An abnormal return to normality
A thoughtful Manila Times editorial on the kick-off for the centennial year of the {“hard workig,” Ricky Carandang calls it) House, wondered what the Speaker would say at the banquet marking the adjournment of the House of the 13th Congress. The Speaker, taking a cue from the President who lavished praise on the House and gave every sign of wanting to continue their partnership, obliged by saying it will be Charter Change, Part 2.
I was at the Batasan to listen to the President’s speech (our book on the 100 year history of the House was launched there). I was hoping, against hope, to hear clear indications she was preparing to bow out from office in 2010. The signs that she’s thinking of doing that were ambiguous, at best. She did try to sound conciliatory -even to the point of irony- by praising civic and church groups that conducted quick counts and foiled fraud, by praising the armed forces whose rank and file disobeyed orders to vote 12-0, by calling for magnanimity when it isn’t hers to give, and by saying the booming stock market and the good 1st quarter are signs of God’s will.
Besides pleasure in seeing our book launched, it was worth it to be at the Batasan to be able to shake the hand of Rep. Crispin Beltran, finally released from detention and able to do his work. A relevant reflection is in the blog of The Philippine Experience.
My column yesterday was A way forward. I wrote it in an optimistic frame of mind; I’m less optimistic after hearing the President’s speech and reading the Speaker’s banquet remarks.
Two relevant Inquirer editorials: Mandate for change, on the implications of the massive administration senatorial defeat, and The decider, on the absurdity of proclaiming a failure of elections in Maguindanao.
In the PCIJ, my analysis of the 2007 elections was published yesterday, too: An Abnormal Return to Normality, I titled it. This is because the 2007 midterms marks, in a sense, a return to where we last were in 1995, when the last mid-terms were held. The 2001 elections should have been mid-terms but became, instead, a referendum not on the incumbent, but on his ouster. In that sense 1995-2005 became a decade of political turbulence: the strong showing of FVR’s candidates in 1995 gave him the confidence to propose the extension of his term, contributing in turn to the public backlash that Estrada’s election represented and the middle- and upper-class backlash against his mandate culminating in impeachment and Edsa Dos, which triggered Edsa Tres, which resulted in the President breaking her promise not to run, and who sought a victory at all costs, etc.
The 2007 elections were in many ways, a validation of our past political history (administrations never lose the House; but an administration’s popular acceptability is best measured by the Senate results); and a repudiation of the President’s past achievements: recall she contested, and won, two senatorial races under her administration, in 2001 and 2004; her defeat in this year’s senate race must be compared to her past victories.
Thanks to Tingog.com for the capsule review of my article in his blog.
Incidentally I ran into defeated senatorial candidate John Osmena, and asked him what he intended to do. He says he is going to take up political blogging. Should make for interesting reading.
Technorati Tags: Blogging, Charter Change, constitution, philippines, politics, president, Senate, society
I really feel that there’s something wrong with giving Maguindanao (or any province) the power to decide who the last senator would be. Special elections in Maguindano gives that power to them because they already know who may or may not enter the magic 12 that’s why I would like to see special elections in Maguindanao to only include elections for local officials. It’s just that this idea is not supported by law.
As the Inquirer editorial says, it’s the same as what Abalos has done in ordering the special elections!
So what else is new MLQ3? Since when have you been “optimistic” about the President? I don’t think it is necessary time and again for her to assure you , or anyone, that her term expires in 2010. It is in the Constitution, ain’t it? Why is it always an issue with you people? Is it all up to her? I think we should cease acting like juveniles and grow up for our own sake.
Bencard,
As soon as she grows up and respects the Constitution and the rule pf law.
Buencamino, if PGMA doesn’t respect the Constitution and the rule of law, why is she still the President? You and your ilk went to hell and back to remove her but did you go past salivating for her ouster? She is our President because our laws and the Constitution say she is, not you, mlq3 or cvj.
bencard, because if stability is what you want, then let’s all have something to be able to look forward to. you can look forward to her stepping down in 2010 with a positive legacy, i can look forward to the country finally having a government with a mandate and off to a fresh start.
but since the president is the leader of two parties, and if the two parties want to change the rules, and the rules they want changed are precisely those that require her to step down in 2010, well… then what her party wants is what she wants, until she gives a statement to the contrary.
As soon as she grows up … mb, for someone who can easily summon her murder instinct, you are literally asking the impossible, not even with Havianas flip flops.
Bencard,
“Buencamino, if PGMA doesn’t respect the Constitution and the rule of law, why is she still the President?”
The correct question is, “why is she still in power?”
And that should take care of the first part of your question.
I believe Bencard also said those lines (It is in the Constitution, isn’t it?) back in the 70′s and when Marcos chagned the constitution, well Bencard can always say “it is in the Constitution, isn’t it?”.
And he (or she?) is right, mlq3. From his excellent reasoning, Gloria is the President, therefore she respects the constitution and the rule of law. Thus, everything she does is constitutional and legal. Man, you are awesome!
Bencard,
“She is our President because our laws and the Constitution say she is, not you, mlq3 or cvj.”
By the way, where can I find that in the Constitution?
I thought my vote counts, but with that remark coming from a person with unquestionable integrity and no hidden motives (remember that post about questioning the media?) and a good writer at that, I am not sure anymore.
And one more thing. I thought you are from the great beyond Philippine borders. Are you perhaps an OFW? Just asking because you said “She (Gloria) is our president …” Thanks
“Buencamino, if PGMA doesn’t respect the Constitution and the rule of law, why is she still the President?”
is respect (or the lack of it) for the constitution and the rule of law concomittant to the role as president?
will someone relive to me the story of how it was during marcos era? would like to hear it from an exile, preferably.
RESPECT??! GMA doesn’t know that word.
Here’s my proposal on how we can move forward:
1. Let’s forget about impeachment. *ducks*
2. Let’s have closure on the controversial issues with criminal liabilities. e.g. Fertilizer Fund, Pidal Account(money laundering),Singson (a self confessed criminal on the lose), Garci wiretap controversy.
3. If we need to revamp our constitution lets put a minimum of 5 years to study the changes before presenting it to the people.
I read somewhere (Inquirer, I think, interview with Pablo Garcia) that impeachment, if it would be initiated in the House, would come from Lakas. With a hanging senate already installed, Joe De V has enormous leverage with GMA.
2. Let’s have closure on the controversial issues with criminal liabilities. e.g. Fertilizer Fund, Pidal Account(money laundering),Singson (a self confessed criminal on the lose), Garci wiretap controversy. – from Francis
I believe closure meant having this cases solved and not just a mere “FORGIVE AND FORGET” scenario.
May i also add that extra judicial killings and forced disappearances be one of the priorities.
People move forward if they aren’t continuously haunted by their unresolved past.
Beancurd, the Constitution does not say that Justice Reynato Puno is the Chief Justice, Manuel Villar is the Senate President or Jose de Venecia is the Speaker of the House of Representatives either, does it?
No, Beancurd, I am not an ofw. I am a dual citizen residing in the U.S. but keeping myself abreast of what is happening in the land of my birth.
bencard luvs glo! woo-hoo!
“People move forward if they aren’t continuously haunted by their unresolved past.”
Very well said, Janie!
“I think we should cease acting like juveniles and grow up for our own sake.”
–EHEM..
“I don’t think it is necessary time and again for her to assure you , or anyone, that her term expires in 2010. It is in the Constitution, ain’t it? Why is it always an issue with you people? Is it all up to her?”
–COUGH. COUGH.
“She is our President because our laws and the Constitution say she is, not you, mlq3 or cvj.”
-She is our president because first, Garci and the Abalos Comelec said so; second, because the house of representathieves said so; and third, because esperon said so.
The Constitution and the laws apply only to legitimately elected presidents. It does not legitimize a bogus presidency.
What I can suggest since GMA has the support of the house and the AFP to remain in power until her term expires according to the present constitution, the Filipinos need to be more vigilant in guarding how thier government manage “taxes and the countries’ borrowings”.
The Black & White movement for example can add to their mission (if not part of it yet) as a watchdog to review high profile government transactions since those papers are considered public documents (hope it is not top secret in RP).
In short people should be more aggressive in fighting corruption. There are so many ways to do these. Reporting the lifestyles of government workers who are living beyond their means and follow-up their prosecution is a good example.
If there is a credible NGO who will advocate for these, I am sure thousands of volunters will join. The Filipinos have probably done these in the May 07 elections, so The Filipinos can do it.
The teleserye “Maria Flordeluna” can be at least a modern day story of the meaning of Rizal’s Noli & Fili. It is the Filipinos themselves who can make the country better.
I suggest instead giving GMA a 21 middle finger salute on every national occasion like Independence Day. She might get the drift after a while.
the problem, bystander, is that you are not a duly-constituted judge with real power to give effect to your anti-GMA judgment. You are just a puny blogger like everyone else here. There is a process – either follow it or just shut up. Otherwise you can take the law into your own hands at your peril.
Bencard,
“I am a dual citizen residing in the U.S. but keeping myself abreast of what is happening in the land of my birth.”
Was there a failure of elections in Maguindanao?
“the problem, bystander, is that you are not a duly-constituted judge with real power to give effect to your anti-GMA judgment. You are just a puny blogger like everyone else here. There is a process – either follow it or just shut up. Otherwise you can take the law into your own hands at your peril.”
-i’d rather be a puny blogger than a puny apologist whose puny defense for a puny president is full of puny arguments.
“There is a process – either follow it or just shut up. Otherwise you can take the law into your own hands at your peril.”
-I won’t shut up for so long as there are people like you who won’t.
“I suggest instead giving GMA a 21 middle finger salute on every national occasion like Independence Day. She might get the drift after a while.”
-The suggestion is well-taken. The apologist equally deserves to be given a 21 middle finger salute.
“I am a dual citizen residing in the U.S. but keeping myself abreast of what is happening in the land of my birth.â€Â
-To keep himself abreast with what is happening in the land of his birth, he watches news aired by sequestered TV stations like NBN4 and RPN9 and reads online news from the manila standard and the manila bulletin. Afterwards, he visits manolo’s blog and spreads the lies he himself has come to believe as gospel truth.
@bystander, let’s not put words in the mouth of another individual. Manuelbuencamino never said the second paragraph that you are theorizing right in front of our eyes.
Why not ask where he gets his news instead of your own theory? That’s not exactly the basis of an argument, if you can’t even ascertain as to where his information is coming from. It’s as if you’re debating against yourself.
@Manuelbuencamino, A failure of election has not been properly declared, only through the imagination of Abalos. They have called upon local candidates to come before the National Board of Canvassers if they can provide authentic documents on the elections in Maguindanao.
Although, Lintang Bedol, the provincial election supervisor for Maguindanao, is nowhere in sight, allegedly in hiding. He is the only one that can explain where the Muncipal Certificate of Canvass and Statement of Votes are. You will recall that no one actually saw the Canvassing in Maguindanao, something which Bedol confirmed as well.
Nick.
Bystander’s comments were meant for Bencard, not me.
As to the failure of elections which I was asking Bencard about:
What Abalos is saying is “Prove to me that there was No failure of elections in Maguindanao. Bring supporting documents.”
GO says elections occured. Winners were proclaimed. But there was so much padding and shaving the votes should be set-aside.
I wish the lawyer who keeps abreast of what is happening in the land of his birth could give us his well-thought out legal opinion on the matter.
Bencard,
I take your comments personal on “puny bloggers”.
I try my best to post comments regarding how I see the situation in the Philippines without defending personalities like how you defend GMA. While it is true that I still respect the office of the President, it doesn’t means that I totally respect its occupant. If you keep yourself abreast with situation in RP, I suggest you need to research more.
It pains me so much to see the present ills in RP. We have so many political leaders who are educated abraod, but they are not putting into practice the good things they have learned. The country should have been better after the EDSA revolutions, but, political leaders continue to destroy it. Of course there are exemptions, I wish they can do more for the betterment of the country.
Instead of defending personalities, why don’t you suggest ways on how to help the country based on your experiences in the USA. You can join advocacy groups to be the watch dog of the masses or join “Gawad Kalinga” if you have not done so.
What’s this tofu (beancurd) and the process of being healed (beencured) all about? I think the more apt monicker is BENTCARD…in deference to David Blaine’s magic card trick…
This answers the question why gloria is still the president…it’s because of TRICKERY, my dear friends, it’s trickery…
“You are just a puny blogger like everyone else here.”
My puny middle finger goes to bencard for this statement.
@ManuelBuencamino, I’m seeing double these days…
Apologies to bystander, I’m always quick to defend against those who try to attack ManuelBuencamino, because I know his views are always well researched and deeply thought out…
It really doesn’t matter whether or not Bencard is in The Philippines or Abroad. If he chooses to receive his information from a few sources, such as those aligned to the views of Malacanañang, his views are bound to be aligned with Malacañang as well.
The arguments put forth by GO and Pimentel are convincing,
Bencard hasn’t replied, probably trying to do some last minute research as to what Maguindanao means…
supremo, are you sure your stump of a middle finger is as big as your real thing? If not forget it, just go and “obscene” no more.
o.k., buencamino, here’s my take on maguindanao. as far as cheating is concerned, it is not an isolated place, and if accusations are to be given any credence, even NCR is not beyond suspicion. in a land of false witnesses and fabricated evidence, anything goes. every proof offered must be tested and retested for veracity. Abalos is within his right to demand credible evidence of failure of election. remember the difference between fact and perception or speculation? just because the “evidence” being offered is shocking does not necessarily mean its true.
Bencard,
Only puny brained people like you can venerate people like GMA.
Bencard, way to step up to the plate there buddy. You could’ve been talking about any place in the Philippines there.
Bedol has already admitted no one saw the provincial canvass. Even in that situation, you already have a “Failure of The Comelec”…
Evidence has already been submitted, but with the slow pace of The Comelec to “investigate”, even going so far as to form an almost legitimate front of Task Force Maguindanao, the type of investigations that you want does not exist. Videos, testimony, and affidavits won’t do anything to budge, as the inquirer editorial puts it, the “glacier like” movement of Abalos and his Comelec.
Your vague rebuttal is laughable.
Let me follow your logic and say, just because Comelec is offering an investigation doesn’t mean they are or will conduct one…
As I’ve said before, the special elections is Plan B.
let me clarify, the special elections is Comelec’s Plan B.
puny brained bencard,
At least my real thing can stand UP to scrutiny. When was the last time your arguments and your real thing stood UP to anything?
nick, then what’s the problem? if everyone is convinced that there was a “failure of election” in Maguindanao, and the votes should be nullified, the logical and legal course of action is to have a special election. We don’t want to disenfranchise a whole region just because there are election cheaters within its boundaries, do we?
and why would such a special election be regarded as a diabolical plot or conspiracy by the comelec? abalos is not the comelec and the comelec is not beholden to malacanang. it is an independent constitutional body. even assuming that abalos is a “stooge” of GMA, would all the other commissioners, officers and employees of comelec necessarily be? is it so bereft of decent and honest personnel? who’s afraid of special election? only those who are afraid of their own shadows, and possessed of instantaneous sense of entitlement.
Bencard, perhaps you may be the only individual who still has faith in The Comelec to pursue actions independently of Malacañang. The fact that certain officials have not been reprimanded, but instead has been promoted to key regions is almost too glaring of the partisan politics of Comelec. The fact that they haven’t even issued an arrest warrant for Lintang Bedol is almost sickening. The fact that they have harassed media is yet another reason. And are you speaking of keeping Joselito Cayetano as a candidate as a fair decision, or their foot dragging on his case as fair?
Don’t put words into the mouths of everyone. A failure of election is not the consensus here. The consensus is a failure of Comelec.
Whether or not a failure of election can even be declared by Comelec in the first place is what Manuelbuencamino was asking you, which you haven’t answered thus far, skirting away from an answer, by throwing pure rhetoric as to why shouldn’t there be a Special Elections. The question is, what is the legal premise, Mr. Lawyer Sir.
From the incidents going far back as the 2004 election, to the promotion of key ‘Garci Officials’, to the foot dragging being done on the ‘investigation’ of Maguindanao.. it’s almost too shocking that the Comelec can get away with all these actions..
The simple answer for you Bencard, because you fail to scrutinize the situation, is to follow the illogical Abalos, and call for a special election, even before realizing what the hell happened there in the first place.
Is it too hard for you to fathom as well, that another special election would only yield the results of a cheating machinery gone haywire? Are you basing your proof of decency in The Comelec ranks in this clean and honest election that they have presided over thus far?
Again, your vague rebuttals are noted. But not agreed with.
The reason why election is conducted is one single day and the counting of votes are done after all the polls are officially closed and advance polls are not counted in Advance is not to allow any other arrangements influence the process. My opinion on Maguindanao votes, now that the last two slots in the slate for senator are still up for grabs, that the special election would not be the “true†reflection of the choice of the voters in the areas as their votes will now, be subject to the influence of the already known results.
Now the precedent, Canada has 5 different Time Zones with 5 hours difference from Atlantic to Pacific. The reason why the canvassing in the Atlantic which closes 5 hours earlier can not be published publicly or broadcast to other provinces where voting is still in progress, because if the “trend†is already known to the other voters still to cast their votes, it will influence their true choice, or even for some will just don’t ever consider voting for knowing that their Party is way ahead or way behind.
Solutions, declare a failure of elections, no special election and arrange for local election later on if the Comelec can convinced itself that it can conduct a Proper One. Or let the courts resolve the issue… that’s just me….
news of lintang bedol et al plus election fraud reeks of the hello, garci scandal the comelec has never washed off from its credibility status.
the same hello, garci which speaks of gloria possessed with instantaneous sense of entitlement and which remains part of gloria’s shadows up to the present.
Bencard,
Trust the idea of vic and listen to nick.
Chairman Abalos and company should declare a failure of elections there period. It will be just a waste of money & time to conduct a special election there. The country needs to move on and attempt to solve the problems of the nation.
Vic, your reason is just just one of the key points why the GO, pimentel, and even Zubiri is not favoring a special election.
You don’t need to declare a failure of election, you just need to set aside the votes, and have a filing of election protest later on if a candidate wishes to do so. (this is what Pimentel is suggesting) A declaration of failure of election will necessitate a special election.
The fact that local officials have been declared, and that no one has filed a petition for a failure of election, are just some of the key reasons why a special election is improbable.
But the Comelec would rather go the easy way, instead of investigating itself as to what really has happened in Maguindanao. Bedol is just one of reasons why Maguindanao has seen a “failure of Comelec”, Sumalipao should also be blamed since he is regional director for ARMM, and the Comelec and the Administration in general for its lack of leadership and transparency in not cleaning house. The fact is that they don’t have any incentive to clean house, because the current state of affairs will favor them especially when it comes to Mindanao.
It is no one else to blame for the current disenfranchisement, except the Comelec and the Administration for its lack of leadership, transparency, and honesty in holding an election and hiring the right individuals to oversee it.
The only reason Maguindanao is so heavily being scrutinized is the fact that that the citizen groups have fully committed to guard the votes and that the cheats were stupid enough to have 19 candidates with zero votes. Completely idiotic, they can’t even cheat right.
bencard, ang tindi ng putok ng butse mo. For an outside observer, ultra ang pasyon mo. Parang di galing sa isang observer lang. Parang galing sa isang taong may ganansya ang dating.
“People move forward if they aren’t continuously haunted by their unresolved past.”
But if that is the case, Janie, no one will be able to move forward. Becuase everybody has unresolved past.
Like it the country and people other than you are moving forward with or with out Gloria. Im sure even Gloria is moving forward with or without the presidency…..
“As soon as she grows up and respects the Constitution and the rule pf law”
Then thats makes you both LOSER!
I’ve heard an interesting explanation as to why Maguindanao has a clean 12-0 slate. I’m not from the place so I don’t know the veracity of this statement, but if true, it does make an interesting observation of the peculiarities of each and every region in the Philippines.
Maguindanao is made up of a staunchly hierarchical and fundamentalist Muslim society. They have a very rigid social order with their leaders having the power to dictate how the populace would vote. Anyone who does otherwise would be castigated, ostracized and banned from the community. Hence, Maguindanao has a 98% voter turnout, as compared to the national batting average of something around 40 to 60%. If you don’t vote, someone goes to your house and makes you. If you don’t vote the way they want you to, they will make you a pariah in the community. Nobody talks to you, nobody includes you in parties, nobody allots a share to you in case some goods arrive from outside of town.
Plus, you have to consider that Maguindanao is a very rural and very provincial place, with almost no television sets, no subscriptions to national newspapers, and no public means of information dissemination except for the radio, which could very well be used for spouting propaganda. Have any of you ever been in a real barrio setting? Are you aware that a lot of people in the Philippines know anything about the issues and are blind, deaf and dumb about what goes on in Manila? Are you further aware that in a lot of rural communities, their leaders just hand them a sample ballot with P20 attached to it, and these people will just copy whatever is written down without any idea as to who they’re voting for, how they stand in national issues, and how qualified they are for the positions they are running? That’s how blindly they trust their leaders. It’s a sad fact, but the truth is, that’s just the way their society is structured.
I believe that this is a very plausible and real reason as to why TU got a clean 12-0 slate in Maguindanao. I tell you I was very amused when I saw for myself the Maguindanao certificate of canvass during the national canvassing. I’ve never seen so many zeroes in my life.
Basically folks, I suggest that to have an enlightened stand on the facts behind the figures, the newsmakers and public voices in Manila should go out to Mindanao and see for themselves the reality of their living. And I do mean go out to thickly Muslim-populated areas and with your own eyes see what’s happening beyond the four walls of the National Capital Region. You’d be surprised to find how different everything else is from the life that you know.
Living in the Visayas, I’ve been to Zamboanga del Norte for six times already. I’ve had Muslim friends and classmates in school and I’ve talked to a Christian lawyer who grew up in Muslim Marawi. I’ve heard a lot of stories about the generation-spanning Muslim vendetta, about how corruption as we would term it would be an honorable matter to our Southern brothers, and about how much of Mindanao’s potential is wasted because of the peculiarities of their prevalent culture (and this very last statement coming from a Muslim himself).
With this in mind, I think a clean 12-0 slate is possible. And then I remember the words of Ping Lacson’s election lawyer spoken to the COMELEC Special Body during the national canvassing and it always brings tears to my eyes every time I remember it, but that was because I laughed so hard that I cried.
“Paano ba yan your honor? Kahit man lang limang boto binigay sa amin, okay na sana, di na kami magprotesta. Pero ZERO! Wala! Kahit pa naman consuelo, hindi pa binigay?”
you know what i think guys? i think the single reason the hate- Gloria club cannot muster enough support for its cause (to get PGMA by means fair or foul)is that it cannot try to make a point without being obnoxious. it has the annoying habit of shooting the messenger for the message he bears, obviously unsure of its capacity to challenge the message.
no wonder the GMA haters always had to resort to name calling, insults, derision (sheepish laughter as from someone who slipped on a banana peel), mockery, gloating, attempted satire that doesn’t and cannot work, fighting words, and, sometimes, obscenities that could only result from ill-breeding.
my views and opinion are open to challenge anytime but no one, but no one has any right to accuse me of being paid for it.
“I was at the Batasan to listen to the President’s speech (our book on the 100 year history of the House was launched there). I was hoping, against hope, to hear clear indications she was preparing to bow out from office in 2010. The signs that she’s thinking of doing that were ambiguous, at best. She did try to sound conciliatory -even to the point of irony- by praising civic and church groups that conducted quick counts and foiled fraud, by praising the armed forces whose rank and file disobeyed orders to vote 12-0, by calling for magnanimity when it isn’t hers to give, and by saying the booming stock market and the good 1st quarter are signs of God’s will.”
Geez, Manolo, reading this paragraph give me an impression that you seem to be a loser too! I thought you are in a celebration mood like what you wrote in the other thread….To me you, you are making Gloria look like a winner over you.
You should be writing positively about your book instead. That way peopel will be more ineterested on it…
Or update us on the positive developement in the senate now that the opposition has the majority. Can the people look forward to some progressive bills. Now that Ping Lacson is set to become the chair of teh Blue Ribbon comitte, can people look foward to the pinning down at least Mike Aroyo…. things like that….
You know Manolo, I have a feeling that even if Gloria is already out of Malacanang before or after 2010. I dont believe you can have the “fresh start” that you saying. You will keep going back to Gloria and blaming her everytime the nation encounter any trouble.
If you really want a fresh start, you can start now that the people you believ and thrust are all in the senate. why wait for three years to do that? What are going to do in the remaining three years of Gloria. Put your life on hold by wallowing in your negative emotions? Dont tell me that what you want also for your millions of fans here in your blog.
You are just giving so much of your life to Gloria. And you are making her win over you!
Bencard,
Cool man! You are such a good man and I admire you so much! These people can only try to destroy you even a dirty way. But the only way to fight back is to just continue doing good. Heck they can be Beancurd or beencured but the damage is on them not on you.
“abalos is not the comelec and the comelec is not beholden to malacanang. it is an independent constitutional body. even assuming that abalos is a “stooge†of GMA, would all the other commissioners, officers and employees of comelec necessarily be? is it so bereft of decent and honest personnel? who’s afraid of special election? only those who are afraid of their own shadows, and possessed of instantaneous sense of entitlement.”
-from a dual citizen residing in the U.S. but keeping himself abreast of what is happening in the land of his birth.
Endorsing Senator Pangilinan’s earstwhile proposal for a law to establish an autonomous Special Independent Prosecutor to be tasked by Congress to conduct the preliminary investigation for impeachable offenses, with subpoena powers and an independent budget, Manolo has, among other things, shown the following optimism as “A way forwardâ€Â:
Firstly, this is a helluva secondment for Justice Cruz. But hasn’t the machismo of this one citizen stupefied many of us once? How could the public be so assured now the chip on the justice’s shoulder does not extend to presidents who are women, for instance?
Next, here are some questions re the proposal itself: Can the spring really rise above its source? (I certainly do imagine some well-meaning soul-searchers emerging in the future, like Justice Antonio Carpio in the SC, I hope). But remember now that the Office of the Ombudsman is even mandated by some elaborately crafted constitutional provisions yet, has the officeholder been doing her job the way a special independent prosecutor should?
So, if the officeholders in the House are doing their jobs as they should (both as representatives of the people and as a critical part of the checks and balances mechanism in a tripartite system), do we really need a Special Independent Prosecutor as a check on the checkers?
In my view the COMELEC has proven itself to be a failed institution. Filipinos will therefore need to rethink about finding an alternative mechanism that will allow the counting of votes correctly and, given the state of existing technology, within a reasonable time. Once this process is approximated, it may be then be worthwhile to find another mechanism of simplified recall process involving officials at the national level, short of adopting the parliamentary form, as an alternative to impeachment.
Again, first and foremost, let’s learn how to count our votes and count them quickly.
“Parang di galing sa isang observer lang. Parang galing sa isang taong may ganansya ang dating.â€Â
I think it’s the other way around. It’s 1 or 2 persons against the mob majority.
This place is becoming another devious Ellenville.
“i think the single reason the hate- Gloria club cannot muster enough support for its cause (to get PGMA by means fair or foul)is that it cannot try to make a point without being obnoxious. it has the annoying habit of shooting the messenger for the message he bears, obviously unsure of its capacity to challenge the message.
no wonder the GMA haters always had to resort to name calling, insults, derision (sheepish laughter as from someone who slipped on a banana peel), mockery, gloating, attempted satire that doesn’t and cannot work, fighting words, and, sometimes, obscenities that could only result from ill-breeding.”
-again, look who’s talking. this dual citizen sounds as if he is the aggrieved party, yet he was the first one to resort to insult anti-gma commenters as puny bloggers. look at the old man in the mirror.
and as to his conceited claim that those who contradict his views “are unsure of their capacity to challenge his message”, the comment threads speak for themselves. take that from someone who merely parrots what abalos et. al have in mind with respect to the “failure of elections” in maguindanao. motherhood statements are not enough to defend the indefensible.
rego, i was more optimistic while i thought the palace might show signs of recognizing the message of this election and that it would try to salvage something for itself prior to bowing out in 2010.
but now, it’s too soon to tell. the soonest we’ll know, one way or another, is with the sona in july. the speech the president delivered the other day, though, was a troubling sign that she hasn’t read the signs.
the next three years could be years to help set the stage for a constitutional succession in 2010; but there are so many new crooked deals, so little signs of improvements on the human rights front, so very many signs the president will preside over a charter change effort where lakas and kampi will try to set up new rules to rule forever, and there are troubling indications that the country is going through a fortunate economic period, on one hand, and a lot of smoke and mirrors on government’s part to to falsely magnify what economic news there is, that it makes me worried about the coming years.
precisely because there’s unwarranted optimism in some quarters, even more sobriety and skepticism is called for in the coming months.
a note on bencard: we should give him his due as a faithful reader and participant in this blog, no matter the odds. the same way i asked for consideration for cat, bencard deserves ours. i’m sure he’s a man of personal integrity.
“I think it’s the other way around. It’s 1 or 2 persons against the mob majority.
This place is becoming another devious Ellenville.”
-can you point me to another forum where the mob majority are rabid GMA defenders? i’d like to visit the site. reality is, you cannot find one. the 1 or 2 persons you are talking about better accept the fact that public opinion belongs to the “mob majority” you are so pissed about.
@”The Magnificent”, Maguindanao was so scrutinized and covered by election watchdogs and citizen groups, and if you try to do a little homework, more than the little article that you suggest, then you will realize that many people in Maguindanao voted for opposition candidates.
The political spin that you suggest has only occurred, because the administration chose to be so brazen as to offer P1 million reward to each provincial leader in order to deliver a 12-0 sweep, but you still don’t make no mention that even Lintang Bedol can’t provide the necessary proof of such a “Maguindanao Miracle”.
And to generalize Maguindanao as living in the stone age is almost laughable. And yet, a similar situation took place in Lanao del Sur, and even then, 5 opposition senators were able to win. So to reiterate, despite the culture in Mindanao, similar cases comparable to Maguindanao, has not yielded the improbable result of 19 candidates with zero votes.
So, “enlightened”, in your view, would be to junk reality itself?
@Bencard, once again your defense is crying foul, and trying to bring pity on yourself, because of the anti-Gloria crowd, and yet, you make no attempt to clarify your stand on Maguindanao. Just more vague commentary.
@Rego,
Are you trying to argue with future Manolo, instead of debating the current Manuel? Are we supposed to be debating in future tense now? Can’t you find a way to argue your own stance on the current issues?
I’ll be signing off on this forum now, since none of you seem to be actually using your brains, just resorting to pure rhetoric to save face.
Again, nothing personal, it’s good that there are opposing ideas. This is the beauty of democracy. Something that everyone seems to be taking away from Maguindanao…
I apprecaite Bencard, Rego, and Magnificent’s point of view.
It’s a passionate crowd indeed, I wouldn’t like it any other way.
“a note on bencard: we should give him his due as a faithful reader and participant in this blog, no matter the odds. the same way i asked for consideration for cat, bencard deserves ours. i’m sure he’s a man of personal integrity.”
-Tit for tat lang manolo. No one ever deprived him of his due as a participant in your blog. We were merely reacting to what we think are fallacious statements in his rabid defense of GMA. The use of sarcasm is one. Your “note on bencard” is quite unfair to begin with. You’re trying to imply that we are the ones bullying him.
don’t worry manolo, you blog will not become another devious “ellenville”.
i happen to think ellenville’s a great place. i visit ellenville and i personally admire ellen.
bystander, no, just reminding everyone i’m glad bencard visits this blog.
Punniest blog comment award goes to: “Singson (a self confessed criminal on the lose)”
that’s jonphil’s statement not mine (about ellenville). i admire ellen too for her “open-mindedness”. she doesn’t think anti-GMA commenters are bullying the pro-GMA fanatics.
One of the most sensible ideas I have read here. But I think she already gets the drift. She MUST know that she is despised by the majority of the people. I mean, her net satisfaction ratings have been negative for over 2 years now. Makapal lang talaga ang mukha.
“the speech the president delivered the other day, though, was a troubling sign that she hasn’t read the signs.”
Manolo,
If Gloria has’t read the signs. Its should be her loss. Dont make it yours….
I know there is still so much work to do. But, hey you need a break and even your fans too. Take more time in celebrating your victory and set aside your worries for a while. A week or two woudl be good enough. Even better if you wait until the sona in July. Don’t let Gloria spoil you celebration.
Meanwhile the euphoria of your fans need to be sustained. So there is a need for them to be feed with positive developments in the senate. Already I read one or two who is getting frustrated. I think thats too early and baseless. The new senators has’nt even started working yet.
Honestly, Im excited about the new senate. Im setting aside my pessimism on some people that i despise but manage to get elected. And if they ‘ll really perform well then I will vote one of them.
Its a good idea to make the next three years a preparations stage for the consitutional sucession in 2010. Thats why I believe it would be good if you would write more about the front runners, like Loren, Lacson, Villar, Roxas and even De Castro. It doesn’t really need to be negative like the way you always write about Gloria. Just keep updating your fans on positive achievements of these people.
I dont think you should worry too much about the crooked deals. You already have so many trusted men in the senate that can block Gloria anytime, right?
“-can you point me to another forum where the mob majority are rabid GMA defenders?â€Â
Let me clarify this to you: I’m not pro-GMA or any politician.
I just don’t subscribe to those who spend so much time of their life singling out GMA for the miseries of their existence. As I said in another thread: if you want to be OBJECTIVE, let’s castigate ALL the wrongdoers in our society.
As to whether there is forum that is composed of rabid GMA defender, it is irrelevant. I won’t visit it anyway, same as I don’t visit Ell anymore. It’s like being in a cult where its members chant all the lies of their master or what they think are truths.
Is this one sour graping person not being given a juicy govt post or a KSP?
“…the 1 or 2 persons you are talking about better accept the fact that public opinion belongs to the “mob majority†you are so pissed about.â€Â
I don’t mind being a single voice in the wilderness of biasness.
If 90% of Filipinos voted for 90% of wrongdoers, it reflects the kind of electorate our country has.
It’s nothing to be proud of.
“@â€ÂThe Magnificentâ€Â, Maguindanao was so scrutinized and covered by election watchdogs and citizen groups, and if you try to do a little homework, more than the little article that you suggest, then you will realize that many people in Maguindanao voted for opposition candidates.
The political spin that you suggest has only occurred, because the administration chose to be so brazen as to offer P1 million reward to each provincial leader in order to deliver a 12-0 sweep, but you still don’t make no mention that even Lintang Bedol can’t provide the necessary proof of such a “Maguindanao Miracleâ€Â.
And to generalize Maguindanao as living in the stone age is almost laughable. And yet, a similar situation took place in Lanao del Sur, and even then, 5 opposition senators were able to win. So to reiterate, despite the culture in Mindanao, similar cases comparable to Maguindanao, has not yielded the improbable result of 19 candidates with zero votes.
So, “enlightenedâ€Â, in your view, would be to junk reality itself?”
Well apparently my friend, you have a better view on reality than I do. Like I said, I’m just basing my points on something I heard from other people and admittedly, I’m just as ignorant of the real situation as most people who’ve never been to Mindanao.
You have a valid point and I concede that you’re probably right. I’m just here to offer an alternate viewpoint.
But please… let’s deviate from ad hominem attacks, shall we?
@the magnificent, I’m sorry if I came out that way. I’m just debating my point, and your point is noted. Nothing personal. Passionate, as I am about Philippine concerns, it’s never personal when I disagree with individuals. The article that you pointed out, is the basic thesis from which the administration is working on, but it fails because even similar provinces haven’t experienced the absurd 19 zero votes.
The state of Maguindanao, at present, because of the failed Comelec, has left many Filipinos disheartened. The fact that the same officials have retained their positions, or have even been promoted, is almost too maddening to put into words.
But in response to jonphil, it is natural to point to the president, because she wields so much power, being able to appoint who heads the different departments of government, it’s hard not to involve her with the issues of the day. Be it economy, politics, and military. Every decision she makes, the Filipino will feel it. Even the Comelec are political appointees, and at the end of the day, we must hold her accountable, and at the end of the day, the buck must stop somewhere.
Of course. But he should be able to take as much as he gives. He calls people here puny and idiots and tells them to shut up all the time, especially when he’s losing an argument. The man from the US of A is not above name-calling himself; in fact a lot of times he starts it.
Oops, wrong cut-and-paste. Again again again.
Of course. But he should be able to take as much as he gives. He calls people here puny and idiots and tells them to shut up all the time, especially when he’s losing an argument. The man from the US of A is not above name-calling himself; in fact a lot of times he starts it.
I’ve been to Ellen’s Blog. Well it has a taste all its own and Manolo’s blog is so so far away from hers.
For those who want to see another kind of forum, try to view MUKAMO forum.
And with regards to the “puny” comment; please do consider that he included himself as one.
Of course. But he should be able to take as much as he gives. He calls people here puny and idiots and tells them to shut up all the time, especially when he’s losing an argument. The man from the US of A is not above name-calling himself; in fact a lot of times he starts it.
that was precisely my point, ay naku. unfortunately, mlq3 missed it.
I think Ellen’s blog represents the leading edge of the masses’ viewpoint and is also less tolerant of nonsense (especially those coming from elitists). Except for the case of Joker Arroyo (who has been Justice League’s pet advocacy), the Senate Election results for example, more closely reflects the preferences of Ellen’s readers rather than mlq3′s. They also heralded Trillanes’ victory when such a prospect was still considered quixotic. Manolo’s blog is more reflective of middle class sensibilities (whether pro- or anti-Gloria) and hence is more diverse (and has to be). Both are to a certain extent incommensurate and have its advantages and disadvantages, but i like the style of both. (Of course, since both groups of readers have access to computers and can afford to blog, i would consider both to belong to the middle class and upwards.)
I don’t mind being called puny since it is an accurate characterization. However, someone should remind Bencard that on TV and in movies, the usage of the word ‘puny’ is normally associated with villains so his use hardly advances his cause.
Dwelling on injustice can hamper your efforts to achieve great things.
The state, it cannot be too often repeated, does nothing and can give nothing which it has not taken from somebody.
A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.
The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic State itself. That, in its essence, is Fascism – ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or any controlling private power.
Power is a means to an end.
Power must never be trusted without a check.
Power corrupts the few, but weakness corrupts the many.
If power corrupts, weakness in the seat of power, with its constant necessity of deals and bribes and compromising arrangements, corrupts even more.
In every age the vilest specimens of human nature are to be found among demagogues.
Do keep that statement in mind when someone’s boot is planted on your face.
“If 90% of Filipinos voted for 90% of wrongdoers, it reflects the kind of electorate our country has.”
Exactly, johnphil. Pero andyan na yan eh. Hindi naman ibig sabihin nyan walang na tayong mapipigang mabuti na kahit katiting sa mga wrong doers na yan. Kung nagkamli man ang mga tao. Sigurado akong matuto rin sila sa pagkakamaling yan. Ganyan lang talga ang learning process. Minsan may kabagalan talaga ang prosessong yan pero naman natin pwedeng madaliin eh..
I believe its really to early to judge these wrong doers who manage to get elected in the senate. Lets give them the change to work and to show us what they really got for the country. If they turned ou to be good then good, we can choose from among them the next president in 2010. If they turn out to be poor performers, then its their loss! Dont vote for them next time they run for office again.
“As soon as she grows up and respects the Constitution and the rule pf lawâ€Â
Step back and ask this simple question:
Does the average Pinoy respect the rule of law?
Depending on what you think the answer is, it puts into perspective the pompous but quaint verdicts we presume to apply to our government officials.
Is it really about waging a “war against corruption”. If there is indeed a war to be waged, who are the good guys and who are the bad guys? You? Me? Them? Us?
If we look around us a general disregard for laws, rules, and even simple things like signage prevails in the way Pinoys conduct themselves. You even have to be vigilant when lining up at McDonalds, lest some moron nonchalantly step in front of you. The only time Pinoys truly behave themselves is when they are queued up to apply for a visa to work in Japan or Saudi Arabia or to visit some North American or Western European country.
Corruption is just a reflection of the way our society is constituted. Pinoy society everything is closed and opaque, complicated and convoluted, and an immense void exists where social collective trust should have been.
Without openness, simplicity, and trust, corruption thrives. In such a society calls for “wars against corruption” sound disturbingly like a certain president’s call for a “war against terror”.
cvj: It’s a tough read, isn’t it… the quote — Dwelling on injustice can hamper your efforts to achieve great things. I’ve read the entire book where the quote came from — the book (7 Principles of Rational Living) is a tough read, too. The author’s focus on self-responsibility is so much of Ayn Rand that Abe Margallo will probably trash the book (but BenignO probably won’t).
Now, very few will have problems with the phrase “…your efforts to achieve great things” nor the word “injustice”. The stumbling-block lies in the word “dwelling”. Note, though, that if a person who spends 12-hours-a-day 5-days a week to the detriment of his personal grooming to dwell on the injustice-of-the-Garci-tape or on the injustice-of-butchered-Filipinas from-medically-unregulated-abortions, more than half the readers of this blogsite will probably agree that the person is being excessive.
cvj: the quote came from Robert Ringer, who also said “all lawyers are not bad. Just 97% of them”. Ringer is no Mother Teresa. Just look at books he authored –”ACTION! Nothing Happens Until Something Moves”, “Winning Through Intimidation” and “Looking Out for Number 1″.
Hmm….reminds me of an old saying….Resentment & Hate are poison pills that you take hoping that the other person dies.
Cvj,
Oh man.
Are you sure that Ellen is less tolerant of nonsense?
She has an article titled “Matuto na si Pacquiao” or something like that. She used statements of “Xanadu” for her piece which “Xanadu” later (in Ellen’s own blog) admitted to be a joke.
But Ellen never retracted or recanted that part.
Ellen’s blog has a taste and audience (majority anyway) of its own. But statements like yours will only put her in a spot which she might find hard to defend.
Cvj,
I re-read your post and Ellen’s.
“Xanadu” doesn’t seem to be an elitist so Ellen would be more tolerant.
I take back my previous post.
“As soon as she grows up and respects the Constitution and the rule pf lawâ€Â
Step back and ask this simple question:
Does the average Pinoy respect the rule of law?”
Must a “president” wait for the average Pinoy to respect the rule of law before she does?
“Without openness, simplicity, and trust, corruption thrives. In such a society calls for “wars against corruption†sound disturbingly like a certain president’s call for a “war against terrorâ€Â.”
Very true. It is, indeed, disturbing to hear a president, generally perceived to be corrupt, calling for “war against corruption”- probably as disturbing as another president, generally perceived as a terrorist, calling for “war against terror”.
Does the average Pinoy respect the rule of law?
How will the average Pinoy respect the rule of law when they see most of their leaders don’t.
I believed that the average Pinoy are more law abiding because they fear that justice would be impossible to get if they messed up with the law compared to the moneyed & powerful.
bystander, ay naku, bingo.
The Magnificent.
Just to make things clear – The opposition was not complaining about 12-0. That can happen in many places ither than Mindanao.
The opposition was complaining about individual candidates, all from GO, getting ZERO votes in Maguindanao. Even Abalos thought that to be incredible and he called it a statistical improbability.
Ping Lacson got ZERO votes. He said thise was his third national election – twice for senator, once for president – and he was not ZEROED in Maguindanao until this election. In short, he has a voter base there, no matter how small. So the only way he can explain why he got ZERO was either all his supporters died or left town.
To repeat, the issue is not 12-0. The issue is ZERO VOTES for GO candidates.
And all your cultural, sociological explanations about Maguindanao socio-politco-religious system may explain 12-0 but they don’t explain ZERO VOTES.
That’s all.
Bencard,
“if everyone is convinced that there was a “failure of election†in Maguindanao, and the votes should be nullified, the logical and legal course of action is to have a special election.”
Just to make things clear.
A failure of election means no voting took place. That means there are no votes to be nullified.
“Abalos is within his right to demand credible evidence of failure of election. remember the difference between fact and perception or speculation? just because the “evidence†being offered is shocking does not necessarily mean its true.”
Just to make one other thing clear.
Abalos is not demanding credible evidence of failure of election. He is demanding credible evidence that there was NO failure of election. Read his statements carefully.
Your take on Maguindanao is very much appreciated. However, I was asking you what your legal opinion was on a declaring a failed election in Maguindanao.
Here’s the situation once again –
Abalos wants to declare that no election- no voting to be precise- took place in Maguindanao.
GO claims voting took place and cheating occurred during the counting of votes. They want to compare election returns with certificates of canvass and they want all tallies that don’t match to be set-aside or not counted.
So not everyone agrees there is a failure of election becsause that is precisely the bone of contention.
So if it’s not too much to ask again – was there a failure of elections in Maguindanao or not?
Justice League, read Ellen’s column again so you can see that she was fully aware that Xanadu’s reference to Oscar de la Hoya was a joke.
UPn Student, Robert Ringer a follower of Ayn Rand? It figures. I was once attracted to her philosophy during my teens when i was still in awe of Milton Friedman. I’ve since moved on.
Hay….this site is full of GMA-hating, bashing people. Na “mukhang magagaling lahat” kuno. Ano ba nakukuha nyo sa paninira all the time? GO won….simply because they had too much media exposure during the impeachent for the past 2 years. But I think not majority of the Pinoy’s want GMA impeach. It is a very shallow victory of anti GMA groups – the election was only tangently about GMA.
Why cant we wait until 2010. And why dont we discuss how we can help positively the government para umunlad ang Pilipinas? Diba, if we bash her, and bash her every minute, what do you guys hope to achieve – for her to resign?
Do you think by bashing GMA everyday, and minute would create jobs?
Hay….this site is full of GMA-hating, bashing people. Na “mukhang magagaling lahat” kuno. Ano ba nakukuha nyo sa paninira all the time? GO won….simply because they had too much media exposure during the impeachent for the past 2 years. But I think not majority of the Pinoy’s want GMA impeached. It is a very shallow victory for anti GMA groups – the election was only tangently about GMA.
Why cant we wait until 2010. And why dont we discuss how we can help positively the government para umunlad ang Pilipinas? Diba? if we bash her, and bash her every day and minute, what do you guys hope to achieve – for her to resign? Do you think by bashing GMA everyday, and minute would create jobs?
At tsaka, parang mga sarado na utak karamihan dito – and they are obssessed, na obssessed and neurotic ( may sira) already against GMA. Parang GMA is everything! hahahaha.
moks,
Every leader has her/his share of Bashers and there must be some good reasons why some have more than the others.
Even George W. has enough that he has mastered the art of ignoring most of them. Our PM Stephen Harper just told the Russian President President Putin that in a Democracy (which Russia is supposed to be) dissent should not only be tolerated but its exercise should be protected by the State. And the Russian’s Government seems sliding back. Of course it is not our business to tell anyone, especially, the nationals of other countries, but we also do business with these countries and thereby by extension to their nationals.
Don’t you worry though, PGMA has her own loyal supporters and followers and there are always two sides in a coin. So it is a bashing game, and the winner will remain standing and the loser can always cry “I was cheated”. Typical, ain’t that true?
Moks,
Your theory of how the GO won is unfounded. The fact that the “genuine” opposition won majority of the senate seats shows that public opinion is strongly against GMA. That was precisely their battlecry — “isang boto lang po, laban sa nakaupo” — that a vote for GO means a vote against GMA and her policies. TU on the other hand tried to avoid making the elections a proxy war between the pro and the anti-gloria, but they dismally failed to divert the issue and wound up outside the magic 12 as a result.
Better luck next time.
“I think Ellen’s blog represents the leading edge of the masses’ viewpoint and is also less tolerant of nonsense (especially those coming from elitists). Except for the case of Joker Arroyo (who has been Justice League’s pet advocacy), the Senate Election results for example, more closely reflects the preferences of Ellen’s readers rather than mlq3’s. They also heralded Trillanes’ victory when such a prospect was still considered quixotic. Manolo’s blog is more reflective of middle class sensibilities (whether pro- or anti-Gloria) and hence is more diverse (and has to be). Both are to a certain extent incommensurate and have its advantages and disadvantages, but i like the style of both. -CVJ”
-Ellen’s blog is more reflective of the kind of sentiment majority of the Filipinos have against Mrs. Arroyo and her policies. You could really feel the angst, disgust and hatred the commenters feel for the bogus president and her allies. It does not attempt to present itself as a moralist, a practice common to elitists and hypocrites.
Cvj,
Yes, it seems she did.
I have since however recanted that post on related matters but still it won’t absolve Ellen of the kind of sense she allows or even employs in her blog.
Back in the fight against ChaCha sometime in December of last year; several groups unfurled and raised their banners and flags AFTER the conclusion of the Thanksgiving Prayer Rally.
During the duration of the celebration however, the participants were asked to respect the “Prayer” by not waving them.
Ellen concludes however that many of those who stand for truth and justice have lost passion on the Church because of such incident.
“Why cant we wait until 2010. And why dont we discuss how we can help positively the government para umunlad ang Pilipinas? Diba, if we bash her, and bash her every minute, what do you guys hope to achieve – for her to resign?”
Nobody needs to wait for 2010- it’s definitely coming. But will Aling Gloria “abdicate”? She promised to go in 2004, and she stayed. If she, once again, promises to go by 2010, what guarantee do we have that she’d keep her word this time? Unfortunately, her lieutenants are reviving ChaCha once again- telltale signs that rules may yet change in the middle of the ballgame. Talk about extending the “last two minutes” till kingdom come…
I guess, everybody is demanding for good governance, and if there is anything that can help government achieve that, everybody will contribute. But how can people help a government that has alienated itself from the people? Teka, isn’t it the main accountability of governments to help their people and not the other way around? Kaya nga “government” e.
Last time I checked, it is not merely a right to question the government you “elected”, it is a responsibility. Government apologists may call it “bashing”. Others simply call it “responsible citizenship”.
June 2007 : MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Supreme Court has ruled that Filipino military veterans who have renounced their Philippine citizenships have also forfeited their pensions.
The high tribunal upheld the constitutionality of Section 27 of Presidential Decree 1638, which states that retired members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines would stop receiving retirement benefits and would be removed from the list of retired AFP personnel once they change their nationalities.
UPn,
Don’t you think that ruling is moot since most countries now including the good old U.S.A. allow dual citizenships and most also do not require renouncement of other citizenships before acquiring a new one.
Don’t you also think that our Citizenship rule is fairer, since it only classified Canadian as one class, whichever one acquired his/her citizenship and never loss it except by renouncement and material misrepresentations in the process of acquiring?
That’s why during the last Lebanon Crisis, the Government was obligated to evacuate Lebanese of Canadian Citizenship, some of them never been in the country for 20 years or more and no longer have any roots in the country and 2/3 of them are now back to Lebanon to take residence and never to be heard again until they need the services of Canada. I think we are fair to a fault.
To me that SC decision stinks….
It stinks because my relative here said so, he was a retired AFP (air force) personnel and now a Canadian and his son is now in the Canadian Forces and served his turn in Afghanistan. And he only retired less than 10 years ago. And I also believe that the retired AFP personnel had contributed to their retirement funds that may or may not been been invested by the Government agencies while they were putting their lives on the line for pittance.
I still believe that decision stinks…
The law PD 1638 took effect during FM’s time.
I believed it is about time to revise it.
cvj: What do you find objectionable about Milton Friedman? After all, it is he who said:
– Most of the energy of political work is devoted to correcting the effects of mismanagement of government.
OR
—Nobody spends somebody else’s money as carefully as he spends his own. Nobody uses somebody else’s resources as carefully as he uses his own.
–
And you’ll probably say this one applies to the statesmanship of GMA:
–One man’s opportunism is another man’s statesmanship.
Vic: For the Philippines, anyone who has taken citizenship in the US or Canada or France or any other country is automatically assumed to have renounced Philippine citizenship. So if Ana-de-France is already a French or Brit citizen, then she can not vote against GMA (nor possess a valid Philippine passport) unless she raises her right hand again to swear allegiance to Pinas.
cvj: as for Ayn Rand, quotes attributable to her include:
• The spread of evil is the symptom of a vacuum. whenever evil wins, it is only by default: by the moral failure of those who evade the fact that there can be no compromise on basic principles.
• There is a level of cowardice lower than that of the conformist: the fashionable non-conformist.
• A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.
• Competition is a by-product of productive work, not its goal. A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.
And from the Fountainhead this sentence:
. Don’t work for my happiness, my brothers- show me yours. (Show me your happiness!!) Show me that it is possible. Show me your achievement, and the knowledge will give me the courage for mine.
UPn,
Then if I’m a retired AFP personnel, then all I have to do is raised my right hand and swear allegiance to the Flag again, not for any other reason, but to avail of the money that I contributed to my retirement pension in the first place. Now why would such a law, such as that, that serves no purpose and can easily be defeated by its intended target stood by and upheld by the High Court?
I can not argue the spirit of law as applied by other jurisdictions, but to look at the fairness of law as applied, that still stinks. That even the courts award for civil suit against the defendant can not garnish a pension or retirement of an individual to satisfy that judgement. That a retirement pensions and benefit are foe the retiree to enjoy, wherever the choose to spend the rest of their lives?
I hope the SC judges would realize their own follies if someday they have to leave the country, not of their own choice and have their retirement pensions and benefits forfeited, and unless they already have lots of money deposited in foreign accounts, they may have to go back to the workforce…
Vic: That is exactly what the Philippine Supreme Court said — if the complainant raises his right hand to re-acquire Philippine citizenship, then the complainant can again receive his monthly pension.
Not necessarily. Because if one becomes naturalized in another country after the passage of R. A. 9225, a natural-born Filipino is deemed not to have lost his/her citizenship. Thus, no need to re-acquire. He/she assumes dual citizenship automatically.
Amadeo: Gotcha… thanks! But I think Ana-de-France, like Abe and Bencard, fled from the Marcos-regime, so the Philippines probably “disowned” her when she acquired a different citizenship.
UP Student,
Wrong! Absolutely wrong on all counts. Dream on.
UPn: Dwelling on injustice can hamper your efforts to achieve great things.
I may have missed the memo but isnt the elimination of injustice a great thing?
Benign0:Does the average Pinoy respect the rule of law?
Yes.
Jeg: If you had spent P500,000 in lawyer-fees and other expenses in a battle with a cousin who swindled you out of P100,000, your desire to correct an injustice may have hampered your trek to better things.
Manila Bay Watch : I don’t know ‘Manila Bay’ so I don’t know if my being wrong is over opinion (Ayn Rand?) or over fact (citizenship?).
UPn,
Your attitude is shared by many people…which is why it took 20 years to oust Marcos. Or perhaps you think we shouldn’t have bothered with that either?
UPn Student, i still respect Milton Friedman but i think he is too biased in favor of the free market. As for Ayn Rand, the problem is that her ideas breed the likes of Ringer and Tim Yap.
Sometimes, a net loss for the individual results in a net gain to the system. In your example to Jeg…
…it is true that the person who spent the 500K lawyers fees may have suffered a net loss. However, to the extent that the cousin is brought to justice, it will serve as a lesson to all would-be swindlers (who cannot count on the other party making a simple cost-benefit calculation). We can consider the person who spent 500K to accomplish this as a net contributor to the over-all system i.e. a hero of sorts.
Under Ayn Rand’s framework, the above dynamic is missed out.
okay… it’s too late to get in on this debate. but one thing:
let’s not get down to personal assaults. it’s not good. ad hominems will get us nowhere. granted, i am guilty of them on occasion, but discussions move forward when the issues are tackled, not by “tackling” the people who say them.
cvj… ahhh, the sweet smell of OPM… other people’s money.
I suppose you really may be willing to encourage MLQ3 or Schumey to lose P400k (P500K less P100K) of their inheritance or savings in order to send a lesson to future swindlers.
Of course, the reference to OPM is an assumption on my part. Now when you choose to spend your money on the social cause of your choice, more power to you.
Again I missed the memo about justice having a monetary value, UPn. Maybe when our lawmakers figure out how much a human life is worth, we could come up with a law on ‘blood money’ like they do in the Middle East.
your desire to correct an injustice may have hampered your trek to better things.
‘Better’ is a relative thing. But eliminating injustice is a great thing, wouldnt you agree? It’s tough job, but somebody has to do it. And yes, theyre called heroes.
If you only think in numbers then you lose 400k, but if getting justice and helping the society makes you happy, then that joy you get is worth 400k! If you have 400m in the bank that wouldn’t be too heavy but not for the ordinary man.
The good thing is, there are people who do not need such encouragement. We do not have to look further than Capt. Faeldon or Lt. Trillanes. Rather than make a personal cost-benefit analysis, they are willing to take on a larger share of the costs to set things right. Psychological studies indicate that such a predisposition towards fairness is hard-wired in [certain] people.
cvj: As I said earlier, as you spend your time and money on the social cause of your choice, more power to you.
Now some people will work, others will panhandle, and others will take to thuggery to raise funds to correct the injustices that they sense. “Yes” to generosity and hard work; just do not do, and do not encourage, thuggery.
UPn Student, thuggery and apathy reinforce each other. So those who encourage the second are the ones who (perhaps unwittingly) encourage the first.
cvj: I sincerely recommend for you to walk away when your lawyer asks for P500K to get back P100K from your cousin. Whether your lawyer may be an Abe on the same side of the fence on GMA/Garci or a Bencard on the other side, hang onto your money. Then, peel away P200K, head to Philippine Normal College, and tell the dean to use the money to fund the college education of 2 or 3 teachers. Or you may go to Hospicio de San Jose and give them the P200K. I dare say that even if your cousin sneers at you for lack of backbone and leaving him the P100K he stole, the world still is better off with the scenario I painted above.
Pick the wrong solution to an injustice, and the world may be a sorrier place.
And if you really… really… really… need to make your cousin pay with a pound of flesh the injustice he brought upon you, then a dos-por-dos strike to the knee (only to the knee)will be quite efficient. I do warn… pick your action carefully as the wrong solution to a perceived injustice may leave the world a sorrier place.
Hey, cvj!!! Do you really know another person who will spend P500K to get back P100K to correct an injustice? Then here is a scenario where you can help your HERO be a hero. You find a good-swindler (you’ll see what “good” means in a minute) who gets the P100K. Then you sign up an anti-GMA lawyer like bystander to be a good lawyer (“good” in a minute, and might as well help fellow anti-GMA’s, right??).
Now you get HERO to give you the P500K, then :
— You give bystander P100K for using his name.
— You tell the “good-swindler” to return the P100K (to you); you then give him P120K.
— You give HERO P150K and tell him that you with your lawyer was able to collect the P100K and in addition, the “good swindler” is very sorry and is providing P50K as a sign of repentance.
— You give HERO an additional P50K because bystander is an honorable lawyer who lowered his fee.
— You spend P20K to get good press for your friend-the-hero who had corrected an injustice with cost no object. [Do not scrimp on this publicity. HERO deserves it. But that the P100K became P150K should not be publicized.]
— There is a final step. You may be tempted to skip this, but I strongly recommend that you give P80K to Hospicio de San Jose as an offering so that you get to know more HEROs in the future.
Net-Net, everyone should be happy because of HEROes:
(a) HERO is a hero who corrected an injustice. In addition, he got the original P100K back, along with a P50K rebate from a good lawyer and a separate P50K from a repentant good swindler.
(b) Bystander gets P100K.
(c) Repentant good-swindler gets P120K.
(c) Hospicio de San Jose gets P80K; P20K goes to “press/publicity”.
(d) I think there is a balance, which becomes your reward for creating the opportunity for the HERO you know to be a hero.
UPn, thanks for the advice. I appreciate that the world would be a more predictable (if not necessarily a better) place if everyone made the same sort of rational monetary cost-benefit calculations as you did.
cvj: To remember, this began with the Ringer-quote: “Dwelling on injustice can hamper your efforts to achieve great things.”
I sense that you (and Jeg and Mike) may have mis-read the quote. “Dwelling on injustice can…” is not the same as “Dwelling on injustice always…..(hampers your efforts to achieve great things)”.
The other item to consider, given the many types of lazy/shady/crooked… speaks-with-forked-tongue talks-from-both-sides-of-their-mouth people in this world, is that an “injustice-cause”, like a campaign slogan, can be a con-job in disguise.
Hollywood people quotes:
I love romance. I’m a sucker for it. I love it so much. It’s pathetic.
Drew Barrymore
It’s morally wrong to allow a sucker to keep his money.
W. C. Fields
If you’re playing a poker game and you look around the table and and can’t tell who the sucker is, it’s you.
Paul Newman
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