Lagman to PNoy: Ask Robredo ,others to resign or get axed

This morning at the GMA-7's Unang Hirit program, Albay Congressman Edcel Lagman calls on President Noynoy Aquino to axe DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo and other top ranking officials if they will not resign for the fiasco committed during the Manila Hostage Crisis staged by Capt. Rolando Mendoza.

Sabi ni Lagman, si Frisco Nilo nga sinibak sa kapalpakan sa PAG-ASA, bakit hindi rin sibakin sa puwesto si Robredo at iba pang mataas na opisyal sa PNP? Dagdag ni Lagman, andun naman si Robredo sa lugar kung saan nangyayari ang hostage-taking, bakit di niya pinigilan ang live video feed nang pag-aresto sa kapatid ni Mendoza. Kaya dapat sa kanya, mag-resign din.

Pero dapat nga bang mag-resign si Robredo? Si J.A. Carizo ng Biklish ay may sinulat na sagot at ito ay mga sumusunod:

But while Lagman is right that heads should fall, maybe we should also look into the extent of control of those he wished to resign or get axed. If we do not establish standards, then maybe we can include the members of the Congress especially the senior members like him for failure to pass the necessary budget for the gears and training of the members of the police force.

We should also impeach the Ombudsman for its pace on acting resolutions is one of the complaints of the hostage-taker. The impeachment is not anymore in the realm of the executive but on the legislative department and that means the Congress where he, Lagman, is a member.

We should also remove the members of the Congress, including him, as they failed to strictly ensure that laws with appropriate remedies are available to those who feel wronged like Mendoza. Add to this the lack of appropriate laws on social services like education as had been the subject of the 2007 Manila Hostage Drama perpetrated by Jun Ducat.

Phil Star: Profligate leadership by example

The Philippine Star's editorial today is worth reading... and sharing. Below is a copy. For the source, click here.

Profligate leadership by example

While other countries have slipped into recession, President Arroyo appears determined to show to the world how healthy the Philippine economy is: by traipsing around the globe. Her latest eight-day jaunt across Europe, the Middle East and North America cost taxpayers a whopping P123 million — and that’s the amount that Malacañang was willing to acknowledge.

What did Filipino taxpayers get in return? Few people remember exactly why the President went to Davos, Switzerland, or to Italy. If she went to the World Economic Forum to brag about the Philippine example, the international community seemed unimpressed.

Malacañang cited benefits from the entire trip amounting to an even more whopping $2 billion. Where did that fantastic figure come from? Palace officials said the President received pledges of aid from Saudi Arabia totaling $500 million and, from Bahrain, an investment commitment of $350 million for a hotel project in Makati City. In the United States, where her quest for a coveted photograph with new President Barack Obama ended in humiliation, there is a possibility that the Philippines can export $1.2 billion worth of textiles.

Decisions regarding foreign aid or major investments are not made as quickly as the President decides to fly to Washington for a photo op. The groundwork for decision-making is laid over several months, and the final commitment does not need the presence of the head of the recipient country. The original reason cited for the President’s Middle Eastern trip was to act as job-hunter for overseas Filipino workers. But the region has been hit by the precipitous plunge in world demand for crude oil. Projects and major investments in the Middle East are on hold, foreign workers are being sent home, and it’s doubtful that recovery will be quick.

Textile exports to the US? The Philippine textile industry has been devastated by competition from China and India. And if there is textile to speak of for exports, are Americans buying at this time? As for that unfortunate pilgrimage to Washington, where the President did not merit even a nod or word of acknowledgment from her US counterpart, the embarrassment should be enough to keep her home at least for the duration of the global slump. But then that would be too much to expect of this President. If members of Congress and even police officers are inveterate junketeers at taxpayers’ expense, it is because they are simply following their leader’s example.

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: The Rule of Law

After admitting the presence of flaws in the NBN contract and still signing it, and after doing nothing to immediately punish the erring officials involved, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is calling "on the public to remind the legislators to respect the rule of law in its investigations into alleged corruption in her government."

Teka, bakit ang legislators lang? Di ba kasama sa gobyerno ang executive department kung saan siya kabilang? Or what she means is respect her for she is the rule of law?

AT any rate, kung hindi siya ang rule of law at siya ay tagapagpatupad lamang ng batas, she should have not sacrificed the welfare of the people for the sake of the length of time. Immediately sana, pina-hold niya muna ang kontrata ng ZTE at hindi ito pinirmahan, pinatalsik niya ang mga pumalpak na opisyal ng gobyerno na involved sa pag-aaral ng ZTE, at kinasuhan niya agad ng violation of anti-corruption laws at violation of RA 6713 ang mga involved. Ganun din, inalis niya ang EO 464 at pinaharap sina Romulo Neri at iba pa sa Senado para sa imbestigasyon din na maaring makatulong sa pag-gawa ng mas matitibay na batas laban sa korupsiyon.

Anyway, consistent din ang ale. Dagdag niya sa speech niya sa Trece Martirez, Cavite kanina, "Yes, lahat tayo laban sa katiwalian, pero ang pinaglaban naman ni [hero and first Philippine president General Emilio ] Aguinaldo ay rule of law, democratic principles, ipaglaban natin yun."

Kung maaalala ng lahat, matapos ang eleksiyon at nanalo si Aguinaldo laban kay Andres Bonifacio, the former also insisted that the rule of law prevails. Kaya ilang araw lang, pinatay si Bonifacio para di na mag-ingay laban sa resulta ng eleksiyon na sabi ng ilang historians, tainted din ng dayaan. And Gloria allegedly won also because of cheating. Di ba? Hello? Garci?....

Kaya pala di natin masisi si Jun Lozada when he begged off Jinggoy Estrada's question. Tanong kasi ni Jinggoy during the ZTE hearing: Sino ang idol mo doon... este, ngayon?

Sinabi kasi ni Lozada na dati idol niya si Joker Arroyo kaya lang nagbago na pagtingin niya. Ngayon, di na niya sinagot si Jinggoy. Mahirap na kasi baka mabuking siya. Malaman ng lahat na idol niya rin si ex-Comelec Chair Ben Abalos. While Lozada begged off the question, si Gloria Arroyo naman proud pa na gawing halimbawa si Aguinaldo.

Well, this just proves the saying: Birds of the same feather, flocks together.

And with this, it can also be rightfully said na nabibingwit talaga ang isda sa bibig.

Trillanes's continuing detention, not a voice of the people

Many looking for complicated arguments just to let Senator-Elect Antonio Trillanes go out of his detention cell and perform his functions as a member of the Upper House. Pero simple lang naman ang argumento diyan.

First, the President of the Philippines has a power to grant pardon and amnesty. Pero saan ba galing ang powers na yan? Sabi sa Article 2 ng 1987 Constitution:

Section 1. The Philippines is a democratic and republican State. Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.

In a sense, the president cannot exercise his/her powers to grant pardon and amnesty without the blessing of the people.

Second, If the President is a delegatee of the powers to grant pardon and amnesty, it therefore follows that the people also has those powers. Sabi nga: One cannot delegate which he/she doesn't have.

Which boils down to the third proposition: The people elected Trillanes. This is despite the fact that there are 37 choices for the position. And this, despite the fact that Trillanes is facing charges for his "criminal acts". The very simple conclusion is that the people simply condones whatever acts Trillanes may have committed. O di ba?

Say ni Fr. Joaquin Bernas na isang constitutionalist? Kahit si Senator Brenda Santiago pa ang tanungin natin.

GMA' SONA

Some says the state of the nation address of Gloria Arroyo is not really a SONA but a travelogue. Whatever, at least she found her way to Bicol.

Arroyo said that with her seven billion-peso calamity allocation in Region V, the Bicolanos are now getting their rightful share. So, admitted na talaga na hindi binibigyan ang Bicol ng karampatang atensiyon. Bakit, dahil ba sa opposition country ang tingin sa Bicol Region? Pero sabi ni Jay Carizo ng IPD, myths lang daw yun? (Read here or here) That being the case, mali nga talaga ang mga espiritu santong prayle ni Gloria. A case of misreading the political environment? If mali nga ang political reading, then mali then ang mga plano ni Gloria. Hence, paano kaya mangyayari ang pagiging kabilang ng Pilipinas sa mayayamang bansa in a couple of decades? Hmmmmnnnn?

Sabagay, wish list niya lang yun. At alang masama sa pangarap.

Pero ang tanong, kung hindi ba binagyo ang Bicol di ba nila ito bibigyan ng pansin? O props lang para sabihing dahil kay Datu kaya nabigay ang seven billion? Aber nga, aber?

The Trillanes's Mandate

The editorial of Inquirer is quite incisive. To quote:

Should [Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV] accused of leading a coup d'etat be allowed either temporary or conditional liberty, to allow him to discharge his duties as a new member of the Senate? Should he enjoy a change in his custody status, from military detention to perhaps the custody of the Senate? Not least, should his election to the Senate, on the strength of over 11 million votes, be considered as absolving him of his liability?

A friend who is now a Dutch citizen lamented that in the Philippines, anybody who wants to be a senator must first stage a coup d' etat. Just like Honasan and Trillaness. Such a thinking, he continued, makes the Filipinos an "inexplicable political morons".

(Well, my friend isn't Miriam Santiago. Too bad he isn't that we can't rid a country with at least one genius liar.)

Well I may not be proud to be a Filipino. Neither am I proud to be an inexplicable political moron. But if such a moronic state could give sanity to elections, so be it. The way I read the signs, the election of Trillanes simply means a wake up call to those "seated in the most high". If the Filipinos are satisfied, why would they exchange chocolates for "delimon"? Or a castle for a "barong-barong"? Nobody would even want a "tinapa" in exchange for a beefsteak (unless he/she is a Hindi).

At first I also believe that the Filipinos are an irrational voter. It's hard to predict what they want and who will they choose. Add the mud that the Catholic church spread by saying "Ang pera sa bulsa, ang boto sa balota". But th was before. It was only lately that I realized Filipinos are what Samuel Popkins call as a "Reasoning Voter". They vote retrospectively and prospectively. They want to punish their officials for not performing well, and they sometimes have "moronic" choices because they think that someday, somehow, things will still change. And for that reason, they chose Trillanes.

But as to Inquirer's question on the fate of Trillanes, the only possible reply is: Read the signs. The signs are clear and these are written already on the ballot.

Hanging Ropes and Elections

While Miguel Zubiri and Koko Pimentel are still busy with the legal battles on the Maguindanao vote, the local politicians are also busy with the cases they have filed against each other. But why this fuss? Let us count the ways:

1. There are no losers in the Philippine elections -- only the winners and those who have been cheated.
2. The first teacher of cheating is the Church. They are not transparent as to where the tithes go. As a result, some spiritual leaders and ministers have acquired new cars and houses in the name of the father... err, in the name of their family members.
3. From this teaching, the State goes onto institutionalize this. Take a look at Arroyo.
4. Worse, the Church did nothing but keep mum on the Hello Garci. In another case, there is vote-buying. The Church says: Ang pera sa bulsa, ang boto sa balota. This was the slogan since the time of Cardinal Sin which, in a sense, approves the taking of election money. In a sense, the institutionalization of cheating was tacitly approved by Tikboy's spiritual leaders.
   
5. And here comes the Comelec. Until now, it was not able to pin down an election cheater. Where is Garci? And Bedol? And big happy family, err... mafia, that manipulates votes since post-Marcos elections?
   

Worse, while the real winners find their places lost in the labyrinth of uncertainty and shame, the faces of the real losers almost split into two like the "tambaloslos" of the Ibalong epic for wearing that extra (and super) large smile. And while these real losers eat their fill and plunge their hands at the bounty of the government coffers, the voters who did not choose them continue to wallow in poverty and hunger. And this cycle continues again and again.

Of course, there are also politicians who won fair and square. But nobody knows their number. And nobody knows if they can still multiply. Hope they will...

Tikboy is Alive! Zarathustra is dead!

First of all, congratulations to our blogging councilor, Hon. Pete Lavinia for winning another seat in the Davao City Council. Of course, kudos to the rest of the politicians who won by hook or by crook in the recently-held Philippine elections.

It's been a long while since my last log. Many things happened. The Genuine Opposition's senatorial slate grabbed most of the seats in the upper house, more scandals, new laws, etc., etc. Despite my virtual absence, Statcounter was still able to record hundreds of visits hoping that Tikboy will have newer and newer entries. Sorry for failing you, dear visitors. But good news, Tikboy has resurrected and will be busy blogging again.


But while Tikboy is alive, Zarathustra is dead! And the people having different thoughts yet taking steps parallel to Zarathustra's are slowly falling one by one. Courtesy, of course, by the the Arroyo government through its inaction (or blessing?).

Anyway, this is just an introduction to the Second Coming of Snippets. Please bear with me as I watch the moments pass us by...