The Emergence of One Elite Rule

Are we ready for another authoritarian rule? Yes, and we are helpless about it and will just succumb to this without bloodshed. Let me tell you why.

First, the forces of conservative politics or what I call the "political elite pushers" are stronger now than the forces of change agents. Simply, if there will be a direct clash between those who want change and those who want the status quo, obviously, the battle will be short-lived and would definitely favor the political elite. This imbalance of power stems from the inability of the movement for change to recruit new faces. There simply are fewer places to mold or cultivate new leaders right now, what with the slowly changing student movement in UP and other places. Worst, the movement is not adequately addressing the problem of leadership succession since the irony of the "Movement" for "change" is simply, it is anemic to internal changes especially when it comes to replacing the old guards with new ones. For many years, we have seen no new faces; only those old, tired bodies leading the charge using old, worn-out slogans.

On the conservative political front, they neither have problems on new leadership nor suffer from succession. Quite simply, the forces of conservatism are being bolstered by the emergence of the scions of the political elite who position themselves as change agents but, are, in truth and in fact, belong to the same, old dirty mold as their fathers and their mothers were. But, being inbued by youth, people see them in a totally agreeable light, blinded by the sparkle of their political pedigree.

This apparent weakness of the opposition stems from the lack of audacity and creativity coming from those who hold the reins of leadership within the movement. The lack of a unified front to fight the forces of conservatism places the entire country into perilous waters. If push comes to shove, the Filipino people do not have a strong, credible and creative force that would hinder or even defeat this gigantuan push of conservatism to effectively plant the seeds of one-man rule.

I shudder to admit it, but the Movement is now at its weakest since the failed attempts which began in 2005. It has been weakened by internal dissension, the lack of a collective agreement on post-Gloria matters, the lack of a definitive ideology that would guide the movement into a collective force and plain and simple, streaks of bad luck due to misapplication of strategies, misappreciation of the political terrain and weather and, finances.

Second, I hate to admit it, but discussions against charter change are being weakened by disparate voices coming ironically from those who oppose it. The very ones who oppose charter change are actually the ones helping this administration justify the imposition of cha-cha. Ask those senators who "oppose cha-cha" and you'll find that, indeed, they support it, but they just want to reserve it for the meantime since it's just one and half years before Gloria steps down. Others, well, they simply oppose cha-cha because of the prospect of term extension.

Third, in desperate times, people always, by nature, want to cling to something less benign and subtly devilish, but perceived as "sublime". Talks about "gringoism", " caudilloism" and "extra-constitutionalism" are spreading, creating a veritable first perception on dissent. Constant and consistent talks centering on this creates a psycho-linguistic backlash that could, indeed, prep up the citizenry to support authoritarianism. News on rising criminality, the prospect of war, state terrorism, lack of peace and order are communicative means aimed at the formation of one sociological world-view---the need for order coming from a unified power.

Lastly, the fluidity of the political situation favors the sudden entry of a "third force" positioning themselves as change agents. As I predicted a couple of entries back, both the traditional conservative forces and the old traditional leftist groups are cancelling themselves out. What is emerging is a third force that combines the good elements of Leftist ideology and the strong conservative pull of societal forces. This third force may be composed of old fogeys of the existing dispensation, just hiding their real dark selves behind the cloak of constitutionalism. What has been created are neo, mini Marcoses who adapted in the ultra liberal political environment and want to concentrate power just among themselves, along with control of resources.

Eventually, even without a coup or charter change, we are actually witnessing our country entering into the banana republic mode just by condoning these constitutional actions of a few pseudo and would-be Marcoses.

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.

The Battle in December

Two bishops have called upon the people to join the mammoth rally this Sunday, November 30, 2008. Heeding the clarion call, the Makati Business Club (MBC) and other civil society groups are also calling for people to go to the streets and protest the current efforts of this administration to extend Gloria's term.

A few days prior, detained Senator Antonio Trillianes called upon the people to support the impeachment complaint against Gloria. Saying it's the last legal option to oust the Pinay anti-Christ, Trillianes says it is still possible for the democratic soldiers to "intervene" into this political mess and rectify these errors wrought against the people by this evil administration.

Question that everybody is asking--will there be a realization of the People's dream for the ouster of Gloria? Rumours say, a big event will happen on the 28th of November, the day when Gloria comes back from her Latin American trip. Others say, the 30th of this month will signal a week-long "Revolution of Hope" and would culminate with Gloria's ouster.

Observing what's happening, I think that the thirtieth will just be the proverbial first shout that would culminate to Gloria's eventual ouster before January 2009. There are very auspicious signs which point to a weakening of Gloria's defenses by December 2008. The apex of the people's sentiments may be reached next month as Congress formalizes the killing of the impeachment, a symbolic act which could trigger widespread dissillusionment and cause the justification of a December affair.

Or, it could be prolonged to January of next year. If the forces against Gloria succeeds in ousting her in January or weaken her pro-cha-cha forces in the first quarter of 2009, kiss charter change goodbye. People behind Gloria will definitely not be able to implement their dastardly plot in summer, since there will not be sufficient time to effect charter change.

Unbeknownest to Gloria, the more anti-charter change proponents delay the hearing of the cha-cha proposals, the lesser the prospects for Gloria to extend her term. Surely, they cannot ram cha-cha in June of 2009 simply because Congressmen will be busy by then for their re-election campaign. So, the critical months begins in December and ends in March 2009 or the month where Congress adjourns. However, there is another card which Gloria's minions are contemplating and that is the emergency power card. These Malacanang hawks will try to implement black operations, will try to portray lawlessness in the Metro and in Mindanao and justify it. Like charter change, however, they are also pressed for time since they need to muster enough support from the AFP to do this. Surely, the defense secretary will not be a party to this, since Danding's party, if reports are to be believed, is aligning itself with the JDV-FVR faction in Lakas.