Arroyo Couple Flight from Prosecution: Hindi Bulag ang Masang Pinoy

" Hon, buko tayo. Nakita na ng lahat how healthy I am. "

I agree with Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda's observation that last night's NAIA incident was a scripted attempt by the Arroyo camp to shore up public support. It was a melo-dramatic scene with one objective, and that is, to purposely show the public a very sick and weak Arroyo. And you know why it failed?

The public saw otherwise. Hindi tanga ang taumbayan. Kitang kita sa mga eksenang naganap sa NAIA ang isang malusog na Ginang Arroyo at ang kayabangan ng dating First Family.

Kitang kita ng taumbayan kung papaanong nais gamitin ng mga Arroyo ang kapangyarihan upang maipatupad lamang ang kanilang naising takasan ang kamay ng katarungan.

Mayroong prosesong sinusunod ang pamahalaan sa pagpapatupad ng batas. Ang eksena kagabi ay pagpapakita lamang ng matamang pagsunod ng administrasyon sa mga umiiral na batas at procedure. Walang masama kung hintayin ng mga Arroyo na makuha muna ng pamahalaan ang kopya ng TRO ng Kataas-taasang Hukuman bago maghain ng mosyon ang departamento ng katarungan upang alisin na sa watch list order ang mga Arroyos.

Kataka-taka ang pagmamadali ng mag-asawa na umalis ng bansa. Bakit sila kating-kating magtungo sa ibang bansa? Dahilan ba ito sa takot o dahil mayroong plano ang mga kapanalig nila na manggulo upang maibalik sila sa kapangyarihan?

Hindi papayag ang taumbayan sa panunumbalik sa kapangyarihan ng mga Arroyo. Tiyak na magkakamatayan tayo kung iginiit ng mga Arroyo ang kanilang mga sarili.

Tama na ang siyam na taong pahirap. Tama na ang siyam na taong kawalang katarungan at kadiliman. Wala sa hulog ang mga Arroyo na humiling ng paggalang sa kanilang mga karapatan samantalang halos isang dekada nilang pinagkaitan ng karapatan ang taumbayan.

Arroyos to be prevented from leaving RP, according to Malacanang

The Arroyos

Whose voice will dominate? The Voice of the Supreme Court which, on a vote of 8-5, allowed former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo the right to travel abroad? Or, the Voice of the President's alter-ego, the Justice secretary Leila de Lima, who directed the Bureau of Immigration not to allow the couple to leave the country's shores.

This issue has turned into a very serious Constitutional issue. For one, whose side is right? The side of De Lima who said that the watch list order stays because the State will still present an appeal to the decision of the Highest Tribunal? Or that of Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, legal counsel of the Arroyos, who said that the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) by the Supreme Court enjoins the Justice department to enforce the watch list order it issued immediately since every decision of the SC is "immediately executory".

There is no dispute---the Bureau of Immigration should follow the order of Justice secretary De Lima because it is an agency under the Executive department. The determination whether De Lima's order is illegal or has gone beyond the powers vested in her rests on the courts.

Now, it would be a shame, a dreadful shame if our immigration authorities allow the Arroyos to leave this country. For one, it would expose the Bureau of Immigration's weak enforcement capabilities and second, would put the country as a weak state.

There are still four (4) flights to Singapore available for the Arroyos and these are the following:

SIN Singapore	PR 505		Philippine Airlines	7:35 PM	7:35 PM ~		Scheduled	320
SIN Singapore	5J 803		CEBU Pacific Air	8:30 PM		T-3	Scheduled	320
SIN Singapore	3K 766		Jetstar Asia	8:35 PM		T-1	Scheduled	320
SIN Singapore	TR 2727		Tiger Airways	9:30 PM		T-1	Scheduled	320

Now, the Arroyos may elect to fly out of the country using a private commercial airplane. Or immediately use the Clark airport as their exit point.

Whatever they elect to choose, the order of the DOJ is specific: government authorities are enjoined to still prevent the Arroyos from leaving this country inspite of the TRO issued by the Highest Court of the Land.

Unfortunate that this is happening during the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Clinton has just arrived. She is expected to meet the President tomorrow in time for the commemoration of the Mutual Defense treaty between the US and the Philippines.

Why is it that the Arroyos are so eager to leave the country? Mike Arroyo, the former First Gentleman immediately announced that they decided to leave the country within twenty four hours. What is so important for them to go to Singapore and to Germany and Spain, countries whose heads of state are friendly to the Arroyos (remember that Arroyo was given the Cervantes honor when she visited the Country).

This will lead to very serious political issue if the Arroyos insist on leaving the country. If the state prevents them from leaving, they can then use this to justify political persecution. If they do indeed leave, this will be a very serious challenge on the part of the state's ability to enforce the law and justice.

Ombudsman Gutierrez resigns: Close Arroyo associates are jumping ship

In an emotional speech before the Philippine media, embattled Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez announced her resignation. Hours before, Gutierrez visited Malacanang and handed her resignation letter over to President Noynoy Aquino. Aquino graciously accepted the resignation.


Gutierrez said that she resigned to spare the nation, especially the Senate and the Congress, of their time. However, sources say that Gutierrez resigned due to anxiety attacks and family pressure. 


Sources say the Gutierrez impeachment is expected to open a Pandora's box of previous anomalies committed by the Arroyo administration. 


Deep sources revealed that prior to the resignation, there were feelers sent by the Arroyo camp to the Aquino camp on the possibility of a "truce" on these anomalies. The agreement says that the Aquino camp agreed that Gutierrez must tender her resignation first.


Several close Arroyo associates, reports say, have "crossed over" the Aquino fence and are willing to spill the beans against the Arroyos. Even a very close attorney who always speak for and behalf of the Arroyos have also taken the leap.


Some of those involved in these anomalies have volunteered to provide information on the dealings made by the Arroyo gang, including those made by First Gentleman Mike Arroyo. Several have already packed their bags and went to Hongkong where an Aquino associate is waiting for them to negotiate their terms.


With Gutierrez out, there is no more way to publicly reveal these anomalous deals, that was the strategy.


However, several close Aquino associates plan to seriously prosecute Arroyo who is now abroad. The plan, deep sources say, is for Arroyo to be incarcerated before the year ends.

Mikey Arroyo has P63.7M beachfront property in US

Mikey Arroyo, the presidential son, has a beachfront property worth P 63.7 million in California. His younger sibling, Dato, is not to be outdone--he has one P 26.7 million brought by his wife a year after he won a Congressional seat in 2007. What's sooo good about being a presidential son, Mikey even has a business interest in Beach Way Park on Beach Way Boulevard---the location of his beachfront property.

Of course, Mikey would always deny that he owns property and will definitely say that it is the property of his wife, Angela Montenegro. Angela, Mikey's second cousin, is listed as the owner of the sprawling 5 bedroom, 3-bathroom, two story house that sits on a 600 square meter property facing the beach. Mikey reportedly transfered ownership under an "inter-family" agreement. Oh, by the way, Angela serves as treasurer of the KAMPI.

The question really is---where did Mikey got the money to buy these premium properties? Did he get it when he became an action star? Was he fetching 1 million pesos per flick? If that's so, then, Mikey needs 100 films to get at least 100 million. That would have made him an FPJ.

Sabi nga nila, when it rains, it pours. Sarap talagang maging anak ng presidente!

ZTE-NBN deal and the Art of the WhiteWash

Tuesday will go down in history as the greatest monumental square-off between former family friends, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and ZTE-NBN whistleblower Joey de Venecia III. And should this square-off happens, there's only one conclusion---the possible incarceration of the whistleblower instead of the master bender.

Senator Richard Gordon has sent word that he invited the First gentleman and the DOTC officials led by Secretary Leandro Mendoza to attend this Tuesday's Senate Blue ribbon committee hearing. Gordon believes that before he even releases his findings, there should be another hearing to "clear some cobwebs" so to speak, about the real story behind the "greatest graft scandal" ever to hit this country in so many years.For me, the square off is clearly not necessary for one obvious reason---there are hours and hours worth of testimonies in past ZTE-NBN hearings and those are more than enough to fill a 100 page report. But, no. Senator Gordon wants to hammer out the message of the Office of the Ombusman--that the First Family is not involved in this anomalous deal.

And with a favorable ally sitting as chair of the Blue Ribbon, the First Gentleman does not need to find succor at St. Luke's. No. He'll probably brave it out. But, will he be able to gaze at Joey de Venecia's direction without even flinching his eyes?

Joey welcomes the chance to face the First Gentleman, confident that he committed no crime. In a statement, Joey said that Gordon committed a grave infraction when he inadvertently announced his initial opinion, saying that the Ombusman should have included the De Venecias in the charge sheet. If Gordon thinks that the De Venecias are guilty, then, why another hearing? Is'nt strange that the Senate blue ribbon needs another day to what? To hammer out a favorable public impression and clean the tarnished name of his amigo, the First Gentleman and his amiga, Gloria Arroyo?

Obviously, Gordon wants to do a Pontius Pilate before he runs for re-election because he knows that his handling of this case would haunt him during election time. He already whitewashed the Joc-Joc Bolante case and because of proper PR handling, there was no public outrage that came out shortly when he released the recommendations. That Joc-Joc Bolante case was a "test case" so to speak, and provided pro-administration senators like Gordon a template to manage sensitive issues like this ZTE-NBN deal.

And that is a problem for whistleblowers Joey de Venecia and Jun Lozada---this administration has now perfected the art of the whitewash. If they mishandle the public relations aspect of this case, they're in for a shock of their lives because they'll be pictured as villains and false heroes instead of Patriots. Gordon and the rest of the First Gentleman's team are exploiting the lingering thought in the public sphere that this deal is about "onsehan" and these whistleblowers were motivated not by love of country but by the very thought of losing a great deal of money.

This thought has permeated even in the inner circles of power and those dinky coffee shops in hotels and places in the Metropolis. A year has passed and the public is now ready to accept new facts about this case. If Joey de Venecia and Jun Lozada mishandle this, they'll surely come out of this as pseudo-patriots and liars. And the public hates liars.

Joey is confident that he did nothing wrong and the public believes him. There are more than enough evidence to pin the First Family in this ZTE-NBN deal, more than, say the circumstantial evidence that the Office of the Ombusman has against Benjamin Abalos and Romulo Neri. The fact that photos caught the First Couple playing golf and eating oysters with ZTE officials and those text messages Gloria sent to Neri, ordering him to just accept the money and approve the deal are more than enough to include them in the graft charge sheet.

Yet, Gordon hopes that if he plays his cards right, he'll be able to convince the public that these pieces of evidence amount to nothing, show nothing and mean nothing. Of course, Gordon embarked on a charm offensive with his tearful outbursts in those kidnapping episodes and those guestings as presidentiable. Yet, behind those charming charades lie a dastardly plan to hide his role as the palace's self-appointed Mr. Clean. Beneath those cheesy smiles and pink-colored cheeks hides an insidious mind ready to follow the wishes and caprices of his principals.
And for what? To get that anointment from Mrs. Arroyo and be part of that 10 billion election campaign kitty? To snatch that nomination from Vice President Noli de Castro or at the least, that vice presidential post from Ronnie Puno?

Or maybe, just maybe, add some more funds for a re-election bid? Or, again chair the revival of Subic as a US military facility?

Whatever it is, expect History to again be on the side of the devil enfant. :-)

Ombusman decision on ZTE-NBN: A stinking steak dinner

Pardon if I write about my carnivorous self, but I just love a beef steak, medium rare. Its tender. It's juicy. If you chew it, it's like your average salty-flavored bubble gum.

Of course, a steak would not be complete without mash potatoes and some vegetable sidings.Plus of course, a nice red wine to boot.

And you know if your steak is as tender as the one you had the last time. Steak dinners should be perfect---one that would give you a big blurp in the end.

Ask Mrs. Arroyo and her husband---they had this fine steak when they dined at Le Cirque and went to Bobby Van's steakhouse a day later. They know the difference between a French cooked steak and those of the greasy kind of American Bobby Van's.

And apparently, this recent decision by the Office of the Ombusman to file graft charges against former Comelec chair Benjamin Abalos and ex-NEDA chief Romulo Neri can be likened to a steak eaten in some carinderia. They are being charged for the moth-balled ZTE-NBN deal. Yet if you looked closely, it seemed that the Office of the Ombusman did not cook this ZTE-NBN steak the way we know steaks are cooked.

This one is like some slab of meat put in the fire without those spices and steak sauces put into it. It's bland.It's tasteless. It's immoral to eat it.

Imagine, only Abalos and Neri are being charged, showing how pitiful their states are and how lowly the power-that-be regard these comical creatures. Worst, they are being charged with just "circumstantial evidence", an obvious way out for them in the end.

This is a poor steak sideshow, meant to appease perceived public outrage while clearing the main actors who conspired to muddle a very good telecomms deal.

It's sending the message that the First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and his wife, Gloria Arroyo are not part of the dirty operation, despite photos of them visiting the ZTE-NBN headquarters and even played golf with ZTE officials. Of course, the Ombusman did not find anything wrong with how DOTC secretary Leandro Mendoza and his undersecretaries comforted themselves nor did the Office found anything wrong with the conduct of ZTE officials led by Yu Yong.

In the end, obviously, Abalos and Neri would get court victories, not in this election period, possibly they have to wait for a few months more.

Jun Lozada and Joey de Venecia, the team up who exposed the stinking deal, have asked why the Ombusman exonerated the First Gentleman and his cohorts. They don't need to ask. And please, don't pretend to be naive. From the very start, it has already been decided---fry the small ones while fatten the already big leeches.

This decision is a stinking steak dinner.

First Gentleman stays behind in the US to fix legal problems

First Gentleman Mike Arroyo is staying behind while his wife, Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo goes back to pay her last respects to President Cory Aquino. Aquino will arrive at 3 in the morning. Gloria will go straight to the Manila Cathedral.

Why is FG staying behind? According to very reliable sources, FG intends to allegedly fix his legal problems with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over money laundering charges. He will reportedly give some testimonies on the investigation. There was daw a negotiation between FG and the FBI for him to cooperate with the money laundering activities of several of FG's business associates. The FBI, however, is mum about this.

After giving his testimony before FBI authorities, FG will go straight to San Francisco and an undisclosed US city to fix their tax problems. Several of their properties encountered tax problems and the State is reportedly thinking of filing several tax evasion cases against them. FG reportedly decided to divest themselves of these properties and sell them instead. They will then settle in retirement in Portugal where they already brought several luxurious villas.

FG will not be arrested by the FBI due to diplomatic immunity

The First Gentleman flew out of the country today with his wife, Mrs. Arroyo along with thirty Congressmen and their spouses and a handful of Cabinet members. Malacanang trumpeteer Cerge Remonde was quick to the draw. This proves, says Remonde, that the First Gentleman is not wanted in the States. That all these news about Mr. Arroyo's supposed cases in the states, especially money laundering are all "hogwash" and "black propaganda."

But, wait a minute. Mr. Arroyo's inclusion in the official state entourage and his possible arrival in U.S. territory do not mean that no case or cases have been filed against him by federal agents. Everybody knows that, by being a part of the official delegation, Mr. Arroyo enjoys STATE DIPLOMATIC STATUS, meaning, he can't be arrested by any federal agent while being part of that entourage. Heads of state and diplomats enjoy IMMUNITY from arrests. The US government will not make a move that would be interpreted as an "embarrassing" situation. In fact, arresting Mr. Arroyo while he accompanies his wife in this visit is tantamount to a declaration of war since a spouse of a head of state is involved.

Of course, there are what we call "surprises"? A president of a Latin American country was exiled through a special operations by the CIA. That was costly. What if....

Exclusive! Associates of First Gentleman bagged COMELEC contract

Sources say the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has already decided on who will handle the automated elections in 2010 and it's definitely the group of SMARTmatic/TIM. And you know who's behind this group?

SmartMatic/TIM is the group of Cezar Quiambao and this brilliant financial cum funds wizard named Ernest Villareal. Sounds familiar? Well, yes.

Villareal is actually the "shadow" that lends weight in every deal entered into by the highly popular bunch of golfers under the First Golfer Group.

Who is Cezar Quiambao? Quiambao is a businessman who in 2007 faced a complaint after asking for transparency in the bidding for the SLEX. He was chairman of the Star Infrastructure Development Corporation/Star Tollway Corporation before the Supreme Court declared his being chairman non-legal.

Quiambao also managed Stradcom, the tech company which bagged the highly controversial contracts of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Registration Authority (LRA) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Quiambao also created CITRA, which constructs those highways and roads which we normally use in the provinces and Metro Manila.

He's reportedly a big time broker who is very close to the pro-Arroyo generals. He's also a "miracle maker" who secures 10 billion peso worth of projects through a very expansive network of government and non-government officials. In some projects, he teamed up with Wellex of plastics king William Gathalian. Quiambao's hand work is all over Pacifica, which the SEC suspended their trading activities.

Mrs. Arroyo mentioned Cezar Quiambao as a businessman who "helped realize the dreams of government to construct roads" in 2002. Quiambao is reportedly very, very close to the First Gentleman.

Now, who is behind Quiambao?

Quarters whisper the name of Ernest Villareal. Villareal, as everybody knows, is a very close associate of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.

Question---do we still expect a very honest, clean and graft-free elections in 2010? Your guess is as good as mine.

Why Obama refuses to see Mrs. Arroyo

Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, whose forebears shot and killed the plebian leader Andres Bonifacio, is a picture of irritation. In the next few days, she'll issue another statement, this time courtesy of her Press secretary Serge Remonde, saying that she'll try to put a lid on the stinking World Bank report on these road projects. Malacanang press operators are trying their darnest best to contain the stench, but no amount of perfumery exists to afford them this luxury.

For this one shows a stench that emanates from their corrupted souls. If they're saying that the World Bank report is "passe" and " it's all hogwash", they're wrong. They just admitted before the public that they knew about this and sat on it and ignored it and just allowed the merry thievery to happen. Yes, it was some six years ago, but if they really respect our laws, the basic law provides that they should have filed a case already against the First Gentleman, EC de Luna and their cohorts based on the criminal complaint submitted by the World Bank. These individuals are lucky because they did this dastardly crime here, where men are supreme over the law. Here, we are a society not of laws, but of men. We have a warped and stupid understanding of what is right and what is wrong. I remember my Singaporean friend who told me that here, we do our own thing, oblivious of what's happening outside our little fiefdoms and we live in isolation. What is right before the world is not necessarily right to some of us. Our laws are so fraught with uncertain definitions that these precepts can be construed either way, to the benefit of the accused and the corrupt, not of the People and the State.

That's why US President Barack Obama refuses to see Mrs. Arroyo. He just made a dig against her and her gang of misfits when he uttered those historic words, " For those who claim to power thru corruption and deceit, know this, that you are on the wrong side of History."

Obama is not that stupid and foolish to meet the very same poster girl of corruption and deceit in Philippine history. Obama does not want to be lied upon. Obama does not want to be corrupted by her philosophy of governance.

What Arroyo must do is not to mitigate the obvious shameful effects of the World Bank revelations. It is not training her guns at the United States to put a lid on the stinking issue. No.

What Arroyo must do, and must act in haste is leave the palace. The State Department, if you still don't know Mrs. Arroyo, has issued the marching orders already. Since you are on the wrong side of history, you just got "x-ed".

Surely, this will be the very first presidential acts that will merit Obama praise around the world.

Curse the Coverup Most Foul

(crossposted over at http://www.filipinovoices.com/

The Senate hearing on the World Bank report chaired by no less than pseudo graft buster Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago was the biggest joke ever staged by the First Golfer gang. The scene reminds one of the infamous Mafia Gang trials in the US where the stellar cast involves no less than the big bosses of the underworld. Except, in our Filipinized version, the ones who went on trial were those who accused and exposed the anomaly in the first place, not those who committed this monumental thievery. It was staged managed, alright, by a group of intellectually dishonest misfits, who tried, and succeeded in using their knowledge of the law, even medicine, just to protect the biggest louse in Philippine history. From that heart surgeon to those petty government functionaries, the hearing was a big stage play with all those thieves in barongs professing innocence and trying hard to make us understand that getting those 10 percent commissions from the public purse is nothing sort of benevolent donation.

That hearing saved the play acting head of the biggest criminal syndicate from unnecessary exposure. He mocks the Filipino People with his obvious aversion to responsibility. For him, the Filipino People do not deserve an answer. We don’t even deserve a minute of his time, nor do we deserve to see him longer than 30 minutes in a live television coverage. For him, his presence is only for those who tee off with him at Wack-Wack and those who cut steak dinners with him in Tomas Morato.

The hearing was an obvious parody, a direct dig at the very institutions of this democracy and an obvious mockery of Filipino values and sensitivities. The institutions that our forebears have tried very hard to build are crumbling. People, like these Celso delos Angeles Jr, this DOJ prosecutor John Resado and the First Golfer are not just criminal geniuses who use their influence to make money . They are the very same ones who will eventually cause the downfall of this government.

They are the true destabilizers who cause us shame. They are the true thieves who deserve nothing less than eternal damnation and eventual death. They are the real curses given by God to this generation who continues to play dumb, act blind and deaf to the most foul crime ever made against the Filipino People.

No one in this generation would be man enough to challenge the supremacy of the First Golfer Gang. No one has the gall and the political will to challenge this evil gang. No one. This gang controls every lever of Filipino government and manages every string of every puppet in this so-called civilized country.

Who is man enough to challenge this louse who dons expensive clothes and even wears the cursed country in his shirt? Who is man enough to curse him for his indiscretions, his seemingly gangsterist rule over 82 million free souls? Who has the stamina to run against him, a man who’s in the pink of health when wheeling and dealing but feels sick when caught red-handed? As it stands, there is no one among us willing to take the sword out of Lady Justice’s sheath and thrust it into the very heart of the most foul criminal.

No one is cursing. No one is talking. For this, we deserve the darkness.

The ABB (Andres Bonifacio Brigade)

Caloocan bishop Tobias was unfazed with news that (in)Justice Secretary sRaul O. Gonzales is thinking of filing rebellion charges against him. " Cge, tell him to do what he wants," was the only remark the good bishop told reporters when asked for his reaction. CBCP Public Affairs head Bishop Deogracias Iniguez also stood his ground. " It's time to speak out", says the bishop, who, along with a dozen others, presided the KME (Kilusan Para sa Malayang Ekonomiya) press conference yesterday.

Their call for people to go out and protest against charter change was a veritable clarion call for all civic-minded Filipinos to support the call for change. Prior to the KME press con, the Bishops-Businessmen Conference and the Makati Business Club (MBC) already called upon people to get out of their comfort zones and join the growing clamour for the removal of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

However, this expected mammoth rally will not be enough to topple this illegal usurper. There should be support coming from the uniformed forces if the forces of change want to really make Gloria accountable for all these high-crimes committed by her regime.

I would like to publish the statement of a new armed youth group calling themselves the "Andres Bonifacio Brigade" or ABB. This group is interesting because they say that they are the New Revolutionary Group composed of students, young professionals, young lieutenants, young colonels, young entrepreneurs and young scions of politicians. They sent me their statement and I am publishing it in full here.

We are in the midst of a titanic global change, where nations around the world are experiencing transitions in their political leadership. In the United States, for example, the Americans elected their first black president who promised to radically change the way things are being done in the halls of Congress and inside Washington.

In Thailand, thousands of protesters are calling for the removal of their Prime Minister, even asking that the uniformed people take part in this historic change in their political system.

Everywhere, the world is experiencing changes, sweeping ones at that,
aimed at further fuelling growth and development.

Here, in our country, we are also in the midst of change, one that is so pure, that it will eventually chart the very destinies of each and every one of us in the future. Filipinos are prepared to accept that change. Yet, the forces of traditionalism, of apathy, of antiquated ideas are also marshalling their own forces to defeat the very aspiration of the Filipino for drastic changes.

We, members of the Andres Bonifacio Brigade are determined to see the demise of these anti-change forces. We are Filipinos coming from different backgrounds and have now united to fully utilise our individual strengths and contribute to the collective force to oust Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her cabal from power.

We are ready to sacrifice our lives for the sake of the future generation. We are ready to fight the armed components of this regime in the streets and even inside the Palace.

We intend to arrest Mrs. Arroyo and her mafia gang and put them
in jail. We intend to bring Mrs. Arroyo, her husband Mike Arroyo, and their cohorts before the People's Tribunal. They will be prosecuted and put to jail.

Those who will try to defeat our forces will meet utter defeat. For we are many.

To avert bloodshed, we are asking Mrs. Arroyo to step down immediately. We are giving Mrs. Arroyo forty two hours from November 30, 2008 to tender her resignation. Otherwise, we will strike her with our full forces.

Signed,

Commandante Malaya

Wow, such brave words! Though New Philippine Revolution is for the removal of Gloria and for change, this must be done without bloodshed.

Defining Moment

The Arroyo administration thrives on destabilization. When a new destabilizing situation occurs, it mechanically implements adoptive measures, re-adjusts its actions, even moves backward and strikes when the situation cools. This is the tried and tested formula against destabilization by a regime which, itself, has been the beneficiary of a political poison fruit.

This explains why presidential son Mikey Arroyo called for a press conference to assuage public outrage against their cha-cha initiatives. This explains why the palace allowed Joc-Joc to go to the Senate and fool the senators. This explains why there's no palace gag order for DA directors to testify on the fertilizer fund issue and there's no order for anybody to publicly neutralize known oppositors of the Arroyo regime.

The palace game plan is very simple--deprive its enemies of their "defining moment". In politics, a "defining moment" is described as an "emotionally charged" situation that would rouse the people to take action and transform the perception of people about the present regime from "partially trust-worthy" to " capricious, greedy and using its powers to deprive people of justice." The present hearings have the potential of transforming positive perceptions to negative and even reactive ones.

This explains Palace spokesperson's Anthony Golez "tantrum" diatribe against the minority at the House impeachment hearings, for a walkout is actually a powerful communication tool that could re-ignite passions against the present dispensation. That's why the palace is constantly monitoring and managing the information environment to prevent the rise of dissent against the present dispensation.

In the present situation, Malacanang tries to pooh-pooh the revelations of former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. It tries to manage the information environment by fielding its crisis communication lieutenants, fanning themselves out among various publications to at least control the flow of poisoned news against Gloria. The goal is simple--insulate Gloria at all costs against accusations by the Opposition. There may be a grain of truth behind Joe's revelations but these are being obfuscated by news on term extensions and the like. Joe may be allowed to hug the headlines but up to a certain point. Gloria is being isolated from the controversies while her husband, Big Mike, operates silently behind the bamboo shades.

Both Gloria and her enemies want to control one element--time. For Gloria's camp, a day is equivalent to a year more of stay. The more they stay the bolo of those who want to hack her head, the better. For those who oppose her, time is at the essence. The need to create a "defining moment" at a precise time is the order of the day. And will they be able to get their "defining moment, " is a big question.

Yesterday's walkout has the potential of igniting passions. News about proposals to extend Gloria's term has the big chance of convincing people to act. Everybody is waiting for the first one to stand up and act. That first act should immediately be a show of force. This should be something similar to a walkout of young officers. Or, this could potentially be something of an institutional action where idealistic generals walk out of their Commander-in-Chief. Then the people will follow.

The present politico-social atmosphere can be likened to a tightly sealed room filled with liquified petroleum gas. Everybody's there, holding their breaths and waiting for someone to just light a match to end everyone's agony.

First Gentleman visits St. Lukes Medical Center

Early this morning, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo visited St. Luke's Medical Center. Why? No one knows, except that some malicious tongues wag that he might have visited his bosom buddy and fellow Rotarian Joc-Joc Bolante. Possible. Why?

Maybe ask him to "stay the course"? Various personalities have been going to St. Luke's lately, having "chest pains", like ex-VP Teofisto Guingona Jr., ex-Senators Jun Magsaysay and Ernie Maceda. Maybe FG wants to see for himself if Bolante remains true to the mafiosi credo---omerta.

Or, maybe, he consulted his cardiologist, the same one attending Joc-Joc's chest pain needs. I would imagine Joc-Joc clutching his chest. He's getting all these brickbats and angry looks. Afraid? 

Or maybe, just maybe, giving some tips on how to handle those grey hairs? Maybe a confidential tip on how to escape detention, err, detection, to go have that haircut and hair-coloring over at Reyes' salon?

Joc-Joc Bolante, an alleged big-time thief, is having all the fun. Imagine, you reportedly stole at least 758 million in public funds and you're being treated like royalty? Criminals who stole 10 pesos are receiving the brutal treatment in various police stations nationwide. Others even got the "royal treatment"---a lethal salvage.

Well, in this part of the world, when you steal big, you're celebrity. People admire you for stealing their money big-time. And get away with the royal treatment. Spa for thieves, anyone?