody rampage could have evolved to one of widespread riots. Yes, he was jailed and convicted by a Kangaroo Court, but people did not mind that. He remained popular because he represented their galvanized sentiment, thinking he had that unwavering principle worthy of their blind adulation.
Maybe a man could lose everything, but not his honor. When he too loses that, then we could readily conclude he has become a real goner. Many regretted seeing him making that chikahan at people instrumental for his ouster. There are many things Estrada could do to ingratiate himself with the present regime, but of all things he could have excused his presence for that would imply he has been reduced to a mindless sycophant. His presence was not only an insult to himself, but an exposition that indeed he has lost his sense of political history. He made a trash of his own record at a time when he is about to pull down the curtain to his erstwhile colorful political career.
It was not only a case of him forgetting the people who sacrificed for him, but of distorting Edsa itself. Everybody knew he was not there when the first political swindle happened. But when he showed up in that last celebration, he completely distorted history all for his desire to be included as a party that threw filth at the Filipino people. He cannot term is presence a mere chika-chika, but a betrayal of himself, and an ultimate act of political self-destruction.
