 |
 |
| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| Creating an Alternative By Antonio C. Abaya Written July 05, 2005 For the Manila Standard Today, July 07 issue Despite the universal cynicism that met her apology last week for her �lapse in judgment� in talking with �a Comelec official� about her desired one-million vote lead and other election-related matters in May-June 2004, President Arroyo remains solidly entrenched in Malacanang. Opposition trapos, communist front organizations and non-trapo critics and detractors have launched one rally after another against President Arroyo, but so far not one of them has attracted a critical mass of protesters from the all-important middle class. The opposition trapos have their hakot crowds from the squatter colonies, paid P250 per head, if they can find their paymaster after each rally, which is not always the case. The communist front organizations have their rabble-rousing ideologues and their red-flag-waving militants. The non-trapo critics and detractors have neither hakot crowds nor committed followers in the thousands needed to rock Arroyo�s boat perceptibly. It all boils down to who can best convince the middle class to join in their street protests against President Arroyo. As things stand now, President Arroyo is winning by default. The middle class, though not in the least bit loyal or sympathetic to her, are not fired up sufficiently to spill out into the streets and give vent to civic anger. Part of the reason is people power fatigue. Having risen up in righteous indignation against the Marcos and Estrada regimes � the first over of the murder of the beloved Ninoy, the second over the aborting of the impeachment process � the middle class feel betrayed that the leaders whom they elevated to power by their street action in 1986 and 2001 turned out to be such colossal disappointments. And they consequently hesitate to do it again in 2005. The other reason for the apparent apathy of the middle class is the cynical attitude that there is no viable alternative to the present leadership, badly flawed as it may be, and that there is no one at present worth the bother to their daily lives and the inevitable disruption to the economy (which is not doing too badly) that they will go out to support with street protests. The middle class will not have anything to do with any silly revolutionary council that involves Jejomar Binay or JV Ejercito or Loi Ejercito or Boy Morales or Gringo Honasan, as they cynically view such constructs as nothing but thinly veiled maneuvers to restore Joseph Estrada to the presidency or, given Erap�s professed disinterest in returning to power, to clear him of the plunder charges pending against him. To be acceptable to the middle class, any putative revolutionary council or transition government must state categorically at its inception that, as a matter of policy, it intends to pursue high-profile corruption cases, not just against Erap, but against other perceived scoundrels, with even more vigor, including the use of continuous trials. The middle class will also not support any revolutionary government that has perceived communists and pro-communists in it. They have not forgotten the mistake of the na�ve President Aquino in 1986, who tried to appease Joma�s communists by appointing some of their perceived allies into her Cabinet, which caused restlessness in the military and led to several coup attempts against her. Besides, to be able to govern effectively a revolutionary government will need the support of the military and the police. That support will not be forthcoming if that RG has even one perceived communist or pro-communist in it. The apparent decision of Joma Sison to ally himself and his Maoist revolutionaries with the Erap-Binay group dooms their revolutionary council even before they can issue their first revolutionary decree, as far as the middle class, the military, the mainstream Churches, and the business and professional communities are concerned. Appallingly bad choice in allies, Joma. It also pays to be transparent in order to win the support of the cynical middle class. With several revolutionary councils being floated by different groups, their organizers will have to tell the public who the members of their councils will be, and gauge the reaction of the public.. The middle class would take the 81-year old revolutionary Fortunato Abat more seriously if he were to name the 15 members of his proposed transition government. It would be then, and only then, that the middle class will decide whether to support him or not While secrecy is the normal and preferred environment for revolutionary politics, this is the Philippines where politics, even revolutionary politics, is suffused with a boundless inquisitiveness usually reserved only for showbiz gossip. The public, especially the middle class, has the right to know who their would-be messiahs are. Otherwise, forget it. And it would help win the sympathy and support of the middle class and the business and professional communities if the organizers of proposed transition governments were to declare from the start that they would (or would not) retain the economic managers of the Arroyo Government for at least one year. This would serve to calm fears of economic instability and major business disruption if an extra-constitutional process were to remove the incumbent leaders.. Until and unless proven otherwise, it should be assumed that Cabinet members like Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Trade and Industry Secretary Juan Santos, NEDA Secretary Romulo Neri, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, Budget Secretary Emma Boncodin, and Customs Commissioner Guillermo Parayno are patriotic and honorable men and women who are doing the best they can under difficult circumstances. They are not the problem. The problem is President Arroyo and the abominable political culture that she represents. And it is not true that no one can take her place. The fact that she is an economist should not be touted as her saving grace that no other presidential pretender has. Even an economist can ruin an economy if he or she does not have the right leadership qualities. Besides, the most economically successful modernizing leaders in this part of the world in the last 30 years were not economists. South Korea�s Park Chung Hee was a military general. Singapore�s Lee Kwan Yew was a lawyer. Malaysia�s Mahathir Mohamad was a medical doctor. Thailand�s Thaksin Shinawatra was/is a businessman, China�s Jiang Zemin was an engineer. What is expected from the President is leadership. Political leadership. Leadership by example. Most of all, moral leadership. Expertise in such matters as economics, finance, banking, science and technology, the environment, education, public health, highways and transportation, energy etc can be tapped from the men and women appointed to the Cabinet. But moral leadership can come only from the inner strength and character of the leader.. This was the great failing of Joseph Estrada. It is also the great failing of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Former President Corazon Aquino�s exhortation that only legal and constitutional means should be used to resolve the present crisis rings hollow and hypocritical. If the middle class had used only legal and constitutional means to try to resolve the crisis in 1983-86, Ms. Aquino would not have been elevated to Malacanang (being the official loser in the Comelec�s snap elections), and our president today would be either Imelda Marcos or Danding Cojuangco. Would Cory have preferred that? Reactions to [email protected] or fax 824-7642. Other articles in www.tapatt.org. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to "Creating an Alternative" Dear Mr. Abaya, I agree with you that one thing holding back the "middle class" from taking to the streets is a perceived (and justified) notion that nothing good will come out of another "people power" revolution. As far as the second point is concerned, that there is a perception that no "viable" alternative exists, I also agree with you that said cynical view is "badly flawed". It is a sad state of a country's affairs when a clear alternative to an obviously corrupt and power-hungry politician cannot be found. I am quite confident that we can find a viable alternative. The only problem is that those who harness political power (not necessarily the president) will never allow anyone who is outside of their ranks to become the president. This is the essence of the "crab mentality". Those who are in power (or reasonably close to it) are loath to see an "outsider" step into the political ring and seize the ultimate prize because deep down inside, they feel that they are either better, smarter, or have invested more time in politics than any novice politician. What's worse, the everyday person on the street is also loath to see someone who is "ordinary" become the president because he or she feels that since the person is not in power to begin with, nothing makes that person more special than he or she is. The fact of the matter is, our country could be better run by a mid to upper level manager in a large corporation. Filipinos are just unwilling to let an "outsider" have a chance. The example of Ross Perot in the United States is an excellent counterpoint. Basically a businessman, at first, he used his wealth in order to make people listen to his ideas. Later on, when people were made aware of his ideas, he was listened to because he made sense. Ultimately, he was unsuccessful at his bids to gain the US presidency, however, people took him seriously because they realized that he had good ideas. In a country where ideas and principles still seem to matter more than money, he will always be deemed to be a success. (Of course, I am quite sure that most "professional politicians" were glad to see Perot lose those elections as it would have meant having to deal with someone who could afford NOT to play by the rules of the "trapos". Trapos do exist in the States. Sen. Edward Kennedy being a prime example) We need someone to lead our country who is untainted by our unique brand of politics. The only problem is, are we willing to let a political novice lead? Frederick F. Calope, [email protected] Margaret Wong & Associates, Co., LPA Cleveland, Ohio, July 08, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I concur with your observation that we need leaders that are morally and ethically upright. Unfortunately many of our present known leaders are only interested in their own selfish interests, particularly name, power, wealth and fame. Only if they reform themselves, cooperate with one another, set aside personal and selfish ambition and work towards national interest, they together can still do wonders for our country. Sinners can still be saints. Cheats can still be good, but they must work together that past mistakes are not repeated again. Violence is not a solution as it begets another violence. Jesse Alto, [email protected] July 08, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, I classify myself as one who belongs to the "middle class" you mentioned. I have no active political activity except reading your email with the hope that I will learn a just and workable solution to the situation we are in right now. I am feeling guilty with the thought that I contribute to Mrs. Arroyo's victory by default. I do not intend to be Mrs. Arroyo's apologist, neither do I intend to throw her down the drain. Any Filipino who is worth its salt can see that her husband and her son are lying thru their teeth. We have seen enough of their style in Imelda Marcos, et al on TV, which makes one want to smash down the unit feeling insulted and assumed to have a low level of intelligence and emotional quotient. I still have to wait for a solution which will answer the proactive question in any crises which is "What can I do to help in this situation". Some action which do not need to destroy things in order to build a new one. Some action which do not depend on anything from anybody else. We have complete control over ourselves but we do not have control over others. I sincerely believe that the country will greatly benefit if all of us will have the attitude and action that will be part of the solution. What if we will have these kind of persons that Mr. F. Abat imagined, to act as our "OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE" until the end of Mrs. Arroyo's term? They will have as their primary responsibility - to improve the economic and political situation of the country. Their success need not be attributed to Mrs. Arroyo nor to themselves, but to the whole Filipino populace, who will be appointed ipso facto "OVERALL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE". As to how these team can be orchestrated, we will leave to the management gurus in the Philippines. Life is short and Mrs. Arroyo's term is shorter. Things cannot go that bad that will bring down the country to rock bottom, most especially with an awakened society and a spirited "OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE". In the meantime, we will go ahead with our Constitutional process of impeachment and prosecution as it warrants. It is sincerely hoped that this will strike some constructive nerve in some of us who just want to serve the country in whatever and wherever situation we are in. I take this opportunity to extend my thanks for your efforts and stamina in keeping us enlightened and the right national values upheld. With warm regards. Dodi Canete, [email protected] July 08, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww God is finally answering all our prayers. These tapes will be recorded in history as "manna from heaven". It is time that we all partake of it. Simply get off the criminal path we have been traveling on for so long and onto the path of righteousness. See to it that these events work positively for the good of our society. It is time for our redemption. Ana I. de Sequera-Ugarte, [email protected] ABS-CBN, Bantay Kalikasan July 08, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, I am forwarding this article by an author whom I don�t know, but whose propositions make a lot of sense to me. The part of the article that caught my attention pertains to the theory that this present crisis scenario is largely a production of Ping Lacson. I now believe this is most likely the truth. That is why I think informed and honest columnists like yourself should support the present administration, instead of pulling it down. Despite all the obstacles thrown her way, the country is making some progress. If she would be left alone there would be very much more. After all GMA did actually win the election. Also, taking everything into account, including her family, they are probably, by far, the least corrupt of any replacement that would follow. Robert Paradies, [email protected] July 08, 2005 Subject: THE PHILIPPINES IS NOT ALONE Telltale Signs/ THE PHILIPPINES IS NOT ALONE Rodel Rodis, June 27, 2005 When �hindi ka nag-iisa!� (you are not alone) became a popular slogan inthe aftermath of Ninoy Aquino�s assassination in 1983, little did we know that it would also refer to the developments that occurred in the country since then. The Philippines is not alone. According to columnist Jarius Bondoc, if you travel to certain banana republics in South America, you will feel right at home because their news headlines will mirror Philippine developments. If you go to Ecuador, you will think of former President Joseph �Erap� Estrada. In 1997, Ecuador elected President Abdala Bucaram, a colorful entertainer who won on the strength of his charismatic personality. President Bucaram spent his brief term in office, womanizing, gambling, boozing and rifling the public till of $100 million� until Congress impeached him. His female vice-president, Rosala Arteaga, then assumed the presidency. If you go to Peru, you will think of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Peru's president, Alejandro Toledo, is currently being pressured by militants, churchmen and members of the opposition to resign for alleged corruption and election fraud. Yet Peru�s business interests want him to remain as president because the Peruvian economy has never been better. And besides, they don�t believe his vice-president is capable of running the country. If you go to Bolivia, you will think of Vice-President Noli De Castro. In 2003, Bolivia�s president was pressured to resign leaving the presidency to his vice-president, Carlos Mesa, who was a widely known television anchor. When Mesa failed to improve the economy and was confronted by strikes and demonstrations against his administration, Mesa resigned. The Senate President assumed office but street demonstrations forced him to resign as well. The House Speaker declined to take over so the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court had to take over and set new elections by the end of the year to prevent a civil war. If you return to Ecuador, you will think of Senator Panfilo �Ping� Lacson. After President Rosala Arteaga�s term, Jamil Mabuod was elected president and he proved to be as corrupt as Bucaram and was similarly impeached by the Ecuadorian Congress in 2002. His vice-president, Lucio Gutierrez, then assumed the presidency and promptly �plunged Ecuador into narco-politics�. Gutierrez dissolved the Supreme Court and had the new one he appointed dismiss all the criminal charges against Bucaram. Gutierrez, who had been a colonel in charge of security under Bucaram, then invited Bucaram back to Ecuador after years of exile in Panama. Bucaram�s return sparked a People Power uprising that forced Gutierrez to flee into exile to Brazil. Gen. Lacson was the head of the Philippine National Police (PNP) under President Estrada and is still personally close to Estrada even though he spurned Estrada�s plea to withdraw his presidential bid in favor of his friend and fellow actor, FPJ. If Lacson were to ever become president, he would do to Estrada what Gutierrez did with Bucaram: have all the charges against his former boss dismissed. Jarius Bondoc is convinced that the present crisis in the Philippines is the handiwork of Lacson. "It was Lacson who craftily devised the jueteng stories, first with "press exclusives" on three bagmen, then a Senate probe in which his party pal "confessed" to paying off Ms Arroyo�s son and spouse. It appears he was behind the wiretap too. As NBI chief Reynaldo Wycoco disclosed, retired spy Sammy Ong, who brags to hold the bugging master tape, had campaigned for Lacson. Ong, in turn, let on that the wiretapper was intelligence Sgt. Vidal Doble, once attached to Lacson�s Anti-Organized Crime Task Force under Estrada. The crisis in effect is a Lacson ploy, from which he would be the foremost beneficiary. Lacson has assembled a left-right coalition to depose President Arroyo. Last week, he launched his �Be Not Afraid� Movement to distribute nationwide free �Hello Garci� ring tones and CD copies of the purported wiretapped audiotapes linking President Arroyo to electoral fraud. Joining Lacson at the launching of his movement were Makati Mayor Jojo Binay, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Rep. Francis Escudero of the Estrada-Poe camp as well as Rep. Butz Aquino and Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, his supporters in the last election. Also in attendance were representatives of student and labor groups like the Bagong Alyansa Makabayan (Bayan) and the People�s Movement Against Poverty. Many of these student activists were not even born yet when Lacson was a member of Col. Rolando Abadilla�s notorious MISG unit which tortured and killed activists during the Marcos dictatorship. Be not afraid? With Lacson pulling the strings to provoke a crisis that will enable him to be president of the Philippines, we should all be very afraid. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I agree with you on the reasons you presented for the seemingly unmoved middle class. But let me add one more reason why I am at first unmoved, now totally disgusted, by the whole thing: the failure of the opposition to prove GMA's guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Let's admit it, the taped conversations could go both ways (order to cheat or protection of votes), depending on your political inclination. To us who have a lot to lose should we choose the people power option, we must be convinced beyond reasonable doubt that she is guilty. Was there any mention of compensation for Garci's illegal assistance? None. I don't think Garci will offer his services for free. He must at least make money out of it. Second, the call for resignation is just too early to call. What�s the problem with reopening the balllots in the contested areas just so to find out if there was really fraud? If all evidence point to GMA's cheating, people power or calls for her to resign would be a no-brainer since all these compounding evidences will have validated the charge that she really ordered Garci to cheat. Peter Cruz, [email protected] July 07, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (To kompil2@yahoogroups. Copy firnished) Why is it that people insist on adhering to the same constitution which in the same statement is admitted to be flawed and in need of reform? The constitution is only a set of laws enacted by men, it is fallible, it is not the Ten Commandments, it is not perfect either as a declaration of morality nor as a legal framework, as we have seen in the past decades. And it does establish the principle of people power as a means to effect political change when all else fails. Above the human law is fundamental morality, principles of right and wrong, which too often gets brutalized beyond recognition in this country of lawyers. What GMA has done is wrong, it undermines her office and her credibility, whether it is 'legal' or not. Wiretapping may be 'illegal', but IF it draws us to the possibility and eventually proves beyond doubt that GMA won by cheating, then do we ignore it just because it is 'illegal' as evidence? As stated below, cleansing must come before healing. GMA and her government must be removed, and the fear of the return of Erap must not be an excuse to allow her to continue. Erap and the 'political opposition' are just as bad and must not be allowed to take her place either. Tonton Mapa, [email protected] July 07, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Reaction to GMA Statement of July 07) IN MY OPINION: GMA is only saying this as a last ditch attempt to save her position. She would not have done this if she was not pushed to the wall, and she will still not follow through on her promises once things are defused. How can we believe her after all her unfulfilled promises, especially the promise to not run for president, which inspired many people and gave a hope that sadly turned out to be false? How can we believe her after she admitted to influencing the elections and is widely believed to have cheated? How can we believe she will 'listen to the people' when she consistently ignores surveys and feedback from all sides, even from the international business community, and passes them off as a 'perception problem', refusing to accept when we are classed as the second most corrupt country in the world. Even her so called 'loving marriage' is a lie. GMA is insincere, a liar, has lost credibility with the majority, and must be removed. Tonton Mapa, [email protected] July 07, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Bravo, Mr. Abaya! This article differs from the rest (even your own past ones) because : 1. it calls a spade a spade in re the Erap (and his kin) -Binay unholy alliance and likewise identifying some of their sickening wannabe allies ; 2. tells off PGMA and other would-be Presidents what our country needs as far as a leader is concerned; 3. but most important, lays the groundwork for what is a realistic alternative. Let us hope and pray that the sober and sincere among those proponents of a transition government take a cue from the article. Antonio B. Elica�o, [email protected] July 08, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. ACA ....Presumptuous as it may sound, but sincerely asked, would you kindly indulge your reader, by answering this: Would you join a new government, and what are your conditions ? Thank you so much. Tinine Bautista, [email protected] July 08, 2005 MY REPLY would be Yes or No, depending on who is doing the asking, and depending on what is expected of me. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Except for the very end, Yes, you are telling it like it is. Very well written, a great synopsis of the situation. Peter Capotosto, [email protected] July 08, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww . Love your article It shows the true sentiments of the nation today. Iit shows the failure of our election process wherein our voters are not fully informed regarding the candidates that they elect into office. The policy of the political parties of fielding actors/ media personalities to ensure winability is starting to backfire, hurting the country no end and we would continue to suffer in the years to come. Now events are unfolding and there now exists a possibility of a NOLI DE CASTRO PRESIDENT REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES HEAVEN SAVES US NOW..... NOBODY TO BLAME BUT US THE VOTERS WHO PUT THESE PEOPLE INTO OFFICE. GATHER ALL POLITICIANS TO THE LUNETA AND LET'S NUKE THEM..... Gener Morada, [email protected] July 08, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, You're absolutely right. A president doesn't have to be an economist to bring about economic development. Alternative policy options can be explained in plain language. In order to move the economy towards long delayed progress, a president of this country must simply have the balls to take on vested interests, the sincerity to resist populism and the ability to connect with and make people understand what is best for everyone. Gico Dayanghirang, [email protected] Davao City, July 08, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww My gut reaction to your column below: 1. The title is very appealing but the content does not really discuss any idea or process which will lead to a viable "alternative." 2. Can GMA be said to have moral leadership? You make a quick conclusion that she does not have this quality. But "moral leadership" is no a black and white thing. You can't draw the line, especially in politics, and define precisely what is moral and what is not. To what degree should a leader compromise morality in order to achieve results? 3. If moral leadership is the solution, then we should have the very righteous guys like Eddie V. and Arch. Cruz, etc. run this country. These people have a community of their own to lead -- a big flock from whom they get their living. Have they even started to improve the lives of their own flocks? We should encourage anyone who has a holier than thou attitude to be our leader. The great Asian leaders you mention succeeded without all the attributes of "moral leadership." What they had was the political will which was accomodated by their own political systems. 4. Our country needs to overhaul our political systems, even our norms of what constitute free press etc. Some of the broadsheets definitely exceed ethical behavior when they banner incendiary headlines, gossip, rumors and tacitly incite the public against government using some perceived unproven allegation as the cause. 5. If GMA is guilty, she should go through the process of impeachment, investigation, and removal, based on constitutional procedures. Demanding resignation is not only very adversarial but also very destructive to our country - very disruptive to business, the economy, foreign investment, peace and order, etc. It is an open invitation to adventurers, an enticement for them to take extraordinary action, such as coup and assassination. The press and the people behind it, such as responsible columnists, should get their act together and reject this process of asking for the president's resignation. 6. Meanwhile, what is a realistic alternative besides going through the time-consuming, disheartening process of impeachment? The Ramos option appeals to me. It is indeed time for us to throw away our political system and re-engineer it towards something that will work. A unicameral system will cut down the cost of legislation. (A month ago, a young congressman computed the cost of processing a bill in the lower house. Adding up all the salaries, allowances, etc. of the lower house, they came to the astounding figure that it costs more than P 1 billion per law passed. I don't have the number but this or any figure close to this is indeed appalling.) 7. Instead of wasting time in the streets, all patriotic Filipinos should push for structural reforms in our political system, in our backward and restrictive foreign investment rules, in our bloated and inefficient bureaucracy, in our ineffective justice system which is still impotent in catching high-living and corrupt government officials. 8. Corruption is so bad nowadays. At Quezon City, those processing building permits will make a big deal about minor deficiencies and ask for a lot of lagay. Same in many other municipalities not only in Metro Manila but all over the country. Corruption has seeped into the LGUs. Instead of making surveys about the popularity of GMA, Nolie, etc. the pollsters could do a service to the nation by polling the LGUs and identifying which ones have a higher corruption level, etc... Sorry for all this noise. Keep up the good work! Wilfredo L. Segovia, [email protected] July 08, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww A SORRY DELIVERY OF AN EMPTY APOLOGY (ANOTHER QUEEN�S GAMBIT) "She may be the face I can�t forget" is not just a line from a familiar song. The look of seeming meekness out of a contrite spirit the President put on when she finally broke her deafening silence on the "Hello Garci" tapes will haunt us for years. Many view her admission of an impropriety (calling a COMELEC official) as an act of humility. Others are not convinced of her sincerity because of the oddity of the apology itself. While the object of the apology to put this tape discovery behind us was clear, its subject and nature was lost in her overdue, contrived, pathetic and deliberately vague dramatization. We do not know what she was actually saying sorry for. Was it her long silence that fueled speculation and heightened tension? Was it her call to a COMELEC official whom she intentionally did not identify? Was it their having been caught on tape? Was it for trusting a notoriously shady character by appointing him COMELEC commissioner despite vehement objections? Was it her foolish desire for a clearer mandate than if she were to win by less than a million votes? Whatever political purpose or media mileage it was intended to achieve, that fateful June 27 broadcast was to me nothing more than a sorry delivery of an empty apology. Let us note the highlights of her career as a politician. She had declared her presidential ambition early on in a team-up with Tito Sotto but dropped him like a hot potato when news broke of his alleged personal relationship with a drug lord. Then after realizing she could not beat Erap in a presidential election, she ran for vice-president instead. This paved the way for Joseph Estrada to garner the biggest plurality of votes in the history of the Philippine presidency. In January 2000 after having been handed the presidency due to public outrage over our collective perception of the suppression of truth, she promptly made plans for the next ten years as though she knew she would be in Malaca�ang for the same length of time. But when the going got rough as her office was always buffeted by questions on the legitimacy of her ascension into power, she declared she would not run in the 2004 presidential elections. Later on it became clear this was really a queen�s gambit as presidential aspirants were flushed into the open with everyone exposing his/her own strengths and weaknesses. It is to her and her advisers that I credit this fa�ade of patriotism while she stealthily and shrewdly forged tactical alliances and consolidated her forces. That she broke her vow not to run in 2004 did not surprise many least of all her advisers and allies (fellow conspirators, I am tempted to say). Their plan had paid off, thus the road ahead would be easy. Or so they thought. But fate in the person of Fernando Poe Jr. had to say a few words first (literally however truly and deeply he cared for the Filipino). I shall always have a higher respect for her late father because of his honesty (at least he did not enrich himself) than his successor for all the dictator�s brilliance. Some guess her father must be squirming in his grave for the many times she failed to honor her word. The question now is how effectively she can still govern. How can she lead the country when she has failed miserably in leading her own family, when her solution to a family problem is to banish its members? I have always thought that families unite in times of crisis. Love of God is the only reason, I think, by which a person can sacrifice family unity. Patriotism not ambition makes the challenge of separation between family members more bearable. Though she studied in illustrious schools she may have missed lessons in family values and humility. Her impressive economics credentials may have provided her extra courses in international trade and brinkmanship (the kind of expertise which allows horse trading to put a nation on the verge of disaster). I still do not know where she got the idea that a win-win situation means winning every time at any cost and dumping the excess baggage that has outlived its usefulness. Nothing in her past suggests that she ever acted out of some patriotic streak or zeal, only out of a strong personal ambition. While she has gotten away with her previous schemes which were borderline legal on one hand and unethical/immoral on the other hand, her over dependence on her lawyer advisers for major decisions may spell her doom this time. It is extremely difficult to pin her down on anything because she simply stands for nothing except her burning desire to remain in power at all costs. Let us all pray for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, her family, her Cabinet, her allies, her advisers and supporters that they may do what is right in the eyes of the Lord as the Holy Spirit gives everyone light through prayer and study of God�s Word. Antonio Nantes Guevara, [email protected] Sta. Rosa, Laguna, July 08, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, I am for instituting the constitutional process of impeachment, there is no alternative. Otherwise, it would mean dismantling the republic and establishing a new one. And if we do this again and again and again, we would have fallen into the South American trap and will turn into the only banana republic in Asia. If GMA still has some delicadeza left, she should resign now. But I would not want to ask her to do that. That's her call. She must be accountable and should be impeached. Many Filipinos doubt the legislators' capability to conduct an impeachment process honorably. But they should have learned from the Estrada experience. And if they still have not, we, the people, have all the right to take the law into our own hands. It is unfortunate many of us are scared of what could come next. If GMA's accomplishment is the standard, I would not hesitate to dump her and gamble with Vice President Noli de Castro, the constitutionally mandated successor. And if Noli de Castro should fall into the same culpability, he too should face the consequences. This is how the constitution, i.e., the rule of law, should work. We cannot simply ignore it, or throw it overboard. The latest news is a promise by GMA to institute reforms. I do not believe her. If she has done nothing in so many years, how could she do something this time? Will she ask all the senators and congressmen to resign next time? I believe her making the promise is just like the brat facing a "sinturon", making repeated promises not to do the awful thing again. Virgilio C Leynes, [email protected] July 08, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Mang Tony, I was watching Johnny Midnight over channel 20 (RJ) until the program signed-off. Most callers have the same to say about the recent situation. That is "no to the Gloria resignation". Your recent column "Creating an Alternative", is once again, a very brilliant piece. Taxpayers indeed are fed up with these traditional politicians and were even dismayed of what ex-president Aquino had announced. (A woman caller jokingly said to instead mind her own daughter Kris or ask who really killed Ninoy) Callers lamented too on how some TV stations (like ANC) handle their coverage. Do they have something or someone to protect? These are the general sentiment of the callers. They are thankful that there are TV stations like RJ who see things differently. I tried to call too but could not get thru�I would like to tell them about your recent column. Kudos Mang Tony!!! Ernesto A. Pilapil, Jr., [email protected] Jintu Designs, Philippines July 09, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Sir, I agree the call to Pres. Arroyo to resign, but if she will not do it, it is her right also because if as per her conscience she knows that she is not guilty. And if we have doubt about her credibility we file impeachment. Everything should be done in a constitutional process. We should be civilized in running our country, not every time we don�t want our leader we go to the street and keep nagging and shouting. And who are on the street the pro Erap and the Marcoses, how would we believe them? they have a very bad track record. Unless we are stupid also. These who don�t want to bring justice in the court has no place to run our country, they cant bring justice on the street unless maybe they are being ignored. If you ask most of us here, do we need to forgive Pres. Arroyo? We can't forgive her because she never commit sins against us, we pity her for her ignorance that she should not call the Comelec official. What we hear from the CD is not enough we need more proof. I just wonder why they don�t bring this to the Congress. It�s because it will take a lot of time or they cannot prove it? Alexander Carranceja, [email protected] Kuwait, July 09, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Re GMA's "lapse in judgment" mentioned in your article. GMA TEMPTED GOD'S WRATH? God works in mysterious ways in His own time. He heard the cries of his people enslaved in Egypt, but Moses had to be born and grow old in years before deliverance would come. In the Philippines, while we had to endure many years of martial law, God did not forsake us. Before 1986, He gave us Cardinal Sin to pave the way for our deliverance. As a Prince of the Church, he stood up to President Marcos-in the biblical tradition of the eternal confrontation between prophets and kings, as in the meetings between Moses and the Pharaoh of Egypt, between Samuel and King Saul, between Isaiah and the king of Judah, and between Christ himself and the Governor of the Roman Empire. EDSA I and II were God's handiwork, His show of love to the Filipino people. He punished those who might have made a mockery of His love. With enough providential events and signs that God is watching over Filipinos, we would think that the major beneficiary of God's providence, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would be the most contrite Filipino who would rule the nation along God's ways.Unfortunately, it appears she did not. While she and her supporters are now seeking refuge in the Constitution, in the past she herself might have undermined the very same Constitution, through her following acts: � First, for the elected President to govern in peace, he must win in the election fair and square. Thus, the Constitution bars a sitting President from seeking reelection, so that during his term he can govern as a statesman serving the people, not as a politician beholden to the few party leaders who will help make his reelection possible. Just as important, he cannot exploit the self-serving capacity of a re-electionist and sitting President to cheat in presidential elections. Alas, as was seen, IN DEFIANCE OF THE SPIRIT AND INTENT OF THE CONSTITUTION, GMA ran for President on a technicality not previously anticipated-while she is a sitting President, she is not a prohibited re-electionist. After the election, many Filipinos perceived that she spent public funds in her election campaign-which might be the reason why there was huge surplus in campaign contributions in Jose Pidal's bank account. At present, we have the destabilizing Garci tapes that divide the nation because these suggest election cheating by a sitting President- precisely the situation the Constitution's framers wanted to avoid-but not avoided because of GMA's disrespect of the Constitution in pursuit of her selfish desire to stay in power. � Second, the Constitution itself provided for a Commission on Elections independent of the President and loyal only to the nation. However, contrary to what she and her supporters have been peddling to the people, GMA showed not just an isolated case of "lapse in judgment" but A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO SUBVERT THE CONSTITUTION-by way of robbing the constitutionally-envisioned independent Comelec of its independence-through the simple expediency of appointing Comelec Commissioners at least one of whom, it seems, is woefully beholden to her and would do her every bidding, as the infamous "Hello Garci" tapes suggest. Had GMA appointed respectable and patriotic Filipinos in the mold of Ms. Haydee Yorac, or of Mr. Christian Monsod, in the Comelec, she could not have talked to them let alone influenced them the way she seemed to have done to Mr. Garcillano! Let GMA's present painful ordeal be a lesson to all our present and future leaders. They should serve the people along God's ways-lest they tempt the wrath of God. Marcelo L. Tecson, [email protected] San Miguel, Bulacan, July 09, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I see that Fidel Ramos is still pulling the strings on his willing puppet President's. I recall that as PC Chief Ramos was as responsible for the human right violations, abuses and killings during the time of President Ferdinand Marcos. Remember all the firearms that were confiscated when Martial Law was declared were placed in the Camp Crame Armory for safekeeping. What has happend with them as there has been no accountability on the matter. Have they all disappeared? Who should be held responsible for this? During the term of Cory he was putting the fear of coup's in her, so that she would have to rely/depemd on him. I recall that when Mount Pinatubo erupted and 40 square miles of Larha couverd the countryside.The US Bases were turned over to the Philippine government. Lo and behold everything was looted .including the kitchen sink. Was Fidel Ramos not the head of the military then? Should he have been held accountable for the looting that took place? I understand that Fidel Ramos is not lilly white pure and that he had something to do with the sale of Fort Bonifacio and other shenanigans that have transpired. The way I perceive it is that one of the persons he was not able to control was President Joseph Estrada. I also recall that in SBS TV in Sydney Australia Fidel Ramos, made the statement as follows: "If President Ramos is not Impeached there will be a Coup." Would you say this should have been considered as seditious or rebellios talk? Has Fidel Ramos been running the Philippines jointly with GMA by proxy through one of the Generals? Jaime Calero, [email protected] Sydney, Australia, July 11, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Sir, Your article has not mentioned the role of the military in any move to oust a president. It mentions Cory Aquino but not Fidel V. Ramos. By your article, you seem to suggest that the middle class shapes or will shape the nation�s destiny. The two EDSAs as I recall shows the strength of the military organization and former President Fidel V. Ramos more than the middle class. The former president since 1986 have been present if not mainly responsible in saving and toppling presidents in this country. In 1986 and 2001, he was a figure in the removal of presidents. In 1989 and 2005 he was responsible for saving the necks of two women presidents. The military�s active participation in the two EDSA�s and neutrality today when there is a clamor for PGMA�s resignation shows the clout of the military in unmaking or making a president. Listening to the gloriagate tapes, one hears names of various military generals conducting operations for and against pgma. I think its high time that we demystify EDSA revolutions as middle class revolutions. From what I have observed, the two EDSA�s were successful coup de etats�. If it was a middle class revolution, the main beneficiaries should be the middle class. Can we truly say that the middle class profited for EDSA I and II? Brando C. Bautista, [email protected] July 11, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, I got your article through a friend of mine who is a heavy advocate against corruption. This article of your goes beyond the description of "well-written". It is not only enlightening. It speaks the truth. I just hope that some people who came across your article have taken heed of what you wrote. Thanks and more power to you. Nicole L. Paterno, [email protected] July 11, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, You have espoused the need for a true revolution several times in your columns, and I totally agree. Our beloved nation is on a slow boat to hell and has been for several decades. At this point in time, changing leadership from GMA to Noli, or from the Lakas bloc to the Erap bloc, will not solve our problems. Our problem is no longer just one of leadership, it is systemic - we are caught in a sociopolitical system that is perpetuating administration after administration, and generation after generation, of corrupt and immoral leaders. Recent history and the ongoing crisis only shows that there is no hope in the system, or the constitutional process. There is no point in an electoral system when it just leads to patronage politics at all levels of government, there is a high chance that voting is not done intelligently, and ultimately it is all a useless exercise since the true choice of the voters is not even assured of being proclaimed. There is no point in a constitutional process that only serves the powerful, when human laws are used to go against moral law. For example, there is something seriously wrong when people say 'wiretapping is illegal and therefore the tapes cannot be used in a court of law', disregarding the more fundamental issue of whether a genuine crime is recorded and if so, what do we do about it. Nearly twenty years ago we had a golden opportunity to bring about truly revolutionary changes in our country. We squandered that opportunity by rushing back to a 'normal' state of electoral politics, under a new constitution, which simply ensured that a powerful minority perpetuated corruption over the innocent and helpless majority. I am convinced that this system does not work for us. And there is no reason why we should not try another way. Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and Korea all went through their periods of authoritarian rule. Vietnam, for all its being Communist, is the country with the greatest success in poverty alleviation in recent years. Big business will not shun a country's market just because its leadership is authoritarian or even military. Even Burma, the supposed pariah of the international community, continues to attract business. Global business puts their money in thriving economies, and thriving economies are created by a population that is educated and productive, in a country with good infrastructure. Our country will never have these things if we stay on the path we are on today. E-VAT simply adds to the burden on the common Filipino, all because one corrupt administration after another fails to collect taxes properly . We don't need new taxes, just honest collection and expenditure. We don't need new laws, just honorable civil servants. Perhaps, today we have another opportunity for a truly revolutionary change. We must not be content with just letting the Vice President succeed, or with another constitutional convention, or another elections. These will simply perpetuate the slow boat to hell that we are on. We need a discontinuity. We need a strong government that has no immoral obligations and skeletons in the closet that get in the way of genuine reform. We need a strong government that will bring back the rule of law, impose it equally on all, and harness the talents of what is a truly talented people. We need to go beyond our blinders when it comes to choosing our leaders - "does he have government experience, does she have national exposure, can he command international respect, will she relate to the masses, blah blah blah..." There are so many honorable, intelligent, and capable Filipino leaders out there in all sorts of fields, we definitely don't want to pick from the same rotten bunch that we have in congress and local government. I don't know how or whether this can happen. It seems like wishful thinking to hope that the military (who will ultimately decide if a new, revolutionary government will rule) will identify and support the good men and women in our midst and install them as our new leaders. But that seems to be our only real hope. Tonton Mapa, [email protected] July 10, 2005 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |