* Antonio Trillanes IV
He could have used his stature as a senator to effect change in the governance of the country. Yet, he squandered this opportunity and trashed the millions of votes that made him a senator when he chose to try to lead an uprising against the government. Many believe in his cause to discredit the Arroyo regime, but not his methods which always carry the specter of violence. Now, he may spend his time, not on the Senate floor, but mopping a prison floor.

* Teofisto Guingona
He showed his mettle when he was a Senator. He was highly respected during the impeachment of former President Joseph Estrada. He was widely cheered when he bravely withstood water cannons trying to stop a peace rally he was leading that was passing through Mendiola. Yet, when he joined Trillanes at the ill-fated stand-off at the Manila Peninsula hotel, people merely shook their heads. Many felt that Guingona should have long retired from politics, remained a statesman and done something more meaningful to uplift the plight of Filipinos. His misadventure with Trillanes was seen as an ambitious albeit subtle move to be President of the country should Trillanes’ coup succeed.

* Benjamin Abalos
Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman, found himself smack at the center of two controversies. One, elections fraud in Mindanao; the other, a bribery scandal which also involved stories of romps with Chinese maidens. Because of the latter, he was forced to give up his Comelec Chair. Yet, he loudly vowed to fight for his innocence no matter where it took him. However, to this day he remains deafly silent. Better to just fade away spending those millions and having memories of Chinese virgins.

* Joseph Estrada
He remained defiant about his innocence even if he was found guilty of plunder which meted him life imprisonment. He at first refused a Presidential pardon because he professed that the Arroyo government was illegitimate. To accept a pardon would thus admit to its legitimacy. Later, however, faced with the reality of spending the rest of his life in a stinky, overcrowded, prison cell, he changed his mind and accepted the pardon. Perhaps someone along the way whispered to him that he would be able to do more to try to topple the government if he’s free.

And our all-time favorite,
* Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Should we really explain why?

The only difference is we’re not witnessing a TV program but a battle for power and the spoils that await the victors. No one really cares about the Filipino. So the show must go on:

PGMA insisted she talked to Comelec Comm Garcillano only after the votes had been counted and not to cheat. That’s incredible!

DENR Sec. Mike Defensor, instead of looking out for illegal loggers, becomes the mouthpiece of PGMA and declares that an American expert claims the Gloriagate tapes are spliced. That’s incredible!

Professional sleaze Michael Angelo Zuce and his ilk have no vested interest in testifying against PGMA. That’s Incredible!

The congressmen and senators investigating PGMA’s alleged poll fraud are doing so in “aid of legislation” and nothing else. That’s incredible!

After this present crisis is over, no matter what the outcome, Filipinos are going to be more mature in future elections.

That’s incredible!