Gibo Teodoro: A Clueless Or A Willing Victim?

"Did he make himself a willing sacrifice? Did he do it or will he do it for a price and a prize? This question remains a paradox till it is stripped of its mystery by the discerning."

If anything, Gibo has every right to take up his armor and revolt against his 'former' patroness. The latest announcement by Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar, that the president will not campaign for Gilbert Teodoro, already amounted to her repudiating the latter for another one obvious candidate. Well, this amphibious wizard (kapit tuko) of Malacañan, will have not been president for ten years for naught. Her surreptitious workings, done when one is utterly clueless, in this case the bar topnotcher Gibo himself, has been her trademark.

Most pundits and ordinary folks would decry the infamous 'Villaroyo marriage', as one desperate act and an unfounded allegation, woven by the rift-prone-insecure yellow brigade. But as things heat up by the day, it is getting sunnier and crystal clear that Gloria Arroyo is backing Manny Villar. Gibo she decided is no longer viable as a candidate. And so thinks everybody. Gibo does not owe the nation a dime and so if he loses, opportunities could still come in abundance. But Gloria? She owes the nation her entire existence. She could be offered a guillotine trip for her sins against the nation she misruled. And under  Noynoy Aquino's probable presidency, the hauntings do not seem to lack its horror - for her and her equally crooked allies.

When she smells danger slowly creeping down her path, it is primordial instinct to effuse defence mechanism. Such is Gloria Arroyo in all her notoriety, being no stranger to clear and present danger - coup attempts, impeachment, among others. She will be brutally and honestly equipped with sense of entitlement, that this war is only hers to lose. She had once indulged herself in the realm of never-ending enthronement, but could only watch it dissipate, as guardians of the Charter would later wake her up from disillusionment. Hers is infectious that her young granddaughter would even hail her to be president for life.

It is not conclusive though whether Gibo is a sore victim of Gloria's cunning scheme (of self-survival), or perhaps he himself is a willing major participant, in her much broader and sinister plot to avoid prosecution, if not to stay in power. She is fully aware that a Noynoy presidency would be too much to handle. Her survival is at stake politically, and to a larger extent economically. Her wealth that has gone to an astronomic proportion needs some explaining, and deservedly needs some space in the courts of law. The Maguindanao massacre that has remained unresolved due to a contrived government intervention. The exponential graft and corruption scandals that till date, remain a fodder for media but largely ignored by her government.

Thirty three days left before election day, only two presidentiables remain in the fray. Surveys would indicate that only Manny Villar and Noynoy Aquino remain as viable candidates. And surveys  offer the real pulse of the voters. Teodoro, though an administration candidate (on paper) and a standard bearer of the biggest political party, with the most powerful machineries to boot, miserably trails in surveys, his ranking showing no progress. His political episode, despite the claims (and belief) that he is the 'ordained one', lacks vibrance and stamina, financial capabilities, and notably a sitting president declaring she is not campaigning for her protege. Surely she knows his destiny is sealed this early.

Is the Villaroyo thing a genius born out of desperation? At this juncture, it doesn't seem like. If there is anyone to scream of its unholy alliance - it is the administration. It is blatantly loud. Administration candidate Atty. Raul Lambino himself, has voiced out his resentment toward the party, for its lack of financial support to its candidates. He seems to be ready to jump the gun and pull the trigger with his seemingly conclusive innuendos, that the so-called Villaroyo thing is very much in existent. Former House Speaker Joe de Venecia, the founding chairman of Lakas party himself, has acknowledged that Gibo obviously is not the real candidate by the administration, culling from the indifference by the  Malacañan towards his candidacy.

Now there is no denying of the harlot from her emergence onstage, to flaunt her wares and invite the 'sheepish' wolf to drink in her cup, as they celebrate their marriage. She believes he alone could save her from perdition. And so the pact from both power-hungry howlers was inked by the blood of its sacrificial lamb, Gibo Teodoro. Did he make himself a willing sacrifice? Did he do it or will he do it for a price and a prize? This question remains a paradox till it is stripped of its mystery by the discerning.

Granting for the sake of argument, that he did willingly oblige her patroness and offered himself to be used for her ends, what sort of man is Gilbert Teodoro? That despite the raves and praises he gained from various forums and debates, was it all for a show? Did he deliberately mislead the people? Did he play with their emotions when he reached for their  hands, patted their shoulders and touched their hearts with his 'authenticity'? What if it was the flipside? Does he deserve an ounce of sympathy and empathy? What is now in store for Gilbert Teodoro?

I however, do not see a sweet revenge in the offing. He is a fine and brilliant gentleman with a lot of promise ahead in his career. Understandably, he must be shaken by this seismic turn of events. I, much less do not see him a defeated confrontational act. He had once beamed to the world of his gratitude to her, for putting her trust in him, by giving him a chance and privilege to serve in her government. And perhaps strangely,  he would even be apologetic to her, given the circumstances they are both in. Why is it so? His poor showing in surveys did not bode well with her plan, to efficiently avoid future prosecution, and so the forced marriage of convenience  as remedy.

"In politics, there are no permanent friends and enemies, only permanent interests", goes the saying. Every politician from president down to the barangay councilor, has his own self-serving agenda in mind upon their venture in politics. A real selfless and noble intent to serve a constituency, plays only second fiddle albeit in a non-altruistic agenda. It is all about exponential personal benefits that deluge their minds upon assuming office. What is new then? This culture of corruption has been etched in every mindset. This is a political norm that doesn't get outdated through ages. Some smart thinkers could be credited with ryhming up the 'Corrupt' and 'Mahirap' monotone, to the delight of their paying client. But do they really mean it? Or did its invention prove to have subtly come when prompted by necessity? Or is this just another empty slogan?

Barely four days left  before voting begins here in the Middle East,  I am yet to decide who fills my ballot. As I said before, to me it is an agonizing process of choosing and weighing, who really deserves to occupy the mantle of saying he is the 'right one'. If I had picked one to be the best but is not gaining ground, will I be rewarded for satisfying my conscience? Or others would aptly say, it is just another wasted ballot? Or if I ultimately chose the winnable of the lesser evil, did I desecrate my right of suffrage? To go on a 'stampede' on the first day of voting will not be an option though, as anything can factor with my decision in the days ahead, and  hopefully this 'self-inflicted agony' gets to stop before I find myself trooping towards the line to cast my vote.