The RP Catholic Church is gearing for political Renaissance?

Is the Catholic Church in the Philippines is preparing for a political Renaissance? Seems like it when the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines elected Bishop Soc Villegas as their President. Everyone knows Soc. He's the political activist behind former Manila Archbishop Cardinal Sin. He's very active against the Marcos regime.

The bishops' group recognizes the importance of having someone who knows the dynamics of Philippine state and politics. In this day and age, it is highly necessary for the Church to involve itself in secular matters. Its rationale is simple: the very principles and beliefs of the State are being compromised and are, threatened with extinction. This church is not about to let go of its most cherished possession in the Pacific.

The CBCBP mentioned two controversial political issues: one, the Reproductive Health and two, the 2013 automated elections, both of which involved the Church. The Church says it will use all its powers to pressure the Supreme Court to strike down as unconstitutional the Reproductive Health bill. The other issue, says the CBCP, was the elections. There were many glitches and suspicious things which happened. The church wants the government to rectify those errors.

Jackie Enrile, up close and personal: " I have nothing to do with Alfie Anido's death"

Alfie Anido, dead at 22

It was  a day before New Year's eve when residents of Bel-Air in Makati heard a shot, then cries and shouts of agony. Alfie Anido, the 22 year old who just celebrated his birthday with his girlfriend, Katrina Ponce-Enrile, lies dead, with a bullet wound in the head. Initial results of the investigation by the Makati police indicated that it was self-inflicted. Anido, who was then in the prime of his showbiz career, shot himself with a 38 caliber pistol. An alleged suicide note was discovered, addressed to Anido's dad and saying how Alfie wanted to end his life. It was December 30, 1981.

For those who still remember that fateful date, it was as shocking as Kris Aquino's public revelation of her ill-fated relationship with Joey Marquez. Alfie was that generation's Phenom kid, a handsome rich guy who was not just a pretty face, but an accomplished and recognized thespian as well. The local showbiz was then recovering from years of creative infatuation and low sales. Alfie Anido's entry in  showbizness revived its glory days.

Alfie’s contemporaries back then, are today’s highly respected and accomplished actors and actresses. Alfie Anido was a Regal Baby, along with Gabby Concepcion, Jimmy Melendrez (father of actress Aiko), Albert Martinez, Snooky Serna, Maricel Soriano and Dina Bonnevie.

Prior to his becoming an actor, Alfie was an accomplished commercial model like Gabby Concepcion (father of KC Concepcion). He was taking up Management at the Ateneo de Manila University. His family is quite well-known especially in social circles. He’s supposed to take over the family business upon his father’s retirement.

Dina Bonnevie was then a very young actress who caught the public’s imagination with her classic beauty. Publicly, Dina was Alfie’s rumored girlfriend. Unknown to many, Alfie had a girlfriend, and she happened to be the daughter of former President Ferdinand Marcos’ defense minister, Juan Ponce Enrile.

Katrina Ponce-Enrile was that era’s equivalent of a rich girl turned social Phenom. Many desired her beauty. At the time of Alfie’s death, Katrina had a date with the matinee idol. They reportedly spent his birthday at a church in Antipolo.

Reviewing the case file, and numerous accounts way back at that time, it was said that Katrina and Alfie had a spat, which resulted in Alfie slapping Katrina. The episode ended in a separation. Alfie took Katrina back in her house. Alfie then went home, allegedly distraught by the situation.

Katrina Ponce-Enrile

At around one o’clock early morning, a loud gunshot was heard, which was followed by a thud. Relatives found Alfie slumped beside his bed, bloodied, and lifeless.

When news about the incident spread first in social circles and then percolated into the public sphere, many “whispered” (because at that time, it was still Martial Law, and the Enriles were in power) that probably, Katrina’s brother, Jackie Enrile, might have shot Alfie to death.

Those “whispers” are still being traded until now, albeit, not as “heated” like those times. Since this issue was never really clarified in public, the issue is still part of urban legend. Officially, the cause of death is suicide, and in spite of many “suspicions” and “innuendoes”, no one really came forward and disputed the police findings.

At last night’s dinner with Jackie, he was decisively frank about what really happened back then. I asked him, why was his name dragged in this controversial suicide? I even intentionally linked his name with Dina for him to correct it and reveal his true recollections of that day.

(There were rumors that Jackie wanted Dina as a girlfriend but was spurned by the actress. Dina reportedly chose Alfie which reportedly infuriated Jackie.)

Jackie Enrile deconstructed

Jackie Enrile recalled that he was with some of his friends when news about Alfie’s alleged suicide reached him. He recalls that he was equally shocked when he heard about what happened. Jack admitted that his sister, Katrina, had a relationship with Alfie and he heard that they had a spat before Alfie took his life. He was not privy though why they fought and separated, but it appears that Jack knew of the spat. This jibes with official police records.

It was an hour or so before he reached the Anido’s house in Bel-Air. Again, Jack corroborated the fact that the Enrile family and the Anido’s are good friends (some say, until now).

Jack recalls seeing Katrina crying inconsolably beside Anido’s death bed. He also saw the  revolver used by Anido in killing himself.

Jack denies ever having a hand in Alfie killing himself. He said that it was not his nature of using a gun out of anger. Contrary to public belief, Jackie does not carry a revolver.

What actually aroused my curiosity further was the post-events that happened. Jackie reportedly went to the States shortly after that, further inflaming rumors back then on his alleged participation in Anido’s “mysterious” death.

Why do people suspect Jackie Enrile’s hand in that apparent suicide?

Well, people surmised that the alleged “killing” happened shortly after Katrina went back to her house. There were insinuations that Jackie saw Katrina’s face and vowed revenge. People said that Jackie went to Anido’s house, barged inside and confronted Anido which led to the fatal shooting. These of course, are part of urban legend.

Why do I say that? As a veteran police reporter, it was unnatural for someone who just killed somebody to go back to the crime scene. If Jackie really had a hand on this, the most natural thing to do was the opposite.

We may never know what really happened but these facts are not disputed:

1. Alfie had a spat with Katrina.
2. The spat was reportedly part of previous serious altercations between the two lovers. Meaning, it was not the first time that Alfie and Katrina fought over still unclear issues.
3. The spat led to a separation which Alfie reportedly took very seriously.
4. Alfie went to Katrina’s house and she went in. (This is where people surmised that Jackie saw Katrina and got angry when he learned that his sister got slapped by Alfie).
5. Alfie went back to his house and at 1am, got a revolver and shot himself in the head. He left a suicide note.
6. After discovering his lifeless body, relatives of Alfie reportedly called Katrina. Katrina went to Alfie’s house and saw her lover dead.
7. News spread of Alfie’s alleged suicide. It reached Jackie who was spending a night with friends.
8. Jackie went to Anido’s house and saw the lifeless body of his friend and his sister crying inconsolably.
9. After the celebrated scandal, Jackie went to the States. Nothing was heard about Katrina Ponce-Enrile.
10. The scandal rocked the Marcos regime, which was at that time, facing numerous political threats.

This ends the mystery of Alfie Anido's death.

EDSA 1 Recollections by a Poppy Flower stuffed inside the barrel of an M-16

What really prompted us to troop to Highway 54 and demand for the resignation of former president Ferdinand Marcos? Was it a call for change? What kind of change?


I was still a teenager when EDSA uno broke out. I was born like a poppy flower stuffed inside the barrel of an M-16 rifle. Like most of us, my family belongs to the lower middle class. I had aunts who graduated with a PHd in UP and an MA abroad. I had uncles who also finished their college degrees despite the relative poverty of our family.


For us, there was nothing irregular with what Marcos did for the country. Fact is, our family benefitted from the previous regime. We were the first ones given a home. My aunt, who was once a principal in a public school, won a government raffle which gave her two houses--one in a tenement and the other, a row house in Antipolo. 


Later I realised that my family in my father's side belongs to the Rivera which is a family directly linked with the Marcos family. However, unlike other so-called relatives, we never used this connexion to gain concessions from the regime.


Anyway, living under a dictatorship was, for me, nothing irregular or fearsome. No one among my relatives was arrested. My uncle, who died in a car accident, was a founder of SDK. He, however, probably made peace with the authorities since I never got any info that he was arrested or jailed. Yet, a few years before his death, I saw him during one or two rallies which I attended. 


Like most of us, there was peace during Macoy's time. Yes, we saw some excesses in several television clips but these were justified as something which the official family did to at least make Filipinos proud of themselves. Imelda's shoes for example, they were plenty, but hey, the former MMDA and first lady had to travel, yes? And travelling requires a lot of shoes.


What I saw when I was growing up were Marcos' orations. The former president spoke with authority and with wit. It was a joy seeing him speak. Fact is, his face is still etched inside my brain. I was wired to listen to him and even emulate him, whenever possible. He made us proud of his speeches.


Yet, those speeches hide the real truth---the deaths of thousands, the poverty of many, the erosion of social values, war, inhumanity and the deprivation of several civil rights. While we eat barely two times a day, several of the dictator's cronies lavish themselves with riches beyond measure and feast themselves to death with imported goods, most of which, caviar.


We, however, were made to believe that every single thing was fine. Rumors circulated that Imelda allowed hundreds to die while the Cultural Center was being built. There was news of a senator killed due to his principles, and several others, dead, when they revolted against the regime.


I was a living witness of several thousands of us, shouting ourselves hoarse when a group of nationalists visited us. I later learned that that one was an election rally. Shouts of "laban" reverberated throughout the dark alleys of our condominium building. 


I was then a high school student when reports of a "revolt" broke out. Several soldiers were reported to have holed themselves inside Camp Crame. The action was reportedly led by Defense secretary Juan Ponce-Enrile, a close Marcos crony and General Fidel V. Ramos, a Ramos relative. They defected to the Cory Aquino side shortly after the 1986 elections, which, according to Enrile, Cory won by a landslide. 


It was my first time to hear of the name "Cory Aquino". Cory was the widow of the late Senator Benigno Noynoy Aquino. I shed a tear when the body of the slain senator was shown on television, slumped at the tarmac, murdered by an assassin. The alleged assassin, Galman, was also shown side by side with the slain nationalist, once accused of being a Communist, but, in truth and in fact, a genuine lover of God and Country.


Cory was convinced by several anti-Marcos forces to fight the ageing dictator in an elections. The ageing dictator agreed. Marcos was seen campaigning and throwing strong speeches against his detractors. Afterwards, he was seen being carried by several bodyguards. 


Rumours of Marcos' illness swept the country. There were rumors that the country was being run not by Ferdie, but by Meldy and a Hollywood actor. Most of the people think that it was time for Macoy to retire or die, but the dictator probably thought he was still "strong" and "needed by the people".


The elections were a sham. And most of the people knew it.


That's why several soldiers, wearing the People's flag in their uniforms, chose to side with the Truth. Three years ago, these soldiers made their views known when they unfurled a streamer during a PMA rites event. That "We Belong" streamer never meant anything to several people, but it was as serious as life to those who founded the RAM, especially young First Lieutenant Diosdado Valeroso. Several thought that the group was just fans of Benatar's famous pop song, but unknown to all, these soldiers were dead serious in their struggle to regain the democracy and freedom for the people.


That "We Belong" transformed itself into "Our Dream shall never die." It was a classic call for change, change that we can dream of. But, what is that change? What is really, the dream of the people?

Imelda's Jewels and Raul Gonzales

It came like lighting. And former Justice secretary Raul Gonzales had, indeed, fallen from the good graces of Malacanang.

After declaring that the 15 billion peso worth of seized pieces of jewelry were owned by former First Lady Imelda Marcos, Raul's decision was immediately assailed and reversed, the very same day the former justice secretary penned the favorable "midnight" decision.

Clearly, what Gonzales' replacement, Agnes Devenadera did was a public rebuke of Gonzales.

These pieces of jewelry, which the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) seized and declared as "property of the government", were part of three big suitcases which the Marcoses left behind when they hurriedly left Malacanang in 1986 and those seized from them in Honolulu. In an Inquirer research, it consists of the following:

The jewelry collection of Imelda Marcos consists of tiaras, necklaces, watches,
earrings, bracelets of rubies, emeralds, jade, gold pieces, diamonds and pearls
made by Gucci, Van Cleef and Arpels, Bulgari and Philippe Patek, among other
jewelers.
The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) has classified the collection into three—Malacañang, Honolulu and Roumeliotes.
The Malacañang collection, composed of some 300 pieces, was left behind by the Marcos family in the Palace when they fled the country on Feb. 25,1986.
The Honolulu collection, around 400 pieces, was confiscated by US customs officials upon the arrival of the Marcos family in Hawaii on Feb. 26, 1986.
As indicated in the US customs inventory completed on March 10, 1986,the most expensive item in the Honolulu collection was a “set of bracelet, earrings and brooch with sapphires, rubies and diamonds” amounting to $1.49 million. (At the time of the US customs inventory, the exchange rate was $1: P25).
In exchange for the dropping of antiracketeering charges filed against her in the United States, Imelda signed a compromise agreement in 1991, and a Honolulu court finally turned over the collection to the Philippine government on Dec. 18, 1992.
The Roumeliotes collection, considered to be the most expensive of the three, was confiscated by airport and Philippine Customs officials on March 9, 1986 from Greek Demetriou Roumeliotes, as he tried to flee the country.
Consisting of 60 pieces, the collection’s most prominent piece is a 37-carat diamond. Cases related to this collection went all the way to the Supreme Court but were decided in favor of the government on May 18, 1994.
The PCGG has possession of the first two collections and they are kept in the vaults of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. The Bureau of Customs has custody of the Roumeliotes collection.
In 2006, the Sotheby’s and Christie’s international auction houses estimated the entire lot (the three collections) to be worth P15 billion.
The government tried several times to sell the jewelry to raise money, but court cases and disputes over the venue prevented the auction.
In 1994, the PCGG tried to sell the jewelry but was unable to work out the terms with international auctioneers, Christie’s of New York and Sotheby’s of London. Another attempt was made in 1996, but it did not materialize.
In 2005, another attempt was made, but Imelda asked a Manila court to issue an injunction against the auction, claiming the jewelry belonged to her, with some pieces being family heirlooms.
In May 2009, the PCGG announced once again its plan to auction off a huge cache of Imelda Marcos jewelry, with PCGG Commissioner Ricardo Abcede noting that there was no legal impediment because Imelda had been unsuccessful in getting the courts to issue a restraining order. Lawrence de Guzman, Inquirer Research.

Veteran street parliamentarian and former political detainee Etta Rosales disclosed that there was already a decision to house all these pieces of jewelry in a museum and some to auction. It was therefore, unusual that after years of litigation, a legal technicality suddenly came out from the justice department, favoring the Marcoses.

Clearly, it was a "midnight deal". And Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. wants a probe to determine why DOJ Secretary Raul Gonzales issued that highly controversial decision favoring Imelda Marcos and assailing the PCGG, a co-equal agency of government.

Raul Gonzales has been accused by another Senator, Ping Lacson, of getting a commission from the legal disputes of Lucio Tan and his brother and committing an omission when he bungled his job in the Dacer-Corbito case.

Some sectors believe Gonzales' action was part of Malacanang's "fund-raising" activities for 2010. With Devenadera's act, however, it was clear that Gonzales was on his own when he made that glaringly injurious decision.

Maybe Gonzales has not forgotten his Marcosian links. Remember that Gonzales started his career in public service as a member of the censors board of the Marcos regime. Or, probably, Gonzales thought of raising funds for himself, like what he did when he played as "counsel" to two warring brothers, some wagging tongues say.

Arroyo more lethal than Marcos

We face a strong and stubborn enemy. Unlike the Marcos regime, the Arroyo administration is more dangerous. First, it has a strong political will, able to accomplish almost everything it desires and uses resources more skilfully and effectively than its enemies.

Second, it has, under its disposal, a young army of former change agents. These ex-change agents are skilled in the Art of War. They possess organizational as well as tactical knowledge of the political environment. They know what buttons to push and with the right application of tactical moves, they are able to defeat us and lead us to confusion.

Lastly, the Arroyo regime is in a stronger position in terms of the exercise of state power. It has the loyalty of some generals. It has spies sown like seeds in the field.

Isolation is the first step in defeating this regime. In the past though, the Arroyo clique already solved that through a public display of support from its allies. Through machinations, the Arroyo clique lured both its allies and enemies into a trap before, set to show strength and force under extremely difficult circumstances.

This came about because the Arroyo clique already knew and telegraphed the moves of its enemies. In any destabilizing situation, the script is evident. First, the rallies. Second, expression of collective support. Third, the calling of Patriotic elements within the military. Fourth, a big expression of dissent and fifth, the movement of troops. This has been the script since EDSA uno and the reason why the Arroyo regime continues to survive is the fact that the writers of this script are now safely on the side of Wrong, rather than of Right.

In all of these stages, the Arroyo clique already had the right responses based on its experience culled from years of surviving under a cloud of destabilization.

The script must be revised. A new strategy must be created and implemented. New players should emerge from this crisis; otherwise, these moves are sure and bound to fail, yet again, leading to demoralization and useless expenditure.

I am not at liberty to suggest anything at this point simply to say try reading the 36 Strategems of War. That holds the key to the complete defeat of this regime.

General Clausewitz used to say that war is a continuation of politics. In a nonlinear situation, the theory of chaos is always best as a strategy since this compels the opposing force to adapt in a different situation.

Lastly, it would be erroneous to compare Arroyo with Marcos, therefore, the same strategy applies to the present situation. Ours is a totally different situation. We are not struggling under a dictatorship, no. There is yet, a perceived foundling of a dictatorship. Hence, there is an absence of experience or learnings. Without this, it would be hard to generate critical mass.

Therefore, we must not rely on a critical mass as a dependent variable. We must push for the penultimate result without thinking of the future. If we fear that the Arroyo regime would use all available force to avert change, then, we must not proceed with all our plans since that indicates unpreparedness.

Stealth and the right application of the theories of war should be undertaken. Otherwise, this would lead to a disastrous defeat. It would give the regime a reason to proceed with the dictatorship and worst, totally annihilate all dissenting groups in the process.