Why Binay will have a SONA, too

A news item yesterday said that Vice President Jejomar Binay is coming out with his own State of the Nation Address, or SONA, after the president had delivered his on Monday. Well, one can take that to mean either of two things: He is practising how to deliver SONAS, or he fears that he may never get to do one. Look out for a lot of advertisements announcing this event, or giving its full details to the public.

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Is it true? Will we see a Binay-Estrada ticket in 2016? We are referring, of course, to incumbent Vice President Jejomar Binay who has been said to have asked several people to be his running mate, but they have refused. What about Jinggoy Estrada, has he accepted? But what if the Sandiganbayan continues to deny him bail, and worse, if it has already rendered an unfavorable decision by the time election comes around?

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But look at the audible and visible Senadora, Miriam Defensor Santiago. Months after she had declared publicly that she had been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, she now says that her doctors are unanimous in confirming that her cancer has been “controlled”. Now the lady Senator has more than hinted that she is ready to try again for the presidency. Now, Madam Miriam could be a formidable opponent, and guess what other advantage she has over the others? There will be a lot of eager beavers who will offer themselves to be her vice president. I think they are the eager because the doctors only said “controlled” and not “completely cured”.

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Two more former congressmen have been indicted by the Ombudsman for their involvement in the pork barrel scam, formally known as the Priority Development Assistance Fund. Only two? I once read that more than half of the members of the House are in some way, involved in that scandal. In some government units, the solons are even being charged, not only for the misuse of the funds, but also for faking the signatures of barangay captains who have since sworn and filed their own charges for the use of their names. Do we know of any town or city where this happened.

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Meanwhile VP Binay, who must be getting sleepless nights now over the survey results showing neophyte Grace Poe closing in on him, has started hitting her in a rather oblique way. Without naming names, he reminded people about candidates who leave their country, become citizens of another, and then come back, repudiate their foreign citizenship, and aspire to be president. If he was not referring to Grace Poe, who else could it be?

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That is why, as much as I admire her, and wish she manages to be one of the top leaders of the country, I have very strong doubts about her chances of making it. As soon as the certificates of candidacy are filed, look out for the vicious attacks and disclosures of alleged things that could disqualify her for the post. That's not a prediction, but a possibility, because it could get voters confused, to the advantage of whoever her opponents will be.

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But if, as Senator Serge Osmeña suggests, she decides to undergo an apprenticeship before aiming at the higher post, perhaps she will not be targeted as much. After all, the vice presidency is only the Number Two position, and who knows if she will still be as popular after it? On the other hand, she may show more of her abilities and fitness for a higher post by then. Let us hope that she will not end up disappointed because of aiming for too much, too soon.

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Manilans are now very appreciative of their new police director general, who has adopted the old practice of sending policemen out to patrol the streets. Why, that is a very commendable return to the old ways, when the presence of cops on the streets, the sidewalks, and even in residential areas, was believed to be a deterrent to criminal activities. In Bacolod, how many times have you seen a real policemen on the street, unless there is an accident or a fight? Oh yes, we see swarms of “enforcers” most of the time grouping themselves in corners, chatting, and not even looking at vehicles flaunting traffic rules a few feet away.*

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