Courtesy of the BBC, a portrait of Convicted Estrada’s tranquil jail (hat tip to how now, brownpau? who also deserves a prize for most startling Estrada-related image).
Fr. Joaquin Bernas, SJ in his column, explains what the crime of plunder is, and points out that unless accompanied by conditions, a convict can’t refuse a pardon:
Incidentally, Estrada has already said that he will not accept pardon. It is worth noting, however, that only conditional pardon requires acceptance.
An absolute pardon becomes effective even if not accepted.
Amando Doronila says the Estrada conviction sets the stage for an uneasy Arroyo post-presidency, to put it mildly (bloggers such as Careless Thoughts express similar sentiments). In my column today, Estrada’s ghost army, I do point out that things have reached the point where Estrada’s wrongdoings look like small potatoes compared to the goings-on in the present government (and you only have to look at the ZTE deal, a huge can of worms).
It was also significant, I thought, that even as Estrada faced conviction in court, political leaders were practically falling over themselves to be seen with him, or at least to let everyone (including, most of all, Estrada himself) know they sympathized with the man. In contrast, the President had hunkered down in the Palace with her cabinet, and no one was making a beeline to see and be seen at Fortress Malacanang. This is a pretty galling indication of just who, exactly, the political class thinks will be more relevant come 2010. With relevance comes influence.
Going back to Estrada’s crimes and punishment. In Inquirer Current, I tackled two points of view. To understand the rise and fall of Estrada, and his subsequent (partial) political rehabilitation since then, can be explained by means of a simple axiom: you do not kick a man when he is down. I also discussed something a UP Prof., Prospero de Vera, said on TV yesterday: the Filipino concept of justice is one of restitution and not retribution.
The former presidents of South Korea imprisoned for crimes much more serious than those for which Joseph Estrada was convicted, were imprisoned for only a year before being pardoned. The justification for the pardons goes to the heart of the position I personally held, vis-a-vis the decision to detain Estrada in the first place.
In conversations I had during that time, I remember saying I opposed his being thrown in jail upon the filing of charges. My reasons were simple. I felt that he deserved consideration both as a former president, and because he’d relinquished power without bloodshed. Of course a lot of counter-arguments were made, the rule of law, etc., etc., but I felt that it would be perceived as kicking a man when he’s down, and that a newly-installed government whose legitimacy rested on a pretty unsatisfactory Supreme Court decision, was in a poor position to insist on an inflexible application of legal procedure. It was reckless and imprudent to ferociously apply the law when your legality hasn’t had time to be fully settled.
Had Estrada been left in the comfort of his North Greenhills home, placed, perhaps, under house arrest, then carted to and from the venue of his trial, you wouldn’t have had Edsa Tres. I wish I could locate Fr. Bernas’s column where he pointed out that Estrada’s status as a prisoner was sui generis, and thus couldn’t properly be compared to that of an ordinary felon. His legal argument was made long after the Estrada arrest, if I recall correctly.
In light of what Prof. de Vera said, which I think is very true, and in view of the South Korean experience, it might also be more productive to revisit the law penalizing plunder, and refocus it on enabling the authorities to recover ill-gotten wealth from officials. That satisfies the requirements of justice; it avoids turning erring officials into martyrs; and it addresses a reality we all know: money is power. Conviction, in and of itself, carries great symbolic weight; beyond confiscation of ill-gotten wealth or property, any further punishment for an elected official is gratuitous.
Of course, there are those who’d strongly disagree (the conviction is “one point for the thinking Filipino,” says Blowing My Mind Off). See Erap verdict and our affair with the law by Miriam Coronel Ferrer (who is more inclined for a “rule orientation”) and Guilty! But Special Concessions for Accused Show Flawed System, by Karen Tiongson-Mayrina.
Blogger chizjarkace thinks Estrada’s still exactly in the same position he was before the verdict. Rasheed’s World thinks the conviction has less impact because not only does Chavit Singson remain scott free, but it remains to be seen whether similar high-profile cases can even get off the ground (ricelander expresses similar thoughts; Philippine Experience wonders if those who went after Estrada would go after the President with equal vigor). A good way of seeing how one case can point to a larger injustice is in Exposing a Corrupt Prosecution and Trial in Alabama, in Harper’s Magazine’s blog:
Like tin-horned Central American dictators of old, the Bush crew believes that it can and should use the criminal justice system to take out its political enemies. It does this in a brazen way. And it has no shortage of ostensibly independent helpers to see its schemes along on their merry way. When the story is fully told, the “independent” players will be exposed as not remotely independent. This was an across-the-board systems failure.
This cautionary note (no legal system is immune from the risks of being used for partisan ends) brings up another. Charles Cunningham’s The Residencia in Spanish Colonies explores (with a particular focus on the Philippines) the Spanish colonial institution of the audit of officials as soon as they left office, or embarked to take on a new one. Praiseworthy in its intentions, in practical terms it proved a disaster. As Cunnigham wote, in the conclusion of his paper:
The residencia was essentially a Spanish institution. Its principles were inherited from the Romans. It was adapted through three hundred years to the needs of a vast colonial empire. It cannot be said that it was a success. Its purpose was to deter government officials from abuses rather than to inculcate a sincere desire on their part to fulfill the duties of their offices conscientiously and justly. The necessity for the residencia would have been eliminated by a more careful selection of men for offices. The residencia was the culmination of a period of service in an office which had been purchased, usually, and which was not regarded as an opportunity for service but as a means of yielding the greatest possible profit to its holder. Aside from the obvious defects of such a system, the residencia came too late in the period of service, held as it was at the end of the term. It sought to punish offenders and correct evils rather than to prevent them. This was the most serious fault of the residencia.
Still, going back to my proposal to revisit the plunder law, a system for the public audit and determination of accountability of all public officials, upon the expiration of their terms of office, might be a good option to explore as well.
Interesting observation by james_cartmire, on the Escuderos:
on a different note, i’m sensing the escuderos are positioning themselves to become part of the coalition majority soon. whether it’s in preparation for 2010 or just to gain power favors from malacañang, i don’t know, but they are recently sounding off something intriguingly ‘pro-administration’.
representative salvador escudero (chiz’s father) for one has been vocal on giving pointers to gma that borders political objectivity and classic butt-kissing-in-denial. in one news stroy i read last week (i just can’t recall what story it was exactly), the older escudero was advising gma on what he thinks she ought to do with a rather non-oppositionist tone. and on another occassion, he repeatedly praised health secretary francisco duque during a budget hearing; he commended duque and said that he should really should consider replacing presidential spokesperson ignacio bunye, since he was successfully able to explain the rationale of their budget request, unlike gma’s ‘spokespersons’ who often only make a situation worse for her by not being able to clearly explain and/or coming off as arrogant.
the younger escudero, chiz, on the other hand, has been reportedly working very close with gma’s economic team on pursuing malacañang’s legislative agenda on macroeconomic affairs in the senate (finance secretary margarito teves said so). hmm.. i guess we’ll hear more of the escuderos soon enough.
Latest news is that Jose Ma. Sison is due to be released from detention, but the dissatisfaction of his admirers with those who approved of the arrest will long endure. As we have no names puts it,
I can only look at the context of those blog writers. It did not surprise me one bit when I discover that these writers are also those who support Tuition and Other Fee Increases, the intensified exploitation of foreign corporations of our natural resources, and show a double standard when it comes to the violation of the rights’ of UP students (yes, they get all sanctimonious with the death of Cris Mendez, but show indifference to Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan, showing that if you’re a Leftist, its ok for them if you get killed). In short, I can only express regret how certain people, under the cloak of “freedom of speech” propagate the most malicious of the Arroyo Regime’s propaganda.
UPDATE: Joma Sison Release from prison an hour ago in Scheveningen. Live photos!
Bankok Pundit wonders how a Thai general can express admiration for Mao Zedong.
Czechews reports residency permits are going to be easier to obtain, because of a shortage of skilled labor. OFWs will most likely explore this option soon enough.
Lighter reading: reason is the reason on funerals. In Fraternam Meam on the debate (reaching the courts) on who invented (ugh!) Karaoke.
Technorati Tags: Blogging, history, ideas, law, media, philippines, politics, president, society
Can someone please explain why Chavit Singson is not in jail with Erap? Did the state actually make him a state witness in exchange for immunity?
nash:yep
This is from ricelander, an interesting definition of a new affliction: The Joker Arroyo Syndrome
“But it seems, humans that we are, perfection is not our predisposition. One way or the other, we suffer an affliction I call The Joker Arroyo Syndrome, you know, the kind that make you see an act an abomination, a crime, an immorality when committed by an enemy or a despicable someone, but a harmless human defect better left ignored when found in allies and friends? By the way, let me drift off for awhile, I named it so because Joker seems to me the quintessential embodiment of that human quality. Self-named Mr. Graftbuster, note how smoke shoot out from the holes of this dragon’s head, eyes burning, flame streaking out the mouth every time topic wanders off to the sins of Marcos and Estrada. Then observe closely how this angry dragon turn magically into a harmless lizard when sins of Pidal variety more atrocious in magnitude, more malignant visit his horizon.”
Re the Joker Arroyo affliction:
I still cant believe when I see Joker Arroyo in the company of his new chums,Juan Ponce Enrile,Ed Angara and Lady Miriam defending GMA and Jose Pidal…So different from those idealistic days in Mendiola when you saw a brave Joker with intellectial giants like Lorenzo Tanada,Chino Roces and other brave souls facing the tear gas and water cannons of the Marcos palace guards.
JOKER
“I opposed his being thrown in jail upon the filing of charges.”
I agree with you on this. They could have filed instead a hold-departure order in the immigration if they want to make sure that Estrada would not gallivant in nearby countries. This present regime is so power hungry that they were never contented in chastising the ex president. look around and see, and one could notice that traces and remnants of marshal law policies are slowly groping our nation’s democratic stability. To enumerate them will take forever…
@taga de cebu – we have the same wonderment. I too am so puzzled with Joker’s recent shape shifting abilities and leech smacking on the president’s behind. He’s not funny anymore.
Joker Arroyo: “GMA is the best protector of the Constitution.”
I still like to remember Joker as the brave human rights lawyer during the Marcos dictatorship.His recent actuations are probably aberration of his character due to old age.
Gloria remember:“I have sat at the sumptuous tables of power, but I have not run away with the silverware.â€Â
Diosdado Macapagal
Chavit Singson Was the Man ” I think the country need him keep up the good work CHAV’S, kailangang isagawa ang panghuhusga ng Tamang walang pinapanigang Batas sa Pilipinas, walang dapat kilingan ang Batas Mayaman kaman o Mahirap kapag nagkasala o lumabag sa Batas ang isang Mamayan o yung mga nanunungkulan sa Batas na tumatangap ng perang Lagay para mapawalang sala sa ginawang Krimen, Give them what they DESERVE. Sandigang Bayan MUST exersise the law of RIGTHEOUSNESS for every Individual.
Watch out Tito, Vic & Joey, a new comedic trio might replace you one day.
Let’s welcome Johny, Dick & Joker!!!
Manolo, what the trial proved was that Filipinos (not to sound too much like benign0 you understand) has no endurance for such a lengthy and legal proceeding. It’s exhaustion, that’s why very few sympathizers were on the streets.
Manolo, what the trial proved was that Filipinos (not to sound too much like benign0 you understand) have no endurance for such a lengthy and legal proceeding. It’s exhaustion, that’s why very few sympathizers were on the streets.
http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/3185/malufernandezspoof2cd0.jpg
More Malu!
To my countrymen:
“Now I ask you to make your sacrifice. Take a gamble. I took the plunge and I’m glad of it.â€Â
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Joker Arroyo’s Circle of Influence:
Before:
Cory Aquino
Ninoy Aquino
Lorenzo Tanada
Jose W.Diokno
Chino Roces
Ceicilia Munoz Palma
Now:
GMA
Johnny Enrile
Ed Angara
Miriam Defensor Santiago
Dick Gordon
Bong Revilla
Lito Lapid
Migz Zubiri
Quo Vadis Joker?
Joker Arroyo: “GMA is the best protector of the Constitution.â€Â
“I still like to remember Joker as the brave human rights lawyer during the Marcos dictatorship.His recent actuations are probably aberration of his character due to old age.”…taga de cebu
Yes, maybe he met Al Saymer in Seattle.
Nash,
Here;s the answer to your question:
Chavit was granted immunity by the Sandigan and granted impunity by Gloria.
“It was also significant, I thought, that even as Estrada faced conviction in court, political leaders were practically falling over themselves to be seen with him, or at least to let everyone (including, most of all, Estrada himself) know they sympathized with the man. In contrast, the President had hunkered down in the Palace with her cabinet, and no one was making a beeline to see and be seen at Fortress Malacanang. This is a pretty galling indication of just who, exactly, the political class thinks will be more relevant come 2010. With relevance comes influence.”
——————————————————-
Manolo,
I dont feel positive about this paragraph.
Political leaders are lining up on Erap becuase they know that Eraps followers are the gullible voters. That by just expressing sympathaty or just to be photographed with Erap already translate into votes. This to me a form of exploitation of the weakneses of the masses. And I dont think this will help much on our desire to make the country progressive.
Besides with your “man is down” line its just but natural for people to sympthatize with Erap. Gloria doesn’t need symphaty at this time, its Erap. Wouldn’t it be so inappropriate or even rude for these leaders to come falling over Gloria when its Erap who badly needed it. It just like kicking the man out when he is already down.
Im am more aligned with Devils on his wish for a new leader like Jesse Robredo. I dont think it would be good for the country hang on to Erap and Gloria after 2010. I would go for a leader who would stand on his own rather than use the Erap or Gloria influence.
I am not saying that we just let go of Gloria that easy By all means if there is solid eveidenc against Gloria, she shoudl be prosecuted with the full extent of the law.
I just wish, people like you should start leading this country to get over with the Erap/Gloria controversial and messy era. I had enough of the weaknesses of these two leaders putting on hold the country progress. It taking so long already.
Also Manolo,
What do you feel about the execution of Bobby Dacer and his driver during the Erap impeachment. Bobby was believed to be holding a very damning evidence against Erap that time. And Michael Ray Aquino and Mancao who is teh prime suspect and who fled top teh US for that reason is closely associated to Lacson who was the PNP chief of Erap.
How about Yolanda Ricarforte who also fled to US?.
La lang? You just close your eyes on these?
Geez Manolo, Erap and Lacson obviously ordered killing of these people and yet you are still very excited on the rehabilating Erap? Sometimes I wonder what kind of people are you? You very vocal of Glorias sin but are just so blind when it come s to Erap and Lacson murdering ways?
Dacer was ordered killed by another journalist for personal reasons. The order was executed by a former member of the ABB who is now an OFW.
Joker Arroyo has double standard. First noticed it during Erap’s impeachment trial. Namamanka sa dalawang ilog and kanyang prinsipyo. Mdarama lang magproject at magaling sa retoric pero double standard talaga.
rego, that’s the curious trap everyone is in if you accept the courts as the venue, and if you insist on evidence for gma etc., etc. lacson has faced the accusations in court. and no one has filed murder charges vs. estrada, the latter is particularly surprising, don’t you think?
MLQ3,
You inadvertently left out the most important line in Father Bernas’ column It’s enough to make a grown man cry which was this sentence just before the part you quoted:
Fr. Bernas: “But pardon may come only after final conviction.”
True, only conditional pardons require acceptance, absolute pardons do not. But both kinds of pardon can only be offered and/or given AFTER final conviction.
As long as Erap appeals, there is no final conviction. He maintains a presumption of innocence in the sense that the burden of proof has not shifted to Estelito Mendoza and his lawyers to now prove that Erap is innocent of plunder.
It is now up to the Prosecutors to convince the Supreme Court to agree there is NO reasonable doubt he committed plunder.
That will require, to my mind, a unanimous decision of the Supreme Court that not only is evidence decisive of plunder, but that all the events that led up to it, including Edsa 2, the withdrawal of support, the abortion of the impeachment trial, the swearing in, everything was Constitutional throughout.
If a Supreme Court decision is not unanimous, Erap will be acquitted. Must be acquitted. That is the way our Justice system works.
His “guilt” or “innocence” is no longer bound up in the mundane details of a jueteng deal with Chavit gone bad, it is now all tied up with HOW we remove Presidents SO we can prosecute them for plunder.
Constitutional “Beyond reasonable doubt” must be established for Edsa Dos itself, because this is now a capital criminal case, not a Constitutional fantasy case.
The plunder appeal case ought to be called “Estrada vs. Davide” or “Chief Executive vs. Chief Justice” and will be a defining educational moment for us all, not just the hapless Supreme Court.
“Dacer was ordered killed by another journalist for personal reasons. The order was executed by a former member of the ABB who is now an OFW.”
————————————————
Yeah right and its just a pure coincidence that the executioner , Michael Ray Aquino and Mancao are close aides of Lacson, who was the top henchman of Erap that time.
And another coincidence is that the execution has to be carried out at the height of impeachment and Dacer left his home with an envelop carrying documents against Erap.
And that mysterious journalist must be soooooo powerful that we can pin him down. We can only get Aquino and Mancao.
If only have a way to share databases,like the boc,dti,sec,lto and especially the BIR,we would help solve our tax collection problem. Wil the the national broadband network solve that, The private sector says we already have a backbone in place,and the nbn would just make it redundant or something like that.
I wonder why,the BIR and and the treasury departments of each locality always have a mismatch of taxpayer databases.
We need transparecy,and an interconnectivity between offices will help solve that,another chicken and egg dilemma.
*********************************************
I was surprised to hear that why not run after the marcosses,then Ramos,etc.? Naniniwal na ako ke thirdson,na over rated ang kwentong barbero.
Aren’t we running after the Marcosses for decades, and nothing all we got were sesami street operations like operation Big Bird.
masaming backlogs sa sandigan bayan,di nga nila malaman kung anu uunahin eh,hanggang sa magkalimutan na.
tapos kulang kulang pa ang presntation,yung iba di nila maintindihan; like a case involving those group of people from a branch of service in the Military.(ilang opisyal din yun iba patay na.)(regarding a fund fromm a glass company)( a malversation case)
Syempre yan lang ang sampol na medyo alam ko.
That, I think why a special divison has to be creatted for former presidents.
**********************************************
Three years,even less is just a breeze,Gloria will have her time.
We all know that among the living ex presidents,a lot has been said and wala pa ding nangyari.
The cronies,kamag anak incorporated, the temporary band aid solutions to the various power companies,etc.
and all that is under the cloak of of EO464.
What is that again, that legal and political advocacies should be separated…..Say again?
Oh yes, Manolo. The same way that Mike Aroyo has been investigated several times and come out clean. And yet hated only the Aroyos. And love Erap and Lacson.
To me, the salvation of this country does not lie on Erap or Gloria. Its on the people themselves. So on 2010 rather go with some who does’nt have Erap or Glorias influence. Some one like Martin Bautista or even Jesse Robredo.
Rego,
Para naman circles of hell pa ang pinagpipilitan mo kay MLQ
eh kung pare-pareho lang sila si ikulong natin silang pareho.
If we go for the unheard balikbayans who has a vision then we can go for martin Bautista.
But if you want to see a guy who transformed naga to what ist is today then Jesse robredo.
But if we want transformation and adding keeping a town orderly and clean is what we want, then si Gordon na lang.
Unfortunately,vison transformation and maintaing order is not enough laging organization,logistics and machinery.
Until this changes,we can just dream na may reincarnation para maenjoy natin ang mag ganyang tipong presidente.Yung mga longshot tapos nanalo.
KG: si lil dick gordon has so much arrogance ala ate glue mo.Futher,he is in the same mold as johny enrile,ed angara,miriam and joker.100% amboy pa!pang subic lang si lil dick.i should know.i worked with him before.
Manuel B.
That is exactly my point! Yung mga recent entries ni Manolo lumalaba na umikot ikot lang tayo sa kay Erap at kay Gloria.
Simula’t sapul yan talaga ang stand ko sa mga nagyayari. Na parepareho lang ang mga yan. (And this doesn’t sit well with CVJ,too)
Ngayon, ano ang gusto kung mangayari pagdating nga 2010? (end ng term ni Gloria) Umalis na tayo dyan sa problema na dulot ng dalawang eto (erap at gloria). Hanggat maari wag ng pabalikin yan si Erap at si Gloria naman ay habulin sa mga kasalanan nya na pwedeng habulin. Tapos mag elect ng pangulo na walang impluwensya ang dalawang eto.
Ok tdc
ty for the heads up,sa tingin ko nga medyo may pagka dick head nga,na akala nya yung nagawa nya sa subic at wow philippines ay mag aangat sa atin.
pero pwede din pero sa tingin nya mag back to barracks lahat ng military madami pa syang kakaining bigas sa peace and order.
C mar roxas sana eh, pero basahin mo website nya parang
diesel ang ang tagal bago bumanat.
C lacson,human rights tapos me foreign accounts din daw.
c villar,sobrang maabilidad at yung las pinas nga tuld ng sinabi mo TDC puno ng mukha nya.
C noli nakikibanat na sa pardon,pardon at pro poor daw e ang relocation ng mga skwater di rin nya ma ispelling at mas matindi daw mag extort to nung hoy gising times.
c loren,sinumbulan na nyang maki picture sa mga kinidnap na sundalo ng mga npa,at madami pa siyang bagay na gusto sawsawan.
NO body is perfect,but we need a president on 2010. sa mga nababnggit ko si Mar na yata ang pina konting sabit,yung silence nya na nakakabingi na at ngayon biglang hihirit.
Tapos di pa natin alam kung si Noli na ng papatakbuhin,at kung anung balak ng admin.
At saka manuel, Sang-ayon din ako yo na ikulong ang dapat makulong. Kung may kaslanan talga si Gloria dapat talag syan kasuhan kung hindi ngayon pagkatapos ng term. Kung mapapatunyang mag kasalanan eh dapat dins ysang makulong.
Ngayon Si Erap naman ay nakaulong at nahatulan. na and so bo it. Let the conviction of Erap be the start of getting all those politicians who abused while in power.
Hindi yung ibig iparating ni Manolo na, pagtapos mahatulan si Erap ibabalik na naman natin sya ating mga buhay bilang senador or o kaung nao magkatungkulang political. Nakalis na nga tayo sa kanyan ibabalik na naman. Eh di umikot ikot na lang tayo.
“Hindi yung ibig iparating ni Manolo na, pagtapos mahatulan si Erap ibabalik na naman natin sya ating mga buhay bilang senador or o kaung nao magkatungkulang political. Nakalis na nga tayo sa kanyan ibabalik na naman. Eh di umikot ikot na lang tayo.”
Is this regarding Erap’s political life?
Kung after 3 years at nirush ng SC ang and all of the 13 justices penned in their thousand paged opinion,leading to a questionable decision on the sandigan,di ba ibabato lang ulit ito sa sandigan,to rectify their error?tama ba?
Ewan ko lang kung di pa pagod si Erap nun at sawa na sa political life nya by that time.
Or do you mean that he finds a way to post bail or wait for the opportunity when the possibility arises,and then run for senate?
medyo I can not understand,then paikot ikot nga lang tayo.
Let us not look for a messiah,let us find a way to have a say in nation building,di naman kailangan na maging ala RM na gawing open house ang malacanang,di nagmukhang santa claus ang presidente nyan.na tatanungin kung anung gusto natin.At di tayo kasya dun.
rego
yan ka naman. sino ba yan robredo at bautista na yan. Presidente ng bloggers pwede.
Be realistic naman. Pwedeng maganda ang intention nila at credentials. Perro may panalo ba. Let us see mother America. Do you think na ung mga presidential contenders talaga pinakamagaling sa kanila referring to hillary, obama etc. Surely mas may magaling na Americkano kaysa sa knila. pero pwede o kaya ba nilang manalo. be practical. Mas maganda siguro mamili tayo among mar, lacson and others na pwedeng suportahan. Kung walang mapili e wag ka na lang bumoto. Kesa naman mangarap ako ng gising.
ang teleserye madaling tapusin kong tepok kaagad ang mga main cahracters. yung mga supporting cast na binanggit mo rego, nagpapahaba lang yun sa kwento.
here’s how a dream teleserye for me, entitled “so happy together”:
open credits: list of characters main protagonists and antagonists plus supporting roles streaming
opening scene: court room
judge: pare-pareho kayong mga magdurugas (addressing to you know who and she who cannot be named). guard, to the dungeon! [bangs the gavel; guard frisks the main characters as ordered]
[supporting casts rise up to object] your honor, pano na kami?!? (translation: wala na bang sequel for our cameo appearances para naman kami mapuna ni rego?)
judge: eh di sumama kayo!
[teleserye ends.]
[trailer insert] abangan: jocjoc, ang rotarian na pocpoc. katapat ng marimar.
MLQ3, thanks for the link.
And hey Dirk, I’m flattered.
See, I have no quarrel with politicians like Enrile or Angara, for example because they have no pretensions to being nice, clean people. They are as trapo as trapo could get.
Joker calls attention to himself because one time he called himself Mr. Graftbuster. then lately he proclaimed “kung bad ka lagot ka!”
Hypocrisy is made stark by loud self-righteous pronouncements. If he can’t help it because the Pidals are his friends, sana tumahimik na lang.
Those who argue that similar cases should be filed against Arroyo and Company are conveniently forgetting that she is still in power. We were able to bring Erap to justice (for those of us who believe that) only because he was no longer in power. The same will hold true for Arroyo. Let’s not put the cart before the horse.
I’ve explained before why this doesn’t sit well with me. The ‘pare-pareho lang sila’ mantra is often used as an excuse for apathy and withdrawal from public concerns (for example, by Rego’s ‘silent revolutionaries’) which only benefits the status quo , particularly those in power. And as i said avoe, just as with Erap, if want to let justice takes its course, it’s important to remove Arroyo et al from power.
ricelander,
You mentioned the key word which I am hesitant to apply to the man but you said it and I have to agree. At this point, the evidences are all in. The verdict: Joker is a hypocrite.
frombelow, be realistic? how about not trying to be a hypocrite? obviously Rego and I do not like any of the current crop of presidentiables. and you’re right, this time, not only will I not vote when no good candidate runs for presidency, I’ll also leave the country for good.
Wala na talagang saysay kung ang gusto mong tulungan eh ayaw tulungan ang kanilang sarili.
Rego, agree with you. Para tayong mga tanga nagpipilit sa 2 choices lang. Between the Arroyos and the Estradas of this land’s politics. At me comebacking Marcoses pa! Dyos na mahabagin talaga…
Me obvious na matitino naman, ayaw suportahan kesyo di makatotohonan. Self-fulfilling kasi ang ganyang defeatist attitude. Di na ako makikipag argumento pa. Para kong kinakausap ang isang fatalist at hinihikayat syang umaksyon para baguhin ang buhay nya.
Sabi ng fatalist?
What for? I have no control over my life.
Milyon ang fatalist na Pilipino. Translatable sana ‘to into a winning vote, pero, frombelow is the perfect example. Kaya Rego, be realistic! Ika nga ni Benigs, GET REAL!
Inidoro, galing nyan. tawa ako ng tawa. Lalo sa parteng “Jocjoc: Ang Rotarian na Pocpoc.
Pinoy, I hated using the word, it slipped…
cvj: The ‘pare-pareho lang sila’ mantra is often used as an excuse for apathy and withdrawal from public concerns (for example, by Rego’s ’silent revolutionaries’) which only benefits the status quo , particularly those in power.
But this brings up an interesting what-if. What if more people decided to withdraw from participating in this country’s electoral process and followed rego’s path? Indeed what if rego’s path became the path of the majority? What if we all stopped voting? A withdrawal of support from the population. Rego (and Devils) says, ‘Give us the non-trapos and we’ll participate. If you don’t then we withdraw our participation.’ Civil disobedience worked before. Rego (and Devils) isnt withdrawing from public concerns. He’s just withdrawing from the electoral processes. If a majority starts to think like him, change could really come, dont you think?
“I opposed his being thrown in jail upon the filing of charges.â€Â
“Had Estrada been left in the comfort of his North Greenhills home, placed, perhaps, under house arrest, then carted to and from the venue of his trial, you wouldn’t have had Edsa Tres. I wish I could locate Fr. Bernas’s column where he pointed out that Estrada’s status as a prisoner was sui generis, and thus couldn’t properly be compared to that of an ordinary felon. His legal argument was made long after the Estrada arrest, if I recall correctly.”
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Re: Tanay instead of Munti…
I know, ERAP is in a league of his own being a former president.
Don’t worry soon to be ex current prexy:you will be given the same courtesy,I guess you have all the bases covered just in case it also happens to you.
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Re: sui generis:
I too believe that a president should have just been given a house arrest,even as setting a precedence.
Edsa Tres:
I recall an explanation by you on what edsa tres was.
mlq3 :
karl, my personal view was that Edsa 3 was the armed component of what the 1998 elections were: a revolt by the poor, etc. The only reason Edsa 3 failed was that its leaders disappeared just when the fighting began.
November 9th, 2005 at 9:23 am
That was when I was comparing EDSA tres to French riots.
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Now one of my suspected leaders of Eda3 is now included in the current circle of influence Joker,as far as Taga de Cebu is concerned,mas matindi pa ke Mirriam maging paru paru at hunyango ito,the one the only and the original JPE.
“Hypocrisy is made stark by loud self-righteous pronouncements. If he( Joker Arroyo) can’t help it because the Pidals are his friends, sana tumahimik na lang.”
Tama, sana tumahimik na lang; pero parang nakakaiyak. Many of us look up to those who fought Marcos as principled men. As years went by, they traversed their own different paths. What happened to Joker Arroyo, I think, is that it shows nobody really is incorruptible.
In my view ,Mr Roxas appears to be the most decent of the “presidentiables” in 2010.His main problem is being “spineless”(always takes the safe position).I hope Korina makes him a little more brave.Sayang,parang si Rated K has “balls” hindi si Mr.Palengke.
Mar will be tested when his “defining moment” comes.
At the moment,he is is being presented like a “consumer brand” with a slogan (Mr Palengke),a package( always in blue shirt)and even a jingle(“hoy,hoy”). No heart,no soul.
A must reading for future historians:
“Joker Arroyo: PIPOL’S DRAGON- PAG BAD KA, LAGOT KA!”
“A case study of the dramatic transformation of a fearless human rights advocate during the cruel Marcos dictatorship years to a rabid defender of Mr. and Mrs Pidal in his old age”.
“A must reading for future historians:
“Joker Arroyo: PIPOL’S DRAGON- PAG BAD KA, LAGOT KA!â€Â
“A case study of the dramatic transformation of a fearless human rights advocate during the cruel Marcos dictatorship years to a rabid defender of Mr. and Mrs Pidal in his old ageâ€Â.
the sad part is, a lot of people still believe in him. they chose him against the likes of martin bautista (in the past even ms. haydee yorac was rejected by the same masa). so, to those people threatening to leave the country or not participate in the electoral process, i think you should start packing your things now. the changes or the awakening of the peple that you’re hoping for will not happen soon. at least not in your lifetime.
With such weak institutions like ours, everyone in position no matter how principled can easily be corrupted, knowing the the odds of getting accountable for such crimes and wrongdoing are in their favors. so far, we only have convicted a very few, why we still have chavit singson, a very obvious one, a crusading senator of lacson, alleged to have committed extra judicial “justice” during his tenure and even sitting in congress, we have jueting lords, running governments in the provinces and even warlords with their own armies running their own semi-republics.
you can have any president, but their terms is only 6 years and the institutions if remained as weak the president no matter how good and principled is only good during his or her term and what about after? yes, it is the whole cabangle that is wrong, fix the whole system from bottom up or from up to bottom and you can put even anyone of us bloggers in malacanang and it will remain as strong, or even Erap back, or if you want even Gloria…
rice, taga,
GMA is a consumate corrupter.
Men of reputation for integrity succumbed to Gloria’s temptaion.
Bribed Ka Blas with Foreign affairs post.
Ditto with Teofisto Guingona, though he made a redemptive u-turn in time.
Gary Teves used to be esteemed until he join Gloria’s cabinet.
Joker Arroyo used to project INTEGRITY (that’s in caps). But now after, in some misterious Gloria ways, he succumbed to the big “C” he lost it. He hasn’t become a big joke yet, has he? Tragic ain’t it.
GRD: how about the young ,idealistic GO senators like Escudero and Cayetano who aligned with the likes of Enrile,Angara,Gordon,Miriam,Lapid,Revilla and Arroyo?Those two little shits make me feel like throwing up too!They gave up their “idealism” for petty ambitions!ay naku…