The twist of fate, Noynoy Aquino and Gloria Arroyo

 The twist of fate is such an interesting subject matter.

A few years ago, it is the administration of Gloria Arroyo that is being battered by a hostage crisis in a bus. That was the 2007 Manila hostage drama perpetrated by Jun Ducat. Now, it is the administration of Noynoy Aquino with the hostage crisis perpetrated by Capt. Rolando Mendoza. But because the handling of the crisis failed, some supporters of Arroyo are taunting Noynoy Aquino and his supporters.

A few months ago and earlier, it is Noynoy Aquino and his group that throw stones at Gloria Arroyo. Now, and with the disaster in the Manila hostage crisis, it is Arroyo and her group that is throwing stones at Aquino. This time, it is the supporters of Aquino taunting Arroyo and her supporters. Ang sagot ng mga kasalukuyang nakaupo sa palasyo through Secretary Herminio Coloma, "We just inherited the state of the Philippine National Police ...The previous administration should also answer for what they did [for the police]. Did they provide enough funds for the modernization of the PNP or did it waste funds for cases like the euro-generals and other corruption cases?''

Earlier, it is Gloria Arroyo who is giving the blessing for the release of pork barrels. She excludes, however, the release of the pork barrel for her critics including Noynoy Aquino. Now, it's the latter's turn. Whether he will bless the release of pork for his critics, only time can tell. But one clear fact is that Arroyo will also be expecting for her share.

Earlier, Gloria Arroyo is being hurled with accusations of benefiting from kickbacks from government projects. These are still unsubstantiated though one can see an increase of her assets from the time she occupied the presidential seat in 2001 to the last time she filed her statement of assets and liabilities. Now, she will be forced to wait on her congressional pork barrel -- barya lang kumpara sa kanyag pork barrel noong siya'y presidente pa.

But the most interesting is whether or not Gloria Arroyo will take her congressional pork. Sabi ni Speaker Sonny Belmonte, bibigyan din daw si Gloria. But wouldn't it be demeaning kung kukunin niya ang pork barrel na hindi niya ibinigay sa mga kritiko niya while she was Gloria in the Palace.

Tikboy's bet: Kukunin niya. Well, she got the guts and the face and took all the humility to run for a lower post despite the fact that she is the highest official of the country. Besides, sabi nga sa Bibliya, "even the dogs under the table feed on the children's crumbs".

Midnight Deals

The midnight deals are one of the reasons why Erap Estrada was ousted. The midnight deals are also one of the reasons why Gloria Arroyo was able to become the Philippine President starting 2001.

It appears, however, that Mrs. Arroyo forgot the reason why she became the sitting-President. She also had her midnight glass ... err, class ..., err, deals this time by appointing officials like Chief Justice Renato Corona near the end of her term.

Understandable naman bakit kailangan ni Mrs. Arroyo na mag-engage sa midnight appointments. May mga nilalang talaga na, sabi nga sa kanta, "don't wanna miss a thing". Kasama na diyan ang mga buwitre na kailangan talagang mag-take advantage ng situation otherwise baka sila magutom. Ganun din ang mga bampira na dahil pahirapan maghanap ng biktima, would not want to miss a droplet of blood from their victims. Malay natin, takot lang talaga si madam na maubusan din ng makakain pag dating ng panahon na sunod-sunod na ang kaso laban sa kanya. O kaya baka rice and noodles na lang ang makuha niya dahil nailit na ang kanilang mga ari-arian.

Buti kung nanalo si Erap. At least puwedeng sabihing reciprocal ang obligations. Binigyan niya si Erap ng pardon kaya ipa-pardon din siya. Sabi nga ni Aling Rosing: Kung ang sabi ni Erap ay weather-weather lang yan, iniisip ni GMA na pardon-pardon lang yan!

Teka, ano ba to, biru-biruan?

Double standards

When Arroyo's camp accused President Joseph Estrada of being corrupt and that he step down in that fateful January 2001, nobody called Arroyo nor the members of his camp as "seditious". But when Catholic Bishop Angel Lagdameo accused the Arroyo administration as corrupt and that sitting president should resign, loose tongue Secretary of (in)Justice Raul Gonzales fired at Lagdameo and accused the bishop of uttering seditious statements.

Ba't ganun?

Kung sabagay, kailangan pa bang i-memorize yan? The Arroyo camp is a fan of George Orwell at mahilig sila sa Orwellian double-talk defined as "saying one thing and meaning the other". So Mr. Bishop Lagdameo, when Gonzales says "seditious ang statements mo", you must praise the Lord dahil inaamin nila na talagang kurakot ang administrasyong Arroyo. Kung sinasabi rin nila na wala sa expertise ng mga pari ang pulitika, you should also praise the Lord dahil inaamin nila na magagaling kayo kaya nga hanggang ngayon, uphill battle pa rin ang kaso nila laban kay Pampanga Governor Father Ed. Panlilio.

Praise the Lord, Bishop?

GMA - the Girl Who Cried Wolf

Sabi ng Inquirer:

Malacanang: All systems go for Charter Change

This time, Malacanang is reaching out their hands to Senator Nene Pimentel by supporting his Resolution No. 10 favoring the change in the charter. Pero sabi ni Pimentel, "ayaw ko!".

Sabagay, malay nga naman ni Pimentel kung may dura ang kamay ng Malacanang? At iniisip ng mga ito kung paano palawigin ang pag-upo ni Gloria in the Palace sa kanyang upuan?

Press Secretary Jesus Maria... este, Jesus Dureza said: Wag naman kayong ganyan. Let's be fair to the president. Wala siyang plano na umupo sa puwesto beyond 2010.

Oo nga naman. Let's be fair to GMA. Let's pretend as if there is no double standards when it comes to her -- how she called Garci, how she stalled the election protests filed by FPJ et. al., how her camp manipulated the Impeachment trials, and how she changed her mind in 2003 by announcing that she will not run for president. If it is possible kasi na ang bayabas ay mamunga ng "guaple", it is also possible na ang bayabas ay puwede ring mamunga ng "pure apple". So if GMA says di na siya uupo sa puwesto beyond 2010, malay natin, though she has a lying lips she might indeed stick to her promise.

Yan kasi. Mahirap ang maglaro ng "the boy who cried wolf". Kahit babae ang naglalaro, the effect is the same. Next time na magsalita ka, di ka na paniniwalaan.

GMA vindicated from the NBN scandal?

While the report is yet to be prepared, Malacanang is already confident that sitting president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will be vindicated from the NBN scandal. The reason: There is no evidence linking the president to the scandal.

First, paano ba sila nakakasiguro lalo na si Ed Ermita na vindicated nga talaga si Gloria? Mukhang me whitewash na agad na nangangamoy ah?

Second, paano nga ba talaga magkakaroon ng ebidensiya? They controlled all the possibilities to come out with an evidence? Parang Impeachment Trial. They kill it immediately with technicalities.

Pero vindicated nga ba? Not beyond reasonable doubt. Hanggang ngayon lutang pa rin ang mga koneksiyon ni Gloria sa mga iskandalo ng gobyerno. Actually she even admitted these categorically. She said sorry when she called Garci. And she said she still signed the NBN Contract despite the anomalies. This means she is not scot-free. And this will haunt her til the rest of history.

In search for truth

San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto celebrated his birthday today with a mass with Gloria Arroyo and other government officials, including Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio in attendance. In his homily, he reiterated the call of the CBCP for ora et labora (pray and work). As Aniceto said: If we really pray together, you cannot monopolize the truth. Truth begins in the heart, the sanctuary of our conscience.

Pero hanggang ngayon, di pa rin maayos kung ano talaga ang truth na hinahanap ng CBCP vis a vis the truth na hinahanap ng civil society at ang truth na ipinapanalangin din ng grupo ni Gloria. Tinanggal na ang fangless na EO 464. Ano na ngayon? Inamin na ni Gloria ang Hello, Garci! at ang anomalya sa ZTE. Ano na rin ngayon? Ba't wala pang aksiyon? Mukha atang mali ang sinasabi na: And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. Hanggang ngayon kasi we are still un-free. Malabo pa rin ang mga bagay-bagay. Magulo pa rin ang lahat.

Kung sa bagay, it appears that the truth everybody seeks vary. While the civil society looks for the truth and the action or scenario beyond (i.e., matatangal ba si Gloria? Mapaparusahan ba siya? Marereporma ba ang Pilipinas?) the CBCP seems to be asking: Ilan pa kaya ang misa na gagawin at magkano pa kaya ang abuloy na tatangapin sa paghahanap ng katotohanan? At sa panig naman ni Gloria ang truth naman na hinahanap: Sino ba sa oposisyon ang may pakana ng lahat? At kailan ba sila titigilan ng oposisyon?

This being the case, no matter what ora et labora will be done, no God will listen. Why? Because everybody is praying a different thing. In simple terms, there is divisiveness... and chaos.

Kaso nga lang, devils have a motto and it goes: In chaos there is opportunity.

Pero teka, sino ba ang nakikinabang sa chaos ngayon? The Church which earns from conducting mass on both the anti-Gloria and pro-Gloria camps? O si Gloria na napapahaba lang ang pag-upo niya sa puwesto dahil di pa rin nagkakaisa ang mga Pilipino? But, if they benefit from the present chaos, sabi ng katabi ni Tikboy: Oh my Gulay! They must be .....

Random thoughts and GMA's latest disapproval rating

According to Pulse Asia:

Amidst the controversies hounding the incumbent national administration, around three in four Metro Manilans (71%) express disapproval for presidential performance while almost the same percentage of Metro Manilans (76%) distrusts President Arroyo. These figures are essentially the same as those obtained by the President back in July 2005 (68% and 72%, respectively) during which time ten members of her cabinet resigned and various groups and individuals called for her to step down from office at the height of the Garcillano wiretapping issue.

The highest disapproval rating came from the Philippines' socio-economic Class E with 80% and then the Class D with 73%. Classes A, B, and C has the greatest share of undecided respondents with 20%.

Medyo naiisip ko na ang mga sagot ng Malacanang: "Commissioned yan ng oposisyon" o "Hindi yan totoo". Pero ng bumaba ang self-rated poverty survey sabi ng Malacanang "Tunay yan". In simple terms kung paborable sa palasyo, tama ang survey pero kung hindi, it's either commissioned by the opposition or untrue.

Pero aminin man natin o hindi, kahit 20% ang margin of error ng survey, majority pa rin ang ayaw kay Gloria. O kahit sumakay ka lang ng jeep, maririnig mo ang mga reklamo ng mga tao at masasabi mo rin na talagang marami na ang ayaw sa nakaupo sa palasyo. For instance, ilang beses bang nagtaas ang pamasahe sa pitong taon niyang panunungkulan? At ilang posiyento ba ang itinaas? Naalala ni Tikboy, P2.50 lang ang pamasahe noon ng umalis si Erap. Pero ngayon, minimum fare ay P7.50 na. Dagdag din ang itinaas ng mga bilihin...

Ang pinakamalala, sabi ni Mang Pedro, "Ginawa kaming mga loko-loko. Ibinoto namin si Fernando Poe, ng binilang ay Arroyo."

Pero okay lang po. Nasa demokrasya pa rin tayo at sa demokrasya, mas malakas ang bilang ng mga may pera. Kaya nga lalong malapit ngayon ang Pilipinas sa China.

Dirty minds

On the idea that the joint activities with China to explore the Spratly Islands was only arrived at to secure loans for the Philippines, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales just said: Nothing, nothing. That is a lot of speculation by people who have dirty minds.

On one of his posts, Ricky Carandang expounded his theory on the possible connection of the NBN-ZTE Contract to the joint Philippine-China activities on the exploration of the Spratly Islands. And it looks there is a sense. For instance, bakit nga ba dumami ang loans ng China sa Pilipinas? At bakit sunod-sunod ang mga kontrata na kahit palpak pinipilit pa rin na isulong? Consider the Northrail project among others. At ngayon, ang ZTE Broadband deal. Does this prove Leuccipus who said that "Nothing exists at random but out of reason and out of necessity"?

Mukha nga. With the uncommon common sense of Ms. Gloria Arroyo, it is not impossible for her to sell even the whole Philippines. Consider the fact that she still signed a highly irregular and anomalous contract despite her knowledge about it.

A third evidence is provided by the 2004 presidential elections and the "Hello, Garci!" recordings. One, bakit atat manalo si Ms. Arroyo? At bakit di dapat bumaba sa 1 million ang gap ng boto nila ng second contender? Bakit di na lang iasa sa tunay na saloobin ng taumbayan? Will her loss mean a lot like life and death? Hindi kaya dahil me cash advance na sa China at kung hindi siya manalo baka mag-leak agad ang anti-Filipino Spratlys joint exploration ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas at China? At kung walang cash advance, san nga ba kumuha ng pera na ginasta? Tingin ni Aling Maria, tunay na pista ang 2004 elections. Surely, hindi lang yun dahil na-liquify ang fertilizer funds o iba pang government funds.

At any rate, Aling Maria and the others may just have dirty minds. But why is Ms. Arroyo hiding her hands with the invocation of the executive privilege? And why is she not pushing for the prosecution and incarceration of those who caused the flaws of the contracts she signed? Kala ko ba galit din siya sa katiwalian? Why, is her hands dirty that she is trying to hide them?

So, where's the truth?

After the CBCP statement calling for the search for truth, many are asking: Ano na ang developments?

After the admission of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on the flaws of the ZTE Contract, nothing followed except the ominous celebration of EDSA I and the show of faith in the Makati City Prayer Rally. Pero kung sino ang nasa likod ng flawed contract at kung ano na ang nangyari sa kanila, at kung tunay nga na may kickback si ex-commissioner Ben Abalos at sumigaw ng "back off!" si First Gentlemen, wala na pong nakakaalam. Boses lang ni Joey de Venecia at Jun Lozada ang naririnig.

Kung sabagay, dahil ata sa panalangin kaya natinag si Noli De Castro. Hayun, nagsabi na siya na ready na siyang pumalit kay GMA. Kaya lang, asan pa rin ang katotohanan?

The only thing sure at this moment are the winners in the ZTE Scandal. One of these is the Catholic Church which benefits from both camps for the gifts and donations. Mantakin mo namang dala-dalawa ang misa sa paghahanap ng katotohanan. Meron sa anti-GMA, meron sa pro-GMA. Pero teka, asan na nga ba talaga ang katotohanan?

The Writings on the Street

When two opposite poles attract each other, the only thing certain is there's a magnet.

Yesterday's inter-faith rally was an interesting sight. There we see ousted president Joseph Estrada and one of the key figures in ousting him, former president Cory Aquino, joining together in a common cause. Inquirer.Net even had a picture of them appearing to be dancing together. We also see the prayerfuls and the prayerless; the religious groups and the atheists; the movie stars and the movie-goers; the left and the right; the capitalists and the anti-capitalists; the employers and the employees; and so on and so forth. All are united in saying that truth must come out. But will the concerned people led by the claiming president Gloria Arroyo herself listen?

For a person trying to save his or her ass, parting with power may disprove Shakespeare's statement that "parting is such sweet sorrow". For this people, parting will be very bitter, hard to take pill. Paano pa kasi magiging Darna si Darna kung wala na ang bato? O paano pa magiging presidente ang presidente kung wala na siya sa puwesto?

But whether these people will listen or not, the writings on yesterdays streets in Makati will show: the end might be near. Ang pagsasama-sama ng magkakahiwalay at magkakatunggaling na puwersa ay isang indikasyon na dapat bigyang pansin. Ganun din ang pagpayag ng mga publicity-hungry na pulitiko na huwag magsalita sa entablado at ang mga anti-imperialist na huwag sumigaw ng "ibagsak ang imperialismo" para huwag mabuwag ang mga tao. It's plain and simple science: Opposite poles attract. When these attract each other, a new shape is forming, and a new shape will surely be formed.

GMA and her uncommon common sense

Truth is like water, it always seeks its level.

Gloria Arroyo's admission that the national broadband network deal (NBN) with ZTE Corporation is flawed simply shows that she really deserves to be ousted and that her spinmeister has really lost its touch. Kung sabagay, ang utot, kahit ano'ng pabango ang ilagay mo, utot pa rin.

Actually, Inquirer.Net has done a good job already. It has shown that Arroyo is a party to corruption and had the deal pushed through, she would be very silent about it. Kaya nga lang, there were talks that the project is anomalous so she only cancelled it. If the PDI reporter recorded it right, the intention is vividly encapsulated in Arroyo's words which we quote: Kaya itong proyektong ito, oras na may pag-uusap na anomalya, ay agad-agad kong kinansela. Agad-agad na gumawa ako ng hakbang para kanselahin (So in this project, soon after talk circulated that it was anomalous, I immediately canceled it. I promptly took steps to cancel it).

Kaya nga lang, why cancellation? Why not investigation and eventual incarceration of those involved? Kala ko pa naman mga beterano ang mga legal advisers ni Gloria. Ba't di nila sinabihan ang ale na ang mga involved sa anomalya ay liable sa mga batas natin foremost of which is Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees? The silence of these legal advisers, idagdag niyo ang machinegun-mouthed na si DOJ Sec. Raul Gonzales, simply shows two things -- either na nalimutan nila ito or me pino-protektahan sila. Pero kung nalimutan nila ito, it simply means that they do not deserve to receive income from the government dahil useless din pala ang binabayaran ng mga tao. Mas marami pa ang magagaling na abugado diyan sa tabi-tabi. O kung wala, marami namang paralegal diyan na wiling magsilbi. Just give them the opportunity.

Pero kahit wala ang mga advisers na ito, kahit simpleng sentido kumon na lang sana ang ginamit. Kaso, mukhang kakaiba ang sentido kumon nitong si GMA.

Worst of these is the following:

The President herself, speaking mostly in Filipino, made the disclosure Saturday in an interview with radio commentator Joe Taruc over dzRH. “Someone told me about it the night before the signing of the supply contract. That was one of many signings [in China]. But how can you cancel it the night before, considering that you are dealing with another country?” she said.

In simple analogy, kung bibigyan pala si Gloria ng kontrata na gagawing testing site ng nuclear bomb ang Pilipinas tulad ng ginawa noon ni French Pres. Jacques Chirac sa Mururua at Fangataufa Atolls, at ibinigay ang kontrata a night before the signing of the contract, pipirmahan niya pa rin pala ito kinabukasan? Being a testing site for nuclear weapons is no different from being the killingfield of the weapons of poverty, debt and hunger. Ang kaibahan nga lang, mas mabilis mamatay ang mga tao sa isang bomba lang. But poverty and hunger is more torturing ang inhuman than dying in an instant.

This being the case, Gloria Arroyo just showed her lack of concern for the plight of the Filipinos than the plight of the pockets of some groups or individuals. Whether kasama siya diyan is another story. The clear story is, she doesn't deserve to be a president and that she is betraying the public trust. And she is betraying the country. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

In a way, tama si Senator Kiko Pangilinan, her former ally. According to the Senator:

“Assuming for the sake of argument that the President is telling the truth … her subsequent act of proceeding with the approval of the contract proves that, at the very least, she tolerated and condoned criminal activities,” Pangilinan said, adding:

“At worst, she was a party to it. Either way it appears she failed to act appropriately and may have betrayed the public trust by this failure.”

Kaya lang, di ba nagsisisi si Kiko sa ginawa niya bilang "Mr. Noted" during the 2004 canvassing of votes for president and vice president?

Communal Action vs Communal Inaction

Tikboy has an intelligent, studious and diligent friend. Matapos ang law school, ang kaibigan ni Tikboy ay nagrosaryo, nanalangin, nagpenitensiya at nag-fasting para lang makapasa sa bar. Matapos ang exam, bagsak ang kaibigan ni Tikboy. Di kasi ito nag-review.

While we agree at the calls for prayers, masses and vigils, we also agree that these, alone, cannot solve the country's ills. Even Gloria Arroyo and her cohorts pray, sponsor masses and even do vigils. If both parties do the same, sino na ngayon ang paniniwalaan ng Diyos, if ever there, indeed, is a God? Ang mapera ba? Ang malakas manalangin? Which brings us to the point na ang nakikinabang lang sa lahat ng ito ay ang Simbahan. Imagine holding masses for both parties -- the pro-Arroyos and the antis. Di ba doble-dobleng koleksiyon yun?

While we agree with the statement of Archbishop Angel Lagdameo that Arroyo is worse than a frying pan, allowing her to stay in power if the accusations being thrown at her is true, is accepting plain in simple that worse frying pan. O mas malala pa nga because in a way, the inaction to correct the mistakes is practically condoning the same. If the Church accepts what is wrong and tries to live with it, asan na ngayon ang moral authority nila over their flock?

Sa ngayon, nag-aantay pa rin ang mga tao sa senyas ng simbahan. Kung kelan yun darating, manalangin muna tayo. Malay natin, meron ngang milagro.

Pero di ba may kasabihan na "Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa?"

No Fear and No Peer

After days of silence, Secretary of Justice Raul Gonzales fired his mouth once again this time against Cabinet members who contemplated of attending last Sunday's mass at La Salle Greenhills. Gonzales said, these cabinet members will be axed. So far, there is no report of any Cabinet members attending the mass which was held in support of Jun Lozada, ZTE-Boradband scandal.

But why the fear? Di ba wala namang katotohanan ang pinagsasabi ni Lozada? So what kung dumami ang supporters ni Lozada eh kasinungalingan lang naman daw ang pinagsasabi nito? Kala ko ba, truth always triumph?

To further strengthen the claim, Press Secretary Eduardo Ermita and former NEDA Secretary Romulo Neri read before the media this morning a manifesto of all the cabinet members saying that they hold steadfast to Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Kaso, dalawa nga lang sila, asan yung ibang Cabinet Secretaries? Ang masama pa, sabi ni dating Cabinet Member Ging Deles in a TV interview: Ginawa na rin namin ang ganun. We also made a manifesto declaring our support to GMA and even issued press releases to the media but in the end, we all resigned through the Hyatt 10.

Pero truth prevails, sabi nga, di ba? So GMA will prevail. In her is truth. So why fear?

Oo nga, why fear? Kaso, di ba ang ambassador ang representative ng presidente? And the actions of the ambassador are also the actions of the president. Kasi nga extension ng presidente ang ambassador. Now, according to whispering spirits from Spain, may katotohanan daw kasi ang report ng Malaya na si Philippine Ambassador to Spain Joseph Delano Bernardo gusto ng tumakas sa Pilipinas at maging Kastila na. These whispering spirits said that Bernardo indeed applied for Spanish citizenship but was denied. One of these spirits work with the office that process papers for naturalization. If the actions of the ambassador indeed represent the actions of the president, it can also be said na takot na rin si GMA at gusto na ring tumakas sa Pilipinas tulad ni Bernardo. Puwede di ba?

Pero bakit naman matatakot si GMA eh she is holding the truth?

Kunsabagay, tunay nga na she is holding the truth. Kaya nga ayaw niyang papagsalitain si Neri. Gayundin, ayaw niyang magsalita si FG Mike.

Can't a sinner become a saint?

In yesterday's Senate hearing on the ZTE Broadband Scandal, Miriam "I lied!" Santiago confronted Jun Lozada with documents on the latter's alleged irregularities. She even portrayed Lozada "as a self-dealing government executive with political ambitions who acted as an agent for Jose de Venecia III, the first whistle-blower on the broadband scandal."

According to Santiago, she was merely testing the credibility of Lozada. Lozada, though, did not deny and admitted Santiago's accusations, mea culpa. Which reminds me of her "I am sorry" speech during the elections for her "mistakes" in supporting Erap and the EDSA III. Just to aid Tikboy's memories, Santiago was the one who spoke during the EDSA III and called on the people to storm Malacanang. She was also famous for saying she will jump from the airplane if ever Erap will be ousted. But when her obligation to jump was due, she just said: I lied, hehehe.

Because of her "mistakes", she lost the 2001 Senatorial elections. Fearing another failure, she asked for an apology over the media and sided with Gloria Arroyo. The people forgave her ... and won.

But with her reactions at Lozada, it appears that she forgot her past mistakes. And she forgot that the people also gave her another chance -- that is, by re-electing her. Or maybe she was not really forgiven and she doesn't think it that way. It could be that she also cheated her way to the Senate so why entertain the idea of the voters forgiving her? As she laughingly admitted that she lied, she can also laughingly admit that she cheated during the elections -- that is, if there are evidences shot at her face. So why, indeed, should she think of being forgiven and return the favor by also giving others another chance?

Kung sabagay, ang lohika ni Miriam ay "once a thief, always a thief". If this is the case, she remains to be a liar as a liar is a thief of truth. And her apology is nothing but a pure politically-motivated activity to boost her campaign. And if the logic is indeed "once a thief, always a thief", her boss, GMA, is also guilty for stealing people's votes as the "Hello, Garci!" remains undisputed to this day.

O di ba?

Why did Gloria pardon Erap?

The granting of executive clemency to Erap is a wrong move for both Erap and GMA. Why? Let us count the ways:

1. Erap asking for and accepting pardon simply means he is guilty of the crimes imputed to him. Hindi ka hihingi ng tawad kung wala kang sala.
2. Erap asking for pardon yet claiming that he has not committed any crimes simply means sinungaling din siya. Sabagay, asan nga ba yung sinabi rin niya na "walang kai-kaibigan, at walang kama-kamag-anak"?
   
3. Erap asking for pardon but at the same time saying there is no justice in the present institutions simply affirms Erap's statement. In this case, palpak talaga si Gloria and she didn't notice it.
   
4. On the part of GMA, granting pardon to Erap makes it obvious that she, in a way, is also guilty of the offenses being imputed to her and for that, she is preparing her future. Sabi ni Neal Cruz, she would like to save her own skin. To quote Neal: (I)t is to create a precedent wherein a former president convicted of plunder or graft is immediately pardoned by his/her successor. GMA is already preparing for her future. She knows that when she is no longer president, she will be inundated with charges of graft and/or plunder. By the law of averages, she may be convicted of one of them. She is therefore making it easy for the next president to pardon her.
5. On the part of GMA, granting Erap pardon yet granting nothing to those who have committed lesser offenses simply adds to her palpak na pamamahala, palpak na logic, palpak na choices, palpak na advisers, palpak na salita, palpak na isip, palpak na gawa.

Hmmmnn... teka... di kaya tama rin si Gloria and that she is setting a new principle on stealing... the principle that THOU SHALL NOT STEAL BUT BIGGGGG!!!!???

GMA, accountable only to the Bishops?

Secret-keeper, err, Secretary Toting Bunye announced that Gloria Arroyo will be meeting with the Bishops to explain her side on the bribery scandal that broke out days ago. This followed after the CBCP called the Arroyo government as "morally bankrupt".

But since the day the scandal broke out, the Filipinos have been dying to heard the voice of GMA with regards the scandal. After days of silence, she finally wanted to unzip her mouth and report only to the CBCP. Which implies that GMA is accountable only to the bishops and not to the Filipino people.

Teka, teka, teka. Amended na ba ang Constitution to state that "sovereignty resides on the bishops and that all government authority emanates from them"? And, therefore, GMA is answerable to the bishops and not to the Filipino people? Kala ko ba there is a separation of Church and State?

Kunsabagay, there could be reasons why GMA has shifted her accountability from the Filipino people to the bishops. Many are claiming that she cheated her way to power in 2004. If that is true, and that she didn't really win the elections, it is therefore logical that she cannot be compelled to vow to the Filipinos who did not install her as president. So, who installed her, the bishops? Which leads us to think how the PPCRV behaved during the elections...

Second, during the Hello,Garci! scandal, the bishops called for sobriety instead of GMA's resignation. As a result, GMA was never ousted nor impeached -- courtesy of the bishops. Which means that GMA, indeed, is accountable to the bishops rather than the Filipino people.

Pero tanong ni Tikboy: While there is no problem with GMA being the president of the bishops, what about the money that had been circulating lately as alleged bribes? And what about the money that GMA is spending to run her government for the bishops? Di kaya pera rin yun ng mga bishops? O kaya naman pera yun na nahulog mula sa langit considering that GMA is close to the bishops?

Hmmmnnn....