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| Military Dilemma By Antonio C. Abaya Written July 19, 2005 For the Manila Standard Today, July 21 issue For the time being, at least, the AFP is officially maintaining a position of strict neutrality, as articulated recently by AFP Chief-of-Staff, Lt. Gen. Efren Abu. But the situation is extremely fluid. On any day in the next two weeks, an incident may flame up that could test to the point of combustion any policy of strict neutrality. How should or will the AFP react? For example, it is no secret that Makati Mayor Jejomar, with the help of San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito, has been taking it upon himself to put together a �revolutionary council� that is meant to replace President Arroyo whom they want to force to resign.. In other words, the Binay-Ejercito �revolutionary council� will not abide by the Constitution and will not let the constitutional successor, VP Noli de Castro, succeed the drowning Gloria Arroyo. They will grab power for themselves and install themselves as a revolutionary government, as if revolution were as simple as collecting the garbage or towing away illegally parked cars. Obviously, they will not even envision such a daring power grab if they were not assured of at least some support from a faction of the military and/or police. How would Gen. Abus�s mainstream AFP react to such a situation? Will they observe their stated position of strict neutrality and allow the power grab to succeed? Or, will the mainstream AFP follow their constitutional mandate to be the �protector of the people and the State� and intervene? And will they intervene to save a collapsing government against unlawful usurpers? Or will they intervene to take over government themselves, on the grounds that the politicians have made a mess of everything and should all � administration or opposition alike - be made to go on forced vacations? These questions have to be asked and their answers sought because events are moving at a fast pace towards a possible denouement, and that may happen sooner rather than later. When I first heard about the Binay-Ejercito �revolutionary council� several weeks ago, it was envisioned to have only five members. Now, I understand, it has grown to nine, and possibly up to eleven, members. As far as I can make out, the preferred members of this putative �revolutionary council� are Binay, Fortunato Abat, Salvador Enriquez Jr. (budget secretary under FVR), Renato de Villa (AFP COS and defense secretary under FVR), Horacio �Boy� Morales (agrarian reform secretary under Erap, and co-founder of the National Democratic Front, the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines) and two as yet unidentified (to me) communists, one of them a �reaffirmist�, the other a �rejectionist.� For those unfamiliar with these terms, �rejectionist� refers to the CPP cadres who broke away from Joma Sison in 1992 after rejecting Joma�s Maoist strategy of waging revolution in the countryside, in favor of waging revolution in the cities. The leader of this breakaway faction, Popoy Lagman, was assassinated several years later, eerily reminiscent of Leon Trotsky, one of the original members of the Soviet politburo, who was assassinated (in Mexico City, in 1940) years after breaking away from Stalin. The term �reaffirmist� refers to the CPP cadres who have remained loyal to Joma and have �reaffirmed� their support for Joma�s Maoist strategy of waging revolution in the countryside. Those 300 �farmers and fishermen� who stormed and ransacked the Department of Agriculture building last week and occupied it for four hours almost certainly belonged to this �reaffirmist� main body of the CPP. (Update: In the July 21 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Luis Jalandoni, chief negotiator of the National Democratic Front, was quoted as saying that �What is emerging now is a transitional governing council composed of representatives of a broad sector of patriotic and progressive individuals�.In our view, Satur Ocampo and Crispin Beltran would qualify as council members�� So the two communist members of the Binay-Ejercito �revolutionary council� referred to above as �as yet unidentified� can now be identified as Ocampo and Beltran.) I understand that Susan Roces and Evangelist Eddie Villanueva have both been invited to join the Binay-Ejercito �revolutionary council� but, for different reasons, both remain ambivalent or uncommitted towards it. Though he once expressed disinterest in being restored to the presidency, Erap, who is probably financing all this, has with overwhelming modesty offered to head a transition government, e.g. Binay�s �revolutionary council,� if it should grab power from President Arroyo. If you are confused by the irreconcilable disunities within this ideologically cock-eyed group and are underwhelmed by the unadulterated mediocrity of most of its members, you should know that there are some people in high places who actually take them seriously. Binay was summoned to Washington the other week, as were Boy Morales and Eddie Villanueva months before this crisis blew up. But I honestly do not know if they were encouraged or discouraged by the neocons in the State and Defense departments in their �revolutionary� undertaking. A new twist may have been provided by former President Ramos evening of July 19 when he was interviewed by, I believe, Ces Drilon on ANC 27. I did not catch the whole interview, only that portion where Ramos apparently endorsed the formation of a Council of Leaders, made up of seven individuals, to replace President Arroyo until a new constitution is drafted and ratified, and elections are held for a new Parliament. He categorically stated that he and President Arroyo should not be members of that Council. If this interview was current and reflected new thinking on his part, then this is a complete reversal of Ramos� earlier proposal that President Arroyo be allowed to remain in power until a constituent assembly drafts a shift to the parliamentary system and a new parliament is elected, all that to happen by May or July 2006. By endorsing a seven-person Council of Leaders to replace President Arroyo (similar to my five-person-and �25-deputies Governing Council in my June 12 article �Caretaker Government�) while a shift to the parliamentary system is being effected, Ramos has lent his voice to the clamor for a �revolutionary government.� Ramos may have realized what I have stated earlier, that the present Comelec has to be thoroughly revamped first and the rules of electoral engagement have to be re-written before we hold another election. Otherwise, the trapos and political dynasts who now control Congress will wind up controlling the new Parliament as well, so nothing would really change. That process of renewal will take time, way past Ramos� earlier deadline of May or July 2006. Hence the need for a caretaker (transition, revolutionary) government in the meantime.. Perhaps Ramos has been swayed by the arguments of Lawyer Frank Chavez and Constitutionalist Fr. Joaquin Bernas SJ, that in a crisis situation such as we face, extra-constitutional does not necessarily mean unconstitutional, that people have an inherent constitutional right to resort to revolution � not necessarily bloody or violent � when avenues for peaceful change are blocked or are otherwise denied them. Although Ramos did not specifically name the persons that he thought should make up the seven-person Council of Leaders that he proposes to replace President Arroyo, it can be safely assumed that it will not include any of the mediocrities in the Binay-Ejercito �revolutionary council,� even if three of his former secretaries (Enriquez, Abat, De Villa) are in it. And no trapos, either. At least, that is my fervent hope. This is the military�s dilemma. Faced with two competing revolutionary councils, will the mainstream military adhere to their policy of strict neutrality even as the Arroyo Government collapses before their very eyes? Or will they intervene in favor of one and against the other? There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the second alternative is the right one. But the middle class can make the choice easier for the military if they were now to express themselves more emphatically and unequivocally, in media and on the streets, on the kind of future they want for themselves and their children and grandchildren. We are fast approaching the point where wishy-washy shilly-shallying about legal and constitutional due processes become irrelevant. Nobody, except perhaps the Marcoses and their cronies, whined about the short-circuiting of legal and constitutional due processes when Cory Aquino and her revolutionary government took over from Ferdinand Marcos in February 1986. In a speech before the, of all people, Philippine Constitution Association or Philconsa, retired Army Captain Rene Jarque, a West Point graduate, outlined three possible modes or roles for the AFP in the developing situation. The AFP can play a passive (and constitutional) role in an environment in which government is stable and robust, and democratic institutions are strong. It can play a constructive role where the government is unstable and democratic institutions exist but are not strong. It prudently intervenes, when necessary, as a deterrent to bad government, but does not take over the state apparatus. Or it can play an interventionist role where government is unstable or illegitimate, and democratic institutions are weak, where law and order have broken down and the political environment tenuous. It takes over government through a military junta. In our present situation, a constructive AFP would be widely preferred. Reactions to [email protected] or fax 824-7642. Other articles in www.tapatt.org. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |
| Reactions to �Military Dilemma� Tony, Congratulations on your latest political interpretation. It looks like a revolutionary council is the way to go? It is interesting watching from outside of the country how events unfold quickly. I'll be waiting for your next comments on the scheduled SONA of GMA. Renato Perdon, [email protected] Sydney, Australia, July 21, 2005-08-06 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Historically, it is noted that the military has, on two occasions, withdrawn support for a corrupted and mistrusted civilian government (Edsa I and Edsa II), but did not take over power although it could have easily done so. Our martial law years was governed by a civilian government not by the military. Therefore it does show that we have a responsible military that acted to help the people throw out discredited leaders when said leaders created an explosive situation that damages the country...They did act as protectors of the people from the abuses of the civilian leader, and then readily supported the next legitimate president. I have faith in the wisdom and character of the Philippine military (with the exception of a few rotten eggs). Nonoy Yulo, [email protected] July 21, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I totally agree with your view, Tony. Instead of breaking our heads though, we should simply revert back to our 1925 constitution patterned after the US Constitution framed by Christian theologians and reflect several bible- based principles. I would like to see the Jury System replace our government monopolized justice system which is beholden to politicians, virtually making them above the law. Vicente del Fierro, Jr., [email protected] July 21, 2005 MY REPLY. You mean the 1935 Constitution? wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tocayo, Let us use modern info tech by (a) emailing your columns to all websites in the country and abroad where Filipinos are; and (b) have key personnel in each website co-act with you - as I would like to - and see if we can harness Filipinos and their ideas. With texting, email, websites blogs...why no revolution should take place if one can help it. Let us generate more light, .not heat. Mabuhay ka, tocayo. Tony Joaquin, [email protected] Daly City, California, July 21, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww It�s so sad that our country is in turmoil. It�s so sad that our countrymen are ignorant of the consequences that they are doing and fighting for. Because of poverty, the poor are very vulnerable to anything even if they knew nothing is worth fighting for. It�s so sad that people are being used by politicians who are greedy and are after personal interest in the government. These politicians are hypocrites!!!! They go to church but are not practicing what�s said in the gospel. And so with our bishops and priests, why are they meddling with politics? Why don�t they just pray and do good deeds and be good examples. Why don�t they motivate other people to work hard and take care of their families instead of going to the streets? I really don�t understand our countrymen. Someone has to tell them that they have to work to eat and not just depend on the government. They have to help the President clean up the administration in order for her to help them!!! Dahhhhhhhh Genny Ferrer, [email protected] July 21, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, I've read the many thorough, concerned and, indeed, provocative articles that you have penned for us readers and caring souls about the Arroyo mess and can only hope that by helping to open Pandora's Box, a better government (perhaps in form or otherwise) will emerge. Even though I love that nation of yours, I doubt that such "lid-lifting" will produce (easily anyway) that ultimate transformation you would like to see. With so much division in the land, with so many economic needs to be achieved for betterment, it's fast becoming a power game with all that pesos and influence will buy. I wonder if this current crisis of confidence will stir the country to come together in a deeper unity that will permit it to rise higher to the real needs of this occasion? Or is it to be only a battle over personalities? The key issue needing to be addressed and solved, it seems to me, is that ongoing and serious corruption that has become so embedded in the very roots of the nation. It has emerged as a real stumbling block to all this "ineptitude" of good leadership in recent years. Changing a head of state in this current moment of history for another rich head of state or shifting to a parliamentary form of government (which might, at least, entertain the possibility of subjecting the leader and his party to a national vote of approval or disapproval) will not solve such an issue by itself. It seems only a part of the solution from my perch thousands of miles away. Should there also not be a reconsideration of the method of finding good, strong and moral leaders? How do you open the ways to make it possible for talented, honorable, principled and charismatic leaders --- who truly care about the country yet have few means to do so--- to rise to the top? And how to inspire people to take the issue of democracy-building seriously, to see it as a higher calling and not manipulate it as if it were a personal turf--- for themselves, their family, and even their cabinet and lieutenants --- to be exploited and gains made? Am I talking only about the Philippines or is this my own projection of my feelings about America itself? Living in a democracy is obviously not a simple matter. It takes hard work. It takes dedication. And from time to time, the political mess that seems to sprout needs cleaning up and underlying problems addressed to bring the nation back on course. The polishing needs simply to go on. It cannot be taken for granted! Keep up the good fight for awareness and action. May it always be an honorable one! Alan Klaum, [email protected] San Francisco, California, July 22, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww There is no "revolutionary council", only a cabal. They haven't even advanced to the stage of a PRONUNCIAMIENTO. Ross Tipon,. [email protected] Baguio City, July 22, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Thanks Tony, For your dissertation on scenarios you believe might/could transpire. I am more optimistic that this time around the nation and people have matured substantially wherein we will witness a rainbow come to fruition. When former President Marcos declared 'Martial Law' he abolished Congress and had the Philippine Constitution placed in 'suspended animation'. He rewarded his cronies and military with lucrative jobs and top positions and as you most likely are aware, this practice has been continued by all succeeding Presidents. Lately there have been a series of scandals involving high ranking officers. As far as the Military is concerned, you might recall that Ninoy Aquino (RIP) had pointed out that "after Martial Law it would be difficult to return the military to the barracks". You will recall that during Cory's term there were a series of attempted coups. As far as many people who participated in EDSA I, they are of the belief that it was the only credible 'People Power' that has transpired in the Philippines. What followed after that were a series of 'Gaya gaya - Copy cat' coups. In 2001, Fidel Ramos was quoted on Sydney SBS TV that: "if President Joseph Estrada is not impeached there will be a coup." However, in spite of what has transpired in the past, it can be said that today there are many in the Military that still adhere to their code of conduct and realize that the Constitution should no longer be allowed to be trampled upon. I am willing to bet my boots that this time around, the military will come out with flying colors. Yours for a better Philippines. Jaime Calero, [email protected] Sydney, Australia, July 22, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Thank you, Tony, and more power...Things are getting knottier and I hope the impasse is resolved soon so as not to invite military intervention or worse, martial law... Best regards... Capt. (Ret.) Rene Jarque, [email protected] July 22, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Very enlightening piece. I agree with a constructive AFP posture. Roger L. Madrigal, [email protected] July 22, 2005. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww The Jojo-JV scenario for grabbing power is one of the most monstrous prospects no right thinking Filipino will conjure even if the only other option is to be ruled by Lucifer himself. Looking at the make up of its junta leaders, they're made up of venal men who won't think twice about using force, terror and violence to silence opposition. This group must never be allowed to take hold of power. The FVR group is made up of no angels either but FVR has shown not once but forever that he is for the rule of law. I hope the scenario FVR's group is making is well and thoroughly perfected because if and when Gen. Abu et all have to step in they have to be able to turn over power right away to a steady hand who can rule and restore order to this ungovernable Nation. Will Abu be forced to intervene? It's just possible that if and when YOU makes a grab, that's when Abu has to make his move. Vicente C. de Jesus, [email protected] July 23, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony � Journalism is about asking the tough questions. This asks. Regards. Johnny Mercado, [email protected] Philippine Daily Inquirer, July 23, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony: Your wish for a constructive military is duly noted and will most likely be granted - and soon. The greedy elite, represented by GMA, other trapos and rapacious tisoy and tsinoy bribers styled as business leaders, are quickly bringing the situation to a boil. The Truth Commission, Impeachment Zarzuela (especially the Lozano-Ferrer technicality play), Trapo-Elite Infighting (at the Senate, at Makati Business Club, at EPCI Bank and even the PNB bidding) and Hard Times (for all the rest of us) will show most Filipinos that there is no hope unless we have total and sudden change. When that time comes (sooner rather than later, and very likely much sooner), your constructive military will be ready to respond - and install a troika to war on Corruption, Poverty and Dependency! Malapit na po ito! Tito Osias, [email protected] July 23, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, Not reacting directly to your column of yesterday, but staying within the "constitutional confines". Up till this morning when I read the lead story of the PDI, I was going for the scenario of no resignation for GMA because of my fear of the aftermath. By the same fear, no impeachment either. I was going for her miraculous conversion, starting with a public declaration that she and other past presidents should be disqualified from running under the new constitution. I was even considering that since her credibility may have fallen to irreversible depths there might still be the possibility of her convening her constructive critics and produce a prioritized shopping list of reforms. It would be the closest approach to a junta within the present constitution. Thus I was inspired by Sen. Jun Magsaysay's open letter the day before. But as the banner headline jumped out of the front page, and I read the story, I got depressed with the feeling that GMA will not allow the miracle to take place. She committed her latest, for me the fatal, act of treachery: openly going against impeachment after pointing to it as the way to go! I am now convinced, after I turned the other cheek to her, that SHE MUST GO! Manny Lim, [email protected] July 23, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww With the country continuously being dragged down to ruin and abysmal bankruptcy by GMA's corrupt maneuverings to stick to her post, thus draining out the national coffers to complete zero, any alternative for a take-over would be acceptable. With the blatant largesse she's resorted to for the latent purpose of retaining her illegitimate presidency, it will be outmost non-nationalistic to let her stay any minute. It is an all-out shame that such thing has to be contained in our country at such a stretch of time without losing face on the national and international level. This is definitely a long-lasting nightmare. Since many things will have to be resolved through a national election, whatever political take-over gains the upper hand, a radical revamp of the Comelec is mandatory. FVR, Erap and GMA have unfortunately peopled this independent body with undesirables with conniving from the COA. We cannot possibly get a new set of credible and trustworthy leaders if such revamp were to be set aside. It makes me peevish that noise and talks of alternative take-overs seem to be endless. Getting GMA out of office is primary. Talks can take place thereafter. We are that hopeless that anything but GMA will suffice to get some peace of mind, even if momentarily. Just do it! As usual, your article on the AFP options in the present critical political crisis is a journalistic masterpiece in analysis. I have been out of the country for over two decades but strongly feel sorry for the many suffering people in that corner of the world. GMA cannot possibly govern given the general mistrust and gross disappointment in the country. And her latest attempt at making the impeachment process inoperable just points to how far she will venture to make everything turn ridiculous to get her out of office. Never have we had any elected official so publicly called derogatory names to the face, that delicateza must be non-existent in her frame of mind. This is pure power-greed. If one's maid continuously lies and steals things, nothing is left but to get rid of her at once then and there. No reason to think who would prepare coffee the next morning or attend to the sinangag frying on the pan. Unless you make yourself ridiculous. Virgilio Bernarte, [email protected] Landquart, Switzerland, July 23, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Sir, If the above subject is adopted, how can it be done without violence? Will the AFP just make press statements or must show an active force of arms by deploying armed soldiers around Malacanang with the intention of attacking? Will the AFP tell GMA to resign and let De Castro take over? If GMA refuses, what now? The "HOW" aspect must be concisely laid down, otherwise a bloody confrontation cannot be avoided; and it will go down in history that GMA caused it by being stubborn and obstinate in holding power. Merardo C. Abaya, [email protected] July 24, 2005 MY REPLY. Since I do not have a crystal ball and I am not the one planning military intervention, I cannot say if it will be peaceful or violent. The empirical evidence worldwide is that it can go either way. But one should not expect those planning intervention to go public with the details of their enterprise. That�s just common sense, isn�t it? wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, First of all, I would like to thank you for e-mailing me this. What I can say is only this: Whatever form of government we may have or whether the AFP will be constructive in their assessment of the present situation, it remains that if there is no change in our own selves especially in those who want to take over the government or lead our country, we will still be the same. My suggestion is: We should have our own S.O.H.A. (State of Our Heart's Assessment), so to speak, so that our countrymen will be able to assess their hearts whether they are for or against our country, for God or against God. If only our people will go back to the basic tenets of Christianity, we will all pass this ordeal of our present situation. I hope many of our countrymen will ponder and reflect what is happening to us. Ma. Eleanor Lerio, [email protected] July 25, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Thanks, Tony. Attached is my contribution to what's happening. Cora Claudio, [email protected] July 25, 2005 MAPping the Future* It�s time to change** Corazon PB. Claudio Respected citizens of our country, including church leaders, admit the Philippines has become a very corrupt society. Cheating, many say, has become so common, starting at home between husband and wife, that concern now is more how grave the offense is rather than whether it happens or not. It is, indeed, the time for us to change for the better. But, in doing so, let us focus first on ourselves, then on our home, our companies and our local communities. Our campaign slogan in promoting environmental caring�SIMBY or Start In My Back Yard�applies here also. We cannot stand on good moral ground to demand a national leader to resign, supposedly for cheating, weak decision making, etc., if we are also guilty of such offenses. The change must start from within us and in our own back yards. Proposals on needed changes now abound. To such proposals, may I add the need to change our lifestyle�perhaps, the root of many evils we see now. It is time to change our unsustainable, materialistic, wasteful lifestyle to a sustainable one. Sustainable lifestyle covers sustainable production and consumption; social, ecological and economic resilience and vulnerability; governance and institutions needed to foster sustainability; and societal values and norms for promoting sustainability. Sustainable production With limited resources for meeting our increasing needs, making our food and industrial production sustainable becomes an urgent challenge. �It is also the key to delivering health, mitigating global warming and saving the planet from destructive exploitation,� according to one environmentalist. One way of doing so in the agriculture sector is to �convert agricultural wastes into rich fertilizers to increase productivity that, at the same time, reduces greenhouse gas emissions.� We are happy to note that some Filipinos are now taking initiatives along this line. Recently, a small group from the Environment Committee of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and our new partner, the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation (GKCDF) visited the integrated farm of MAP member Joe Simeon in Tarlac. Joe�s farm is now applying a bio-organic technology, which was developed by a group of development-oriented scientists-businessmen led by Bong Garrucho, formerly of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and younger brother of MAPper Peter Garrucho. With the help of this technology, Joe converts the waste from his piggery into high-grade fertilizer and rich nutrient feed for his prawn pond. It is an integrated farm system, which we hope to replicate as a livelihood source in GK communities. Sustainable consumption Not all of us are involved in agricultural or industrial production. So let us discuss the other side of the coin�consumption�which involves all of us. Sustainable consumption demands being aware of the impact of our purchases and lifestyles on the environment, as well as on other people, and taking actions that are not wasteful. It requires us to ask before buying anything: Do I really need to buy this? What raw materials were used in this product? How was it produced? How long will it last? How will I dispose of it after my use? Sustainable consumption starts from equitable sharing of resources. The United Nations Environment Program reports that industrialized countries, with only about 15% of the global population, account for more than 70% of consumption expenditures. In our country, I estimate that the rich minority accounts for majority of the consumption expenditures. Social, ecological and economic resilience and vulnerability The economic health of the Philippines is important to our national stability and development. But sustainable development is like a stool with three legs, or pillars, to make it stable, and economic development is but one of them. The social and ecological pillars are as important as the economic one. Unfortunately, they are in worse shape than the economic pillar. The social pillar includes social equity and other political and social concerns, as well as values, attitudes and behaviors of the individuals and organizations that make up our society. It is the weakness of our social pillar, more than that of the economic pillar, which makes our country unstable. Past economic progress has not made much difference in the life of many of our people due to social inequity. Our ecological pillar is also weak. Our poor treatment of the environment has led to risks to our environment and public health. Note the increasing incidence of cancer. I used to think that the poor are the vulnerable ones to the adverse effects of environmental pollution because they have inadequate financial and other capabilities for protecting themselves. Thus, I used to say that defense of the environment should be part of the poverty alleviation program. But now that several of my well-to-do friends are suffering from cancer, I realize that environmental pollution does not differentiate the poor from the rich. It affects all of us, hence, defense of the environment should be a national health and security concern. Governance and institutions Decision making is an important function in governance and in the operation of our institutions. My doctoral thesis adviser, Prof. M. Elisabeth Pate-Cornell, said that in collective decision making, searching for a universally acceptable result is addressing the wrong question. Setting a norm on the process, she argued, is more conducive to agreements. She identified the characteristics of the decision making process, for which certain norms and procedures need to be agreed on. These include: sound legal basis, an information and communication system, a public review process, a clear but flexible set of decision criteria reflecting public preferences, an appropriate conflict resolution mechanism, and a feedback mechanism. The �sound legal basis� starts with our Constitution and the manner by which we apply it. We now need to subject it, as well as the entire legal system, to reforms that are acceptable to the public. Societal values and norms This is one topic that our elders, church leaders and educators can discuss better than me. I will just contribute one comment�the value of truly caring for the poor. We just launched a partnership program to help establish one or more ecologically sound villages with priority for those populated fully or partially by indigenous people, who belong to the poorest of the poor in our country, and in the areas affected by natural disasters. This is a joint project of the MAP, through the MAP Environment Committee and the MAP National Issues Committee, and the TOWNS (The Outstanding Women in the Nation�s Service) Foundation and our companies, relatives and friends, with the GKCDF. An eco village applies environmentally sound and sustainable technologies (e.g., energy-efficient housing design) and practices (e.g., recycling, sustainable lifestyle). It integrates human activities harmlessly into the natural environment, supports healthy human development, and can be continued into an indefinite future. It uses energy, water, food, soil, and materials in balance with the "carrying" capacity of the natural processes of the area. It supports a vision for a sustainable future which involves clean air, water, and land and living practices that respect nature. The community�s members meet their economic and social needs through interdependence and with an economy that provides good quality of life to all community members, not only to a few. The community achieves sustainability through values formation and community empowerment, improved health and sanitation, ecologically sound livelihood projects, and education. It is the type of community that we hope to start building soon with the help of our members and of other caring souls out there who would like to join us. By focusing first on the indigenous people, we also hope to promote improved understanding of their culture, skills, needs, etc., as well recognize their current and potential contributions to the sustainable development of our country. The indigenous people seem to intuitively know what sustainable development means as they live within the resources available to them. Perhaps, by helping them, we can also get inspiration, if not ideas, on how to get out of the political situation that we are in and move forward to a sustainable path. (Dr. Claudio, an engineer-economist, is a core member of the Philippine Council for Sustainable Development. She Co-Chairs MAP�s Environment Committee with Ed Chua of Shell and Co- Directs the MAP-TOWNS-GK Partnership Project with Ma. Lourdes Ortiz-Luis of Ancilla Enterprise Development Consulting, Inc. The MAP secretariat and the author may be reached via [email protected].) *Weekly column of the Management Association of the Philippines in Business Monday, Philippine Daily Inquirer. ** A slightly shorter version of this article came out in MAPping the Future on July 25, 2005, page B3-2. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww To The Corps of Cadets, Armed Forces of the Philippines Philippine Military Academy From Capt. (Ret.) Rene Jarque, rjarque@aml_corp.com Class of 1986 Today, a grave situation is facing the Academy, the Armed Forces and our beloved country amidst the political turmoil. It is not just about the rule of law or the Constitution. It is about the death of the Honor Code. Indeed. In the midst of all the noise is the question of the integrity of the Officer Corps whose ranks you will join after graduation. I am writing to the cadet corps because, with your youthful idealism and genuine desire to serve the country, it is you who, I believe, can appreciate and understand the message which no longer seems to hold the ears of the generals anymore, many of whom are Peemayers. I am writing to you because I do not see hope for reform in the generals today. You are the future of the armed forces and it is fair that you know what is going on in the organization you will serve in. From your ranks will emerge the future leaders of this country and consider this an appeal from my generation which I sadly feel has lost its opportunity to remedy an irresponsible and corrupt system so you may inherit a good one. It seems the generations ahead of us have kept the power for themselves for so long and they have become greedier and dirtier. The Honor Code. �A cadet shall not lie, cheat, steal nor tolerate those who do�. Those words form the essence of your character, as a cadet and later on, as an officer. Honor is truth and the moral resolve to speak it. It is choosing and defending the �harder right� and denouncing and opposing the �easier wrong�. Honor is the humility to accept mistakes, to take responsibility and seek accountability. It is what being an officer and a gentleman is all about. Honor is the heart and soul of military professionalism. The AFP Code of Ethics says it all: We believe in honor as our crowning value as it is more precious than life itself. It is the hallmark of military conduct which implies our clear consciousness of personal dignity and worth. We associate it with good reputation and is an immortal, sacred part of our character, the violation of which should bring about shame in us and the dignity to impose on ourselves the requisite restitution�To us honor means truthfulness, sincerity, honesty, uprightness, credibility and avoidance of deception .. We shall not lie, cheat, steal, violate moral and ethical codes nor tolerate violations of the same. (Article III, Section 1.1) By the strength of the Honor Code, there should be no corruption in the Armed Forces. But by �conversion, construction, commission�, the generals stole from and cheated the people. By covering up conversion for many years and denying it in the very halls of the Senate, they lied to the people. By keeping silent, they have tolerated one another. Truly, they have made a mockery of the Honor Code. The laxity of the Officer Corps has created a culture that goes against what the Honor Code stands for. It pains me to tell you, Sirs, that the Honor Code is moribund, if not yet dead, in the Armed Forces. �All right� no longer works in the Officer Corps. As such, the AFP has become a dishonorable organization without a conscience, without a soul. The generals know it but they are in self-denial. These corrupt generals should be locked up to listen through endless Honor lectures until their ears bleed. General Garcia, class of 1971, is a clear example. Hundreds of millions of pesos hidden in several bank accounts while soldiers are dying in the field for lack of medical care and suffering for lack of essential supplies. Where is honor here? Where is the professional leadership that the generals proclaim? Garcia is not alone as other Peemayers are involved in the same despicable modus operandi with a clear intent to take advantage and deceive. He knows about conversion and corruption in the AFP -- who are the officers and government officials involved, what funds were diverted for political purposes or to build mansions, buy condominiums and fancy cars -- but like a member of the mafia with a vow of omerta or silence, he is not telling. He is even using the so called �rule of law� to cover up for his wrongdoing and that of other Peemayers. You tell me if there is honor here. It hurts to hear that PMA has become the �Philippine Millionaires Academy� but it is an apt description. Indeed, the generals are a big part of the problem and genuine reform in the AFP is not possible with them. Also in government, as some have become politicians, cabinet members, diplomats and bureaucrats. You don�t need to look far as to who they are. You read them in the papers, see them on television and on the grounds of Borromeo field during Alumni week -- they who quibbled about conversion and corruption in the Senate, who declared jueteng clear when it is still rampant, who use the rule of law to cover up crimes, who violate human rights to prop up an evil regime, who abet electoral fraud and help destroy the very core of democracy. Today�s political crisis shows that Honor has died out in the Officer Corps and Armed Forces. Many of the generals knowingly participated in electoral fraud and immersed themselves unethically in the political process. But they deny it. Why? For promotion? For position? For money? Whatever. What is certain is that they have forgotten the Honor Code and how to be honorable. As citizens, we want an honest and trustworthy government. But how can we expect one if the biggest liar, cheat and thief is the Commander in Chief? How can we expect reform in the armed forces and in government when the generals are among the biggest crooks? The President has committed a horrendous violation of the Honor Code by stealing the votes, cheating the citizenry and lying to us all. And she is taking the Officer Corps down with her �lying, cheating and stealing�. This is an insult to the Cadet Corps, the Officer Corps, the Philippine Military Academy, the Armed Forces and the people. For the Officer Corps, there is a chance to rectify these errors and atone for its sins against the people but the generals will not allow it lest they lose their power and wealth and/or go to jail. For if real change and meaningful reforms are to happen, the generals, many of whom are holdovers from martial law, must be held accountable for their abuses and thievery, which even during martial law were illegal, not to mention immoral. These skeletons have to be exposed and accounted for in order to heal a very sick Officer Corps and Armed Forces and an anemic Republic. Courage, Integrity, Loyalty. These words dictate who you are and who you must be in service to the nation. They define your character. They give you hope and inspiration in daunting situations. More than physical courage to face the enemy in battle, you must have the moral courage to fight wrong and stand for right. Integrity is the wholeness of self, what you think or believe, is what you say and do. It involves the conscious discernment if a decision or act is right or wrong and to speak and act accordingly. Loyalty should not be blind, holding on to your superior, right or wrong. On the contrary, the minute he stands for wrong, honor demands that you denounce him. Your loyalty should be to the institution that reflects what you believe in as to what is right and honest and for the common good. I believe that PMA is the bedrock of those values, Courage, Integrity, Loyalty. And it saddens me to tell you that even our beloved Academy has not been spared from the corruption in the Armed Forces. Maybe not with the present Superintendent as I know him to be one of the progressive and reform minded officers but you never know the pressure from the top. During the Alumni parade, it is very disheartening to see unprofessional and corrupt graduates soil the hallowed grounds of Borromeo field wearing suits or barongs that were most likely funded by converted funds. I am afraid the joke which says the first thing that is erased in the bullring is Integrity is close to the truth. Greed for power and wealth, and indifference has erased it. I hope this will not happen to you. The AFP is unprofessional because the Officer Corps has neglected its duty and betrayed the Academy motto. The Officer Corps and the Armed Forces need to be overhauled and it will not be easy. The challenges will be tough and the supreme irony of it is that your greatest enemy will be Peemayers who have forgotten the Honor code. When I tried to expose the nature of corruption in the armed forces the first time, I was given a dressing down by the Chief of Staff, class 62. The second time, the Chief of Staff, this time class �63, relieved me from my position with orders to be thrown to a distant assignment. The third time, the Commanding General of the Army, class �66 cut off the magazine�s circulation and had them burned. And I thought the Inquisition has been over for a long time. Courage, Integrity, Loyalty and the Honor Code are the hallmarks of a true military professional. These hallmarks are but mere shadows now. The constellation of general�s stars have turned into blackholes of dishonesty and filth. Gone are the ideals of �noblesse oblige� and �genteel poverty� that should characterize a simple soldier�s life. In its place are malevolent arrogance and the shameless pursuit of affluence. The system today rewards unethical conduct by promoting inept and corrupt officers. The President compounds the problem by giving these corrupt officers government positions after retirement. Being in these high positions, they perpetuate corruption, clamp down on constructive criticism and cover up their dirty deeds. The death of the honor code has created a morally bankrupt Officer Corps. This has dire consequences for the future of the academy, the armed forces and the country. For all our sake, honor and the Honor Code must be resurrected. I am aware that appealing to your sense of honor as future officers may, in the end, prove futile as you will be sucked into a system that frowns on honest men and women. As you enter the service, you will be tempted and exposed to corruption and abuse but with the strength of the Honor Code in you, please hold firm. Some of you may succumb for the sake of survival and pressure but do not forget the Code. When you lead your men, keep your eyes, your mind and your heart open. But always keep your soul intact by keeping the Code. Be strong in the thought that the Code is within you. You will have moments of weakness but you must always strive to live a life of nobility and honor. Always remember the words in the Bible, �For what does it matter if a man gains the world but loses his soul�. I have had my own share of dishonor, especially in tolerating as a young officer the abuses and corrupt activities of my superiors. I also took advantage of the system by receiving allowances and other perks. Later, I realized that there was no way out but out and so I left the service, believing that by doing so I can keep my integrity intact. But today, I am still haunted by what I know about how rotten the system has become -- a rot that has been perpetuated by graduates of PMA with full knowledge and clear intent to deceive and take advantage. I believe in the capability of the Officer Corps to heal itself and I am hopeful for change though today, it seems almost impossible. I believe we all share the vision of a decent and honest Officer Corps and a professional armed forces. Towards this end, perhaps the Cadet Corps can help awaken the generals who have been oblivious to the calls for honor and honest conduct. Together with the other elements in the AFP, perhaps you can create a �Community of Conscience� that shames corruption in the Armed Forces and dishonorable conduct in the Officer Corps. Where generations of upperclassman before you have failed, you can begin anew. For you are the hope of the armed forces and the motherland. ***** wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Direct Democracy in Times of Political Turmoil By Dan Adan, [email protected] July 22, 2005 The times call for direct democracy. When constitutional mechanisms of checks and balances fail in securing the regime of democratic order envisioned by the people, when representative democracy fails as when representatives cease to represent those who elect them, when even the electoral process set to elect representatives is manipulated with utter disregard of the people's mandate, the tides of direct democracy must rise to wash away the spoils and abuses of power and reshape the mechanisms and structures to ensure a working democracy for all. We are witnesses to the growing failure of our representative democracy. The persons to whom we have entrusted the reins of government are turning against us. Instead of dispensing power to execute our laws and ensure social order, they are using our government to perpetrate and protect wrongdoings, causing unrest among the people. And when their wrongdoings are exposed, they use the whole government machinery to protect their hold to power and evade prosecution. Instead of securing democracy, they are screwing up our democratic institutions which took us years of hard work and vigilance to build and strengthen. The national crisis besetting the country at these times is not only about jueteng scandals, nor is it only about wiretapped conversations. It is about the degeneration of governmental structures designed to make democracy work. It is about the highest office of the land being used to defraud the people of their voice at the polls. It is about the failure of the highest official of the land to faithfully and conscientiously fulfill her duties as President of the republic, to preserve and defend the Constitution and execute its laws. In short, it is about the president violating the very oath of office she took before us all. It is about the loss of independence of the COMELEC, undermining the whole electoral system. It is about the vicious acts of conspiratorial vote-shaving-and-padding committed by the very leaders who are duty-bound to uphold such independence, raising questions and doubts over the electoral body's integrity as the unbiased overseer of the electoral processes vital in setting representative democracy to motion. It is about the heightening threat of lawlessness, where even the constitutionally enshrined rights of individuals to the privacy of communication and correspondence are openly violated. The strongly worded Constitutional provision says, "The privacy of communication and correspondence shall be inviolable except upon lawful order of the court, or when public safety or order requires otherwise as prescribed by law." The framers of our Constitution did not only use the imperative auxiliary verb 'shall' but they also opted for the descriptive 'inviolable' instead of the negative formulation 'not be violated' to denote that the right of the people to the privacy of their communications and correspondence must be maintained and protected at all times. Only two exceptions are given when the individual's right to such privacy of communications and correspondence may be set aside: a) upon lawful order of the court, and b) when Congress passes a law disregarding the right because the overriding interest of public safety or order requires it. Yet, we see this government dangling before us tapes and tapes of recorded conversations obtained without any court order and absent any law authorizing prying into the communications and correspondence of individuals to ensure public safety and order. And how many more tapes of private conversations are forthcoming? We have the highest official of the land as one of the victims of the violation but who fails to lift a finger to uncover the truth as to who perpetrated and who ordered the act of wiretapping. Instead of going after those who are responsible for tapping her phone conversations, the president and her men are blasting tirades against those demanding for her resignation. If she can move the whole machinery of her administration to defend her at this time of threats to her presidency, why is she not ordering the full investigation of the wiretapping incident and bring the violators to our courts of law to answer the full account of their felony? Has she been crippled with the deceptive electoral machinations contained in the wiretapped conversations that seriously eroded the legitimacy of her claim to the presidency? Or is there truth to the rumors that her hands are now tied with fear that when an investigation is conducted on the wiretapping issue, all steps would eventually lead to the Palace, where the order to wiretap certain individuals allegedly emanated? This crisis is about the erosion of leadership not because our leader does not possess the skills, for, in fact, she possesses both intelligence and dedication to carry out the duties of the office, not mentioning her political shrewdness showing her tenacity in holding on to power despite growing calls for her resignation, but because by her abuse of the power we bestowed upon her, she has lost the moral compass that could steer us clear of the dangers of political upheavals. And this is precisely because it was her own indiscretions in the use of her powers that are causing these political upheavals, ushering in a period of political instability and social unrest. This crisis is also about the mockery of our Constitution. We see leaders flagrantly violating our Constitution and yet invoking the provisions of the very same Constitution they are desecrating. For no sooner than the tapes were played, this government threatened the full extent of the law against those who will play, broadcast, or transcribe the contents of the wiretapped conversations. And even before the tapes can be played in an investigation, the government is quick to invoke the Constitutional provision guaranteeing that any evidence obtained in violation of the right to the privacy of communication and correspondence shall be inadmissible as evidence for any purpose in any proceeding. We see provisions of our Constitution being put to naught by political maneuverings. We see our Constitution being held hostage by politicians whose only aim is to protect their hold to power, unmindful of the greater good. When calls for the president's resignation continue to mount, with the prospect of an impeachment case being filed against her, we see a congressman identified with the administration filing a flimsy and weak impeachment complaint to make sure that the complaint would just be dumped for lack of merit. Such move is done clearly to protect the president at this time and give her more time to consolidate her ranks because no impeachment proceedings can be initiated against the same official more than once within a period of one year. With a flimsy impeachment complaint being dumped, people have to wait another year to initiate a stronger case against the president to make sure she is removed from office because of her blatant violations of her oath of office and the betrayal of public trust. This crisis is about the corruption of even our young leaders who had been given the chance to hold positions of power. We see young leaders, who had been with us in the parliament of the streets, smashing their idealism and crashing our hope in the next generation of leaders for this nation when we see them turn into defenders of systemic and conspiratorial wrongdoings that they too abhorred when they were not yet occupying positions of power. This is about the crisis of dearth of statesmanship and political finesse when all around us we see political hogwash. We are seeing the decline if not the total lack of statesmanship in the realm of our national politics and worse, we are seeing the arrogance of a leader to whom we have lent power threatening us with a clamp-down even as we have uncovered their misdeeds that make them pretenders to the seat of power justifying our call for her resignation. We do not want our government to be run by leaders who fail to listen to our voices. We do not want to be led by persons who are drunk with power and want to hold us hostage with their arrogance. We do not want leaders who forget that their power emanates from the people. Our forefathers drenched our land with their blood to secure for us, their forebears, a free and democratic country. Our generation risked our lives and limbs to free ourselves from a dictator. We have forged a new nation envisioning it to be a democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth. Yet, this present crop of leaders is establishing not a nation of democracy but a fiefdom of kleptocracy where even the people's votes are stolen. Our leaders are mocking the rule of law. This present crop of leaders is establishing not a regime of truth but a regime of mendacity and deception. All these point to the breakdown of our representative government and demand radical political actions directly undertaken by the people. Direct people's action is the highest form of democratic action. It is the highest manifestation of democracy because it gives life to its true meaning, where the people themselves decide on the political issues that confront them. It is different from representative democracy where the power of the people is exercised by their representatives and delegates who are vested with the power to act for and in behalf of the people in matters of governance. Establishing a representative democracy does not mean direct democracy is set aside. In fact, these two types of democracy must co-exist in ensuring a truly democratic society. Three decades ago, the man who, at that time, dominated our political landscape exploited the very precepts of direct democracy to railroad the passage of a Constitution that gave himself vast powers and placed the country under a virtual dictatorship. Organizing the so-called citizens assemblies through Presidential Decree No. 86 on December 31, 1972, President Marcos designed a mechanism that in his own words will "broaden the base of citizen participation in the democratic process and to afford ample opportunity for the citizenry to express their views on important national issues." Lofty ideals drawn from the tenets of direct people's participation that turned out to be the bait leading to the people's political grave. We must also remember the subsequent issuance of Proclamation No. 1102, announcing the ratification by the Filipino people of the Constitution proposed by the 1971 Constitutional Convention so that we will never forget how our voice as a people, allegedly gathered through citizens assemblies, spurious though they may have been constituted and assembled, was used as the basis of ratifying a Constitution that gave legitimacy to a one-man rule that brought much suffering and caused thousands of deaths among those of us who dared speak up and fought against the grip of the tyrant. It took us fourteen years to free ourselves from the shackles of the dictator, and it took another direct political exercise in the ballots of 1986 when the dictator reared its scheming ways in committing electoral fraud serving the proverbial straw on the camel's back that saw our outrage manifesting in massive pouring out of people in the streets in unprecedented numbers. The dictator who twisted direct democracy to catapult himself as the political architect of the country and establish a one-man rule soon saw real direct democracy staring him in the face and reclaiming the power he once arrogated unto himself. Magnitude of people angered and emboldened to stand up and fight for their freedom, tirelessly held vigil, praying for peace to counter violence, holding out the truth in the face of deception, singing songs of protest and jubilation to counter the advancing tanks and guns. That genuine process of direct democracy, now famous and known the world over as People Power is our strongest and most potent political tool against the abuses and misrule of our representatives. That genuine political exercise of the people's voice, gathered at EDSA during the last days of the dictatorship, supported by the prayers of the whole nation, is the pinnacle and best example of our exercise of direct political action as a people. Now that we are again witnessing political players sacrificing democracy for the sake of their hold on to power, we must not hesitate to resort to invoke direct democracy. Events point to the eventual bankruptcy of our present government. Do we need to wait until this government goes bankrupt, economically, politically and morally before we do anything? When we see the very tenets of political regime we have enshrined in the Constitution being seriously eroded by the political decisions and actions of our chosen representatives, we have all the right to take the political decision making into the realm of direct democracy, where we, the people, and not our representatives make the political decisions. When representative democracy fails not only to deliver reforms but more so when such form of democracy, where elected leaders who are given the power to act for and on behalf of the people, no longer serve the interest of the people, the people have all the right to intervene and take political actions like replacing the leaders they have chosen. Or when it is the very political structure enshrined in the Constitution that becomes the instrument of oppression and suppression of the people's will, then the people can opt to change the structure of government by either amending the Constitution or supplanting it with a new one. When the actions of their representatives create legal deadlocks that even the hands of the courts are tied to arrive at a proper settlement of political controversies, then the wheels of direct democracy is set into motion. We saw this at play during the impeachment trial of President Joseph Estrada. When the senators, acting as the judges in the impeachment court, refused to have the second envelope opened, the people resorted to direct democracy. Massing up in the streets, the people acted directly and applied political pressure for the president to step down. But unlike in EDSA 1 when the people established a revolutionary government after unseating the dictator, at EDSA 2, the people opted for constitutional succession to operate. The times demand that we take action. We either acquiesce to the acts of manipulating our electoral processes and allow those who did to continue holding the seats of power, or we assert our sovereign political power and never allow anyone to rob us of our voices in the ballots and secure for ourselves and our children a legacy of honesty and undying vigilance in guarding the precepts of democracy. Ours is a chance to seize another historic moment in our life as a nation. May the force be with us. ***** MY REPLY. I am glad that you are now ready to contemplate extra-constitutional processes to resolve the present crisis. I recall that when I proposed as much in January 2004, you and your fellow (self-described) Immortals in the pilipinasforum egroup pounced on me and had a feeding frenzy on my proposal. You may refresh your memory by accessing Provisional Government (January 28, 2004) and Close Encounters with the Immortal Kind (February 12, 2004) in www.tapatt.org. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |