The inclusion of detained Navy officer Antonio Trillanes IV of the Genuine Opposition in the Magic 12 in all credible post-election surveys has been described invariably as a “shocker” and a “coup.”
Someone has coined the phrase, “doing it the Trillanes way” to mean coming from behind to score a victory.
Until the last two weeks before election day when he rose to No. 16 in the SWS/Inquirer survey, he was languishing in the 21st to 25th spots.
In the much-awaited Pulse Asia/ABS-CBN nationwide exit poll, Trillanes placed No.9.
A source who visited Trillanes two days after the election said the detained officer is calmly and confidently taking his impending electoral victory. He knows that Malacañang will do everything to frustrate the will of the people but he is confident that the same network of supporters that put him in the winning circle will continue to be vigilant and protect his votes.
The source said Trillanes is not at all surprised by his inclusion in the Magic 12. He said his No. 16 standing which was noted by SWS/Inquirer in its May 2- 4 survey had been reflected in their own surveys as early as the second month of the campaign. He is happy finally their survey figures have been manifested in the votes.
Political analysts are one in describing Trillanes’ win as a protest vote against the administration of Gloria Arroyo.
Adel Tamano, the party spokesman of the Genuine Opposition, waxing ecstatic, said, “A guy who has no money, almost no ads, who’s in jail, will win against the likes of (Prospero) Pichay, who spent over 100 million in ads, win over (Luis) Chavit (Singson), win over so many team-GMA candidates. He is the ultimate protest vote.”
While most of the GO candidates tried to temper their attack on Gloria Arroyo, careful not to be labeled “negative” hoping to appeal to the middle-class voters lulled in their comfort zones, Trillanes went on the offensive calling Gloria Arroyo a “fraudulently enlisted commander-in-chief.”
SWS’ Mahar Mangahas attributes Trillanes’ winning support to the perception that he is being persecuted.
Although Malacañang officials are still hoping against hope that the final numbers will see Trillanes out of the winning circle, Executive Eduardo Ermita credits “high media exposure” for Trillanes support. A Palace functionary, who declined to be identified, trivialized Trillanes’ appeal to the voters to his being “eye-catching.”
Our man on the street interviews showed three qualities that voters identify with Trillanes: naninindigan (takes a stand), lumalaban (fights), handang magsakripisyo (willing to sacrifice)
If and when his Senate win becomes official, Trillanes should find satisfaction in recalling the initial reactions to his announcement that he would be running for senator, especially Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye’s condescending “Trillanes who?”
It was this arrogance of Arroyo’s officials that worked greatly for Trillanes, who has been in detention for almost four years because of his involvement in the so-called Oakwood mutiny of July 27, 2003.
Dismissing Trillanes’ senatorial bid as a delusion that those in prison are entitled to, Arroyo’s officials allowed him to register as a voter, and later to file his certificate of candidacy.
Trillanes was ready to run as an independent candidate and he filed his certificate of candidacy as one. The opposition ticket initially was not enthusiastic about his candidacy, citing his inability to campaign physically and his not being known in the provinces. They wanted sure winners and they had more than enough for their ticket. So they thought.
In the beginning, the opposition, then going by the name United Opposition (UNO) had in their lineup political heavyweights: re-electionist Panfilo Lacson, former senators Loren Legarda, Gregorio Honasan, Tito Sotto and John Osmeña. They were expecting the Wednesday group – re-reelectionists Manny Villar, Joker Arroyo, Ralph Recto and Francis Pangilinan to be in their ticket. Young politicians Francis Escudero, Alan Peter Cayetano, Koko Pimentel and Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino were assured of slots in the ticket.
But issues among parties in UNO caused the exclusion of some. Noynoy Aquino couldn’t run alongside Honasan. Between the two, Aquino won so Honasan was excluded.
The exclusion of Honasan didn’t sit well with Sotto, who wanted to run with his whole “gang” – Honasan, Osmeña, and Tessie Aquino-Oreta. There could only be one Aquino in the ticket, and UNO chose Noynoy over his aunt. Sotto, with Oreta, defected to Gloria Arroyo leaving another slot open.
The decision of Joker Arroyo and Ralph Recto to stick it out with Gloria Arroyo left more slots open in the opposition ticket. That paved the way for Trillanes’ inclusion in a major party. He had joined the big league.
To Bunye who said “Trillanes who?” Start singing “Getting to Know You, Getting to Know More about you” now. And to all those who voted against the administration bets- lets start singing “Give me some men who are stout hearted men, who will fight for the rights they adore. Start me with ten who are stout hearted men and we will soon have ten thousand more”…Trillanes is leading us on and we are following the leader….the leader, the leader. We are following the leader where ever he may go. MABUHAY! and thank you..Mr. Trillanes.
A phenomenon that is Trillanes is best described as a victory that would go against the normal pattern in Philippine politics, which is traditionally dominated by major families and the occasional movie star or other celebrity.
Analyst Ramon Casiple of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms says this shows the public is receptive to candidates who stand for something. “When people really have a real choice, as against a choice among the lesser evils, so called – among the traditional politicians – then they would prefer new faces, new people, who are promising or are fighting for something. Rather than the old tired politicians.”
Now, they say it is a phenomenon like the victory of the priest in Pampanga. I attribute all of these phenomena, Ellen, as an Act of God. Mrs. Pidal should take heed not to try to thwart it.
I notice, too, that despite the attempts to cheat, a lot many non-Arroyo wannabe Congressmen are getting an edge over the pro-Arroyo Congressmen except perhaps in Pangasinan where ironically they have this miraculous anito that has allowed a creep like JdV to thrive. So, who say that the Philippine Congress is yet to be dominated by the creeps? Buti nga nawala na iyong mga gulay doon at nandoon na ngayon on the way to the sewers.
Salamat, Ellen, for your inspiration.
Sa mga pangyayaring ito, double rum na ang tinutoma ni Blinky Tianak!
Yes, Ystakei, like you, I believe that what has happened to Fr. Panililio & Sonny Trillanes is indeed “as an Act of God”.
It wasn’t a phonemenon. It was a miracle. God is w/ us. What a feeling !
Sinabi mo pa, Chabeli. Glad to be part of all these campaigns for better Philippines. Monday and Tuesday non-sleep. Always on the go and never bothered to sit down trying to make sure that our pollwatchers were being careful in watching the counting in Tokyo. Golly, sumakit ang hips ko. I needed to put salonpas to ease the pain, but it was worth all the pains.
You bet, hindi na makakadaya si Pandak! Amazing indeed that they are exposed before their shredded votes could be counted.
Now, we’ll see how the truth can set the Philippines free! Amazingly, we met a friendlier and more cooperative bureaucrats at the Philippine Embassy. Perhaps, the new Senators will be able to make a law to protect the welfare and interests of these bureaucrats so that they may be able to serve the public right and better, and so that they will not be at the mercy of politicos like Mrs. Pidal, et al.
I lighted a candle today to give thanks for Trillanes victory…and I’ll keep on burning candles, till he is proclaimed an official one!
Tunay ka Chaeli, what a feeling!
Excuse me for murdering your name, CHABELI!
I lighted a candle today to give thanks for Trillanes victory…and I’ll keep on burning candles, till he is proclaimed an official one!
Tunay ka Chabeli, what a feeling!
Let the light guide us to the right direction!
The Trillanes Phenomena and the Fr. Panlilio miracle in Pampanga.
Ang kahulugan ba nito ay hindi pa nakukuha ni Gloria?!
Esperon’s take on Trillanes win GMANews.TV:
As far as Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon is concerned, a win by Genuine Opposition senatorial bet, ex-Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV, could at least minimize, if not eradicate, disgruntled soldiers from resorting to unconstitutional means in effecting changes in government.
Read his and Ebdane’s statements carefully. Mukhang they are up to something.
Esperon has no choice. The people have spoken. Ano pa ang gagawin niya? He just have to soften his tiyanak’s stand on Trillianes’ possible win.
It has already been witnessed that Haemorrhoid Assperon due to having no spine just swaying about bouncing off one opinion to another is not a commander from the operations field of the like of brave men such as Danny Lim & Co.
The rank & file of the AFP will never respect Haemorrhoid Assperon as a commander for as long as he has a hole in his ass. He’s corrupt, a cheat, a liar and fails to respect GOD and life.
How soldiers are prepared to follow his command is beyond me.
The trend even overseas is 8-1-3, and this has been the pattern in fact even at home. So, there is actually no truth that the people in Mindanao who must be praying to the Lord above for the removal of the feign calling herself “President” would vote for her TUtas. Hindi na lang siguro bumoto ang mga tao sa Maguindanao sa takot at pinabayaan iyong warlords doon na maniobrahin ang mga boto. Presto! Numero 1 pa iyong kristyanong Ilocano na binoto daw ng mga Moslems, bakit hindi iyong kapwa nila Moslem? Kasi nga daya at lutong makaw! Nice try! Bistado na hindi pa rin mahiya! Kapalmuks!
Dapat i-invalidate nila ang mga boto sa Maguindanao at iba pang lugar na kahina-hinala ang mga boto para magtanda ang mga tao doon. Over-all, it is apparent that Filipinos have matured politically speaking even just a bit. Konti pa para hindi na nagpapatayan para sa mga ungas. I can’t really understand why they have to die for these crooks!
Truth and Justice is about to prevail as it is already shown in history that when it does prevail the end is quick without warning. The corrupt leaders of our institutions will also fall like a pack of cards, the writing has been on the wall for some time, it just needed for the people to act in unision, and they have! Their message; Enogh is Enough.
The people need our AFP leaders Danny Lim & Co back in active service without delay.
What the Haemorrhoid Twins are up to is trying to ‘walk on eggs’ in the hope that they can change sides when the collapse of this administration comes; and it will – but the public will soon show their anger for their blatant partisan support for this administration against the will of the people in their involvement in election fraud, not once but twice, killings, abductions, stealing, lying and the many failures to uphold the law and the constitution. All for the sake of power and corrupt money in their bank.
The Haemorrhoid Twins have no brains, they never thought that the day would come that they have to publicly account for their arrogant actions – they are a total disgrace to the AFP and freedom as defined in the constitution that they are mandated to uphold.
I learned a lot here at Ellenville and I thank you all including the UFO’s (unidentified foreign objects)who joined- yung mga hipis na fumasok sa finto. ngayon na-hipit ang kanilang fakfak sa finto at fifingfifi. Thank you Tainga-kawali; Was it Mowow or meow? Proud of you Ellen!
Yes, the UFO-ET’s voted in Maguindanao province. That’s the reason why TUTA 12-0 clean sweep. A school teacher-whistle blower confirmed that there was no election held. Doctored election returns were done May 13, 2007 or day before actual election date. Schoolchildren were herded for ER fingerprints. Comelec officials, DECS, DOJ, rogue police and military and municipal/provincial treasurers may have conspired to massive electoral fraud in favor of Gloria Arroyo’s TU candidates.