Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Gus Lagman's Rants and the Chief Justice's Conviction

A conviction of the Chief Justice will boost the waning power of the politically beleaguered Chief Executive. An acquittal will surely cast aspersion on the ability of the President to influence the courts; hence, it directly hits his political power base. An impasse will definitely prolong this political struggle between the Supreme Court and the Office of the President, affecting all the affairs of this state. 


This impeachment comes at a time when certain groups once allied with the President have already separated from him. It also comes at a time when Vice President Jejomar Binay has already announced his senatorial bets for 2013, sorely affecting his ties with the palace and that of the main administration party, the Liberal party. 


Though publicly, both Binay and the President acknowledges the continued political alliance, on the ground, Binay's group is behaving rather differently. In terms of political power, Noynoy is slowly losing his due to perceptions of inefficiency and his liberalist policies which harms public interests. 


Now, here comes Augusto Gus Lagman, self-professed IT expert and appointee of the palace as Comelec commissioner alleging, among others, that his appointment will not anymore be passed to the Senate's Commission on Appointments. 


Lagman said that the palace does not want to "irk" Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile. Enrile, according to Lagman, hates him for allegedly orchestrating "treading" during the 1987 Senatorial elections. Lagman was head of the Namfrel quick count, while Enrile was running as Senator. Enrile nearly lost the elections, and he reportedly blames Lagman for it.


Lagman's allegation is outright malicious and cast aspersions to the independence of the Senate as an impeachment body. What will happen then, when the Senate decides to render a decision. Actually, whatever decision the Senate decides to dispense--conviction or acquittal--will now be viewed rather differently by the public. 

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