Crackdown on cha-cha

National security adviser Norberto Gonzales and ISAFP Chief Gen. Rey Prestoza and even AFP spokesperson, Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. were all one in saying that the military is not the ones behind the spate of bombings that happened in Metro Manila this week. They all say there's a destabilization plot, allegedly being committed by two groups and funded by an opposition politician. While PNP chief Jesus Versoza denied that there is a destabilization plot on-going.

Which is which? Who to believe? The chief of the PNP saying there's no destab, or these three gentlemen?

To help you, my dear readers and friends judge who to believe, let's go back to the very words Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo told reporters last June 21.

During her working visit in Japan, Mrs. Arroyo said that she's not out to scrap the elections. What she's after, Mrs. Arroyo said, is to reform the political system through constitutional amendments. She categorically stated her desire for charter change through "political and economic reforms". “What I have always said, and it was part of my campaign platform in 2004, is that the political system needs to be reformed,” the President told reporters covering her working visit in Japan.

Mrs. Arroyo said the political and economic reforms she wished to implement would entirely depend on the efforts of her allies and “ultimately on the people of the Philippines.”

Okey, two things---charter change is on and the elections. Its clear that Mrs. Arroyo will push ahead with amending the constitution prior to the elections, so expect the fight against cha-cha to really be messy and protracted, since it just spewed out of Mrs. Arroyo's mouth that she's routing not just for economic reform (as what Speaker Nograles only wants) but "political reforms" as well. Meaning, Mrs. Arroyo is really gunning for a shift to parliamentary, a desperate move, says her detractors, to prolong her stay in power.

So, come July 27, allies of the President will not just change economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution--they will also try to change political provisions--a clear violation of the "gentleman's agreement" made by administration allies in the Lower House.

Okey. So the elections are on. What kind? Partial automation, the palace said. So, what would happen is Comelec will have a joint venture (or whatever that arrangement is) with Smartmatic only to partially automate the elections. But, why is the palace and Comelec insiders preparing for partial instead of full elections?

Because they are anticipating that the elections will fail anyway. Why do I say that?

Note the statement made by Norberto Gonzales regarding a "revolutionary government" setup with Mrs. Arroyo as head. These ideologues and hawks within the palace are deliberately sabotaging the elections to create the necessary scenarios for justifying an action like this.

Why float an idea if these palace men have'nt thought about it and considered it within the confines of Malacanang?

That said, going back to the original question---who to believe? I believe Verzosa when he says that there's no destabilization because he knows very well that its government who's doing those scare tactics and government troops are no destabilizers. Why do it in the first place?

To precipitate a crackdown of anti cha-cha group leaders, to instill fear in them enroute to July 27. Its not martial law that this government intends to achieve ultimately, although its a sweeter, if we are to believe what Executive secretary Eduardo Ermita said previously, but merely to derail the organizing efforts being undertaken by anti charter change agents.