Martial law is about keeping the peace while they raid public coffers

Why is it that dictators and even those pseudo ones want nothing more than peace and order? Simple--they don't want anybody to howl while they quietly raid our treasury of gold bars and remittance dollars.

Martial law is not about preserving the state for some real threat. Threats are always imagined ones. When Marcos declared martial law in 1972, he portrayed the ragtag gang of Jose Maria Sison bigger and stronger than what it truly was back then. Reason? Marcos was a U.S. stooge and one of the United States' State Department allies during the Cold War. For his plan to work, Marcos had to appease his imperialist masters and calm the frayed nerves of the international community.

Martial law is not about the future--it is always about the present. Marcos never really cared if, by declaring martial law, he ran the economy aground. He never cared if the military caused untold suffering to the rural folks even in Ilocandia. Surely, he did not care if an entire generation lost their illustrious members and deprive the people of the intelligence of its sons and daughters. No. It was about consolidation of power, of the Marcos' family becoming the most powerful and the wealthiest family in all of Filipino-landia.

Imelda Marcos harbored ill-feelings for the Manila-based socialites who looked at her as a probinsyana (provincial). She was always jealous of their riches, of their mores, and of their education. When martial law was declared, Imelda immediately became the prime dona, the center of gravity and the host of lavish parties all funded by the people's hard-earned monies.

Ever wondered why Imelda had those 10,000 pairs of shoes, those expensive Rembrandts and Manansalas, those sparkling jewels, that big carbon rock and those authentic animal furs? She always told people that she had to dress up for foreigners not to look down upon Filipinos. Well, madame, foreigners would praise you to high heavens if they saw all Filipinos, well-dressed, well-mannered and well fed, which, unfortunately, even at the height of Marcos' glory during Martial law, did not happen.

Martial law is not about anti-criminality--it is always about the monopoly of crimes. Under a dictatorship, nothing happens without the knowledge and approval of the ruling Power. Wonder why addiction persisted and even grew to astronomical heights despite the military occupying nightclubs, bars and even homes? Don't tell me heinous crimes such as murders, rapes, kidnappings, bank robberies stopped for a long time while we were under martial law? The fact was---it even grew. How about smuggling? Pre-martial law days, it was the monopoly of a few Chinos. Enter martial law and another player entered into the picture---military men.

I remember one of my friends, the son of the head of the Binondo central bank sharing with me how their family grew in wealth during martial law. Because Marcos controlled even the flow of foreign currencies, particularly the dollar, businessmen had to rely on his father to supply them with much needed dollars from Hongkong. Biyaheras who were beautiful Chinoys recruited from Binondo frequented Hongkong with their luggages full of worthless pesos, exchanged in dollars somewhere at Hongkong central and then quietly brought to the Philippines for sale to exporters and importers.

Martial law is not about true peace--it is about complicit silence. Marcos wanted everybody to keep their silence while he, along with his family and their cronies, slit the throats of dissenters, open the bank accounts of their enemies, raid the private vaults of businessmen, and steal those gold bars from the Treasury with a note left saying " This is for safekeeping."

Martial law is not about truth--- it is about forced acceptance. Martial law changed our values. Before, Filipinos had "hiya", which is very difficult to transliterate in English. We, Filipinos, respect individual rights, to property, life and liberty. We sacrificed so much for our freedoms only to see it crumble under the crucible of tyranny.

These memories are forty five years old. However, some people, including our President is salivating for its return, not because he wants to curb drug addiction--he is wiser now and accepts the fact that he can't really solve an institutional problem by systematically killing everybody. Of course, Duterte realizes now that the ills of Filipino society cannot just be wished away by a magician's wand or a stroke of a pen. And surely, Duterte is wishing for his immortalization in our history books as the second man to plunge this country into darkness and chaos, which he is already doing, without even writing a Proclamation.

Duterte, despite his old age, wants more power. He enjoyed the sweet smell of power and he wants to sniff more. When he says that he does not want the presidency and anytime he's willing to back down and leave, don't believe a single word! Power is Duterte's nicotine. Look at how Duterte's face shine whenever he hears someone killed by cops or when he sees destruction, the likes he saw in Marawi. For 23 years, Duterte satisfied himself with killing small fries, and ordering the massacre of families and barangays. As President, Duterte realizes how powerful the position is. He always says he owns the military and the police. Duterte sometimes attack oligarchs because he loves reading how scared these oligarchs are in his favorite newspapers, even the Inquirer. He has billions of pesos at his disposal, cavalierly giving those to cops who kill even innocents just to be at par with others, enriched by Duterte's blood monies.

Duterte does not care if forty five years and billions spent for the de-militarization of the police organization. Duterte does not give a damn if innocents fall by the wayside, who are, for him, unfortunate casualties in an imagined war. Duterte loves wars. He finds satisfaction, like an LSD addict, whenever a bomb explodes in Marawi, whenever news about thousands of evacuees fill the headlines and whenever a police team barges in someone's home and mows everybody down including the owner's dog.

Duterte hates addicts. He wants to kill them. Yeah, right.

Carlos Celdran and Redefining Subversion

"Art and Liberation--The "subversive" Carlos
with Leslie Bocobo and Pat Mangubat

It wasn't surprising that even in a cosmopolitan city such as Dubai, things like art, are still being considered subversive. At the largest art exhibit in the Middle East held in Dubai, avant-garde protest artist Carlos Celdran's philosophical viewpoint got censored, just because he tried to tell the truth. 


His depiction of Imelda Marcos, wife of former dictator Ferdie Marcos was not flattering, but it does not mean that he lied about how Meldy used her charms to convince former Libyan president Moammar Khadaffy to take an active role in pacifying the violent South during Martial Law. Khaddafy did stop helping the Bangsamoros in their struggle against Marcos and it was historically correct to say that Meldy had a big role in bringing together MILF leader Nur Misuari, the government and the Libyans in what is now known as the 1979 Tripoli agreement.


Celdran's art was not bold nor abstract--it was simply, the truth. That incident happened and for me, does not merit any singular objection.


Fact is, what happened shortly after the 1979 Tripoli agreement, which was supposed to end the Bangsamoro struggle was overtly subversive, to say the least. Admit it---post-Tripoli agreement was pure canard. It momentarily brought peace in the South, but the struggle remained. Had Carlos depicted post-Tripoli Mindanao, it could have merited a stronger reaction.


What is most refreshing about what happened to Carlos is the re-definition of protest. Gone are the days when youngsters wearing Mao shirts and caps populate the protesting mobs. Now, even people of such fine pedigree such as Carlos are showing their subversion in their own styles. 


For those who don't know, Carlos is not your typical ideologue, the one whom the military considered as security threats. 


Fact is, Carlos' ideology is amorphous--no mold, just simply protesting what is wrong about the things happening right now.


Carlos was once a banker in New York. He went back and embraced his being Filipino. He looks cono to you and me, but behind that facade lies a caring and understanding soul that wants to liberally break free from the mold that society had secured for him since his birth.


What is good about the things Carlos is doing is the way he redefines the concept of political subversion. 


You don't need to be a Commie to be able to see what's wrong and act upon it, no. You only need to be a citizen and open your eyes to the truth--that you live in a society where brute force is the Law and governments are wolves that shepherd the sheep through mass indoctrination. 


Carlos chose not to tread the path recommended by society to him. He chose to tread the path least taken--that of a revolutionist who simply want the world to know what is happening.


He's like Neo of the Matrix whose eyes have been opened and he is breaking all the established rules to liberate those who continually live peaceful lives when all they are, really, are hosts being literally eaten by society's fat parasites. 

Bongbong Marcos--a sure winner for the Senate

Former First Lady Imelda Marcos also filed her bid yesterday for the Congressional district post which her son, Bongbong Marcos occupies. As you know, Bongbong is running for a Senate post. By filing her CoC, the Marcoses just wanted to maintain their influence over the entire North.

The Marcoses are still a force to reckon with in the North. Their influence spans provinces. Ilocanos respect Ferdie, the former strongman and that respect transcends political boundaries.

And surely, the Marcoses are still respected by thousands, even millions of our fellow Filipinos throughout the entire country.

Demonizing Bongbong would not affect his chances, not a bit for the Senate. Bongbong, I believe, has a very strong chance, not just because he enjoys a familiar political brandname for a surname but because for the past few years he has proven his worth as a legislator.

Admit it--many of our fellow Filipinos still admire the Marcoses. Despite their excesses when they were in power, the Marcoses are perceived to be least corrupt than the Arroyos. People hate Arroyo's guts because Arroyo, they believe, rank far inferior in terms of intellect and service to the people than the late strongman, yet show a more unquenchable thirst for power.

And why, despite the bad publicity heaped upon the Marcoses by those who fought them, does the North and the entire Nation still feel that everyone owe them a lot of favor?

Simple---during Marcos' time, people felt safer than living in a pseudo-democratic society such as this one being run by Arroyo.

Now, those who say that Bongbong deserves to be at the Senate because he espouse nationalist causes during his stint as a legislator also has a point. Bongbong, if you will, is an improved Ferdie. I would not be surprised though if, by 2016, we elect him as president. Bongbong has the same charisma as his father and boasts of the same wit and eloquence that marks a Marcos.

And as they say, the sins of the father should not be a burden of the son.

The Mastermind behind Ninoy's death

Sgt. Lat, one of the convicted killers of Senator Benigno Aquino dared Kris Aquino to initiate a re-investigation unto the Aquino-Galman murder case. Lat is one of the ten remaining convicts pardoned and released by Mrs. Arroyo.

The act, which Press secretary Cerge Remonde called a "ministerial" or "procedural" thing, has now assumed political color.

Many believed Arroyo did the act out of vengeance against Cory Aquino who called for the former's resignation at the height of the Hello Garci controversy four years ago.

Lat and another one, Sgt. Claro pinpointed the alleged mastermind behind Aquino's assassination--Danding Cojuangco. They say Cojuangco masterminded the assassination.

Kris Aquino countered saying that their family do not believe this. Danding, Kris says, has nothing to gain from killing Ninoy.

So, who masterminded the death of Ninoy?

The widely held perception is Macoy ordered the trigger pulling, aided by Meldy and their pinsan, former AFP Chief of Staff Fabian Ver. For many people, this is logical, given that the triumvirate was the ruling clique at that time.

Yet, what has escaped the people's attention at that time was the possibility that Aquino could have been ordered killed by one of the Rolex generals. Or, possibly, maybe even all of the Rolex generals conspired to have Ninoy killed.

Remember that at that time, there was a power struggle between the generals and Imelda Marcos. Marcos was sick and the generals were worried. The regime was founded on a personality cult established by Marcos and his death, these generals lamented, could trigger a social upheaval that may lead to the downfall of the dictatorship.

They needed a diversion, something that Marcos would train his sight on while some, if not all of the generals focus on the systematic debilitation of the dictatorship.

This explains why the Reform the Armed Forces of the Philippines (RAM) came into public view the very same year Ninoy Aquino was killed. It was not just a reaction to the death of Ninoy. It was a deliberate act, a Master stroke if you will, created as a counter-force against the regime's own forces.

And the goal?

Provide a viable succession scenario in the event of Marcos death. The scenario included a part where the generals would succeed Marcos instead of Imelda or Ver, whom many of the Rolex Generals found despicable, to say the least, not worthy of their trust and confidence since he came from the ROTC, instead of the PMA.

What has not been revealed even at this time was the real reason behind Ninoy's return. A possible explanation was a convincing secret communique given to him by one of the Generals who assured him that they were on the verge of ousting Marcos. The communique was given to Ninoy in Boston.

That explains why Ninoy's flight was marked since his departure from the US to his arrival at the MIA. He was lured into the death trap by the very same generals who, after three years, managed to wrest state control away from Marcos via a revolt.

That coup or "revolt", as what some historians now classify it, could have been different. It was not a sudden defection. No. It was a deliberate act meant to force a succession.

It just became different when throngs of people gathered at one place and created history. As what we now know, EDSA Uno was a masterstroke of the People's Genius.

The Generals would have succeeded in creating a Thai-like or a Burmese dictatorial government and they could have very well succeeded in ruling us for decades, had it been snatched away from them by the People in what has now been known as the EDSA Revolution.

The question is this---who among the Rolex Generals ordered the assassination? Is he still alive?

Yes, he is.

An Open Letter to Tabako, part 2

Dear Tabako,

I read that you're intending to go to the EDSA Shrine because, like Ed Malay told the media, "you're for the status quo for lack of a better alternative."

So, you believe that Arroyo is the best and only person to lead this country? You believe that given the thousands of intellectuals this country has, the thousands of excellent economists, the thousands of able-bodied and youthful and promising politicians around, you still believe that "there's no better alternative" and " Ramos is still for the status quo"?

So, all this vision of yours--Lakas Tao--is merely for propaganda, for positioning. You, who inspired millions of us to work hard, to work honestly and to work only for the benefit of the country during your administration, are still not convinced that there's no better alternative and its best to stick to Gloria? Despite what Gloria did against Lakas? Despite the political machinations that her allies did, wrecking your rainbow coalition and nearly transforming your once-dominant party into an insignificant shell?

So, there's no better alternative to what? Is there no alternative to a lying, stealing, cursing and killing administration? What is the alternative to this? Are you saying that you favor the cheating, the lying, the kidnapping, the chaos this administration has promoted all these years? Are you saying that we're still okey despite thousands being killed, millions more being violated of their basic rights and millions more being robbed of their hard-earned monies by ravenous and rapacious forces of Arroyo? Is this the vision of Ramos? Is this type of governance your standard, your vision?

I've admired you since you became president. You, Cory and Estrada are just three of the personalities whom I consider legitimate presidents and leaders after Marcos. It was under your administration that we achieved peace and economic stability. It was under your able stewardship that we, the people, felt safe. Yes, you had your share of intrigues. Yes, people accuse you of some graft cases. Yet, people can't deny that you had the vision, you are legit, and you worked hard to stabilize our situation.

I really shudder at the thought that you still tolerate the excesses of this administration. Have you now relegated yourself to that state during Marcos time when you kept your silence and exploded only at the last minute, when all things seemed to be ending? I hope you do that. I hope that you do the right thing sir and preserve your legacy for posterity. I still hold faith that you will.

GMA as destabilizer? Threat of Terrorism

After GMA left for Switzerland yesterday, AFP Chief of Staff Esperon, PNP Chief Razon, DOJ Secretary cRaul(o) Gonzales, Defense Secretary Danding Cojuangco, err Secretary pamangkin of the biggest Marcos crony and even InSecurity Adviser Gonzales immediately downgraded the threat alert they have announced a few days ago. The lapdogs said, there's no more threat, no more destabilization.

Hehehe. So, GMA is the destabilizer? For these people, you need to read between the lines.

What these idiots want us to believe--if GMA is here, there's always a threat of destabilization. If GMA is out, there's none. What a way to send a message to their boss.

Seriously, my media colleagues should NOT, I say again, should NOT be a party to the pronouncements of this group of lapdogs. I mean, doing so, we make ourselves a party to their foolishness. These people have no hiya anymore. I mean, if they have at least some semblance of hiya, they would not spread these rumours around like they're gospel truth.

This is what I am saying.

IF THE PHILIPPINES HAVE THESE KINDS OF MILITARY AND SECURITY OFFICIALS, IT SHOWS YOU HOW INEPT THIS GOVERNMENT IS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM.

FOR THE US, THIS IS MY MESSAGE: YOU SHOULD URGE THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT TO REPLACE THESE PEOPLE. WHY? BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO CREDIBILITY ANYMORE. WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW? THE PEOPLE DO NOT BELIEVE THIS GOVERNMENT ANYMORE. WHAT IF A LEGITIMATE AND SERIOUS TERRORIST ACTIVITY HAPPENS IN THE PHILIPPINES AND THEY ANNOUNCE IT, THE PEOPLE WILL THINK TWICE OR EVEN THRICE IN BELIEVING THEM. AND IT WOULD AFFECT INTELLIGENCE-GATHERING SINCE INTEL AGENTS WILL HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING CREDIBLE AND A-1 INFORMATION REGARDING THE INCIDENT.

This is what I am saying. If the US government wants to solve the global terrorist problem and prevent it from spreading and infecting their own country, they should have a strong ally against terror here in the Philippines. Obviously, this is NOT the case here.

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.