Coup d'état, structural changes and other B-S

Based on reports, two contending groups are in a collision course--all in the name of Power.

There is one claiming to be poised to strike for the sake of true change. Another is also poised to justify a continuity of the reforms already established by the current administration.

Former defense secretary Norberto Gonzales' claim about these so-called "coup" is very interesting. He says he is for "change" in the country. He wants nothing more than change the very structure of leadership of this nation. His line is being parroted by Peping Cojuangco, who claims to have a big role in the ouster of former president Joseph Estrada in 2001.

These two names---Gonzales and Cojuangco have been involved in two political exercises already along with Boy Saycon, who is rumoured to be doing the rounds and convincing some sectors.

Nothing wrong with the "aim" of these people--the only question that comes to mind is--how true and serious their desire to change is. For one, Gonzales served the Arroyo administration for nine long years. During those time, what change or changes happened? Nothing. Gonzales just served the interests of his principal. How about Peping? He was given the responsibility of "reforming" national sports but what happened? Nothing, and the condition of our sports organisations remain dismal.

How about Boy Saycon? In the early part of the Aquino administration, Saycon was severely reprimanded by the president for dipping his fingers on sugar smuggling. What the president did was ask several Customs officials to fire Saycon's men out of the bureau.

Are we so secured to know that if these men succeed in re-asserting themselves to power, they will pursue the people's interests and not their own?

Ask me if the people being convinced by these three personalities are convinced and do not know what these men did when they were in governance and you'll find that the very reason why their attempts would fail and fail miserably is the very fact that their records as government officials pale in comparison with those who truly worked for changes, even inside the Aquino administration.

Besides, what would happen is what I call "perpetual destabilisation"---where contending political groups would try to outsmart each other knowing that there is now a serious absence of leadership.

The question really is very simple--do we allow Aquino to continue the remaining one year and a half in power or do we allow a transition council to manage our affairs, especially correct the electoral process so that we get a fair election come 2016?

Honestly, a transition council is our best bet to correct the monumental flaws of this decrepit system. This is the most rational solution to the absence of leadership which we now experience.

However, what prevents us from supporting this initiative is the knowledge that these names are involved in this enterprise. We know that these people are advancing their own personal interests and like those whom they are criticising right now, they are equally guilty of amassing wealth from the public coffers, and worse, advance the interests of names in Big Business who wants to monopolize their hold in the economy.

Political exercises which involve some form of military action are always motivated by economic interests.

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.

Transition government, GMA-style with Teodoro as New Prexy

National security adviser Norberto Gonzales is at it again. He just gave a piece of his deranged mind when he again advocated for a transitional government that has the support of the military. He says that it's not good to proceed with the 2010 elections without first correcting the flaws of the system.

He may be right and I share his beliefs but I don't know if he realizes how stupid that proposition is if he says that Mrs. Arroyo heads this transition government. It's like saying that, yeah, we create a transition government to rectify the errors we made during the past nine years with the same people who created those errors as head of this government. Bull.

A transition government can only be good provided that everyone in the GMA administration, leaves their offices and go on an exile. And that includes BertGon.

Some quarters believe that the GMA administration will push the envelope by convening the Lower House into a Constituent Assembly by August. By that time, they will be well prepared.

The most effective strategy for oppositors to do is just let it be and ignore it. That'll be the strongest expression of disgust against con-ass---ignoring these scumbags and let them commit a patently illegal and immoral act. That is not to say that we will totally be complacent and just sit idly by while the winds of authoritarism blow us to the dark ages. No.

What we are saying is---let's prepare ourselves for the worst case scenario and be on guard against these illegal moves meant to justify a regime extension. Fr. Joaquin Bernas likened our situation with that of 1973 when former strongman Ferdinand Marcos rammed us with a fully infirm 1973 Constitution. Should Mrs. Arroyo and her henchmen do something similar to us, we should approach it differently.

Some sectors believe that Mrs. Arroyo's allies just want to change the provisions to spark a constitutional anomaly. That will only be a constitutional anomaly if someone from the opposition questions it before the Supreme Court.

I say, do not even try to file a case before the Highest Tribunal. The strongest opposition to this is just ignore it. Let them push this issue to its brink while we prepare our strongest countermeasure which is People's Power.

By the way....

There are talks that the Arroyo regime right now is split along ideological lines. One group pushes for a Teodoro-led government while the other one tinkers with term extension. Last night's birthday party of Teodoro saw several Cabinet members toasting their wine glasses together with the birthday boy. Signs that should the worst comes, they'll be a Teodoro-led transition government? Possible? Yes, it is.

Some are talking that, if the forces of change went pass the critical mass and closes its doors behind Mrs. Arroyo, the most logical alternative is a coup within the Arroyo regime.

Remember Mrs. Arroyo's speech last week urging for unity of forces? That speech is reportedly directed to some members of the Cabinet who are thinking of isolating and abandoning Mrs. Arroyo and replacing her with Teodoro.

A Teodoro-led transition government would solve a problem like Mrs. Arroyo and would allow her to go scot-free along with her relatives. It's verified that Mrs. Arroyo and her husband, the First Gentleman and big-time operator Mike Arroyo are scared shitless on the possibility of spending their retirement years in jail. That's why they're willing to spend millions just to assure themselves of a quiet time post-2010. However, most, if not all, are reluctant to strike a deal with her. Only Teodoro wants her to leave the palace unharmed.

So a transition government with Teodoro's generals initiating it, is sure to provide an alternative for Mrs. Arroyo and her enemies. And they are poised to do just that come August of this year should protests against charter change reach critical mass.

Resolution 1109: Martial Law in August

Rep. Luis Villafuerte is a shrewd politician. But, he cannot fool us, no.

He'll be the one who'll challenge the Resolution 1109 before the Supreme Court. He's the trojan horse of Mrs. Arroyo.

He deliberately stayed his hand, reportedly bolted the administration party and is thinking of going to the NPC to austensibly join it. Yet, he's a main actor in this charade (as what Joe de Venecia referred to this Resolution 1109).

Villafuerte will drag the Supreme Court in this controversy so that the Executive will be the remaining institution left standing. Villafuerte, Ronnie Puno and all the architects of this travesty called Resolution 1109 are in for the long haul. Their mission is the establishment of another dictatorship, far worse than the victim of EDSA Uno.

The penultimate game plan is simply not a peaceful and democratic shift to parliamentarism. No. Were it so, we should have at least read it in the wording of this Resolution.

The plan is the establishment of martial rule come August of this year. This coincides with the strategy put forward by a Jesuit priest and his chuwawah, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, the rasputin of Mrs. Arroyo. The aim is simply force the shift and ram it down our throats.

And in all wars, this comes in pristine timing. The Opposition is weak. The soldiers are lulled to deep sleep. The Patriots are incarcerated. There is no force strong enough to repulse a repeat of authoritarianism in the Philippines.

That's why, expect not the dawning of a New Morning, but an ushering of the dark ages in Philippine history.

And what is the prize for raping the Constitution? Billions of dollars worth of projects, the Bagong Nayon Filipino resort project of PAGCOR and other jewels and gems included in the 2009 budget.

These people are resolved to kill us just so they can enjoy these gems and exercise power even beyond 2010.

Dangerous Times Ahead

There are three things which we need to watch in the coming days and weeks. First, last ditch attempts at charter change. Second, possible administration measures to justify extra constitutional means to perpetuate the status quo and third, eventual outbreak of dissent due to public frustration of a non-election scenario.

This administration should not risk a no election scenario. For the past weeks, there is a noticeable increase of prep activity for the elections. Through this ingenious events, it successfully prepared the public to expect an elections to happen in May 10, 2010. People are desirous already of change next year and to frustrate them would definitely mean big trouble. As I wrote in previous entries, wide-spread aggression is possible if this government frustrates the people's desire for change.

Two signs that lead people to surmise a no-election scenario: one, the failed bidding of the automation of the elections at COMELEC and the charter change deliberations next Tuesday.

Though there may have been legitimate reasons, one fact remains that the bidding failed. COMELEC has until May 30 to come up with a new set of bidders and a new bidding process. They can't allow the previous bidders to re-bid. That's a no-no. If they do that, the entire process will be perceived as tainted and it would definitely affect the entire conduct of the coming elections.

It's already May 14 and is 16 days enough to re-do the bidding? COMELEC should speed it up otherwise, public support for a constitutional means for change would surely crumble and justify an extra-constitutional way out of the Arroyo mess.

While prospects of automation hangs in the balance, Arroyo supporters at the House are expediting charter change. So, both--the COMELEC bidding and charter change--are heading towards one deadly deadline.

If charter change succeeds, they'll be elections anyway, albeit, not presidential, but parliamentary. Yet, if automation fails, and it's back to manual counting, the entire integrity of the whole electoral process is definitely suspect and renders the entire constitutional process void ab initio.

That justifies a term extension that would probably be backed up by a pro-Arroyo military. National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales already suggested this some months ago.

Now, is this is a possibility? Yes. Remember that come 2010, class 1978 will be the dominant player in both the AFP and the PNP. With a pro-Arroyo class as the ascendant class, the possibility of either Martial rule or a term extension is there.

Why does Arroyo fear January 19 and 22?

Two dates--January 19 and 22-- are being floated right now by top Arroyo spook InJustice Secretary Raul Gonzales as possible dates for alleged destabilizers to move in against Arroyo. Gonzales says there's a highly reliable report suggesting a power grab by that day. Another spook, this time, National Security Adviser Gonzales belied his tukayo's claim, saying they have'nt monitored anything suspicious.

Why are they afraid of these two dates?

First, January 19.

For one, they're afraid of their former compatriots now out of the kulambo civil society who vowed to go to the EDSA Shrine to celebrate EDSA 2. Remember that it was this infamous day when they ousted Erap and installed tiny, weeny Gloria to the throne of shame. Now, seven years later, things changed. They want her out, possibly either due to ideological reasons or they failed to get the rewards they want. Whatever the reason, this was the deadline set by COPA last year to GMA.

How about January 22?

Well, this commemorates the massacre of 19 farmers infront of Mendiola during the time of Cory. Until now, justice has not been served at all. The killer cops (not cop killers) are still at large. Families of the slain farmers are still grieving.

This government is afraid of the farmers' wrath. They continue to fail the rural masses. They have not been forthright with the Sumilao farmers and surely, they still don't know what to do with declining agricultural production. Net, farmers are one of the most depressing and the poorest sector of our society.

Will these dates finally lead to Arroyo's ouster from power?

I doubt it. I doubt if Trillianes' etal would move in these dates. Possibly, I think, if there's anything untoward that might happen, it could happen in February not January. Why? I just feel that groups are not ready yet. Or, probably they know something which I don't, which, in any case, if they feel like doing it, then, like in that Nike commercial, just do it.

Last thoughts

You know why Gonzales etal released that memo forbidding the media from covering a possible destabilization incident? For the destabilizers not to use the media as shields. Why again. Because these men are out to kill Trillianes.

Spooks

Its not Halloween but we are continuously being fed with creepy reports. And these reports are on high gear. Just this morning, AFP Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon is at it again, telling the nation that another destabilization attempt is imminent. He said that they are monitoring some unusual movements on the ground. And those movements are coming from the camp of detained Senator Trillianes.

Tsk,tsk,tsk. Esperon is spooking us again. Indeed there are unusual movements on the ground, Sir. Every minute, little quakes happen and its not coming from Trillianes. Its coming from those mines. Or those volcanoes sir. Or whenever you go to the john sir.

Major Spooks

Whatever Esperon says right now, people will think that the reason why he's saying these things is to force GMA to renew his term of service. Hey, February is just around the corner. If he still wants to be relevant, then, he's sure to do something foolish before February 9; otherwise, he'll be allowed to fade away, just like Calderon. Oh, by the way, Calderon was recycled. Yes, he's now the chief jailer.

Before Esperon, there's National unsecurity adviser Gonzales who told the world how vulnerable the Philippines is against terrorism. That's why two senior military officials from the US state department visited him. Maybe he knows something we don't, says the Americans. Well boys, Gonzales is as clueless as you are Generals. You don't know it but Gonzales is just pulling your hairy legs, sirs.

Another spook, this time, In Justice Secretary Gonzales. This septuagenarian always imagine things in his mind. He's as paranoid as Hitler. He's imagining things and infecting us with his foolishness.


Paranoid as hell

I can understand these people. They're thieves. So, they're afraid to finally face the People's Justice.

All I know is this---these groups are trying to consolidate their forces. Esperon is out to do a palace coup. And he does'nt want the other group to beat him to it.