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| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| Snapped Elections
By Antonio C. Abaya Written Nov. 04, 2007 For the Standard Today, November 06 issue Resign All! was the syntactically tortured slogan of Sanlakas, the rejectionist (meaning, anti-Joma) wing of the Communist movement, led by the late Popoy Lagman, when the impeached Joseph Estrada was being tried by the Senate for plunder in December 2000-January 2001. Sanlakas and its trapo ally, the Council of Philippine Affairs or COPA of Peping Cojuangco and Pastor Saycon, wanted everyone � Erap, VP Gloria Arroyo, the Senate President (Aquilino Pimentel), and the House Speaker (Manuel Villar)� to resign from their positions so that a new government could take over. Presumably they expected the Sanlakas and COPA leaders to lead this new government, even though almost all of them had never been elected or appointed to any government position. It was, therefore, a disguised call for a revolutionary government, to be led, if memory serves, by then Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide.. Not surprisingly, Resign All failed to excite anyone into revolutionary action. Instead a clique of senior military generals, led by then AFP Chief-of-Staff Gen. Angelo Reyes, which had been meeting clandestinely with then Vice-President Gloria Arroyo for months before Erap�s impeachment, declared that they were withdrawing support from the embattled President Estrada , which led to his eventual downfall and the rise to the presidency of Mrs. Arroyo.. Now we are hearing a variation of the same Resign All advocacy. This time it is being peddled by three Roman Catholic bishops who lead the coalition Kilusang Makabansang Ekonomiya (KME), supported by former Vice-President Teofisto Guingona and the middle class advocacy group, the Black and White Movement. They also want the President (Arroyo), the Vice-President (Noli de Castro), the Senate President (Manuel Villar) and the House Speaker (Jose de Venecia) to all resign and give way to a junta - everyone is too coy to call it a revolutionary government - to be headed by Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno. Puno has declined the honor, as Davide had done in 2001. Chief justices, being by the very nature of their work constitutionalists, should be the last persons to be invited to head an extra-constitutional junta. . The KME initiative goes one step beyond what Sanlakas was calling for in 2001. The KME bishops and their allies want snap elections to be held six months after the junta takes over, to elect a new set of leaders, from president down to, presumably, members of the Senate and the Lower House. And this advocacy for snap elections in six months underlines the bankruptcy of their political line and the sheer lack of serious thinking that went into it.. Snap elections in six months? Are they serious? To be administered by whom? The same Comelec � without the corrosive presence of Benjamin Abalos � that cannot even find its own erring factotum Lintang Bedol to arrest him for contempt? And who will dominate these elections in six months? None other than the same established trapos and the same entrenched political dynasties who now enjoy a stranglehold on this country�s electoral and political systems, with the enormous amount of money and patronage that that stranglehold guarantees them. In other words, holding snap elections in six months will not result in any meaningful change. A few of the possible winners may bear new names. But if the rules of electoral engagement are not drastically changed first the same cheating, the same violence, the same dirty tricks, the same vote-buying, the same sloppy management, the same inevitable controversies, the same Big Money politics, the same unresolved complaints, the same predatory trapos, the same octopus-like political dynasties, the same feudalism, the same corruption, the same rape of the democratic ideal�.. will prevail. One has to be extremely na�ve to believe that the stumblebum Comelec � even and especially with a new chairman who will take over from Abalos in February 2008 � can gather enough steam to institute much-needed electoral reforms before it is overwhelmed with thousands of applications for certificates of candidacy from would-be candidates who want to be president, vice-president, senator or congressman in time for the deadline - presumably in May 2008 - and the mandatory 90-day campaign period leading to elections in August 2008. If you think you have seen and experienced chaos, wait till you see and experience the chaos leading to snap elections in August 2008. More likely, it will be the election that will finally snap the fiction that our electoral system is democratic. (Proponents of a snap election will point to the snap elections in February 1986 which can be said to be a precursor of the downfall of Ferdinand Marcos. But, according to the official proclamation of the Comelec then, the snap elections were won by Marcos and his running mate Arturo Tolentino. (Cory Aquino and Doy Laurel were installed as president and vice-president, not by the snap elections, but by the revolutionary process of Edsa 1 People Power. And for those who are terrified of the �R� word, Mrs. Aquino led a revolutionary government from February 25, 1986 to September 1987, when a new Constitution was drafted and ratified. (That nothing revolutionary transpired under Mrs. Aquino�s revolutionary government should be a cautionary tale against rushing headlong into another �snap election in six months� without first re-writing the rules of electoral engagement, because trapos and political dynasts, and the values that they represent, will just reassert their control of the political system, as they did in 1987.) In our last electoral exercise in October � merely for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan positions � �only� 29 people got killed, including candidates, supporters, voters and innocent bystanders. In Sulu, warring political factions used trench mortars against each other, for chrissakes, and the Comelec was powerless to stop the endemic violence.. The inutile Comelec cannot arrest Lintang Bedol in connection with fraud in the May 2007 senatorial elections, just as it could not arrest Virgilio Garcillano in 2005 in connection with fraud in the May 2004 presidential elections. Those who advocate snap elections in six months - after the president, the vice-president , the Senate president and the House speaker have theoretically resigned � do not know what they are talking about, and have obviously never managed anything in their lives, not even a sari-sari store. The fundamental reforms needed to restore our elections to the democratic ideal � which I have written about in previous columns and will write about again in a future column � would be so subversive of our existing practices that they would need at least three years to be installed and take root. Three years during which this country has to function under a junta - a revolutionary government, if you will - because the existing order is so corrupt and decrepit it can no longer cleanse or regenerate itself, as we have been witness to these past few months. If we need to have a junta, we might as well do it right. The KME�s proposed six-month junta would be totally incapable of instituting meaningful electoral reforms.. ***** Reactions to [email protected]. Other articles in www.tapatt.org and in acabaya.blogspot.com OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to �Snapped Elections� On Support for Gov. Fr. Ed Panlilio More Reactions to �Pardon My Plunder� No Tears for Erap Open Letter to GMA Snap elections will not solve the crisis that we have. Impeachment PROCESS will. However, we have a gridlock since most congressmen ay me upa na fromGMA, bolstered by the fact that governors recieved money from Malacanan. Sometimes, sir, whenever I see congressmen on TV, parang babatuhin ko yung tv eh. Everytime I see my payslip with the tax deductions, nandidilim paningin ko talaga. Then, evertyime we gas up, we pay the shitty 12% evat, wow, would you blame people if sometimes they don�t think straight? Given the situation and the zte, joc jocs, garcis's, briberies, et al, what do you think should happen, sir? As a citizen, wala naman kami magagawa eh, just create noise, but that�s it.... BUT THERE SHOULD BE A STOP TO ALL THESE BS THAT THE ARROYO GOVERNMENT IS DOING.. Any ideas? Magpa sakop na kayo tayo sa mga Britanyo or Americans? It has come to this point, sir, na ganun na ako mag-isip. Mike Delgado, (by email), Nov. 06, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony: What we need is not a change of men but a change of values in men!!! Kahit na sino ang ilagay mo diyan ngayon, to cite my Visayan wife-amo man gihapon. Whether it be somebody new or even a junta, military or otherwise, (to which I am violently opposed) pareho din iyan. Masisilaw din sa pera iyan at katakot-takot na naman na corruption. More power!! Subas Herrero, (by email), Nov. 06, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Just a quick correction. The Black and White Movement is not part of, nor has it explicitly expressed its support, for the call by KME for snap elections. We advocated this position two years ago when the overriding question in everyone's mind was "who will replace her?" and prevented people from participating. We thought the answer should be, "let the people decide" through a snap election. Today, the Black and White Movement believes that what is more important is to exact accountability from GMA and to prevent her from further damaging our democratic institutions. We ask for her removal from office by resignation or impeachment. And we support the constitutional mode of succession. We believe two years under an incompetent Noli presidency is far better than two more years of a corrupt and despotic GMA regime. And if those in the line of succession decide to resign, as KME calls for, which will pave the way for a snap election, we do not mind that either. What we don't want to happen is for people to revert to the old debate of what happens after GMA steps down and we get bogged down into inaction. For that is exactly what GMA wants to happen... to divide good-intentioned people using their own ideals to work against them. God bless, Vicente �Enteng� Romano, (by email), Nov. 06, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, I agree that the Philippines need a radical change of people governing the country. It's been a long time for the system that has been corrupted to the core and therefore inefficient and useless to the vast majority who remain dirt poor not because they choose to be. A junta or a provisionary government with revolutionary powers needs to be installed for at least three years as you suggest, but I go a bit more I'd say five years. The amount of cleaning and correcting the vast errors is enormous. Insuring a new generation of leaders committed to lead the country to its first stages of prosperity bar past mistakes and mismanagements require I believe a good number of years. This whole scenario rests, of course, on those that will have a hand in leading the provisionary government. And I do believe there are still people within the armed forces, civilian and religious communities that can be tapped. I don't know who they could be as I'm writing this response from the comfort of a Western and wealthy environment of Australia . Maybe the likes of Gov. Ed Panlilio, or Grace Padaca, or a virtual unknown no-nonsense judge Judge Manolo Brotonel of Calapan City , or science teacher Josette Biyo from Iloi-ilo a doctor of Biology. Sad that the likes of army Captain Rene Jarque are no longer with us but certainly from colonel down there would be a horde of good soldiers. Among the old politicos only one comes to mind Jovito Salonga although I believed his name was tainted a bit during his time with PCGG. I don't know about Rene Saguisag though his justification of being a defense lawyer of Estrada seem rational to me, I know his brother personally and I'm convinced they come from a good stock. I think Filipinos overseas could come back and be part of this, I mean the unselfish ones. I would suggest to get advisers from countries who have proven record of good governance, I suggest Australians or some British, or a few from Western Europe . There you go, just a few small reactions to a huge, huge problem. My thanks, Rev. Bert Dellosa, (by email), Melbourne , Australia , Nov. 06, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Meron pa bang pag-asa? I don't think and feel so. Among the existing politicians, from Barangay Captain to the President, I can't fully trust anyone. These days, our selection criteria in electing an official has changed rather radically. Before, we would select about who among the candidates is the best. Today, our criteria is, who is the least evil? That's why Manong Ed won. When we're studying history about our national heroes and past presidents, we would be reading colorful biographies. Now, what will our children and grandchildren read, "the Martial Law president", "the president convicted of plunder", etc., etc., To live stress-free in this country is to ignore what is politically happening around you. (But if you like to have fun, you may react to articles of ACA). I do not expect anything from the government (current officials). I will work harder and harder and make my own living to support myself and my family. If I have extra, I will share. I am still paying my taxes though, but am expect nothing in return. Thanks for the moon-cratered roads. I do not believe even in your three years formula. What the country needs is the most sophisticated dialysis machine to put all the politicians in there and clean their blood. Corruption is so ingrained in the system. Pero kahit dialysis yata ay di na kaya gamutin ang sakit ng ating bansa....not in three years time. Ikaw, Tony, sabihin mo kung may pag-asa pa ba ang Pilipinas? ang mga Pilipino? Edel Anit, (by email), Nov. 06, 2007 (May pag-asa pa. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Mr. Abaya, I think our electoral system needs an overhaul but it cannot be done overnight. It requires several reforms such as eliminating the cheating culture, corruptible individuals, self-interest, etc. Calling for a snap election won't solve decades of inefficiency and debauchery. Grace Santos, (by email), Nov.06, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony, I think the snap election idea after the formation of a junta is doable, if the junta has a strong leader and supported by all Filipinos. It that happens all they got to do the simple thing is to arrest any politicians in power from the President down to the barangay with relatives holding political position. Haul them all to Muntinlupa and prevent them and any other relatives to run in any position in that snap election. Or better still, line them up to be shot in Luneta or in any public place in their place of residence. Simple. Thanks. Bert Celera, (by email), Nov. 06, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony, On behalf of the Black and White Movement, I would like to inform you that BnW is not supportive of KME's Resign All call to make way for a junta, as per your latest column. Thanks, Tony, Gerry Kaimo, (by email), Nov. 06, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Thank you for this thoughtful commentary. Raymond Chow, (by email), Singapore , Nov. 06, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, I support the call for resign all and the calling of snap elections, with the grand jury and trial by jury system installed by the Chief Justice Reynato Puno ( he has already our 800 page proposal we turned over personally to him last October 5). We are not incompetent as people wallowing in talent, creativity and ingenuity. Majority of our people are principled and just like you, could crystallized a plethora of directional reforms in our society. But we are not assertive If we have a good idea and we believe it, we should go for it. We can be pasive all the time. I have known TIto Guingona and worked for many years for him in the Philippine Senate. His noble principles are so contagious, though it may be quixotic from certain people's perspectives. I support a Resign All, and a six months moratorium supervised by a junta with a jury system in place under Chief Justice Reynato Puno and economic policy adviser in your person, we can still ransom our tarnished credibility as a nation, and tread the path towards economic recovery. If we can dream it, we can do it and be there. Vic del Fierro Jr., (by email), Nov. 06, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww . Dear Tony, If the country keeps changing its deck of cards, the country will never win nor prosper. Every change does not bring anything but giant steps backwards and baby steps afterwards. The country and its people were witnesses to the EDSA I and II revolution/circus. By having too frequent changes the country is virtually creating a political quicksand where the more movements are made the deeper the country sinks I begin to wonder what these senators, congressmen, bishops, and other "innovators" are smoking. Dr. Nestor P. Baylan, (by email), New York , Nov 06, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww It is precisely the strong points raised in your argument that I fail to appreciate Tito Guingona's call, together with the Black and White Movement and their leftist allies, for the dismantling of a constitutional government. Why don't they focus instead their efforts on the inconscientious congressmen to impeach a morally damaged leader and bring back morality and integrity in the political system? VP Noli may not be as bright, but that is not enough reason to fear if he can handle the presidency effectively. The economic policies have been in place that what needs to be done is to push them to conclusion. Noli does not owe anyone, particularly the military, any political favors, so there's no debt favors to honor. All he needs to do is to sit it out till his term is done in June 2010. He may have his sights on the presidency too, just like other wannabes and that's everybody's right. The question is, can they win? Cesar M. de los Reyes, (by email), Nov. 06, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony Haste makes waste, and we see this happened again and again in these so called "changes". The root of the problem is indifference from the grassroots level,down to the basic cell of society, the family. We need a "political evangelization" where the family heads get involved from barangay level and this involvement pushed up to the top. If we keep on doing or not doing the things in the past, where do we expect to end up? Not in the same place but deeper into the hole. Let�s do it right, first things first or we just go round and round. Dirty politics strive in ignorance and indifference. God bless our country and protect it from ourselves who don�t want to move a finger, but expect changes. Small sacrifices put together can become a miracle. Mabuhay ka. Eric Manalang, (by email), Nov. 06, 2007 Ang Kapatiran Party wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww No matter how good reforms we suggest to government are, I doubt they will be considered. If the call for the same reforms are spread through our mainstream media direct to the people, it would have been easier. Of course, we cannot expect our media to help spread the idea of reforms. Believe me, sir, the first reform we have to think of is how to change the culture in our mass media. This is the only peaceful way and I believe it can be done because mass media depends on their advertisers who in turn depend on the consumer. I think it is time to use people power against mainstream media. Serafin Dudeo, (by email), California , Nov.06, 2007 www.alternation101.blogspot.com wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I do agree with you that the present order is beyond any hope of redemption. I also agree with you on the necessity of a revolutionary government to bring about the essential reforms that can turn this country around. You have not, however, explained what turn of events will bring this revolutionary government about or who will comprise this new leadership. It seems to me that the current crop of leaders, both within the opposition and the administration are moral and intellectual pygmies( and that includes the one in the palace) who lack the essential will, vision, and integrity to accomplish this Herculean task. (And if comparing them to pygmies offends anybody, let me just say that I have never been impressed by the self-righteous or the self-important.) I can only assume that you will continue to explicate on this matter in future columns. I'm looking forward to reading them. Alex Menez, (by email), Nov. 07, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww A junta ruling for six months? I still have to hear one, after "grabbing" power would willingly give it up after six months. Snap election? I would wager GMA would still win it. .in case she's not going be barred by the Constitution from running . . . for the very reasons that you cited in your column. Rolando L Metin, (by email), Nov. 07, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony: I agree with your view that Snap Elections is no way to go. I further agree that SC Justices, even the present Chief Justice, can't really make a difference in terms of reform: they can't even clean the judiciary if their lives depended on it - and I believe this is the case even as we exchange these views. For that matter, we can't rely on the Executive as well as the Legislative! Somehow, this syndicated crime gang of GMA and allies can distribute cash to each other, point to each other as the source and not be held accountable for stealing or cheating or lying as they're all above the law and when the law manages to catch one of them, they can be depended upon to issue a pardon. So where are we to go? Our OFWs keep sacrificing (the shipjacking of a Mauritius ship by Pinoy seamen is only the latest example of the hardships these OFWs must face so they can put food on the tables of the families they leave behind in the Philippines) but they're not really getting anywhere since the government (as well as the CBCP clowns who are supposed to represent good and morality) all just let corruption and decay rule the country. Increasingly, civil (but uncivilized) society is seen as having joined the corruption forays (witness the glowing praise of GMA's regime from obviously bought businessmen in the PCCI and the brazen announcements of many civic leaders to wait for 2010). So there's no one to turn to any more. Filipinos, wake up! The only way to go is to really get mad and throw the bums out. Or al least begin to tell your soldiers that it's OK to have a junta. We must take this gamble: If it precipitates civil war, so be it. The sooner we have that, the sooner we learn the lessons we need to build a truly worthwhile nation. We know where we are now. We know where we're bound under GMA and her ilk. By doing nothing, we are sure that this current filth will continue. Yes, we are in a democracy - until a Pol Pot rises up to show us the alternative to apathy and hiding our heads in the sand. Tito Osias, (by email), Nov. 07, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww If only media can just mercifully ignore these fringe elements who have nothing redeeming or positive to contribute to society, then we would have a better sense of proportion in the way we see how things work or not in this country. RR (by email), Nov. 07, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony: I like your intellectual analysis of snap elections. I agree completely with your observation and conclusions. Best regards. Noli Santos, (by email), Nov. 07, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mr. Abaya, Well said ! I agree with all your observations. For me, I will not listen to a group that is represented by somebody reversing homo sapiens' evolution time-line beyond the Neanderthal period. More power ! Ernie del Rosario, (by email), Cainta, Rizal, Nov. 07, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww There is a tiny-weeny idea that we seem to ignore, so far. By this I mean: The introduction of - The Jury System, in our judicial processes. Try to think of it in this manner: When we shall have introduced this system, and a few cases will show that twelve (12) peers or Jurors -all fellow Filipinos- can send an accused to prison, without "any" Prosecutor, lawyer, Judge or Justices, manipulating the true meaning and intents of statutes, then and only then will we discover the application and intent of a REAL Democratic systems of government as envisioned by the Founding Fathers of the American Constitution, which we chose to copy as our own. When this system can show that real justice is equally implemented against the rich and influential or poor people alike, without fear of any repercussion, then and only then will the Philippines as a Nation-State find itself strong enough to go forward. Subsequent examples along the way, will perhaps sow fear into the selfish and heartless group who seem to think they are immune from the principle of our legal system, so far. We are lagging behind not just economically, but as a people our culture has been diminished in the circle of Nations. When we read columns in our newspapers that imply the possibility of peoples revolt in the real sense, we are indeed in a bad situation. It is in this very dangerous scenario that I am literally grasping at the last straw in the our political life as a people. Maybe some of you out there who are more erudite than this representation, can explain and expand the effect of this system so that people can react and even discover for themselves the reason for living (some merely existing) in a society whose leaders are so abusive, unethical, unprincipled & so corrupt, that the small people see no end to their sufferings. We have proposed various ideas, why don't we try this one?Your turn to react! Jose Regino, (by email), Zamboanga City , Nov. 07, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, I cannot agree more with your profound analysis of contemporary Philippine political history. And if I may add, what's the big fuzz? Why is everybody so anxious and jittery about what's happening? Is there something earthshakingly new with what's happening in the political scene? Pray tell us, Tony, what is your assessment of the situation? For me, I just can't figure it our. Why can't we just let GMA continue to do her thing and finish her term. Although much has been said of her wrongdoings: the alleged scams (ZTE and the bribery thing) and "pardon the plunder" blunder - that you have also correctly analyzed in your column, what can we do now? Kick her out of office now, and in doing so create another monstrous destabilization scenario - I won't go for it. I say that we just let her do her thing because I still believe that, mindful that politics is neither black nor white but grey, she will still try to do the best thing for the country because she will not risk losing her head after her term has ended. And that is only barely two years away from today.. We should acknowledge the fact that in some areas of governance, there have been positive developments. What for me is frightening is the clandestine and hidden power struggle among the presidential wannabes whose drooling tactics are getting to be more vicious everyday. Who will be the next president of the Philippines ? Of course I have my biases: I don't like the ebony "istambay" J&B, the lucky vaginal voiced anay and JE, the namesake of the equally moronic Son of the Great Plunderer, who is so stupid and weak up here, he shouldn't be in the Senate or even a barangay hall at all. The wily MV is as usual playing it cool and safe. DC looks so dumb (even if he isn't, but I doubt it) as a mule no matter how hard he tries to portray himself, no matter how his publicists tries so hard issuing photo sessions with smart corporate types. PL, instead of focusing on legislation, obsessively wastes his time digging for Glo and FG's dirt as ardently as the Crusaders searched for the Holy Grail - and I think he is not intelligent and lacks the statecraft savvy for the presidency. RG has the grey matter for the top position but is so swamped in his hubris and is so self-absorbed it undermines his capability. NP, no matter how he tries to act and talk like a statesman, is a pathetic goner. The long-legged...ah...the long-necked pala...JM is just plain crazy, just like MDS but with a lot lesser wit and intelligence. The mediocre but pretty LL is trying to calibrate her moves as dictated by her advisers. The articulate CE is still wet in the ears and should realize that mere glibness of tongue can't be an eligibility ticket to the presidency. The secretly salivating FP thinks he can do it with SC always handy and in tow, but his lack of mental depth despite his sartorial appearance just couldn't win my vote. For the opposition, MR, if he can control his Taurean temper, is my bet. For the administration, SB just might be the one. Sir Tony, those are just my private thoughts and I'm aware that they are reeking with malice and libelous perhaps but I'm only sharing them with you in strict confidence. I know you know the identities of those give away initials stand for. More power to you sir! Gerry Eusebio, (by email), Nov. 07, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony: As I was reading your usually excellent article, I could not help but visually see what the good, the bad and the ugly are attempting to do to correct the ills of the country. Six months to rewrite and correct bad habits that have been at play for years is a bandage approach and unrealistic; much less shortsighted at best. Duh? It is like patching a nipa hut, whose roofs are full of holes, with rotten, collapsing windows and walls but most of all the stairs and very foundation (government and people) have decayed to a point it is beyond repair and salvation. Meanwhile not far beyond the horizon there is the ever present, foreboding typhoon (the corrupt status quo) ready to strike its might and demolish the structure in smithereens any minute at will. In capsule scenario this is the Philippines . Patching things won't do the job. You are absolutely right that time is of the essence to do a seriously and meaningful change. Otherwise, it would be an exercise in futility. That is like taking one step forward and two steps backward and still behind the 8 ball. And when the storm hits and takes control of the situation the little people cry foul, in total confusion and disarray and pray to God for deliverance. There is no reward for being dumb, doing the wrong thing and allowing bad elements to continue. Filipinos have contributed to all the ills in the country either by omission or commission. Let us not be on denial. Accept responsibility. Coming from my vantage point, as I have previously enunciated a total revolution is what the country needs. No piecemeal, no patch up, no bandage approach, no six months junta. Thanks, Tony. Finally have an image of Renaissance man from his blog. Not bad. Oscar Apostol, (by email), Roseville , CA. , Nov. 07, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Sir: Another example that the separation of church and state is just a fantasy in this country. The Catholic Church, the various evangelical fundamentalist Christian organizations and the Muslim fundamentalist are all just trying to grab power and bleed the country. These merchants of fairy tales are the interference maniacs of all time. Francisco Viri, (by email), Nov. 08, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww This time I will agree with Tony Abaya with regards to his view on this current call for snap elections by this bunch of morons. Simply put, let me remind you of these famous quotes: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." And, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different results." I mean, yes, we booted out ex- Pres. Marcos and Erap; but we still maintained the same system of patronage politics. So what happened was - we just replaced them with another pack of hungry wolves and crocs. So until we muster first enough brains to come up with a solution to this peculiar and complex situation of ours, we will continue to experience this recurring problem of graft and corruptions. For a start, I think each of us needs to have a political soul and not be personality oriented like that of the Democrats and Republicans. Because right now, it is just a battle of the balimbings. Whoever buys the most balimbings- wins.. Thank you. John Dee, (by email), Nov. 08, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Snap elections, indeed, would be a bad idea, as they were back in 1986. Contrary to the expectations of those who hatched this idea, they would accomplish nothing but chaos and, worse, violence. And what do we do then to undo the mess? I can only envision a cycle of events where things would be worse than they were before. I recognize the growing unrest of Filipinos about the continuing scandals in their government, particularly in the context of their inability to oust President Arroyo by impeaching her. The president, for all the "good" economic news she wants to foist on the country, has been unmasked as a leader with no convictions, unleashing a torrent of anger from her constituents for allowing corruption to continue to brew around her administration, and more recently in pardoning ex-president Estrada who should have been sent to prison for his crime of massive plunder. All these have bred a lot of discontent. As much as we want new faces in the government, all indications at this time point to the fact that President Arroyo will be there in office for the next two years. That prospect appears to be a lesser evil when compared to the devastating consequences liable to follow a snap election next year. Such election will snap quickly by current political realities, as ugly as we have seen in sometime. R. G. Lacsamana, (by email), Daytona Beach , Florida , Nov. 11, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww On Support for Gov. Fr. Ed Panlilio (Copy furnished) Dear Fellow Filipinos, Good day to you! Last October 13 , Governor Ed Panlilio of Pampanga came out to declare that he was given P 500,000.00 in cash which came from a Palace Staff Member in Malaca�ang. The money was allegedly given for baranggay projects and to support candidates for the upcoming baranggay elections. Since Gov. Panlilio's admission, there have been other local officials and congressmen who have admitted to receiving money from Malaca�ang as well. Up until today we still don't know where this money really came from. But since then, Gov. Panlilio has been under fire because of doing the right thing. Right now, local officials in Pampanga led by Vice-Gov. Yeng Guiao are ganging up on him and marginalizing him by not respecting his authority as governor. Media Publications in Pampanga are even being used to destroy his credibility. If one looks at Gov. Panlilio's performance thus far in the less than 6 months that he has been in office, the results would speak for itself. He was able to raise the same amount of quarry taxes in less than 2 months compared to the former governor who raised the same amount in 1 year. Due to this, mayors and board members are now demanding part of this collection money and are blackmailing Gov. Panlilio by not passing important policies that will benefit the constituencies of Pampanga. Isn't this a familiar refrain in our country? Someone does good and yet he is often punished for doing what is right? And worse, while this is happening many of us just turn a blind eye without doing anything. We s just shrug it off and move on with our lives. It is no wonder why majority of our government leaders are becoming bolder and bolder in becoming corrupt since for them no one would dare complaint about it. In short, we deserve the kind of leaders that we have because we continue to do nothing despite the fact that we see that there is something wrong. And this is why I am writing to appeal to you right now, I'd like to ask for a few minutes of your time to send an email of support to Gov. Ed Panlilio, let us all tell him that we are behind him in his quest for the Truth. What is at stake here is not only the people of Pampanga but the nation as a whole. Gov. Ed exposed what has long been happening in Malaca�ang and now he is being punished for it. Will you do something about it? If yes, then please send an email of support to Gov. Ed Panlilio at [email protected] and please help us by forwarding this email to all your friends. We will print the emails that you send and give it to Gov. Panlilio to show him that he is not alone in his quest for the Truth. Let us show the world that the Filipino people will not just allow another Good Man to fail and let evil prevail. Thank you for your time! May you have a pleasant day! Sincerely, Harvey S. Keh, (by email), Nov. 08, 2007 Director for Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship Ateneo de Manila University-School of Government wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Copy furnished) Hi Everyone, I apologize for sending this unsolicited email, but I feel strongly that it is something that everyone in the Philippines should be concerned about. After reading this, it is clear why the Philippines finds itself in a never-ending decline, particularly due to the lack of a moral backbone within the government. I don�t think that a letter or email to Gov. Panlilio is going to actually do anything other than show your support, but maybe a few thousand letters to your local congress representative, senator, or other high-level public official will help. It is dismaying to see that somebody who, at least from where I sit, seems to be trying to do what is right and best for his constituents is castigated and chastised for doing what most people would consider to be the right thing. It is a telling story about the true state of Philippine politics and the self-centered attitude of those that are supposed to be representing the people. We seem to live in a land run by a pack of �Gimme Pigs�. Again, I apologize for the unsolicited message, but I truly hope that the efforts of Gov. Panlilio and those that support him will help spark the change that this country needs to progress and uplift those that are less fortunate. While I cannot vote being a foreigner, I also can�t justify sitting on my laurels watching the country I have chosen to call my home for the past 11 years sink farther and farther into moral purgatory� Best regards, Christopher Stolk, (by email) Nov. 09, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Copy furnished) Is it really the right thing to accept the monies especially in the light of the various critical political confrontations the administration would soon be facing? And wasn't the law clear enough? Was the father so naive not to have sensed the giver's motive? That the truly right thing to do was to refuse the offer right there and there? Weeks after this thing happened, "up until today we still don't know where the money really came from" the writer below declares. Malaca�ang euphemistically called them �send-off gifts� or �a remembrance� or �help� -- my foot -- without any conditions for accounting. The whole thing just does not pass the stink test, and it certainly passes the walks like a duck and quacks like a duck test which to this simple guy and tens of millions like me amounts to bribery. I'm glad, though, he gave the money to the provincial administration where hopefully it will be kept safe. (Is it still there?) Still, will someone please explain to me the morality and legality of accepting money and other gratuities as a government official so I'd be disabused of this simple and nagging notions of mine that it was a bribe and the same foul fowl as the ZTE bribery scandal? Louie Fernandez, (by email), New Jersey , Nov. 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Copy furnished) Dear Governor Panlilio, We are behind you in your fight against corruption. We are stunned by the behavior of your VICE-governor and other corrupt officials who continue to plunder and loot as if no one knows that they continue to be corrupt and are now going after you. It is unfortunate that these people are unshaken by the revelations and scandals in Pampanga. God Bless you. Gerry Kaimo, (by email), Nov. 13, 2007 Convenor, Black and White Movement PS To all ye who read this, please pass it on. Let it be known that the former priest is being crucified by the Judases of Pampanga. Mabuhay ang Pilipino. Pero Hindi lahat. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to �Pardon My Plunder� (Oct. 31, 2007) Dear Mr. Abaya, This was just a repeat of the Marcos plunder. We can call this Plunder II. You can be sure that there is, as we speak, in the making Plunder III, and that in the end, these unrepentant shameless scoundrels know they will, at the end of this zarzuela, get away with it. These crooks will continue to laugh on their way to the bank, hardly glancing at the headlines about their crimes published by journalists like you who will continue to go on gnashing your teeth in frustration till the end of your days. For what did the legislative enactment against plunder (wow, what a word!) accomplish? A lot of notoriety, a lot of government expense, a lot of nakakasukang exposure of government baho, a lot of embarrassing publicity about the Philippines . What, every foreigner is asking, did we pass that Plunder Bill for? Because of this farce, we are all back to square one. We had the balls to convict and render judgment upon the accused, but we did not have balls to enforce it on the felon. (We are but a shadow of the late Gen. Zia of Pakistan who said, if the Supreme Court condemns him, I will hang the blighter, and he did (after the Supreme Court found their ex-prime minister Bhutto guilty of a capital offense). Is this going to be the trend? The merry-go-round of politicos amassing wealth while in office amidst unceasing groans of the poor and frustrations of the rich? And while all this is going on, continue the disregard and abuse of the madla by the politicos? It only means, it pays, and it pays well to be a crook in the government. Will we ever see the end of this? Phoeeehhhh! My personal conclusion? It is useless to rant and groan about the shenanigans of politicians and we are really wasting our time because they have proven themselves to be above the law and don't fear God's higher laws. Lionel Tierra, (by email), Sacramento , CA , Nov. 11, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Granting pardon to Erap sends the wrong message that it�s OK to steal as long as you give it back. But this is just reflective of our flawed democratic system which I keep on saying is the illegitimate one, as most of our voters belong to the masses, and they base their choices on who�s popular, and not who�s capable. So Erap received the most votes as President. Noli became VP. FPJ was voted but lost very controversially. Probably PGMA was very eager to grant apology to Erap to appease his followers since he still commands a strong following in spite of his incarceration. If PGMA is impeached, then Noli will take over. So that makes me stick to PGMA, like it or not. But if she goes making further concessions by offering a position for Erap, then that would be way too much. Pian None, (by email), Nov. 12, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Forwarded to Tapatt by Jane Banzhaf) No Tears for Estrada By Rodel E. Rodis, September 17, 2007 On the day the Estrada verdict was announced last week, a retired man who needed my help in his claim for social security benefits in the Philippines professed sympathy for the former president, expressing his hope that he would be shown mercy because he had "suffered enough". Like most people, he had not read the 212 page decision of the Philippine Anti Graft Court (Sandigan Bayan), finding former president Joseph aka Erap Estrada Guilty of Plunder. If he had read the complete decision, he would have discovered the ironic connection between his problems with the SSS and the basis for the plunder verdict. (For the transcripts, log on to http://www.manilama <http://www.manilama/> il.com <http://il.com/> ). It took six years for the Sandigan court to try the Estrada case, most of the delays caused by Estrada himself. At one point, he fired all his attorneys so that a mistrial could occur. But after the court provided him with new attorneys, which he promptly rejected, Estrada retained new counsel and proceeded with a strategy to run out the clock until his close personal friend, Fernando Poe, Jr. (FPJ), could win the presidency in the May 2004 elections and dismiss all the charges against him. But when FPJ lost, Estrada had no choice but to finally deal with the prosecution' s case by seeking to undermine the credibility of the court and by claiming that the trial is "politically motivated" to justify his removal from office. Very little was done by his lawyers to debunk the voluminous evidence presented in court. In the course of the trial despite innumerable delays, dozens of witnesses described how Estrada collected billions of Philippine pesos in "jueteng" protection money which they regularly delivered in cash to his Polk Street mansion in San Juan in Metro Manila. It was like a mob scene from "The Sopranos". But the most damning witnesses against Estrada were those he appointed to public office. Carlos (aka Chucky) Arellano testified that he was a childhood friend of Estrada who appointed him chairman and president of the Social Security System (SSS) in 1998. On October 6, 1999, he received a call from Pres. Estrada instructing him to buy Belle Corporation stock. He hesitated to do so, he said, because that decision belonged to the SSS investment committee which selected the stocks to invest in for the millions of Filipinos who had contributed to it. However, after further prodding from Estrada, Arellano unilaterally authorized the purchase by SSS of P900-M (pesos) ($20-M) in Belle stocks on October 21, 1999, just 15 days after he was directed to do so. Federico Pascual testified that he was the president of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in 1999, appointed by Estrada, when he was instructed to purchase Belle shares. He hesitated to do the president's bidding, he said, because the Belle Corporation was involved in jai-alai and gambling and had a speculative flavor. But after receiving another call from Estrada on October 9, 1999, he went ahead and authorized the purchase by GSIS of P1.1-B (pesos) ($25-M) in Belle stock. A close crony of Estrada, Jaime Dichaves, facilitated the transaction. Belle Corporation executives testified that they issued a cashier's check to Dichaves in the amount of P189-M($4-M) (International Exchange Bank Check No. 6000159271 dated November 5, 1999) as his 10% commission for securing the purchase by SSS and GSIS of close to P2-B (pesos) ($45-M) in Belle stocks. Bank executives then testified that Dichaves deposited the 10% commission of P189-Mil. ($4-Mil) into the bank account of Jose Velarde, in Equitble Bank. Dichaves deposited an additional amount of P74-M (pesos) into the same account. Clarissa Ocampo, an Equitable Bank manager, testified that she personally witnessed Estrada sign his name as Jose Velarde in withdrawing funds from the Equitable Bank, an allegation that was openly admitted by Estrada himself. Bank executives testified that there were Joint accounts in the bank of Jose Velarde & Loi Ejercito (Estradas legal wife). Bank executives also testified that it was from this same Jose Velarde account that Estrada purchased the " Boracay Mansion " near Wack-Wack Golf Club for the use of his favored mistress, Laarni Enriquez. The man who facilitated the purchase of this mansion was Jose Luis Yulo who, because of this "housing" experience, was then appointed by Estrada to be his Secretary of Housing, replacing the very competent Karina Constantino- David. The prosecution' s evidence was just too overwhelming, the Sandigan Bayan justices had no other choice but to find Estrada guilty of plunder, beyond a reasonable doubt. Sifting through the testimonies of eyewitnesses, one concludes that Estrada never believed that he would ever have to account for his actions so he didn't care who witnessed what he was doing. Transparency turned out not to be a virtue and stupidity not a viable defense. But the joke was on the people. When GSIS and SSS bought Belle stocks, As instructed by then PRES. ESTRADA, in 1999, they were priced at P3.14 a share. One year later, on December 29, 2000, their value had sunk dramatically to 60 centavos a share. Two years later, Belle stock crashed to a staggering 40 centavos a share, from purchase price of P3.14 per share. Now they are virtually worthless! Two BILLION PESOS of the people's investments down the drain! While I congratulate the Sandigan Bayan judges for finding Estrada guilty of plunder, my regret is that he was never charged for his possible role in the abduction and murders of Salvador "Bubby" Dacer, Emmanuel Corbito and Edgar Bentain. According to members of his family, Bubby Dacer was bawled out by Estrada in Malacanang in November of 1999 shortly before he and his driver, Corbito, were abducted by members of the Presidential Anti-Organized crime Task Force (PAOCTF) headed by Gen. Panfilo Lacson and tortured and executed. The PAOCTF soldiers who admitted killing Dacer and Corbito pointed to Col. Glenn Dumlao as their commanding officer. Before he fled to the US , Col. Dumlao pointed to Col. Cezar Mancao and Col. Michael Ray Aquino as the officers who gave him the orders. Before they could point their fingers as to who directed them, Mancao and Aquino fled to the US upon instructions of Lacson. If Lacson had been fingered by Mancao and Aquino, would he have pointed the finger to Estrada? Edgar Bentain was a casino worker at the Casino Filipino located at the Heritage Hotel in Manila when he secretly released to the press the videotape of Estrada playing high-stakes poker with his crony, Atong Ang. The videotape was then shown on TV to the embarrassment of Estrada who ordered an investigation into who leaked the videotape. According to Ador Mawanay's sworn testimony on August 17, 2001, PAOCTF men abducted Bentain outside the casino and immersed him with cement inside a drum and dumped his corpse in Pampanga. The leader of the PAOCTF team, he said, was Col. Michael Ray Aquino. Mawanay identified Estrada's son, Jude, as the man he saw give a black bag containing money to Aquino as payment for the killing of Bentain. Estrada "suffered enough"?? wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony: We have a small corps of about 17 Filipino press people here in Sydney who bond once a month at a restaurant appropriately named 'City Extra'. Although our concerns are mainly about the interaction of the Filipino community with the Australian mainstream, we continue to feel strongly about our country of origin and follow developments there. Of late, we have been disturbed by stories, also through you columns, about the full pardon of former president Joseph Estrada from charges of plunder and reports of bribery in the halls of Malacanang Palace . The least can do from this part of the world is voice our sentiment. Our group, The Filipino Press Club of Sydney, has therefore issued an 'Open Letter' addressed to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, through the Philippine Consul General in Sydney, Maria Theresa Lazaro. The letter was personally delivered and handed over by our spokesman Ric de Vera at the Consulate General's Sydney office on Friday, November 9. Jimmy Pimentel, (by email), Sydney , Australia , Nov. 12, 2007 A copy of the letter is attached. It reads as follows: AN OPEN LETTER To: Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo President of The Philippines Through: Maria Theresa Lazaro Consul General of the Philippines Sydney , Australia Dear Mrs President, We, as a group, hereby express our strongest disapproval of an executive order by your office allowing former President Joseph Estrada to walk free without need to answer charges of plunder in a court of law, as reported in the press all over the world. We, as a group, hereby express our strongest disapproval at reports in the press that the President of the Philippines had openly distributed what were described as ''bribes'' to members of Congress within the hallowed halls of Malacanan Palace . These acts have done almost irreparable damage to the Filipino image in our part of the world, and we must face the consequences with much embarrassment and shame. We appeal you then, Mrs President, to provide a remedy to the grave situation that is now unravelling, before more serious repercussions develop. Your immediate response to Filipinos around the world is imperative. On behalf of: THE FILIPINO PRESS CLUB OF SYDNEY Ric De Vera Spokesman OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |