Gordon Dropped it Like it’s Hot

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This entry is part 38 of 51 in the series The 2010 Presidential Elections

The 2010 Presidential Elections

Last updated: March 4, 2010 @ 2100H

First there was Erap Estrada (although he didn’t blurt out a name, he dropped very obvious hints). Now there’s Senator Dick Gordon. Them and a few more less publicized tidbits of “political bribery” stories fuel today’s hot election headlines. And we thought El Niño is hot, no?

Is there any truth to this? Well there’s no sure way to tell right now. We are left to choose between taking the accuser’s word at face value or dismissing it altogether as another attempted black propaganda.

Sen. Manny Villar is eternally rain-drenched in his elections summer parade.

Sen. Gordon has an untainted reputation and is yet to disappoint us. With that in mind, his claim that an ‘emissary’ of Sen. Manny Villar attempted to ‘buy’ him out and talk him into withdrawing from his presidential bid for the coming May 20’10 elections by offering to ‘reimburse’ him of his previous expenses and projected expenses is not an accusation that Villar should take lightly.

So far, we’ve only been treated to a bland response via an interview where Villar denies such an ‘indecent proposal’ to Sen. Gordon, adding that he no longer has money to spend for such things because whatever campaign money he has left is allocated to campaign-related expenses. Is ‘buying out opponents to withdraw’ part of that ‘campaign-related’ expenses? Villar doesn’t say.

Although not really improbable, it’s a no-brainer that such a move would only backfire at Villar. Given all the propaganda and mudslinging going around against him, trying to ‘reimburse’ opponents and buy out their dreams of becoming president would be like fanning dying embers to a flame. That’s plain stupid, I think. But as always, this is the Philippines. This is Philippine politics. No move is so stupid for politicians. However, I’d like to give Villar the benefit of the doubt — in the same way I’d like to give Sen. Gordon the chance to prove his accusation for all the world to see.

The trouble with sifting truth from a heap of lies is that there’s so much ‘hybrids’ going around. There’s black prop, there’s counter prop, there’s counter-counter prop and there’s modified version of all those. So unless someone can come up with irrefutable evidence that could hold water in court, all these can be ruled out as ‘modified truths’, ‘half truths’ or ‘true lies’. Confused already? You should be.

Besides, anyone can claim to be someone’s emissary. So I’d echo Villar’s challenge to Gordon: name that emissary. (Update as of March 4, 2010 @ 2100H: Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile wrote in his Facebook fan page note entitled “JPE to Villar: GORDON IS NOT FOR SALE” named the so-called Villar emissary as none other than his friend and colleague Senator Edgardo Angara, Gordon however denied this and said the emissary was a businessman who used to work for the government.)

This is elections period. Everything is meant to shock and deceive the bewildered electorate. So hit us with your best, you guys.

It’s bound to get hotter leading up to May. Let’s see who can stand the heat that is to come. Let’s wait for more scalding accusations and knee-jerk reactions. Sit back. Relax. Enjoy the show.