Dousing ‘Destab’; Playing the 2010 Card

Written on Saturday, November 8th, 2008 at 11:35 pm | by Ding G. Gagelonia

The metro is abuzz with talk about something ‘brewing’.

During the past several days quiet backroom meetings have been in progress along with text message exchanges between various ‘like-minded’ groups itching for change.

Malacanang itself has again been quick to ‘float’ the so-called ‘raw intelligence’ about a “new destabilization plot” being hatched.

So it may not really be surprising that while the Palace is pooh-pooing the Social Weather Stations’ new dipstick poll of of presidential ‘probables’ in 2010, Presidential Management Staff boss Cerge Remonde (an  old friend from my MSM days) has just released a short list of names of 5 ‘presidential timbers’: Vice President Noli De Castro, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Senator Richard Gordon, Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando, and Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte.

This surprise listing is obviously aimed at making the wannabees  salivate and look hard at their options anew and alert their ‘operators’ and supporters.

“Hey guys, rev up your networks and machineries, you may just become the ‘anointed’,” Malacanang, through Remonde, seems to be saying.

Veep Noli is hands down sure to tun, secretary Teodoro will likely demure given that he has the ‘youth advantage (meaning he can wait his turn about from assessing his own links with ‘Boss’ Danding Cojuangco), while Gordon, currently helmsman of the national red cross has tirelessly been going around the country sounding out his supporters.

The last two gentlemen short-listed by Malacanang are studies in contrast: Fernando is shamelessly peddling his mug everywhere in a blatant display of presidential ambition.The amiable mayor Belmonte, executive vice president of Lakas party, has been thinking of going back to reclaim his congressional seat in the 4th district of QC (with city pundits seeing this as a route to the speakership.

So who among the 5 will be ‘anointed’ or gifted with a ‘kiss of death’ given the unpopularity of the incumbent.

This early those in the opposition are comparing the administration to the Republicans who sustained a massive drubbing in the US elections from the Obama-led Democratic Party juggernaut.

What do all these amount to?

With the public mind suddenly being refocused on 2010, the hope of Palace operators is that they will be douse the flames of any ‘plot’ to give Joey Salceda’s “luckiest B” a sudden exit.

And for the ‘Five Probables’ will it be ‘anointment’ or kiss of death?

(Cross-posted @ At Midfield)

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About The Author: Ding G. Gagelonia is a journalist of some 30 years, having worked in both radio and TV news and public affairs since his teens. Ding Gagelonia now writes independently and does corporate communications consulting. He has two kids, Felice and Luis. His journalist blog is at midfield.wordpress.com

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5 Responses to “Dousing ‘Destab’; Playing the 2010 Card”

  1. The EQualizer on November 9th, 2008 12:08 am

    “Two things can prevent the Presidential elections in 2010. One, charter change, which Gloria is now pushing with hammer and thongs, and two, a declaration of martial law”Former Speaker Joe De Venecia

  2. Phil Manila on November 9th, 2008 12:40 am

    The three scenarios that Mr. Ding alluded to above:

    1. There is another Coup in the Making. => Nah, 17 months to go is not too long. If its true, it may be a ‘coup’ me.

    2. Five Presidential Wannabes that might have Administration support. => Trial Balloon to get concessions? e.g. presidential pardon.

    3. The above are both Red Herrings. Martial Law a Final Solution?

    I’ll take Scenario 2.

  3. Ding G. Gagelonia on November 9th, 2008 12:49 am

    Phil Manila,

    Depending on which side of the fence one is, he may even use being shortlisted to parlay this into fund and support-raising. AND YOU ARE CORRECT, ‘DEAL-MAKING-FOR-PARDON’ may also be on the table.
    Daming configurations in this ala-mahjong game.

  4. Current » Mutiny for a Bounty on November 18th, 2008 12:48 am

    […] the Palace with Bolante, and not after the Palace had already tried to whet the appetite of those it declared potential contenders for the presidency. At least two of them would directly benefit from Villar being taken down a notch or two: […]

  5. Manuel L. Quezon III: The Daily Dose » Today's Dose » Mutiny for a bounty on November 18th, 2008 12:51 am

    […] the Palace with Bolante, and not after the Palace had already tried to whet the appetite of those it declared potential contenders for the presidency. At least two of them would directly benefit from Villar being taken down a notch or two: […]

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