To end the opposition blunder (and to prove that they are united), I suggest that both Manuel Villar and Aquilino Pimentel II withdraw from the Senate President race. This action will show good faith from both of them, and will probably satisfy the ambitions of presidentiables among the senators. This will also show that the senators listen to the call of the people.

Find a neutral one to be opposition’s candidate for Senate President, one that is acceptable to all opposition members. One that has no ambitions. One that will not compromise with the administration senators for personal gain.

Aquilino Pimentel II almost fits the bill, but for Villar he is not, since Pimentel-as-Senate-President is being pushed by Panfilo Lacson, another presidential wanna-be, and by Manuel Roxas II and Loren Legarda in the background.

Let’s list down the opposition senators (in alphabetical order):

* Aquino III, Benigno (Noynoy)
* Biazon, Rodolfo
* Cayetano, Alan Peter
* Escudero, Francis
* Estrada, Jose (Jinggoy)
* Lacson, Panfilo
* Legarda, Loren
* Madrigal, Ma. Consuelo (Jamby)
* Pimentel II, Aquilino
* Roxas II, Manuel (Mar)
* Trillanes IV, Antonio
* Villar, Manuel (Manny)

Take out the presidentiables (Lacson, Legarda, Roxas, Villar). Aquino and Biazon will support whoever Roxas supports. Since Roxas purpotedly supports Pimentel, so the two Liberals will vote for Pimentel. Lacson, Legarda, and Madrigal will also vote for Pimentel. Cayetano, Estrada, and Escudero will support Villar. I am not sure about Trillanes. So Villar has to court the administration senators for support, which means a Mongrel Majority is about to arrive.

Anyway, I am surprised that Estrada is supporting Villar, despite the facts that (1) Villar betrayed Estrada by railroading the impeachment; and (2) Villar betrayed the opposition by soliciting support from administration senators. Is Joseph Estrada up to something? Jinggoy Estrada as dark horse, acceptable candidate for the opposition?

To be honest, it is hard to push for a compromise candidate, unless they agree to support a neophyte senator who is opposition and not aligned to anybody. That leaves Trillanes, which is impossible, since the Arroyo administration is hell bent on keeping him in detention. Aquino, Cayetano, and Escudero have cast their lots already. Estrada and Madrigal have cast their lots, too.

My aim in this exercise is to find a candidate that will suit everyone. My problem is that everyone is already committed to either Villar and Pimentel; and to push for Escudero, for example, will only result in division. I am not sure if Trillanes has committed to support Pimentel; even if he is neutral in this case, he is not suitable not because he is not qualified – see above. The best case scenario is one candidate only; everyone sacrificing their ambitions and agenda for unity. But that’s wishful thinking.

Here’s a suggestion to Manny Villar: withdraw, support Pimentel, and play bleeding heart till 2010. You know, “I sacrifice my ambition in order to unite the opposition and serve the people.” Play the martyr. He can use that in his 2010 ads. The people will like it.