Integrity of the 2010 elections is at stake

Everybody knows Washington's stand---no elections means trouble for Mrs. Arroyo. That is as clear as the bright blue sky in Rio de Janeiro. And, true to form, Mrs. Arroyo did, indeed, said that elections would definitely push thru. And I believe her.

She'll push thru with it, but there's one more question---how credible would the elections be and how "peaceful" would that 2010 exercise be?

Some moderate elements of civil society would say, it all depends on us. Yeah. Sure. Right. But, we're not born yesterday.

Automation of the elections is simply no guarantee that the next elections would be as clean as we hope it would be. Why? Because associates of the First Gentleman already control it. They already won first base (COMELEC-SMARTMATIC/TIM contract). Now, what's the second base? Obviously, a smooth operations need the support of military and police officials. They're sure to get it once they replace Verzosa's men with Roberto Rosales or when the AFP changes leadership with the early retirement of Ibrado.

The crux of the matter is simply trust. Many people don't trust the current administration. And it is unfortunate. The credibility of these elections does not depend much on automation. No. It's the integrity of the present administration and sadly, there's none left.

The elections would only be credible if, say, we change the present leadership. That's the only way that elections would be deemed and viewed as "credible". There's so much distrust on the real intentions of Mrs. Arroyo's gang that people can't avoid being anxious on the future come 2010.

It's not enough that Mrs. Arroyo gives us assurance that she'll respect the electoral process. It's definitely not enough that Mrs. Arroyo speaks of an election when her dogs in Congress push for amendments on the economic provisions of the Constitution. And it hell sure is not reassuring that Mrs. Arroyo is visiting her province in Pampanga more than twenty times to believe that everything's fine. No.

It's not that she'll push thru with it---it's the conduct and integrity of the entire enterprise that is now, in question. And for the interest of the entire country, it's definitely important to ask her to either go on a leave of absence or oust her immediately. That would surely give everybody a big sign of relief.

Nograles Con-Ass

We're being fooled by Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr. He says that he's not interested in con-ass when proposals to amend economic provisions of the 1987 Charter are slated to be discussed shortly after the SONA. Niloloko tayo ni Noggie the doggie.

(at right, Noggie the doggie seen here with presidential son Mikey " M2" Arroyo)

Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr. has assured colleagues at the Senate and the public in general that the House leadership will not proceed with transforming Congress into a constituent assembly. He said this to allay fears of the public on con-ass. Yet, he said in the same vein, that the priority of the House is still charter change. So, that leaves people thinking---what is Nograles up to?

In fact, House Resolution 747 which seeks to amend the economic provisions of the charter is the top agenda of the House come July 27. So, what is Nograles saying that they're not turning the House into a constituent assembly, when their first order of business is the passage of this Resolution? Besides, technically, the house has been converted already into a constituent assembly the very moment Gloria gives her SONA. The conversion already started shortly after the passage of House Resolution 1106! Nograles does not need to publicly announce con-ass because they already did last June 2, 2009.

When the House discusses House Resolution 747 on July 27, that, in itself, is already a process of proposing amendments to the Constitution. That will fly based on the strength of House Resolution 1106. So, what Nograles is simply doing is what we call "word play."

Now, will the boycott of three senators change anything? Obviously, it will not. By the very act of assembling to hear Arroyo's speech both of Senators and Congressmen, that in itself, satisfies the constitutional prerequisite of a formal opening of the session of Congress. It does not take for Nograles to actually say that the House is now a Constituent Assembly. He and his allies only need for the President to give her speech and for the Speaker to announce that Congress is now in session. When they open the House for business, proposals to amend the Constitution will be accepted since a prior law already gave constitutional credence to it.

Honduran president ousted due to Con-ass

Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo should read her newspapers today. Honduran president Manuel Zelaya was forced into exile by his own troops yesterday. And you know why? Because Zelaya wanted to force constitutional changes despite being declared illegal by his country's Supreme Court and members of Congress and his own party oppose it.

Zelaya was taken into custody and asked to board a plane. His whereabouts are still unknown as of presstime.

Senators have already warned of dire repercussions should Congress push thru with its planned con-ass. People very close to the palace said that Congress will try to push their luck prior or in July 27, the scheduled date of the SONA.

Malacanang should heed these signs, particularly that of thousands who expressed their anger and disgusts over con-ass online. Though there is a "spiral of silence", as what Mahar Mangahas of SWS describe our situation, it bears remembering that this same phenomenon arises prior to an outbreak of monumental political proportions. It is always a lull before the storm and if the palace thinks that the people will just "cruise along" when con-ass comes, they'll be totally surprised.

General Strike Against Con-Ass

Senate president Juan Ponce-Enrile is correct. Mrs. Arroyo is not running for Congress and she'll not direct the Lower House to convene itself into a Constituent Assembly.



Mrs. Arroyo's "silence" is a strategy to keep her still in the power game. So, does this mean that we need to just be silent and tone our protests down.



NO.



Protests should continue. Protests should even be louder than ever. My former Ateneo Law School professor, Father Joaquin Bernas, in his column today over at the Philippine Daily Inquirer wrote:

" I do not agree with those who say that rallies are nothing but useless noise.
They are noise, indeed, but of the type which can invade the consciousness of
men and women in Congress who are still deliberating whether to be honorable or
to be practical. And I believe that there is enough honor in the House that can
overcome reckless adventurism even at the cost of their share in the pork
barrel."

I remember what George Sorel in his Reflections on Violence wrote a century or so ago. He said that the greatest weapon of the People against the threats of elite dominance is a general strike.



Sectors should call for a general strike on or before July 27, 2009.



All change agents should intensify efforts at calling for the downfall of this regime. For example, I call upon my friend and colleague Noli Benavent to transform those 75,000 plus Facebook members of his to warm bodies before July 27.



There are talks that the House will constitute itself into CON-ASS before July 27. This is to avoid sharing the space with the Senate. Earlier fears say that the House leadership will capitalize on the joint session assembled in Arroyo's SONA to justify a convening of the House as Constituent Assembly. Enrile, however, said that he knows his parliamentary procedures and he'll immediately adjourn the Senate after the president's SONA to avoid such an event from happening.



Question--what if certain senators stay at the halls and take part in the deliberations for the convening of Congress as Constituent Assembly. That, my friends, would make my day.



By the way, here's the photo taken during the second FACEBOOK EB of STOP CON-ASS last Friday. Kudos to my friend, Carlo Ople, Susan "Toots" Ople and Noli.

CBCP supports No to Con-Ass

Sinuportahan na ng Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) ang mga panawagan upang tutulan ang House Resolution 1109. Ayon sa CBCP, kinakailangang gumawa ng mga hakbang ang taumbayan upang iparating sa regimeng Arroyo ang malakas at marubdob na pagtutol sa balaking baguhin ang Konstitusyon ng ating bansa. Gayundin, ipinahayag din ng CBCP ang kanilang pagtutol sa balaking itayong muli ang isang diktadurya sa ating bansa.

Bagamat sumasang-ayon ako sa mapayapang mga pagkilos laban sa HR 1109 at sa rehimeng Arroyo, sa tingin ko ay hindi pa ito napapanahon. Epektibo lamang ang Gandhian method or yung non-violent approach kung nararamdaman na ng administrasyong ito ang ating lakas at ang potensyal o epekto ng pagwawalang-bahala kung hindi mapapahinuhod ang rehimen sa boses ng masa. Anong ibig kong sabihin?

Kailangang maramdaman ng rehimeng Arroyo na mayroong malakas na puwersang sasagupa sa kanila kung hindi nila ititigil ang kanilang balaking baguhin ang Saligang Batas o ang pagpapatupad ng batas militar. Sa ngayon, mahina pa ang puwersang pangsagupa sa rehimeng Arroyo.

Kailangang maipakita muna ang matibay na suporta ng mga armadong grupo, tulad ng mga sundalo at mga makabayang kasapi ng mga rebolusyunaryong grupo sa LUzon, Visayas at maging sa Mindanao sa mga panawagang laban sa rehimen. Kailangang magkaroon ng sabayang pagpapakita ng pakikiisa ang mga grupong ito sa malawakang hanay ng mga Pilipinong lalaban sa bumabalot na makapal na kadilimang dulot ng demonyitang sanggol.

Tulad ng mga naisulat ko na sa nakaraan, iisang wika lamang ang alam ng rehimeng ito at iyan ay karahasan. Isang bully itong si Mrs. Arroyo at hindi non-violence ang panlaban sa kanya.

Upang mapaluhod mo ang isang bully, kailangang kausapin mo siya ng mahinahon habang hawak mo ang isang baril sa iyong likuran. Ito ang pinaka matibay na stratehiya laban kay Arroyo. Ito ang nararapat na taktika laban kay Arroyo.