Advocatus Diaboli
Playing Devil's Advocate often, but not always. Currently located in Metro Manila, Republic of the PhilippinesWednesday, June 29, 2005
GMA's mea culpa: reactions from the usual gang of
Dear Friend,
Today in the Philippines 29 June 2005:
1) Groups demanding Gloria to resign -
People clamoring for the President's resignation:
We have Brother Eddie Villanueva - Lost in the last Presidential election
We have Sen Raul Roco - Lost in the last Presidential election
We have Congressman Francis Ecudero - His presidential candidate FPJ lost in the last Presidential election and died.
We have Makati Mayor J Binay - His presidential candidate FPJ Lost in the last Presidential election and died.
We have the cause oriented groups - They are always against those in power. I wonder what will happen when get real power. Let's see they were anti-GATT, anti-VAT, anti-Erap and now Anti-Gloria.
So who are these groups calling for Arroyo to resign? The same people seeking her ouster from office from the beginning of her term.
Its nice to see different people uniting for the ouster of a president. Problem is such alliances are as solid as air and as permanent as the morning dew.
2) First Gentleman voluntary leaving the Philippines -
Mike Arroyo to be exiled. This should have been done 1st day of her Presidency. Maybe it should be a law. I hope he drags his brother and son away as well.
3) Congressman Roilo Golez quits KAMPI -
Is this the case of ratsleaving the sinking ship of Iggy Arroyo, Mikee Arroyo and Reynaldo Puno's Pro-GMA congressional party. By the way GMA is still part Lakas-NUCD. Must be a dark sky for fair-weathered allies.
Speaking of political entities. The recent weeks has seen the Philippine politics version of George Romero's Night of the Living Dead. Political Zombies have been reappearing an haunting prime time. Oliver Lozano non-winning political candidate and KBL-affiliated gadfly is back filing the impeachment case against Gloria in the lower house, Unido-KBL-Trillanes fan Homo Bono Adaza is also back, and so is Mr Ronald Lumbao. Now we just Eddie Gil, at least Gil amuses.
4) ABS-CBN -
Is it me or is the coverage of ABS-CBN is adapting an overt anti-GMA stance? Whatever happened to impartial news coverage. Six feet under the ground along with public service. It seems that what matters most now is the ratings and vested political interests.
Have a nice day!
Playing Devil's Advocate
Today in the Philippines 29 June 2005:
1) Groups demanding Gloria to resign -
People clamoring for the President's resignation:
We have Brother Eddie Villanueva - Lost in the last Presidential election
We have Sen Raul Roco - Lost in the last Presidential election
We have Congressman Francis Ecudero - His presidential candidate FPJ lost in the last Presidential election and died.
We have Makati Mayor J Binay - His presidential candidate FPJ Lost in the last Presidential election and died.
We have the cause oriented groups - They are always against those in power. I wonder what will happen when get real power. Let's see they were anti-GATT, anti-VAT, anti-Erap and now Anti-Gloria.
So who are these groups calling for Arroyo to resign? The same people seeking her ouster from office from the beginning of her term.
Its nice to see different people uniting for the ouster of a president. Problem is such alliances are as solid as air and as permanent as the morning dew.
2) First Gentleman voluntary leaving the Philippines -
Mike Arroyo to be exiled. This should have been done 1st day of her Presidency. Maybe it should be a law. I hope he drags his brother and son away as well.
3) Congressman Roilo Golez quits KAMPI -
Is this the case of ratsleaving the sinking ship of Iggy Arroyo, Mikee Arroyo and Reynaldo Puno's Pro-GMA congressional party. By the way GMA is still part Lakas-NUCD. Must be a dark sky for fair-weathered allies.
Speaking of political entities. The recent weeks has seen the Philippine politics version of George Romero's Night of the Living Dead. Political Zombies have been reappearing an haunting prime time. Oliver Lozano non-winning political candidate and KBL-affiliated gadfly is back filing the impeachment case against Gloria in the lower house, Unido-KBL-Trillanes fan Homo Bono Adaza is also back, and so is Mr Ronald Lumbao. Now we just Eddie Gil, at least Gil amuses.
4) ABS-CBN -
Is it me or is the coverage of ABS-CBN is adapting an overt anti-GMA stance? Whatever happened to impartial news coverage. Six feet under the ground along with public service. It seems that what matters most now is the ratings and vested political interests.
Have a nice day!
Playing Devil's Advocate
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Mea culpa?
Dear Friend,
For her opponents its too early to rejoice.
Fortunately, I was not able to see GMA's mea culpa speach last night. I was having dinner with friends at Rodics, my day was not ruined.
Eventually, I had to view the little sorry speech this morning and read the transcript of her speech. A few significant points were made amidst the I am sorry mantra.
One, she apologised for talking to a comelec official after the May 2004 elections.
Two, she stressed that she won the divisive presidential election.
Three, she took office with a mandate to pursue crucial reforms for the country.
Simply said: she apologised for talking to a comelec official after the May elections and she will not resign.
Is she a lame duck or dead meat as some pundits and opponents say. Despite the obvious schadenfreude and blood thirst, of her critics, only time will tell. Estrada fell because he abandoned his Presidency. A few months later Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez faced the same dilema but did not leave office despite the protests and rallues. Chavez is still the president of Venezuela.
You have to impeach her first. And in order to impeach GMA you have to file the case in Congress where she has the numbers. And now that she admits that she talked with a comelec official, the tapes may be inadmissable as evidence. Remember you need admissible proof to impeach someone. And those seeking to oust Arroyo by legal means need proof.
Assuming that the opposition is succesful in making progress in an impeachment case and they have her impeached. She will be replaced by the VP Noli De Castro, who is not one with the oppostion but with the LP - Franklin Drilon and friends. I do not think they are in the mood to prepare and cook their meal for somebody else. Maybe that is why some opposition leaders are asking for a snap election and Loren Legarda is willing to spend for her electoral protest.
Then there is of course the People Power route. Demonstrations and civil disobedience in order to pressure GMA to resign. This involves marching in the street with more than the usual coterie of leftists and Erap loyalists. In other words you have to get the middle class of Metro Manila. I doubt you can do this given the fatigue, caused disenchantment and betrayal from the political promises of Edsa I, II, and III, of the people. Aside from that you have to contend with the rainy season. And you have to have rallying point an assasination a cover up by the senate, so far what they have is wiretapped conversation that is on the basic level improper but not criminal. Then of course the degree of guilt or non-guilt will depend on what side of the political fence you are sitting. And probably more importantly it has been consistently said and unfortunately critically ignored by most Manila-based intellectuals and activists is that Metro Manila maybe where the seat of government is but it is not the whole of the Philippines.
Against the issue of electoral scandal, corruption and political injustice is the trump card called the promise of stability. Which weighs more heavily on a country plagued by non-ending political problems outrage or the desire for stability?
Have a nice day,
Playing Devil's Advocate
For her opponents its too early to rejoice.
Fortunately, I was not able to see GMA's mea culpa speach last night. I was having dinner with friends at Rodics, my day was not ruined.
Eventually, I had to view the little sorry speech this morning and read the transcript of her speech. A few significant points were made amidst the I am sorry mantra.
One, she apologised for talking to a comelec official after the May 2004 elections.
Two, she stressed that she won the divisive presidential election.
Three, she took office with a mandate to pursue crucial reforms for the country.
Simply said: she apologised for talking to a comelec official after the May elections and she will not resign.
Is she a lame duck or dead meat as some pundits and opponents say. Despite the obvious schadenfreude and blood thirst, of her critics, only time will tell. Estrada fell because he abandoned his Presidency. A few months later Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez faced the same dilema but did not leave office despite the protests and rallues. Chavez is still the president of Venezuela.
You have to impeach her first. And in order to impeach GMA you have to file the case in Congress where she has the numbers. And now that she admits that she talked with a comelec official, the tapes may be inadmissable as evidence. Remember you need admissible proof to impeach someone. And those seeking to oust Arroyo by legal means need proof.
Assuming that the opposition is succesful in making progress in an impeachment case and they have her impeached. She will be replaced by the VP Noli De Castro, who is not one with the oppostion but with the LP - Franklin Drilon and friends. I do not think they are in the mood to prepare and cook their meal for somebody else. Maybe that is why some opposition leaders are asking for a snap election and Loren Legarda is willing to spend for her electoral protest.
Then there is of course the People Power route. Demonstrations and civil disobedience in order to pressure GMA to resign. This involves marching in the street with more than the usual coterie of leftists and Erap loyalists. In other words you have to get the middle class of Metro Manila. I doubt you can do this given the fatigue, caused disenchantment and betrayal from the political promises of Edsa I, II, and III, of the people. Aside from that you have to contend with the rainy season. And you have to have rallying point an assasination a cover up by the senate, so far what they have is wiretapped conversation that is on the basic level improper but not criminal. Then of course the degree of guilt or non-guilt will depend on what side of the political fence you are sitting. And probably more importantly it has been consistently said and unfortunately critically ignored by most Manila-based intellectuals and activists is that Metro Manila maybe where the seat of government is but it is not the whole of the Philippines.
Against the issue of electoral scandal, corruption and political injustice is the trump card called the promise of stability. Which weighs more heavily on a country plagued by non-ending political problems outrage or the desire for stability?
Have a nice day,
Playing Devil's Advocate
Monday, June 27, 2005
Political madness, ad-naseum and prudence
Dear Friend,
Political madness seems to be predominating the Philippine environment.
Protagonists on the Gloriagate issue seems to be trading barbs and accusations without proving or disproving the veracity of the tape and said contents. Most pundits have already parlayed doom's day scenarios and ventured forth their views on the moral issue without verifying the authenticity of the alleged recordings.
Allegations regarding political protection of illegal number games are being brought to fore by a man of the cloth and his venue not the court of law but of public opinon. His willing audience the legislature where it is being heard in aid of legislation. What legislation is this in aid of ?
Daily the news network and the print media have been sensationalising the issue and confusing the discussion. To the point that people are becoming sick of the whole thing.
Better to seat back and be prudent check things out. No use being a cannon fodder for the different factions attempting to gain political ascendancy.
Cicero, a Roman politician, advocate and famed orator, noted while he saw the Roman Republic falling into the clutches of the Julii, Ceasar and Octavius (who would later become Augustus), that abuse of liberties will result in slavery.
Have a nice day!
Playing Devil's Advocate
Political madness seems to be predominating the Philippine environment.
Protagonists on the Gloriagate issue seems to be trading barbs and accusations without proving or disproving the veracity of the tape and said contents. Most pundits have already parlayed doom's day scenarios and ventured forth their views on the moral issue without verifying the authenticity of the alleged recordings.
Allegations regarding political protection of illegal number games are being brought to fore by a man of the cloth and his venue not the court of law but of public opinon. His willing audience the legislature where it is being heard in aid of legislation. What legislation is this in aid of ?
Daily the news network and the print media have been sensationalising the issue and confusing the discussion. To the point that people are becoming sick of the whole thing.
Better to seat back and be prudent check things out. No use being a cannon fodder for the different factions attempting to gain political ascendancy.
Cicero, a Roman politician, advocate and famed orator, noted while he saw the Roman Republic falling into the clutches of the Julii, Ceasar and Octavius (who would later become Augustus), that abuse of liberties will result in slavery.
Have a nice day!
Playing Devil's Advocate
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