Looking for an Anti-Trapo Leader

Today, we have a discussion with the supporters of Eddie "Among Ed" Panlilio, the governor of Pampanga who won in the 2007 elections through a spectacular show of local people's power. Among Ed defeated two trapo (traditional politicians) candidates who had the support of not three, but five "Gs" (guns, goons, golds, Gloria, and gambling lords).

Is it possible to replicate Among Ed's local victory at a national scale in the coming 2010 elections? The coming elections are destined to be a non-traditional one. There is so much disgust against the GMA administration and the regime that it represents. Gloria is the quintessential trapo. She fully exposed the rottenness of the trapo system, so much so that all the other trapos, eagerly awaiting their turn to replace her, will face bourgeoining public disapproval in the coming polls.

It means that in the 2010 elections, the people are becoming ready for a non-trapo alternative leader. There is not much excitement generated by the parading candidates offering their bids at presidency in 2010: Chiz Escudero, so young, yet so trapo; Manny Villar, yet another trapo; Mar Roxas, budding trapo; Erap Estrada, been-there trapo.

We agree that Among Ed represents a new high for the people who are starting to understand the need to repudiate trapo rule.

But a national fight for the presidential post cannot be compared to a local people's power upsurge. There should be a national upsurge that can generate widespread excitement among the population.

And for this, we need the support of various forces that want meaningful reforms in the government. Forces who are ready to fight trapo rule.

We told Among Ed's supporters that we need the coalition of three forces in order to win. They are the forces representing the working class masses, the forces of the military rebels, and the forces of the rising middle classes. These are the coalition of forces that also made possible the victory of progressive and socialist leaders in Latin America -- in Venezuela, Bolivia, Paraguay, Nicaragua, El Salvador.

A number of organized groups representing the three forces should come together to form a broad anti-trapo movement that can be the backbone of resistance against trapo rule. The working class masses are represented by various sectoral organizations among workers, urban poor dwellers, peasants, youth and women. These are the groups that also comprise the newly-formed Partido Lakas ng Masa.

The military rebels are also represented by reform-oriented groups in the AFP and PNP whose leaders are still languishing in jails because of failed attempts to oust GMA from power. The rebels, calling themselves the "nationalist soldiers of the people" have come to realize that the problem lies not only with GMA, but with the "anti-nationalist elite" and the rotten political system. The nationalist soldiers are united in supporting Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim as the man who should take the mantle of leadership from the corrupt, arrogant and Quisling leader in Malacanang.

The middle classes are starting to organize into a number of groups that support the likes of Among Ed, Chief Justice Renato Puno, and Gov. Grace Padaca. Although they are small in numbers, they are emboldened by the possibility that non-trapo candidates who represent "good government" can make it in 2010. Some of the groups representing the middle class sectors are Kaya Natin, MP3, and PAX.

During the discussion, Among Ed supporters asked what would happen if we could not unite on who should be our standard-bearer for 2010. Our advise is to keep the negotiations open on who should represent the three forces during the election. It is still early to make this decision.

What is important right now is to start building the movement that will be the backbone of the anti-trapo resistance. The organizations belonging to the three forces should kick-start the formation of the anti-trapo movement. It should clarify its objectives (dismantle trapo rule and install a non-trapo government from "top-down"), and the urgent demands that will constitute its platform of governance. Once the movement is launched, then it can start the negotiations on who could be anointed as the standard-bearer of the organization, the leader that could command the respect and support of the masses. #