Cha-cha train pushes through the dark night

Amidst controversy over the ZTE graft probe, Malacanang, as predicted, pushed through with the charter change train. Former Presidential Chief of Staff Joey Salceda led the charge Tuesday despite some protestations on the timing of the campaign. So, the cha-cha train pushed through the dark night.

This confirms my earlier writings that this entire shembang--the neutralization of Lakas, the ouster of JDV, the election of Nograles, the incarceration of opponents and the apparent coolness of the palace in the ZTE drama--are components of the palace plan for charter change. Ramos has just said last year that cha-cha is too late in the game because any change initiative now would be misinterpreted by the people as a veiled attempt at power perpetuation. Groups, particularly the Opposition, have said time and again that they would oppose cha-cha done at this time.

What all these indicate?

The palace is drunk with power. Because of the inability of people's organizations and the middle class to rise against it, it has been transformed into a whole gigantic mafia organization that has the capability of destroying everything that would try to block its way. It is now flexing its muscles, like a great fire-mouthing dragon, ready to engulf its enemies. This cha-cha campaign shows how resilient and determined this administration is in its attempts at prolonging the term of Arroyo beyond 2010.

This is war.

Groups said that the reason why they are not all out in opposing Arroyo is that it is averting civil war. Well, their silence or their somewhat "critical collaboration" stance has now embolden Arroyo and her cohorts so much so that Arroyo thinks that she is invincible. Groups should now rise over partisan interests and if they are really dead serious in their opposition to cha-cha now, they should coalesce and form a strong front to fight Arroyo.