“It’s official, It’s Noy-Mar,” a grinning active member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) told me just a few minutes ago this morning.

The member said that unlike in previous years when their leadership would announce the official bets to the congregation two nights before election day, this time INC’s choices for the nation’s two highest political office were released earlier to the media.

The member added that they expect the choices for senators to be announced to them by this weekend. I have no reason to doubt this source, who is very much apolitical and a strong religious devotee.

Hmmm. Could this be INC’s way of signaling to the dark forces now at work to stop the fraud, the cheating the extra-legal manipulations?

And what could this mean? Does this mean INC does not believe Sen. Noynoy is mentally ill and unfit for the presidency? Hmmmm.

The plot is just unfolding. Get ready for a political roller-coaster ride in the next few weeks.

My exclusive

By Raissa Robles

Ok, I couldn’t resist this scoop as a journalist.

But I’ve hesitated to write this for days because I did not want to be labeled a Noynoy supporter.

It pains me as a foreign correspondent, who has been trying to keep an open and dispassionate mind about the presidential candidates, to be branded as rooting for this one or that one.

But I realize, also as a journalist and Filipino citizen, that I do have the responsibility to disclose the truth no matter who benefits or gets hurt.

Ever since I wrote about Sen. Noynoy and autism on this blog last year, I’ve been receiving a stream of messages and comments on Sen. Noynoy’s mental state.

Many of them said they would never vote a lunatic to the presidency. One of them begged me to say whether Sen. Noynoy was crazy or not.

And then the first bogus psychiatric report came out, allegedly from Jesuit psychologist-priest Tito Caluag. Followed by a second bogus one, allegedly from Fr. Jaime Bulatao, whose students fondly called Fr. Bu.

A journalist’s job is to find out if such things are true. And from what I remember my best friend Tina telling me about her professor, Fr. Bu, he was better known for teaching astral projection than issuing psychiatric reports.

In between the two fake psychiatric reports, a letter allegedly from an Ateneo classmate named “Tomcat” also came out, alluding to Sen. Noynoy’s bizarre behavior in college.

When I saw that the “crazy” or “Abnoy” tag refused to die down, I thought it was time to dig out the truth. So I contacted one of those who had earlier left a comment on my blog entry on Sen. Noynoy and autism.

His name is Dr. Gary Samson and he told me he was Sen. Noynoy’s Ateneo classmate. He had commented on my blog that from his recollection, Noynoy was not autistic. Gary said he was open to being interviewed about Noynoy.

And so I e-mailed Gary last April 18,2010:

Dear Gary,

I think now the time has come for me to ask you about what you know about your old classmate, Noynoy.

You’ve probably heard about the fake psychiatric report that came out about him. Here’s another follow-up on that – written by another classmate named Tomcat.

And here’s the piece which came out in a column of Jojo Robles. Jojo is not at all related to me…

what I’d like to know is -

• Who is tomcat?
• Is his impression of Noynoy accurate?
• If so, why was Noynoy that way, do you think?
• I gather Tomcat was a classmate in college because he talks about Maam Gloria Arroyo who was a teacher in college.
• What do you think of the psychiatric report on Noynoy?

thanks.

P.S. I’d like to quote you by name in my blog. Pls. also tell me a little bit about yourself, your practice.

thanks again,

Raissa Robles

Here is Jojo Robles’ column:

Readers of this column know that I rarely surrender my space to others in the form of extensive passages quoted verbatim. But today I willingly cede my allotted quota of words, editing only for style considerations, to someone who calls himself “Tomcat,” who recently wrote the following open letter (via Facebook) to leading presidential candidate Noynoy Aquino:

Dear Noynoy:

We were classmates at the Ateneo and I have no doubt that you would remember me even if we were not close. Hint: I was one of those who ribbed you about the low grade that Father Kreutz gave you in math because you could never seem to get your fractions right. Remember going ballistic over that ribbing? [Reverend Wiliam “Bill” Kreutz, SJ, is a long-time Ateneo teacher from New York who founded the Jesuit Volunteers of the Philippines—JR. All subsequent bracketed phrases are mine.]

Anyway, reading the psychological report that was posted on the Internet a few days ago certainly made me remember you. I heard you say on the news that the report was fake but you did admit that there were some things in it that were true. “Part truths” I think were your exact words. It fascinated me enough to want to read the report carefully to check out which were those things that were true.

Obvious things first, those facts that any of our classmates can confirm if asked. One of these is, as the report says, you have a labile disorder. This is whole truth. Even Father Gorospe would be distracted by your drooling during our oral exams. [The late Reverend Vitaliano Gorospe, SJ, was connected for a long time with the Ateneo Theology Department.] Father Ferriols, who made a point of showing he didn’t like you, would make side comments about it that led your classmates to give you the nickname “Cooper,” a reference to Cupertino school where we would teach Catechism to retarded children. I, however, never called you Cooper. [Reverend Roque Ferriols, SJ, taught Filipino Philosophy at Ateneo.]

The report says that you have a “major depressive disorder.” Well, I honestly don’t know if that is true. What I do know is that in school you were very temperamental and had sudden mood swings. Isang minuto, nakikikain ka kay Brudda Francis, maya’t maya nagagalit ka na. Many of our classmates can attest to witnessing scenes like this.

The report said that you used to go with your mom to see Dr. Manuel Escudero. That is a whole truth. I remember seeing you at Tito Maning’s high-rise apartment on Roxas Boulevard when we were still kids. Tito Maning was a consultant with the WHO here in Manila but he was also a psychiatrist who treated only the high society people in Manila. Even Imelda Marcos was his patient. Unfortunately, so was my mom who suffered from insecurities due to my dad’s numerous infidelities.
Tito Maning’s wife, Tita Jo, was a very good artist who had a couple of exhibits of her work before they left Manila for good a few years after martial law was declared. They lived in Topeka, Kansas. After they left, I kept a correspondence for a while with their very cute daughter Nina who I am sure you remember. I had such a crush on her. Maybe you did too. She used to talk to us “little folk” in the sala of their apartment while the “big folk” would lock themselves in the room and discuss “big folk” matters. She wanted to go to ballet school or some dance school which she did, I think, and I eventually lost track of her.

About your smoking marijuana, I also can’t say if that is wholly true. What I do know is that you would try to tag along with a group of students that would hang out with Ma’am Gloria Arroyo. [Yes, President Arroyo herself.] Mga students niya sa Economics. She was always surrounded by bright and handsome students kaya hindi ka pinapansin. Pati si Ma’am Placer, she never gave you the time of day kasi people said you were “medyo weird” and your grades were mababa per her standards.

Pero, you still tried to hang out with those guys. Trying hard to belong ba. I know those guys would drink na kasama pa si Miss Rosales na pag lasing na, kumakanta ng Spanish songs in Spanish. They would drink dozens of bottles of beer at Shakey’s Katipunan because Mrs. Ramos (our Spanish teacher in case you don’t remember) owned the restaurant. This group was also known to also smoke joints in the college auditorium, up in the closed space where the spotlights were. So, if you were hanging out with them then, you were probably also smoking marijuana too.

The report said you had a flight attendant girlfriend. This is another whole truth. I will not mention her name here to protect her but she was a PAL stewardess. I found out about this because I was on a flight with Father Samson [probably Ateneo de Davao president Reverend Antonio S. Samson] once and she was the one who seated us. When she found out we were from Ateneo, she introduced herself and said she was the girl friend of an Atenean and mentioned your name. Father Samson then asked jokingly if you were a good boyfriend to her. She shrugged and said you were “okay” but she was bothered because you were “too conservative.” You didn’t even like to kiss her daw because you were saving her for the wedding night. And you insisted that she dress very conservatively. Jealous boyfriend ka daw. No wonder that relationship ended. Maybe that’s why you got so depressed over it.

About the report. I know that [Ateneo-based Jesuit psychologist Reverend] Tito Caluag is one of your best friends. His group of “friends” are some of the richest and most influential people in the country today. I know that you used to frequently visit his home. He hosts get-togethers where things that are too esoteric for me are the subjects of discussion. At one time, this group of yours even discussed the ousting of [Ateneo president] Father [Bienvenido] Nebres because Tito Caluag had his own ideas on how Ateneo should be run. Maybe your closeness to him is why he was the one you went to when you were depressed and why he was the one who handled your case and signed your psychological report. To keep things quiet.

But I confess I actually don’t know. I do know that Tito Caluag was at one time your sister Kris’ father confessor. He may not be a very trustworthy father confessor, though, because many have heard him say aloud that “walang ginawa si Kris Aquino dito sa Ateneo kundi habulin si Alvin Patrimonio at mag-emote sa quadrangle”.

Anyway, yun muna. Good luck on your presidential run. If you become president of the Philippines, that would be really something, huh? From “Cooper” to “Mr. President” when brighter and more scheming Ateneans like Mar Roxas and Dick Gordon have not been able to make it is an achievement that Ripley should feature.

Your old friend,

Tomcat

The next day, Gary e-mailed back.

Dear Raissa,

I am an adult Psychiatrist here in Sacramento & Yuba city California. I finished my training in 1994 at the St. Vincent’s Medical Center of New York City.

Regarding the psych report, Fr. Tito Caluag does not do psychology & he himself has denied signing the report.

Regarding Jojo Robles’ column, Tomcat’s narration of Noynoy is totally not true. The only thing correct were the names of the professors but everything else was made up (ie. ‘Cooper’ or coming from Cupertino was what we would tease one another after a stupid mistake. Personally, I do not recall Noynoy drooling nor anyone calling him ‘Cooper’ in all our years together. Noynoy was a batchmate from Prep to College, 1966-1981).

Truly yours,

Gary Samson MD

Gary must have contacted his other Ateneo schoolmates through his e-group and passed around my e-mail. He forwarded their replies to me.

And so I asked Gary:

Dear Gary,

I would like to reprint in full what you said and what I presume your classmates said.

I hope that would be alright.

thanks,

Raissa

His reply:

Ok

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

And so, without comment, I’m reprinting in full what Gary and Sen. Noynoy’s other schoolmates and one former teacher said:

This one is from Gene Manalastas:

Gary…Tomcat is fictitious character. This issue has been addressed with no less than the teacher Ms. Placer writing to the columnist refuting all allegations of this tomcat character. The batch was forewarned by Rene Almendras re: black propaganda against Noy & that the batch may be used in all these.

Gene Manalastas

This is one is from Tang Sison:

Is it possible to ask jojo robles the person of tomcat? His identifying tomcat could give credibility to his claims but if he refuses to give the person behind tomcat, then maybe you can tell jojo robles that these ‘personal recounts’ of tomcat are not valid. Because in our batch, we are all willing to lend our names to the testimonies because these are true testimonies.

I was a classmate of noy for 4 years in eco col’81.We were block mates for a long while but i never saw him drool or lose his temper during class. I used to have short chats with him in the bench in front of the cafeteria. But i have never experienced him losing his temper during our chats. We used to discuss many things under the sun, including the sate of the nation at that time and sometimes, but very seldom, about the situation of his dad. I asked him once about how he feels, what his dad was fighting for and how much they ( him and his
family ) had to undergo and asked him if these were all worth it? He said yes and explained to me why. Noy was always very logical and contained. Sometimes we would debate over some issues and often times, he would come out with flying colors in our chats.

tang antonio-singson

eco col’81

This one is from Robin Tong:

tomkat is obviously a fake classmates as his email mixes innocent facts with patently false claims and insinuations. classmates’ real testimonies are the best answer. another black prop special that will backfire. latest mla std

ratings daw: noy 36 villar 22 erap 20.

This one is from Tony del Prado:

manila standard, until as late as last week, was owned by enrique razon. now you can draw your own conclusions.

This one is from Daniel Guerrero:

Gary,

Very interesting bit of bitterness, it seems, from this guy who is not man enough to even state his name!

Anyway, what caught my attention is about the “stewardess” girlfriend. She happens to be my sis-in-law and knowing her how I do, it seems very far-fetched to me that she even mentioned the “intimacies” of their relationship!

Thought I’d share this w/ you. I wonder who this guy is??? Take care, man.

Dani

Gene also forwarded an e-mail from Maizie Frances SyCip-Qua, who forwarded a letter that their ex-professor, Salvacion Placer Angtuaco had sent her:

I sent this letter to Mr. Jojo A. Robles of Manila Standard Today who published a letter from somebody named “Tomcat”. Mr. Tomcat attributed something to me, but I never said such words. I don’t even know who Mr. Tomcat is.

I am sending this to you so you may know in case they ( Manila
Standard) will not publish my letter.

For his complete column, follow the link:
http://www.manilast andardtoday. com/insideOpinio n.htm?f=2010/ april/16/ jojorobles. isx&d=2010/april/ 16

Please tell your friends about this.

Thank you,

Baby

To: Mr. Jojo A. Robles

Lowdown

Manila Standard Today:

On April 16, 2010, a Friday, you agreed to give space to somebody who hides behind a name as “Tomcat”. Why? Why did you waste your space? If Mr. Tomcat really stands by what he says, then he should have been man enough to state out his name in full and be proud of what he says.

I just wish to point out that I never talked to anybody named Tomcat. So I don’t know how Mr. Tomcat came up with a statement such as the following:

“Pati si Ma’am Placer, she never gave you the time of day kasi people said you were “medyo weird” and your grades were mababa per her standards.”

I take it that I am the “Ma’am Placer” that is being mentioned in his letter. I admit, Noynoy Aquino was my student in college but what is quoted there definitely did not come from me. I never said that Noynoy’s grades “were mababa” per my standard or that I saw him as “medyo weird”.

Let me put it on record. Noynoy Aquino was my student in college and I am very proud and happy that he was. I always mention this with pride to anybody who asks me. Noynoy was a bright and humble student. I can attest to that.

So Mr. Tomcat, whoever you are, come out in the open and don’t use other people’s name to give credence to your lies and below the belt allegations.

Mr. Robles, I hope that you will also give as much space to this
letter as you gave space to somebody who hides behind an alias such as “Tomcat”. He maligns people and hides behind an alias. That is not fair at all. He also name drops to give credence to his story.

Well, I will not allow my name to be used by anybody, especially for malicious items like his letter. Please be fair.

Sincerely,

Salvacion Placer Angtuaco (Ma’am Placer)

Associate Professor (Retired)

Ateneo de Manila University

But the story of Noynoy’s alleged lunacy does not stop there.

Carmen Navarro-Pedrosa, whose tell-all on Imelda Marcos is one of my treasured books, recently wrote on Sen. Noynoy’s alleged unstable mind. She wrote that a source told her this:

She is connecting a story many years ago when Noynoy was a young boy in Boston, not a presidential candidate but as the well-loved only son of a father frustrated that he will not be able to carry on with his legacy.

First off, Mrs Pedrosa’s source mistakes Noynoy as “a young boy” in Boston. When his family went to Boston, Noynoy was already 20 years old.

Mrs Pedrosa went on:

My source said that when she read about Tomcat’s (a classmate in Ateneo) letter and other stories about Noynoy’s mental problem her mind clicked and related it to Boston days. “Ay totoo pala yung sinabi sa akin many years ago.”

Mrs Pedrosa added:

Ninoy sought the doctor and his exact words to him were: “Tingnan niyo nga si Noynoy, walang ka-drive drive (for a young boy he was lethargic). He must have a problem.” The doctor told the story to some close friends among them, the source of this story. When Tomcat’s letter came out in Manila and with Noynoy a leading presidential candidate, she thought her story ought to be known. She is not a politician. She is not indulging in malicious rumors or black propaganda. She is recalling a story told to her and a circle of friends in Boston.

Please do not take what I’m going to say next personally, Mrs Pedrosa. If your father was awaiting execution by firing squad and he suddenly needed a delicate heart bypass, would you have the drive in life? Would you not be lethargic?

Mrs Pedrosa, Alan and I were wondering yesterday at the breakfast table why all these speculations on Noynoy’s mental health persisted. Alan pointed out that maybe, it’s because they could not find the usual mud to throw at him. Noynoy is not a womanizer, he has no hidden wealth, no shenanigans in public life that can be pinned directly on him.

Therefore, Alan said, to his political enemies he must be crazy.

Personally, I believe that anyone who seeks to be president of this benighted country must be a litte crazy.

ADDENDUM – written April 30, 2010

Today, Alcuin Papa and Gil Cabacangan wrote in the Philippine Daily Inquirer the following report:

Take psycho test, citizens group tells Aquino

By Alcuin Papa, Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 07:44:00 04/30/2010

MANILA, Philippines—A new “citizens group” led by columnist Carmen Pedrosa has called on Liberal Party standard-bearer Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to submit to a psychological exam.

In a press conference Thursday, the Citizens for Right of Information (CFRI) said “the people have a right to know” about those running for president.

“Like countless others, we strongly feel it is only fair that all presidential aspirants undergo this important evaluation. Denial is the weakest defense,” CFRI said.

Pedrosa said she found unacceptable Aquino’s recent statement that he would not reply to questions on his mental health because it is a “private matter.”

“When you present yourself as a candidate for president, the people have a right to know if you are competent to be president,” she said.

Aquino, meanwhile, yesterday admitted feeling depressed and thinking of avenging his father, the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., but it never got to the point where he needed medical help.

In view of this, I am presenting this challenge to the professors and students of Ateneo de Manila University,  as well as friends, enemies and relatives of the Aquino and Cojuangco families,  who have known Sen. Noynoy at one time or another.

I would like to ask you all the following questions and I am opening my blog to any of your answers, either negative or positive. I will not edit any of the answers.

1. At any time, did you see Sen. Noynoy drool or act weirdly?
2. Did he ever smoke marijuana or take any prohibited drug or psychotropic drug? And why?
3. What anecdote or personal encounter with Sen. Noynoy do you remember that would shed light on his character?
4. Knowing Sen. Noynoy then as you did, did you ever think he would run for president someday?
5. Did he ever tell anyone of you what he wanted to accomplish in life? Did he ever express any dream or ambition to become president someday, seeing how his own father came so close to being one?

You do have the responsibility to shed life on the hidden life of Noynoy.

Thanks in advance,

Raissa

Is ruling Lakas-Kampi Party presidential standard bearer Gilberto Teodoro now talking to his rival ex-President Joseph Estrada to explore possibilities?

At around 9 pm of March 30, just when Metro Manila was slowly sinking into a pious mood ahead of Holy Week, my cellphone suddenly beeped out a text message.

The text was not from a politician nor a political handler but from one of my most trusted sources in the financial community. It went this way:

Gibo resigns as chairman of Lakas Kampi but supposedly still admin candidate. Heard garapal na daw lakas officials idenified with FG to support Villar.

It was the first time I had heard that Teodoro had resigned from the party chairmanship. The late evening news verified this later.

The rest of the message from my source was unclear.

I wasn’t sure if my source was telling me he had heard that Lakas officials identified with “FG” – presidential spouse Jose Miguel Arroyo – were “garapal” or shameless in supporting rival candidate Senator Manuel Villar instead of their standard bearer Teodoro.

Or if it was Gibo who had heard of this “garapal” development and therefore resigned to send a furious signal to the party.

To clarify this, I had a long phone conversation with my source who confirmed both interpretations were correct.

Then my source told me something else which I now tend to believe because of two things. First, Teodoro’s resignation had turned out to be true. Second, there is now a mountain of contradictory statements being issued by the Arroyo camp concerning Mike Arroyo and his allies’ switch of support to Villar. The presidential palace and Lakas officials have separately denied, on Mike Arroyo’s behalf, but I’d like to hear the denial straight from the First Gentleman himself.

Something is definitely going on. Key allies of the Arroyos in northern, central and southern Philippines have suddenly defected to Villar. And  not a pip was heard from Malacañang Palace, calling the defectors rats or “ingratos.” Making me suspect they are actually an advance party.

My source also told me Teodoro was now talking to Estrada, who is running third in surveys. And Teodoro was reportedly not alone in talking to Estrada. Two other Arroyo officials were also talking to Estrada: Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales and Interior and Local Governments Secretary Ronaldo Puno.

I have tried to verify this portion but so far I have been unable to reach them. Perhaps they’re still on retreat. Perhaps by publishing this, others will come forward to deny, clarify or verify this.

Another tidbit of info I got was that Teodoro was being wooed to drop out and being enticed with a possible post – as Estrada’s Executive Secretary. As his Little President. The idea of Estrada withdrawing in behalf of Teodoro was also mentioned.

You know, politics is the art of the possible. Anything is possible at this point. Political pairings are much like those in show business where movie producers match seemingly disparate male and female stars to see which ones would click in the box office.

Just to get a sense of whether a modus vivendi between Teodoro and Estrada could somehow click, I asked a strategist within the Lakas coalition. He told me,

I think it’s possible for other people to be calling Gibo. For him to initiate calls I doubt that. It’s more of the people wanting to talk to him and wanting to verify all these rumors.

This source added that both Teodoro and Manzano had assured they won’t quit:

They are going to see this campaign through as official candidates of Lakas. Any other reports to the contrary are without any basis.

But I also asked someone who used to be very very close to Estrada. He told me it was “possible” that defense secretary Gonzales and local governments secretary Puno were talking to Erap. “Bert, during the time of Erap in Tanay (where he was detained while being tried on the charge of plunder), he cultivaed Erap. Bert is really dedicated to the transition plan” which calls for the establishment of a civilian-military junta. And it was Puno who arranged Estrada’s presidential pardon.

This source said:

“If Gibo realizes na linoko siya ng (he was fooled by the) administration, if he realizes Manny Villar is really the candidate of Gloria, why not support Erap on his own?”

And the source added:

Assuming Manny Villar is the real candidate of Gloria you have to shift Lakas support to Villar at the last moment. If you support Villar now you’ll kill him.

Only a mere 24 hours were needed to order a support switch, he said.

Villar himself has vehemently denied any arrangement. His ally, Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr., pointed out that Villar doesn’t need Arroyo nor her money.

But as you can see, Arroyo may need either Villar or Erap to survive politically. Arroyo’s precarious situation may be likened to a scene in the movies where someone is dangling from atop a building ledge and trying to grab the nearest leg or limb for dear life.

On Holy Thursday, political muckraker Ramon Tulfo wrote about a most unholy topic in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. He claimed that:

THE WIFE OF A CANDIDATE FOR A national position found out that her husband has a fashion model for a girlfriend. Furious, the wife confronted the candidate about his extramarital affairs. As expected, the candidate denied the accusation.

Tulfo, who is always armed with several guns, continued:

But the wife allegedly showed him photographs of the two caught on camera in a public display of affection. The photos were supposedly given to the candidate’s wife by a close rival of their son who is aspiring for a local post. The wife reportedly asked her husband to sign papers for the separation of their conjugal property amounting to billions of pesos. When the candidate refused, she threatened to expose how he amassed wealth while in office and added that she was moving over to his rival’s camp on the campaign trail. Fearing a national scandal, the candidate signed the papers.

Now let’s take the advice of that popular host of “Blue’s Clues” to guess  Tulfo’s man of the hour. Let’s list down the clues:

1. The philandering husband wants to be president, vice-president or senator.
2. This man. together with the wife, owns billions of pesos worth of assets.
3. He has a son running for local office, not a national post where voting is done nationwide.
4. He is still married, not separated.
5. His angry wife threatened to move over to his rival’s camp if he did not sign legal documents dividing their conjugal property.

Hmmmm.

That narrows down the choice to four national candidates at most:

• Presidential candidate Manny Villar
• Presidential candidate Joseph “Erap” Estrada
• Vice-presidential candidate Jejomar Binay and
• Senatorial candidate Juan Ponce Enrile

Why them?

Because of the clues.

Only the four are probably rich enough. Only the four have sons old enough and who are actually running for office.

Villar is hands-down a multi-billionaire. His son Mark is running for the Lower House of Congress, a local post, and Villar is still married. But what about his loving wife Congresswoman Cynthia Villar? I don’t know about that. But last month she told ABS-CBN what I thought was a very curious remark. She said, if her husband wasn’t running for president she would go for his handsome and younger rival, former defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro. To read her remarks, click on this link.

What did Tulfo say about the wife threatening to move over to the rival camp of her husband? But of course I could be very wrong.

And of course the usual suspect is Estrada, the serial adulterer whose wife seems to live by the Holy Bible admonition to forgive one’s transgressor 70 times seven.

Estrada turned out to have a billion pesos in the Jose Velarde account (which he insists to this day is not his). And he seems to have deeper pockets because he is running for president, not town mayor. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, his son by Guia Gomez, is also running for congressman, a local post. But would the long suffering former Senator Loi Ejercito threaten to move over to a rival camp when she never did that in all the years Estrada had been blatantly unfaithful to her? Perish the thought. But still, count Estrada in.

How about Jejomar Binay, the benevolent warlord mayor of Makati City? He is not a declared billionaire but he sure became super wealthy after becoming mayor. His son Jejomar “JunJun” Junior is running for mayor. I know nothing of the state of Binay’s marriage so I’ll pass.

And finally, there’s Enrile who some years back made headlines over his extra-marital flights of fancy. His son Jack is also running for Congress. Enrile is very wealthy, too -  from coconuts, matches, lumber, etcetera.

Now you might ask, why is an alleged serious journalist like myself dealing with gossip?

I’ll throw the question back to you. Would you like another candidate with a taste for embarrassing liaisons occupying a national office, say the presidency? Think of the scandal, the blackmail and political risk that would accompany each furtive embrace.

Please, Mon Tulfo, tell me what you’re saying isn’t true.

There’s a very easy, painless, legal way to avoid a dangerous power vacuum in case a new President is not proclaimed by June 30 – the same day the tenures of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Vice-President Noli de Castro, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Prospero Nograles all lapse.

This is by electing a new Senate President between May 31 and June 4, 2010 when Congress officially resumes its sessions. If you want to see the Senate calendar, click on this link.

This morning, before I uploaded this entry, I heard University of the Philippines College of Law dean, Marvic Leonen, express the same legal opinion on radio.

I base mine on what I learned while covering the Senate as a beat reporter.

The Constitution specifies that the Senate President should serve as the acting President “until the President or Vice-President shall have been elected and qualified.”

In the Senate President’s absence or incapacity, the House Speaker takes over. But that would be impossible after June 30 since all congressmen would also be out of office by then.

However, 12 senators would still be in office beyond June 30. In fact, their tenures would only expire in the year 2013. That was how the Constitution designed it in order to avoid a vacuum.

Unfortunately, the incumbent Senate President Enrile is not one of those senators. He will also be out of office by June 30, which is why he is running again.

Let’s examine the 12 senators who will remain beyond June 30 and see how acceptable they might be to their colleagues:

• Senators Benigno Aquino III and Manuel Villar are both running for President.
• Senator Loren Legarda is Villar’s running mate.
• Senator Alan Cayetano is aligned with Villar.
• Senator Francis Pangilinan is aligned with Aquino.
• Senator Joke Arroyo is aligned with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who is suspected of angling to stay on in office.
• Senator Edgardo Angara is also aligned with Pres. Arroyo.
• Senator Miguel Zubiri is also aligned with Pres. Arroyo and suspected of electoral cheating by veteran Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
• Senator Panfilo Lacson has gone missing because of double murder raps.
• Senator Antonio Trillanes is in jail on rebellion charges.
• And who will trust a habitual failed coup plotter like Senator Gregorio Honasan to assume the post of Acting President?

And so that leaves only Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, a man without a political party – the man least likely to power grab for himself. A man who is credible and competent in law.

If you have a better suggestion, I would like to know.