Snipnets: Clashes

Clashes of NPA and government troops

Two rebels died while scores of soldiers were injured in a running battle between government troops and NPA rebels in Pila Laguna. The AFP said that the CPP-NPA-NDF is slowly weakening. How will they explain this? It seems that the rebels are closing in Metro Manila? Previous to this, NPA rebels attacked a convoy of soldiers in Aurora Quezon which led to the death of some soldiers. Are they really being weakened? Or this pronouncement is just braggadocio on the part of government?

Esperon finding his relevance

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon said that he expects the CPP-NPA-NDF to become "irrelevant" by 2010. Basing on what he's been doing and his boss fucking up the economy, this prediction will again, fail. Remember, last 2002, they said that they'll succeed in decimating the "enemy" by 2008. Its already 2008 and still the insurgents are becoming stronger and more relevant. Is this Esperon's way of actually justifying his relevance and possible extension of term of service? Yup. You guess right.

Two camps, Two Coups

This noise is deafening. Reports are highly reliable. Two groups within the AFP are trying to neutralize each other. One group is reportedly composed of Esperon's men; the others, the Patriots. Who will win the hearts and minds of the soldiers? Last December, a survey was conducted which showed that the Patriots have the support of at least 30 percent of the AFP. This is an improvement of a previous survey where it says that only 10% support the Patriots and 10% support the administration. Now, the configuration has changed.

The question is--who will launch the first one? I believe that groups aligned with Esperon and Gonzales will try to launch a coup and point to the Magdalo as a culprit. Obviously, Esperon will crush them and earn the extension which he wants. This is dangerous. And only Arroyo is to be blamed for this.

Bhutto style

Ellen Tordesillas wrote about an alleged plan to assassinate former president Joseph Estrada. Some would brush this off. I dare say that this report should not be glossed over. The AFP and the PNP should investigate this. Why? Because if these evil men succeed in their plan, it will plunge the country into a state of perpetual destabilization, leading to a civil war. If ever some hawks in the Cabinet has this plan in their nimble brains, they better abandon this. They are digging their own graves.

On the Eve of Civil War

Mrs. Arroyo has just sealed her fate. By pardoning Erap today, she just made a big blunder. She just allowed all her enemies to band together against her. Arroyo, in effect, signed her death warrant.

Definitely, it will not be long before the camp of FVR, the Speaker, civil society, pseudo-civil society, revolutionaries, common people, businessmen, workers and middle classes will now have a rally point. And that rallying point will definitely revolve around the search for justice. Arroyo has just allowed the campaign against her to assume a new character, a new stage--that of being a fight against injustice. Its quite obvious that the ZTE probe, charges of corruption are all campaigns for the search for truth. Now, due to this granting of pardon, people will definitely campaign for justice. The next level will just be the struggle for peace.

I shudder at the thought of another revolt, this time, bloodier and more vicious than the previous EDSAs. It will not be long before forces wanting to overthrow this administration will unite and together call for the ouster of Gloria.

Who would now prevent collective resignation among her cabinet? This early, there are signs of another Hyatt 10 incident. I am not in the habit of betraying the trust of my sources, but definitely, some of GMA's cabinet are intending to resign. Obviously, the Ramos' camp will definitely resign from this administration. Ramos' interview before he left for Guandong China tells you that something is terribly wrong about what's happening now.

Danger signals

There's a serious rift in Philippine society now. The military is split in the middle. PMA classes are in serious struggles against each other. The ranks of generals have been seriously affected by the succession of bribery allegations. My source in the palace told me that some generals actually told the president that they will not receive the "cash gifts" they were being offered during their recent meeting at the Palace. Some even left the room after meeting with the president.

The Lower House is also split, with those who side with the Speaker and those with Arroyo. The Senate is likewise disunited with some for the administration and some in the opposition.

We have a disunited business community, most undecided on what to do with GMA and whether to continue supporting her. We have a police establishment that is likewise torn apart due to the mess left by the ex-PNP chief.

So, Dolorfino is right---we are in the eve of a civil war. It will not be long before these forces converge against Gloria.

Will we see Gloria occupying the place of Erap in the future? This eventuality is not remote.