Poe-Querubin Partners in Anti-Crime

The President’s choice of her cabinet greatly affects the over-all performance of her administration. Most of the time, we determine that someone is a good leader if she possesses the capacity to guide competent and honest individuals to work alongside her.

This is what Grace Poe clearly exhibited by unequivocally announcing to the Filipino people her choice of the man who will solve the country’s complicated crime problem – Col. Ariel Querubin.

Medal of Valor Awardee. United Nations Service Medal and Ribbon. A soldier who valiantly stood up against the corrupt Arroyo Administration. This is Col. Ariel Querubin.

Querubin graduated from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in 1979 as a Dean's Lister. He took his master's degree in defense studies from the University of Canberra in Australia, graduating with distinction.

Querubin is also a staunch warrior against corruption. He was one of those who also implicated businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles as the alleged mastermind in the P10 billion pork barrel scam.

In the words of Grace Poe:

"Iyung iba nagdududa kung kaya ko bang labanan ang drugs kaya bilang isang pangulo na maraming inaasikaso, kailangan may mapakakatiwalaan na crime czar. Ilalagay ko ang isang may Medal of Valor na talagang magaling -- si Colonel Querubin -- na inirerespeto ng PNP at AFP na makipaglaban sa krimen at droga,"

This is where Rody Duterte fails us. His choice of the anti-crime czar is a man of questionable integrity and someone who is associated to graft and corruption. His name is Gen. Hermogenes Esperon. Duterte portrays himself as the one who will eradicate criminality in the first six months of his incumbency if ever he wins, but Esperon casts serious doubt into this ambitious claim.

As the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, J3 at General Headquarters, AFP; Esperon was implicated during the 2004 alleged election fraud. He was mentioned in taped conversations called the "Hello Garci Tapes" to have worked for the relief of a Brigade Commander in Lanao who was not sympathetic to then Presidential Candidate Macapagal-Arroyo. He is indeed a puppet of the Arroyo administration. A soldier without conscience who blindly followed his corrupt "Commander-in-Chief's" orders.

Esperon also had ties with PDAF Queen Janet Napoles. Esperon was president and chief executive officer of the Asia Star Power Resources Corp. (AStar Power), a coal trading firm controlled by the Napoles family.

Unlike Col. Querubin, Esperon fails to realize that the ultimate authority of the military and all other law enforcement agencies emanates from the people whom they are duty-bound to serve and protect. This is an anti-crime czar who would only use the position for his and his President's advantage.

So, fellow voters, your choice of the next President of the Republic of the Philippines must not only look at the personal credentials of the candidate; we must also consider who will be part of her cabinet. Grace Poe, unfettered by shady political alliances and party affiliations, showed to us that her “Gobyernong may Puso” would include individuals of honesty, integrity and genuine dedication to public service.

The brand of leadership that we need

What we need are leaders who have genuine and clean experience in governance.

During the recently concluded second leg of the Philippine Presidential Debates. Many of the candidates pointed out the alleged "lack of experience" of Senator Grace Poe in the government and decision-making.

But to rebut their claim, what kind of experience are they referring to.

Are they referring to experience on how to be corrupt public officials? Experience on channeling government funds (like PDAF) into their pockets? Experience in relegating the public interest into a status below their private interest?

If this is the experience they are pertaining to, clearly Grace Poe doesn't have any. Her stint as MTRCB Chairman and Senator is free from the stains of graft and corruption. Her term as a Senator has no tinged of being involved in the Pork Barrel scam that had haunted her other colleagues. This is the kind of experience that we need.

Not the experience of traditional, veteran politicians who have made public office as their own personal (and even family or dynastic) business.

The same leadership experience can be found in Leni Robredo who has clearly shunned away from exploiting politics to her own advantage. She is a model leader of humility who even used public transportation on her trips back to her hometown. Who among the other Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates use the jeep or the bus for transportation?

That is why the experience that we must look into for our choice of candidates this elections is the experience displayed by Grace Poe and Leni Robredo. This is genuine servant-leadership for the people.

Grace-Leni for 2016!

Grace Poe supported by Aquino sisters

The Aquino family itself cannot give its full support to the administration party’s standard-bearer, Mar Roxas. The three Aquino sisters (names) have just signified their choice for the successor to their brother and it is none other than Grace Poe.

The tide has indeed turned into Poe’s favor. We can greatly expect within the next few weeks that the polls will reveal a huge lead between her and whoever will be the Top 2 pick for the presidency. Those voters who have doubted Poe’s chances of running this election because of the disqualification cases are now returning to her camp. Those politicians who have withdrawn their backing on Poe’s campaign will most likely revert back to her side now that her path to the presidency is clearer than ever.

Moreover, the Aquino sister’s support for Poe reveals how weak the Liberal Party has become when it chose Mar Roxas as its Presidential candidate. We have observed in the past few months some politicians leaving the party and pledging their allegiance to Grace Poe. But most significantly, while choosing for another Presidential candidate, they still retained their adherence to Leni Robredo, the Liberal VP candidate. Many personalities have already recognized the compatibility of a Poe-Robredo administration. Robredo’s under-performance in the polls is hugely attributable to the fact that her campaign is being dragged down by Roxas.

That is why now is the time for the people to make the wise and right choice. Supporting Robredo does not need to include voting for Roxas. Likewise, voting for Poe does not entail that we should select Chiz Escudero. It’s time for us to look at our candidates individually and separately.

Abandon Roxas.

Abandon Escudero.

Vote for the Poe-Robredo tandem.

Victory in the SC!

The Gods of Padre Faura have spoken. And they have allowed the voice of the people to govern and control the results of this election. The Supreme Court is true to its commitment as the bulwark of democracy and the Constitution. They have not allowed mere technicality and a narrow, discriminatory interpretation of the fundamental law of the land to dictate the will of the populace. Grace Poe’s qualifications as a candidate for the presidency were upheld by the highest court of the land.

All doubts of Poe running for (and winning) the elections are laid to rest. In the polls, we can expect an increase in the gap between her and second-placer, Duterte, as the confidence of the people returns to her side. It should be noted that Poe’s performance in the polls only dipped because of the pending disqualification cases filed against her.

The decision of the SC is proof that the law cannot be made as instruments to further the selfish interests of Poe’s political opponents. The decision is not only a victory for Poe but it is also a testament to the equally-protected rights of foundlings. It is a testament that one can never go wrong once you have the interest of the general public on your side.

Leni Robredo is right when she said that the issue over Poe’s citizenship is more of a “moral issue, than a legal one.” Poe represents all foundlings whose circumstances have made them prone to discrimination and abuse. More than legal technicalities and statutory provisions, the court’s decision is an affirmative action for persons similarly situated with Poe. Leni Robredo, among all the other candidates, understood the issue faced by Grace Poe. As a woman whose life is centered on her family, Robredo sympathizes with Poe’s predicament of not knowing her biological parents. But that should not define one’s citizenship and allegiance to the country. Robredo refuses to be blinded by partisan politics in order to see the validity of Poe’s intentions. This is a hallmark of a Vice-President that we need – one that is able to transcend political divisions and oppositions and be able to work together and compromise for a common goal.

Iboto! Poe-Robredo!

Women Power for 2016!

“Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country.”
-Margaret Thatcher

We have had two women presidents. But both have track records mired with scandals and controversies, especially for that of former President Gloria Arroyo. But this May 2016, two strong-willed women have vied for the two highest positions – Grace Poe and Leni Robredo. They may not come from a single party but the character and qualities of the two complement each other.

Grace Poe should be our President. We don’t need a Roaring Dragon/butcher/human rights violator who would just disregard our Constitution and rule of law. We don’t need a “Jefe” (Chief) Bribemaster who would only plunder the public coffers. We don’t need a Master Racketeer who is a seasoned bureaucrat and traditional politician. For this election, we need a restart and Poe is the face of change.

Leni Robredo should be our Vice-President. She, along with her late husband, is the image of genuine, grassroots leadership that will be anti-corruption and pro-poor, pro-marginalized. Robredo will not be an idle, lame-duck Vice President (like the incumbent). For her, the Vice-Presidency is a position of power and influence to effect social change. Unlike her opponents, she views it as a position of power and influence and not as a platform to boost one’s chances to be the next President.

Despite coming from different political parties, the two would find a common ground from which they can build trust and cooperation. Both are women, mothers who have experienced taking care of their respective families. We need a President and a Vice-President who will look at our country as a household that needs to be cleaned up and improved, will look at its citizens as children that needs to be reared and treasured and will see to it that our nation’s finances would be properly budgeted and would be free from corruption.

This election should be a test of character and leadership quality and not of popularity, financial capacity and sensationalism. We need leaders with clear policy proposals and a vision for our future. Grace Poe and Leni Robredo is the right tandem for the next administration.