BY TOOTS JIMENEZ JR.
I RECEIVED yet another coffee invitation, this time to join a gathering at a newly opened coffee bar owned by a businessman. Among the guests were his friends: a former politician, a sugar planter, a resort owner, and a lawyer. I thank them for the invite and the cappuccino. For that day, the menu was a mix of politics and business.
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“I just wonder why the politicians of this country keep grilling VP Sara and her DepEd team over a few million pesos allegedly not liquidated,” said the resort owner. “It seems these politicians act like saints from heaven, forgetting the saying: ‘Let the one without sin cast the first stone.’ Now these so-called saints are hitting the alleged devil,” he added.
“As far as I know, these legislators are neither ombudsmen nor fiscalizers, nor are they courts of law. So what gives them the authority to pass judgment on a suspect?” remarked the businessman.
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“As for me, it’s as clear as the purest water on earth that the current leadership is afraid of Inday Sara running and winning as the next leader of this country,” said the sugar planter, who arrived late to the coffee gathering. “They know she will go after them for the alleged anomalies and corruption tied to their names. Sara is both brave and cool-headed, and that’s exactly why they fear her.”
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“Well, like you guys, I agree Sara is a threat,” chimed in the former politician. “To this day, the administration hasn’t put forth a clear contender to oppose Inday Sara. That’s the headache they’re facing now. Bongbong’s ambitious cousin has zero chance against this Iron Lady, in my opinion. They might even attempt to persuade Leni, a proven loser, to go head-to-head with the Mindanaoan.”
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The current leadership is doing everything to undermine Sara, but they’re failing miserably,” added the lawyer. “Take, for instance, the decision to replace her security team. It’s clear they want their own people watching her every move and reporting back to their bosses. But here’s something intriguing: I saw a video showing that Mindanao’s MNLF leadership has volunteered to provide security for Sara. That’s a strong statement, implying that even the Muslims of Mindanao doubt the new security arrangement for her.”
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“Yes, it’s only natural to doubt these new security personnel. One of them could easily harm her under the guise of an accident. Why replace her security in the first place? It’s obvious they fear Sara’s potential to win as the new leader,” the lawyer emphasized.
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“Let’s see what happens if the MNLF is accepted by Inday Sara as her personal, albeit unofficial, security team,” added the retired politician. “The MNLF’s loyalty to the Dutertes has been evident for years. Inday Sara’s strength in Mindanao and the Visayas is precisely what frightens these incumbent leaders.”
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“Oh, by the way,” the resort owner interjected, “why are most of our senators from Luzon or Metro Manila? Out of 24 senators, why not allocate eight each to represent Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao? It’s high time we stop the Imperial Manila mentality. Iloilo was fortunate to have Senator Drilon, who greatly helped the province. But what about the rest? Many senators neglect their own regions. That’s not fair, and the Constitution must be amended to address this.”
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“And while we’re talking amendments,” he continued, “the qualifications for elective positions need revision too. Currently, the requirement is that a candidate must be a Filipino who can read and write. Someone joked that the hidden qualifications should include knowing how to cheat and being ambitious enough to amass wealth. Joking aside, there should be stricter requirements for local government candidates: good health, no pending criminal cases, sound mental condition, and a background in public administration. Forget about good moral character—who’s moral these days anyway?”
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As the gathering wound down, the group concluded with this: “Sara is undeniably a threat to corrupt leaders who have siphoned billions to satisfy their greed,” declared the sugar planter. “Additionally, senatorial and congressional candidates should be required to have a law degree or at least substantial training in law. They are legislators, after all—not contractors, architects, or engineers tasked with building roads and bridges. Amen.”
And with that, the day came to an end./PN
