DIE HARD III
Herman Tiu Laurel
8/25/2006
“May the Farce forever be with them” echoed as the just transpired impeachment comedy was being given post-mortem on radio. That it is happening in the 13th Congress of the time of the great political plague in the country may be no coincidence, with the misfortunes it has brought upon the nation. It’s a congress of hypocrites of both the regime and supposedly opposition clowns (playing musical chairs) who have engaged in this zarzuela to distract from the root of the problem – the 2001 violation of Vox Populi embodied by the elected and interrupt Estrada presidency.
About the administration congressmen there is not much more to say, their corruption and depravity being a given. It’s reflected in Nograles’ countenance, and you can see how grotesque it is. A bit more was expected from so-called opposition congressmen, many flipped-flopped. Even the congressional minority’s champions continue to evade the essential the original sin of which they were party to, too: refusing contrition and apology. We do have a “most shameful award”, to Zubiri who eloquently closed the impeachment with a blatantly call for unity – based on perfidy!
It’s a pity that the focus of mainstream media and even the NGO for a use some of the littlest characters like the children of that late senator who helped made a mockery of the impeachment and the Rule of Law in 2000. They’re the star today but they discuss only superficial issues like graft and corruption of Mike Arroyo which everybody knows of already. That other young opposition leader that speak with the monotone hasn’t done any better as his avoidance of the Estrada issue and mendicancy to the oligarchs (that’s why he has a DZMM show) has kept him at the bottom rungs of the senatorial surveys.
The Farce is with the 13th Congress, while the Force gathers momentum across the land. Real young heroes are really putting their future on the line are multiplying. I can think of the young military officers who today are still languishing in prison for their acts of defiance and dignity against the importuning of corruption and graft. No compromise, no dancing with the farce. The young activists drawn by the siren song of ideological militancy is another species of true young heroes but very unfortunately drawn to early swan songs for their beautiful but doomed missions.
Impeachment is no weapon against GMA, an outlaw regime; only the people and its Force can provide the silver bullet or the wooden stake to drive through its blackened heart. the Force can only be energized if is it is united around the truth, so obscured by so many farces being staged left and right, from the impeachment to the Black and White weeping dwarf to the One Voice of the forked tongue of Christian Monsod and Company. The voice their aim to drown out is the voice of truth: that the Rule of Law cannot be restored without restoring Vox Populi.
The impeachment was handily swept aside not by the twisted legalism of Villafuerte or the weak preparation of the opposition young congressmen, ten million reasons per member of the Committee on Justice and pork barrel for the plenary. How can anybody beat that “incentive”, like slop to hungry pigs. The Filipino public is not desensitized yet, thank god, as the texts condemning the impeachment burial poured into our cellphones and radio call in burned with the rage of the people. This will add to the fury of the Force, and may the day of reckoning be brought nearer by it.
The nation needs a radical shift from the monotonous grind that leads nowhere, waiting for real things to happen. Everyday we are greeted by people asking, when will the next real People Power begin again? Here’s one sample of the texts: “If we can not (t)ry crimes of a president why should we try soldiers? Why should we try anybody at all? Is justice selective? Pls. pass” If the text came from Virginia we would say “Yes, Virginia, justice under Gloria and the 13th Congress is selective; but the text came from a retired colonel. So we say: carry on!
Those following global currents ask: Can we do a Mexico? There the electoral protesters took over the park in front of Congress until the oligarchy-controlled state sent in troops, but they moved elsewhere – blocking foreign banks, taking over toll gates to give vehicles free passage and taking over radio stations. Am I advocating anarchy? No. We are advocating escalation of the struggle towards genuine popular action, since the legal process is no longer meaningful for those who have no money to get the attention of the congressmen and generals.
Yes, its civil disobedience that will upset the establishment; but better the rich and powerful Establishment members get the ulcers than the children of poor Filipino families who can’t afford food, doctors or medication anymore. The young officers of Oakwood at one time raised the flag of civil disobedience over the Internet, the NOU (National Officers’ Union) in calling for mass resignation of officers is in this move also pursuing civil disobedience. That is where the Force will lead us and which all the farces are trying to distract us from.
(Tune in to 1098AM M-W-F 6-7pm and T-Th 3-4pm; htlfam@...)
Monday, March 7, 2011
Suppressing Erap's story
DIE HARD III
Herman Tiu Laurel
8/23/2006
President Joseph E. Estrada has been under incarceration for five years now, but for all intents and purpose all charges lodged against him by GMA have been invalidated. Yet, throughout this time and up to last Friday blatant acts of keeping his right to public ventilation of his voice has not only been curtailed but increasing in severity to the point now of blatant suppression. Last week, a documentary histo-biography of President Estrada’s saga as the Man for the Masses was ridiculously rated-X by the MTRCB in its unashamed effort to suppression the truth that the public has a right to know.
The video documentary, or what is technically classified by Philippine jurisprudence as “newsreel” or “a short motion picture film portraying or dealing with current events”, and President Estrada and the issues relating to him are as current as today newspaper and the latest news report on TV. It is entitled “Ang Mabuhay Para sa Masa”, To Live for the Masses, and traces the history of Estrada from his movie career to his Mayorship of San Juan, the pioneering social programs he initiated such as the first squatter relocation project in the country, the free burial program and his establishment of the “police fund” for education, housing, uniform and other needs of San Juan policemen.
The documentary continues into a less an hour portrayal of his struggles through the crucial political periods of the country such as being arrested by Marcos’ military for opposing the imposition of Martial Rule to his forcible removal as Mayor by Cory Aquino for refusing a DILG order to give way to an unelected OIC for San Juan. It tells of his rise to the Senate and then the Vice-Presidency where he glistened as chief anti-crime buster by subduing the kidnap-for-ransom wave, and finally his rise to the Presidency and the treacherous power grab that abruptly interrupted his mandate.
The Constitution guarantees the freedom of expression, the right of the people to information, particularly those that ensure the enabling of every citizen to bring the government and any person in authority to the bar of public opinion. The MTRCB is a rating and classification board tasked to review movies and TV fare for obscenity, blasphemous material, profanity, derogation or vulgarity. The “newsreel” genre or documentary is beyond these as it is depiction or portrayal of actuality and this genre is one of only two exempted from review of any agency, the other being government produced materials.
The MTRCB rated the VCD “Ang Mabuhay Para sa Mara” with a big X, which was called to the offices of the production outfit Public Asia. The caller informed the secretary that the reason for the X-rating is that the video is “anti-Gloria”. So they found nothing lewd, vulgar, exceptionally violent or anything that would scandalize public morals or decent taste except that it’s “anti-Gloria”, and could it be that the MTRCB sees it as “anti-Gloria” because it brings her, her power and her government to the bar of public opinion? This is blatantly unconstitutional, shameful, unethical, arbitrary and capricious to say the least.
It is a clear attempt at suppression of the showing of a truly important video documentary depicting the evolution of events leading to the current crisis and turmoil: President Estrada as a man for the masses, serving the psychic-human and social needs of the vast majority of the Filipino people who are invariably poor and unnoticed by the powerful elite but dotingly catered to by President Estrada all their life and all his life; then this unique relationship of love between leader and people cast asunder by a conspiracy of power and profit mongers to exploit the government and the people for selfish ends.
The video documentary needn’t have to be submitted to the MTRCB even for any procedural consideration, it was absolutely unnecessary. That body is not empowered nor is it incompetent to rule on such material even for TV, although the impulse of private production outfits to go through it ritually is understandable. The MTRCB’s inept handling of the matter raises our hackles and should similarly enrage every Filipino who loves his freedom and his right to information, thus we write this piece to tell the producers to “go ahead and air it” for all Filipinos to watch and judge the truth of the matter for themselves.
All these is a sad commentary on the MTRCB members who voted to X-rate the documentary of President Estrada’s life and struggles, but most especially for Pablo Bautista, a faded movie director who enjoyed the beneficence of Estrada’s social and entrepreneurial magnanimity in the movie sector. Aside form the probability that Bautista knows or cares nothing about the right of the people to information or to bring the powerful to the bar of justice, he was probably contemplating how his bread is buttered and Malacañang’s power of appointment or directors and other key personnel to the MTRCB as he watched the documentary.
At this writing we are told that the MTRCB is holding another review of the video documentary “Ang Mabuhay Para sa Masa”, which is already superfluous. The producers must be compelled by the public to air the documentary to as wide a national audience as possible so the people may know and decide for themselves.
(Tune in to 1098AM M-W-F 6-7pm; T-Th 3-4pm)
Herman Tiu Laurel
8/23/2006
President Joseph E. Estrada has been under incarceration for five years now, but for all intents and purpose all charges lodged against him by GMA have been invalidated. Yet, throughout this time and up to last Friday blatant acts of keeping his right to public ventilation of his voice has not only been curtailed but increasing in severity to the point now of blatant suppression. Last week, a documentary histo-biography of President Estrada’s saga as the Man for the Masses was ridiculously rated-X by the MTRCB in its unashamed effort to suppression the truth that the public has a right to know.
The video documentary, or what is technically classified by Philippine jurisprudence as “newsreel” or “a short motion picture film portraying or dealing with current events”, and President Estrada and the issues relating to him are as current as today newspaper and the latest news report on TV. It is entitled “Ang Mabuhay Para sa Masa”, To Live for the Masses, and traces the history of Estrada from his movie career to his Mayorship of San Juan, the pioneering social programs he initiated such as the first squatter relocation project in the country, the free burial program and his establishment of the “police fund” for education, housing, uniform and other needs of San Juan policemen.
The documentary continues into a less an hour portrayal of his struggles through the crucial political periods of the country such as being arrested by Marcos’ military for opposing the imposition of Martial Rule to his forcible removal as Mayor by Cory Aquino for refusing a DILG order to give way to an unelected OIC for San Juan. It tells of his rise to the Senate and then the Vice-Presidency where he glistened as chief anti-crime buster by subduing the kidnap-for-ransom wave, and finally his rise to the Presidency and the treacherous power grab that abruptly interrupted his mandate.
The Constitution guarantees the freedom of expression, the right of the people to information, particularly those that ensure the enabling of every citizen to bring the government and any person in authority to the bar of public opinion. The MTRCB is a rating and classification board tasked to review movies and TV fare for obscenity, blasphemous material, profanity, derogation or vulgarity. The “newsreel” genre or documentary is beyond these as it is depiction or portrayal of actuality and this genre is one of only two exempted from review of any agency, the other being government produced materials.
The MTRCB rated the VCD “Ang Mabuhay Para sa Mara” with a big X, which was called to the offices of the production outfit Public Asia. The caller informed the secretary that the reason for the X-rating is that the video is “anti-Gloria”. So they found nothing lewd, vulgar, exceptionally violent or anything that would scandalize public morals or decent taste except that it’s “anti-Gloria”, and could it be that the MTRCB sees it as “anti-Gloria” because it brings her, her power and her government to the bar of public opinion? This is blatantly unconstitutional, shameful, unethical, arbitrary and capricious to say the least.
It is a clear attempt at suppression of the showing of a truly important video documentary depicting the evolution of events leading to the current crisis and turmoil: President Estrada as a man for the masses, serving the psychic-human and social needs of the vast majority of the Filipino people who are invariably poor and unnoticed by the powerful elite but dotingly catered to by President Estrada all their life and all his life; then this unique relationship of love between leader and people cast asunder by a conspiracy of power and profit mongers to exploit the government and the people for selfish ends.
The video documentary needn’t have to be submitted to the MTRCB even for any procedural consideration, it was absolutely unnecessary. That body is not empowered nor is it incompetent to rule on such material even for TV, although the impulse of private production outfits to go through it ritually is understandable. The MTRCB’s inept handling of the matter raises our hackles and should similarly enrage every Filipino who loves his freedom and his right to information, thus we write this piece to tell the producers to “go ahead and air it” for all Filipinos to watch and judge the truth of the matter for themselves.
All these is a sad commentary on the MTRCB members who voted to X-rate the documentary of President Estrada’s life and struggles, but most especially for Pablo Bautista, a faded movie director who enjoyed the beneficence of Estrada’s social and entrepreneurial magnanimity in the movie sector. Aside form the probability that Bautista knows or cares nothing about the right of the people to information or to bring the powerful to the bar of justice, he was probably contemplating how his bread is buttered and Malacañang’s power of appointment or directors and other key personnel to the MTRCB as he watched the documentary.
At this writing we are told that the MTRCB is holding another review of the video documentary “Ang Mabuhay Para sa Masa”, which is already superfluous. The producers must be compelled by the public to air the documentary to as wide a national audience as possible so the people may know and decide for themselves.
(Tune in to 1098AM M-W-F 6-7pm; T-Th 3-4pm)
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.
(Tune in to 1098AM, M-W-F 6-7pm)
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.
(Tune in to 1098AM, M-W-F 6-7pm)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
