THE political landscape in the country continues to be drastically altered as the preparations for the 2010 election is about to reach a climax with the deadline for the filing of the certificate of candidacy exerting powerful pressure on groups and the candidates. Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero sent a powerful shockwave to the political arena with his sudden and totally unexpected departure from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), the party that shepherds his political career.

Escudero had his eyes fixed on the presidency in the past years. He had been promoting his candidacy for sometime, presenting himself as the fresh air in a highly polluted political atmosphere. Prior to his departure, the NPC, the second largest political party in the country had been promoting Escudero, projecting him as the public face of the party.

Young, dynamic and idealistic, this is the image Escudero had been carefully cultivating in the minds of the public. He is articulate and took pains to publicly speak in local dialects to connect with masses. Politically, Escudero had been trying to mold himself as the Philippine version of Barrack Obama.

Philippines at this point is desperate for change and Escudero wanted to be seen as the standard bearer of the call of the times. For a while, he was able to make a dint with early surveys last year indicating him surging and for sometime had been the darling of the public. Early good showing in the polls encouraged Escudero and his handlers to aim for the highest post. His chance of making it at that time was high.

NPC had considered Escudero its best hope of capturing the presidency. While he and Senator Loren Legarda were wrestling whom to be the top party’s bet, the balance was favorably tilted for him. Political observers were even resigned to an Escudero-Legarda tandem and gave the NPC a good fighting chance in the 2010 election with such a formidable team.

Suddenly, this dream of the NPC to be the most competitive party in the 2010 election evaporated. In a blink of an eye, Escudero junked the NPC leaving it in shambles and limping, pitifully trying to figure out what happened. Shock, bewilderment and sadness were not enough to capture the mood of the NPC. At an instant Escudero cut off its head, leaving Legarda running for vice-president without a standard-bearer.

In his departure statement, Escudero trashed party politics and political parties declaring his is not beholden to anyone. “Whoever will run or will become president of the country can’t fulfill all the things that he can do…when his hands and feet were shackled, his eyes blindfolded and mouth gagged”. In an obvious dig to NPC founder business tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr., and to his rivals Escudero proudly proclaimed his neither a billionaire nor a haciendero (landlord).

More questions were raised than clarified when Escudero spurned and NPC and embarked on a path of being a “free spirit.” Chief among them is why now? For more than eleven long years, Escudero’s political career was nurtured in the NPC. His closeness with Danding Cojuangco Jr., was undeniable. Then, from out of the blue he developed a natural distaste for political parties, even denouncing them as impediment to a healthy political career.

Did Escudero have a Damascus experience, like St. Paul or a sudden epiphany? A careful examination of the events however belies this. Stories abound that the real reason for the parting of ways between Escudero and his long-time patron, Danding Cojuangco was money. Both did not agree on how much the tycoon will shell out for Escudero’s candidacy. Escudero don’t have the money to bankroll a national campaign and he is dependent on Danding’s patronage.

Insiders said Escudero expected Danding to give full financial support to his candidacy and initially quoted Php 5 billion. With recent surveys showing a decline in Escudero’s standing, Danding had second thoughts and promised both Escudero and Legarda Php 200 million each. Escudero was terribly disappointed by Danding’s lukewarm commitment thus he was forced to abandon Danding’s party and left it in limbo.

It is quite clear money is the root cause of Escudero’s denunciation of the NPC and political parties in general, not principle, high or noble calling. There was no sudden realization or a born-again experience.

In the light of this, Escudero’s ranting is deceptively hypocritical. He is no different from the traditional and dirty politicians he fondly castigates. His ties and dependence on vested interest, particularly, that of Danding demolished the ‘new” politics image he projected. Had Danding agreed to totally finance his candidacy, his recent political acrobat would not have happened.

A new day is dawning, is Escudero’s battle cry. Yes a new day is indeed dawning to Escudero’s backers, the likes of Danding, but definitely not to the Filipino people.

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