Executive Secertary Leandro Mendoza will head new govt come May 11

Contrary to what Malacanang through deputy palace spokesperson Charito Planas said, that in a failure of election scenario, the military takes over, there are still non-Constitutional safeguards in place to protect democratic institutions, and prevent the prospect of a non-functioning government.

One of these is the possibility of Arroyo's appointive officials acting as a "care-taker" government (different from a "hold-over" Cabinet which means a revolutionary government). Since most of the positions will actually be vacant come May 10, the Cabinet can act as the interim government.

Meaning, Executive secretary Leandro Mendoza will surely be the next "president", acting in a "care-taker" capacity for, probably sixty days.

Mendoza, a former police general, served Mrs. Arroyo as DOTC head before being appointed as Executive secretary, replacing Eduardo Ermita.

If you'll notice, this Cabinet is now occupied by the top and highly trusted men of the president. Arroyo's defense chief is Norberto Gonzales, the ideologue of the administration. The DILG is still Ronnie Puno, while most, if not all sensitive posts are being occupied by former generals of Arroyo, among them Energy secretary Angelo Reyes.

Now, what is appalling is the possibility of these Cabinet officials suddenly declaring a self-coup and transform themselves into a junta, which, according to some sources, is not a far-fetched idea.

Bangit, if you remember, was with Gonzales early last year talking with some religious and civil leaders on the possibility of creating a Council-type of government.

Palace to use H1N1 issue as ruse for SONA delay?

Is Malacanang thinking of calling for a special session ahead of the scheduled SONA on July 27, using the worsening H1N1 as a reason?

It seems like it since there are suggestions that the Palace, through Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita is amenable to delay the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of Mrs. Gloria Arroyo if the situation worsens. The question I would like to pose is this---is this allowed by the Constitution?

Obviously, the charter is very explicit on this. Under Section 23, Article 7 of the 1987 Constitution, it says that:

The President shall address the Congress at the opening of its regular session. He may also appear before it at any other time.

And when is the regular session of Congress? In Section 15, of Article VI, the date of the regular session is explicitly stated, thus:

The Congress shall convene once every year on the fourth Monday of July for its regular session, unless a different date is fixed by law, and shall continue to be in session for such number of days as it may determine until thirty days before the opening of its next regular session, exhaustive of Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. The President may call a special session at any time.

Now, that provision is very explicit and directory, meaning, it cannot be changed except with a law passed that would direct the Congress to change the date of its regular session. Changing the date of the regular session, at this point, is impossible since Congress is on recess and there is, I think, difficulty in assembling at least 200 Congressmen to vote on this.

There are talks that Malacanang wants to use this H1N1 issue as a ruse to allow itself to declare a State of Emergency or at the least, use it to delay the SONA. As I wrote, this is not possible since the provision is very explicit, probably except if there is a national emergency.

What is the effects of a delay in the opening of a regular session? Well, one it pushes back the passage of pending legislation. And two, it also allows Congressmen, especially allies of the president, to consolidate their forces and muster enough numbers to really convene the House as Constituent Assembly. Talks are rife that Malacanang would not be able to get the required 240 votes for con-ass, says Fr. Bernas. Yet, Cong. Ortega said, this is still achievable.

Now, then, this H1N1 issue could be used as a basis to call for a special session ahead of the SONA, austensibly, to call on the passage of a law that would delay the SONA date. If this would be the case, this would be the very first time that the date of regular session would be changed since 1987.

Ermita warns of martial law--sinong takot?

The cat is now out of the bag.

Executive secretary Eduardo Ermita, the alter-ego of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, warns of martial rule against those who'll cause "chaos" in opposition of House Resolution 1109. Ermita said that Mrs. Arroyo has the power to declare it once public uproar increases against attempts at transforming the Lower House into a constituent Assembly.

Now, there, Mr. Ermita. Your true malevolent spirit is showing.

I have no doubt that this is the true plan of Malacanang---to use the expected public outrage against charter change as a ruse to formalize the dictatorial nature of this administration. This administration is actually preparing for martial rule, as what this site wrote a few weeks ago.

Ermita and this administration wants martial rule as a social tranquilizer against charter change.

Now, then, will it be a good idea for anti charter change exponents to tone things down and slow its anti charter change train?

They should not slow things down. In fact, all the more should people continue their vigilance against these dastardly plan of Malacanang.

Who's afraid of Martial law? Who's afraid of dictatorships?

I'm not.

I echo what former Senate President Frank Drilon said that this administration should not underestimate the Filipino People. " I warn the Arroyo administration not to underestimate the people's anger. The majority of the Filipino people may be silent but Malacanang should not mistake this for complacency and submissiveness."

A Conversation at the Palace

When Herr Enchanted heard the arrest of Atty. Homobono Adaza, she immediately convened the National Security Council (NSC). This is a transcript of their conversation.

Herr Enchanted: ” O, nahuli daw si Bono?”

Security Adviser Bert Gon to Herr Enchanted: ” San? Di na ba siya nagcoconcert?”

Herr Enchanted: ” Hindi yun. Si Bono, Abono Adaza!”

Peace adviser Espy to Herr Enchanted: ” Ano po ma’am, abono? Dami ko na nga pong abono sa Mindanao lalo na nung eleksyon…di ba nanalo naman tayo? Ngayon, gusto nyo na naman akong mag-abono..”

Bert Gon to Espy: ” Hindi yun, bingi! Ang sabi ni Ma’am, si Adaza, nag-abono…ma’am kung abono gusto nio, kunin natin sa states si Joc-joc Bolante. Magaling bumili ng abono yun. Kitam, kumita pa!”

Herr Enchanted: ” Hay naku, kalimutan niyo na si Joc-Joc. Di na atin yun.”

(Sec. Ermita now enters the room.)

Herr Enchanted: ” O, E-S, me balita ka ba ke Bono?”

Sec Ermita: ” Nahuli na. Pinakasuhan natin dahil ayaw nilang tumigil eh.”

Espy to Ermita: ” Nag-abono ka din? Dami ko ngang inabono nung eleksyon, ala naman akong napala. Now, peace adviser lang ako! Pano na si misis? Di na siya makakapag-shopping!”

Herr Enchanted: ” Tumigil ka nga Espy! Baka marinig ka ng mga midya dyan!”

Espy to Herr Enchanted: ” Sabi nio kasi abono eh! Di ko na nga nabili ng boots mga sundalo dahil dyan sa abono-abono!”

Face Ermita.

Her Enchanted: ” Gawan niyo na ng way yan at gusto kong mag-golf sa Wack-Wack this Sunday. “

Sec Ermita: ” Ma’am you havg nothing to worry about. Nag-iisip pa lang sila, me kaso na agad. Ganyan kami kabilis. Lam nyo namang bata natin yang si Verzosa…gustong maging chief PNP yan…”

Herr Enchanted: ” Pano si Barias?”

Sec Ermita: ” Naku ma’am, barya-barya lang makukuha natin sa kanya. Di tulad ni Verzosa!”

Herr Enchanted: ” Okey. You’re the boss. Sige, ikulong na yang si Bono, pati sina Cardeno para matuto. At least, hapi-hapi pa rin tayo sa palasyo.”

All rise: ” Yes ma’am!”

Conjugal Fighting

After the bedlam created by the NBI raiding teams at the height of the rice crisis a few weeks ago, we find no similar news lately. Have they stopped their campaign to rid us of those unscrupulous rice traders? Why? Who ordered them to stop?

Gloria has been very persistent in filing cases against these traders. She has, in fact, even gone to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to personally attend to the prosecution of these traders. However, despite "presidential intervention", nothing came out of it. Why? What happened?

DOJ insiders say, it allegedly took one or several phone calls from the First Golfer to stop "the madness". After the raid in a supposed warehouse of controversial lady Vicky Toh and her brother Thomas by an NBI crack team, calls were made and those raids mysteriously disappeared.

As mysterious as these raids was the sudden "reincarnation" of this case against former DOJ Hernani Perez. Gloria's fair-haired boy and confidante, Perez's case suddenly sprung to life as if somebody caused it to happen.

And ironies of ironies...Perez is now being counseled by the First Golfer's chief legal propagandist. Wagging tongues can't help but notice this blatant irony.

So, who's the more powerful now? That lady from the putrid river or that gentleman from the big-time operator world? You tell me.

Ah, talking about the DOJ, that septuagenarian remains the big man out there. That Gonzo seems to have a solid backing from the lady and the gentleman. Why? Well, he serves as the hatchet man. And he's doing quite a feat, what with his glib tongue.

Lastly, why did Ermita agree to be demoted? From being an alter-ego, he's just now, the voice behind the curtain. Why? I have the highest respect for Ermita. Why stay? Why?

Meralco takeover a play of words?

Executive secretary Eduardo Ermita just denied a purported palace plan to takeover Meralco. Ermita told journalists in a media forum that, though the Palace has the numbers to force a takeover, he denies that they intend to dislodge the Lopez Group from the power distribution firm. Ermita said they're just forcing Meralco to reveal and "open its books for scrutiny" so that Meralco will be forced to lower its electricity distribution rates.

This is a stark departure from the "war-like" stance of Gloria when the little dictator faced a group of businessmen a few days back. Could this be the result of what GSIS President Winston Garcia revealed during Ricky Carandang's show "News on 8" over ANC this morning?

Garcia told Ricky that he has been in contact with the Lopezes and he assured Ricky and the public that "there'll be no fireworks" come May 27.

However, if you analyze what Garcia told Ricky and what Ermita told the palace media, there seems to be a stark difference.

Garcia wants a change in the management of Meralco. While Ermita says all of these noise is just "pressure" from the palace to lower electricity rates.

Ermita knows that you can't just "shout" at the Lopezes to get their attention. No. They've been entrenched already and so callous and so haughty enough that they'll not bulge in their seats even if your voice turns hoarse. Garcia knows this. That's why he's targetting a management change, not a company takeover.

I think Garcia is telling the truth that government does not intend a corporate raid. What is certain though is government is eyeing a management change which is an under-handed tactic to effectively control the firm.

What's certain is this---government has achieved what it wants when it played the takeover card. I mean, it exposed how vulnerable the hold of the Lopezes is in Meralco. It remains to be seen though if this thing will lead to what Ermita says as a lowered electricity rate.

Probably, Meralco chairman Lopez is correct. Garcia is just shaking Meralco down to probably prop it for a ripe picking in the future, not now when the issue is still hot. Garcia is creating this fuzz to force a diminution of Meralco stock. That way, investors can still buy in and eventually dilute Lopez stocks more.

The Misinterpretation of EDSA

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita sums it all up for us--forget EDSA two. " The least we talk about it, the better" says one of the foremost beneficiary of the revolution which swept his boss to power. Ermita says Estrada has been pardoned and it would be best for everyone to forget all about the revolution that made Estrada lose his legitimate position.


It may be a good suggestion, but it shows how these people, especially Mrs. Arroyo misinterpreted EDSA Dos. It was not about Erap. No. It was'nt about his misgovernance, nor his penchant for beautiful, young paramours. No.

EDSA Dos was about regaining the dignity and the respect of the Filipino to themselves. It was about the restoration of our Hiya. The people did not go to the streets to install Mrs. Arroyo. No. We went to EDSA because we felt that something was terribly wrong with the way our leaders behave and how our leaders govern our beloved country.

Yes, partly we were aghast at the graft and corruption of Erap and his gang. Yes, we forgot what would happen to us and our families because we felt that Erap was slowly becoming an Imelda, not a Macoy. He was ostentatious. He was a non-performer. It was all glitz and glamour when the times require serious work. And he was portrayed as an underperformer, worst, without any vision when we need one.

EDSA Dos, for whatever it is worth, is not a revolt against personalities. It was an attempt by the Filipino People to again redefine their future. It was a conscious act to build a society on their own terms, on their own ideas.

EDSA Dos was an attempt to rediscover the essence of being a Filipino. We lost it when we forgot how it is to feel hiya. It was in essence, a rediscovery of our moral values, our ethical foundation.

So, when Mrs. Arroyo and her bunch of lapdogs prevent us from remembering EDSA, they were actually telling us to forget how it is to be Filipinos. They are afraid that if we rediscover our strengths again and regain the will to unite for decency, order, justice and truth, not one second longer will they stay in power.

For those who still feel hiya. For those who still feel decency, never, ever, forget EDSA. Damn those who want us to forget EDSA Dos. We went to EDSA not because of Gloria.

We went to EDSA because we are Filipinos. And we will go to EDSA once again, damn the trucks, the tanks, the truncheons, the water cannons, the arrests, the bullets, even death, because we need to feel being Filipinos, true Pinoys, once again.