Boiling again

DIE HARD III
Herman Tiu Laurel
8/18/2006



That congressman Lagman said the 2nd impeachment complaint was DOA (Dead On Arrival), former Senator Ernesto Maceda’s retort to that at the PMP-UNO-PDP launching of its coalition is that GMA’s government will be DOD (Dead On Departure). Departure of Gloria before what she claims to be the end of her term in 2010 is certain, given the absolute collapse of her government’s credibility to the population. The groups committed to see that justice is done by expelling her ASAP are growing instead of shrinking as time passes and the explosive scandals multiply instead of diminish.

As this piece goes to press a press conference led by Catholic Church leaders and courageous civic-spirited individuals who have elicited the trust, conscientiousness and cooperation of several parties involved in the conduct (or better still, misconduct) of the last 2004 elections. From what we have been told, it will be more explosive than the “Hello Garci” tapes which more explicit demonstration of the cheating process and actual incidences captured as it happening. Gloria and Garci’s co-conspirators in the AFP will not be able to wriggle out of this one with the evidence that will be presented.

As I understand from our contacts in the armed forces, the only remaining ingredient to another major activity amongst the idealist military groups is incontrovertible proof of their corrupted superiors’ involvement. The Mayuga report has bee held from the public even if it’s been sanitized because the powers-that-be fear the backlash to the blatant lies and omissions that the report will show. That at least illustrates the Gloria regime and its corrupt henchmen know and fear the men of integrity in the armed forces will not take insults to their intelligence sitting down.

Every legitimate means is being employed by the opposition to bring out the truth and logical actions to address the injustice and oppression from Gloria’s lie and its suppression. The exposés are now being joined by preparation for engaging of the regime in the electoral battles to come. Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, the party of President Estrada and undeniably the premier opposition to the Gloria regime, has extended its hand of cooperation with the PDP and all other opposition groups to unite for a new stage in the political war against Gloria’s gang that has despoiled our country.

As President Estrada joins hands with Mayor Jejomar Binay to consolidate the opposition forces, the complex individual and factional interests of its diverse elements pose a daunting challenge. The bandwagon effect going for the opposition which also carries a problem with it: too many want to join the opposition senate slate now which is seen as a shoo-in to win the majority of the seats in the 2007 elections. Gloria and the administration party is a kiss of death to any senatorial candidate, a fact confirmed by the Pulse Asia survey showing only two administration candidates in the magic twelve.

A clear indicator of the collapse of the administration’s chances in the 2007 national elections is the sorry situation of Gloria’s frontline mascot Mike Defensor who has not made it even to the first twenty of any of the surveys. In the Pulse survey only Recto and Pangilinan make it to the top twelve while those identified with the opposition saw Loren, JV, Honasan, Sotto, John Osmeña, Coco Pimentel, Alan Cayetano, Imee, Ping, Villar; but waiting to join the line up that may not have been included in the surveys are Nikki Coseteng, Guingona, Kit Tatad among many others.

At the congressional level the opposition and UNO will not be lacking in candidates too as the congressional incumbents already face the nation’s ire, including and particularly many bishops of the Catholic Church, for turning down the impeachment process for the second time and denying the opportunity to put the principal power in the country pass scrutiny to be fit to rule the land. There will be a 3rd impeachment initiative next year, after the 2007 elections and one of the avowed goals of UNO is to gain enough seats to see the next and, hopefully, the final impeachment through.

The only problem in all these is the Comelec which does not appear to be under any pressure to change its demonstrably corrupted and damaged leadership. There are new commissioners whom some people pin hopes for a limited degree of change in, but Abalos and the Garci network is not only still entrenched but are, as pointed out by Senator Pimentel, being promoted to higher positions with broader powers and jurisdiction over more election districts. Despite this the opposition still hopes to win in the vast majority of the cases with the Comelec on the defensive from now until 2007.

For Filipinos impatient for change the elections seem to far off and a clean and orderly conduct too elusive, there is still the prospect of earlier change with the unabated simmer of discontent amongst the armed forces elements who’re watching the injustice being committed against their icons. A Supreme Court decision against Gen. Gudani and Col Balutan for their appearance in senate investigations without the blessings of their commander-in-chief who is, in the first place, under question, will not go unnoticed by the decent elements in our military institutions.

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