Slow Response of Congress Against Martial Rule is Portent of Things To Come

Sloooooow r-e-s-p-o-n-s-e.

It should have been today yet members of Congress decided that they will instead convene tomorrow to tackle Proclamation 1959. Constitutionalist Christian Monsod said Congress should have convened last Sunday or even "as late" as Monday (yesterday), but they did not.

Is this the kind of response we will expect later when Mrs. Arroyo decides to finally push the envelope further and declare the entire country under martial law? It has been days and surely rights have been violated if at all dis-respected in Maguindanao.

The slow response shown by both Houses reflect how poorly these Honorable Gentlemen and Ladies regard human rights. Every second and minute lost equates one or two people's rights to freedom violated.

It also shows political reality at best---that an administration-dominated House can actually wield more power than an oppositionist Senate.

These kinds of scenario are emboldening Mrs. Arroyo. This "experiment" in Martial law is only fuelling her base desires for another crack at it.

Now, if the Arroyo-dominated Supreme Court rules in favor of Martial law, that completes the entire picture. Surely, that will give the ultimate signal to those who want to extend the term of Mrs. Arroyo that the opposition is still weak and they can practically do whatever they want.

Woe to democracy in this country.