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.

Chotovelli watch Congress

By the way, best if we watch these events happening in Congress with keen eyes.

And what better way to do that, looking at how the sands of time slowly vanish right before our very eyes than look at the time through our Chotovelli watches? I happen to own one and I really love them.

They're big. They're iconic. And they bear these bold designs, a classic take of the Torinos, makers and breeders of Chotovelli watches in Italy.

Check it out at http://thewatchclub.blogspot.com/ or go to the website of ItalwatchManila at http://italwatchmanila.com/.

Resolution 1109: Deconstructing GMA & US Sec. Robert Gates

What prompted Mrs. Arroyo to give Speaker Nograles the go-signal to proceed with a patently illegal move last June 2, 2009? In an interview with a Congressman, House reporter Delon Porcalla of the Philippine Star today wrote that Mrs. Arroyo reportedly met with Nograles on the eve of her departure to Korea. Mrs. Arroyo allegedly told Nograles to proceed with the plan of pushing thru with the passage of the Villafuerte resolution.

Mrs. Arroyo knows how this issue would split the newly formed LAKAS KAMPI CMD. She knows the security implications of this and I believe that she heard what US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said about the position of the US government in relation to the 2010 elections. Gates categorically stated the desire of the US to see the peaceful transition of power come 2010.

She also knows that the COMELEC has just practically closed the bidding for the computerized elections, meaning, government is on the verge of spending 18 billion for this.

Now, what prompted her to give the go-signal despite the public pronouncement of the US government position? Is the visit of Gates an indication that the US knew of Mrs. Arroyo's plans and that by sending a top Obama aide here, the US hopes to dissuade her from pushing thru with her evil plan?

Studying her actions for more than ten years indicates that Mrs. Arroyo has an ace in her sleeves. That ace probably is the military.

Be vigilant, be very vigilant. Shortly after the passage of Resolution 1109, the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership just completed its "routine" change of its administrators. Early on, the AFP also had its routine administrative "shakeup". Members of Class 1978, which adopted Mrs. Arroyo as honorary member, are now on the top echelon of both the PNP and the AFP. Are these generals Mrs. Arroyo's own version of Marcos' Rolex generals?

Likewise, Mrs. Arroyo is also replacing two Supreme Court magistrates with her own nominees. Is Mrs. Arroyo on the verge of completing the consolidation of executive, legislative and judicial power under her wing, backed by a loyal group of generals? It seems so.

What Mrs. Arroyo is doing is laying the groundwork for dictatorial rule. She already controls the Lower House and the recent action shows the isolation of the Senate from the scheme of things. She has the generals under her care and in the next few weeks, Mrs. Arroyo would practically control the Highest Tribunal of the land with her nominees. What would prevent her from declaring Gloria forever?

People power is the solution. This time though, there should be no letup. If we launch People Power now, it should be for the total annihilation of Mrs. Arroyo and her ilk.

On the flipside though, maybe Mrs. Arroyo is just toying with us, flexing her muscles just so that we still "toe the line" and prevent her from being a lameduck president? Some people suggested that to me. Or, quite possibly, there is really a cabal inside the palace with the honest and real intention of carving a dictatorship out of an evil kingdom?

Physically Prevent Congressmen from holding session

Prevent Congressmen from attending the resumption of Congress in the third week of July 2009. Or, possibly deter them from holding a special session prior to the SONA.

This is the most viable option left for us, oppositors of Resolution 1109. Don't file a TRO nor a motion questioning the very act of Congress, no.

The best way to prevent the further rape of our democracy and Constitution is by physically preventing these Congressmen from attending the session, especially a special session to be called by either the President or Speaker Nograles.

The possibility of calling for a special session is there. Mrs. Arroyo could use this as a pretext to solve this "constitutional anomaly". Most probably, Mrs. Arroyo would announce for a special session to "heal the rifts" caused by the provocative act of the Lower House and invite members of the Senate, particularly those aligned with the administration to attend.

We should be very vigilant because that session would be used by Mrs. Arroyo and her Congressional allies to further up the ante and solve the anomaly. They could justify anything passed there since there is a presence of Senators there.

Resolution 1109: We should learn from History & the Fates

Manolo Quezon III in his article today over at the Philippine Daily Inquirer wrote that there is still nothing to worry about the passage of Resolution 1109. He says that it is too early to gauge the effects of this resolution. Yes, we should loudly protest. But, better if we just ignore this Resolution since we have'nt felt it's effects yet.

True. Resolution 1109 is still new, still fresh, yet potentially lethal to democracy. Unbeknownest to some, Resolution 1109 just opened the possibility of amending this Charter. From that unfamous night of its passage, the possibility of introducing changes in our Constitution is there--whether the Senate interprets it as legal or not. Obviously, that action of the Lower House is patently illegal and one priest even said, "immoral." And when we see such illegality and immorality, it is our duty to sound the clarion call.

Why wait for the darkness to fall when we still have time to act against it? Ano, we will wait for this deep, thick darkness to envelop and eat us first before we act? No!

As what Renato Reyes and all the other veterans of Martial rule told us, there is a history behind this. They were caught flat-footed before in 1971 when former strongman Ferdinand Marcos declared martial rule. They thought Marcos' intention was solely for constitutional change through the Constitutional Convention. Obviously, they were wrong. Marcos used the "riftrafts", the "confusion", the "chaos" that attended the Convention to justify his real intention, and that was, carve himself a kingdom out of numerous fiefdoms. That kingdom of the Malakas and the Maganda lasted for twenty years.

History would also attest how this lady, as what Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said, has orchestrated vicious mischiefs in the past. Remember her Rizal Day declaration? How about those numerous SONA's which vowed to stamp out corruption? Those white lies and black lies have all turned into nasty jokes yet we all felt their evil effects on our daily, ordinary lives. How about her cutesy little face turning into a sad frown in that "I'm sorry" episode, part of "Hello"?

Now, would we allow this devil enfant to carve for herself, her husband, her sons and their generals a similar Kingdom, with a dwarf and an ogre as our Malakas and Maganda?

We must not trust this demon enfant. We must trust our instincts.

Likewise, I would not subscribe to another blogger (Normankonrad, I believe his name is) suggestion that we put up a civil disobedience campaign. He says we must not succumb to the trap set before us by this government by engaging in violent street protests and actions.

Mr. Konrad, this government knows only one law, and that is, the law of Force. The more we do democratic means, the more brazen this government becomes.

As what I said before, this government thrives on destabilization. It quickly adapts itself to the times, able to withstand criticisms and long-drawn out destabilization actions and turn these into learnings for survival. Since its inception, the Arroyo regime has absorbed every countermeasure and transformed them into positive actions.

Now, how can we counteract the unwritten policy of this government of one step back, two steps forward? Let me elucidate it in my next entry.

Resolution 1109: Crush it Through People Power

To all freedom loving Filipinos---CRUSH THIS RESOLUTION 1109. IT IS A PLOY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MARTIAL RULE!

CRUSH THE LOWER HOUSE WITH THE MIGHT AND STRENGTH OF OUR COLLECTIVE FORCE!

We are now at war.

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.

A Call to Arms

Last night's session of the Lower House is more of a challenge for relevance rather than a provocative act to resolve what they think is a justiciable matter. The Lower House arrogated full legislative powers to spite the Senate and provoke it to show its relevance in the scheme of things. This is now, a power struggle, between a House composed of feudal lords with concrete constituencies with that of a House that has a conceptual national constituency.

Hence, this should not provoke another action that would involve the Supreme Court. No. Oppositors of this move should never involve the Supreme Court since this will be playing in the hands of those who planned this in the first place. If they file a case before the Court, that would complete the dastardly plan of these devils in barongs, infecting the High Tribunal and dragging it into the controversy.

If the High Tribunal is dragged, that would leave only the executive branch as a true power, and justifies more actions that aim to consolidate the full powers of the State into one institution.

It is critical for those who love democracy to meet this challenge by NOT RESORTING TO A LEGAL REMEDY. The Lower House challenged the Senate to prove its relevance by using an extra-constitutional route. Let the Senate do the same by marshalling the forces of change and seek remedy through a show of People Power.

Let me elucidate further

New AKBAYAN partylist Rep. Walden Bello is right. The passage of Resolution 1109 weakened the fine balance among the democratic institutions of governance in our country. By provoking what Rep. Luis Villafuerte called a constitutional question, the effects of it is worse than the intention. Why do I say that?

Because we now face a constitutional anomaly. And it is ill-timed and ill-advised to say the least.

At a time when we need political stability to insulate us from the ill-effects of a global recession, here we face these rampaging devils in barongs, creating a constitutional scandal, worst than those sex tapes of an infamous doctor maniac. These power-hungry cursed sonafabitches created a fine diversion for us to forget the damning graft scandals and led us to an uncertain future.

And did, they, even, succeeded in creating a justiciable issue? No. For a justiciable issue to occur, it must be very clear that the court can actually take jurisdictional cognizance of the same. If the court feels that it cannot offer such cognizance, then, it cannot be a justiciable matter.

The infirmities of Resolution 1109 are procedural and substantive, therefore, outside the scope of judicial determination. For example, the question of voting can actually be resolved by the Legislature themselves, seeing that the wording of the Constitutional provision on amendments and revisions is not infirm but firm in its spirit that the House votes separately, not jointly, and that this 3/4 vote is actually not joint, but separate voting. The letter of the Law is clear. And when the Law is clear, there should be no other construction than what the intent of the framers of that Law is.

What these devils did was create a controversy as a diversion, a bogey, so to speak, to allow their true intention to surface.

They're justifying their action by saying that all they did was to initiate debate and give the Court an opportunity to clarify what they think is a
fussy judicial issue.

There is no debate because the intent of the framers of the Constitution is very clear---no proposals for amendments nor revisions are to be entertained without the participation of the Senate.

What the Lower House did was a dictatorial move, a coup so to speak, that allowed them to arrogate full legislative powers for themselves. It is the first phase for a full shift into a parliamentary form of government. IN one fell swoop, they succeeded in diluting the substantiveness of the bicameral paradigm of governance and rendered the Senate as a useless, albeit, toothless tiger.

Last night's session was more of an exercise to resolve an itchy theoretical question, and that is, what would happen should one House arrogates full legislative powers inspite of the Senate? In a scenario like this, the Senate should exercise a realistic showing of its strength. And what is that?

The Senate should spearhead a movement that would force the Lower House to self-censure. It is not advisable that the Senate resort to filing a case before the Supreme Court. No.

This matter can be resolved by the Legislature itself. Senators and all those who love democracy should not fall into the trap set by the Lower House.

The Senate should show the world of its relevance as an institution by marshalling all the anti-charter change forces under its tutelage. It is now a question of who holds true power---those legislators with specific and concrete constituencies or those with a theoretical national constituency.

If the Senate fails to show power and strength, the Lower House will definitely proceed, opening the Charter and literally roughshodding everything.

That's why, this is a struggle for the preservation of democracy, of the things we so love and cherish and of the things we hold dear.

This is a fight, a challenge put forth by the demons of this regime against all those who love the Motherland. This is a time when we must, prove to all that we do have the strength to establish a society of Truth, Justice and Peace.

This is a veritable call to arms for those who love democracy.

Crush evil wherever and whenever necessary. It is our responsibility as Filipinos to stand up and face this monster with oure eyes open and our hands clenched.

The Filipino People is being challenged. Meet this challenge with bravery and fortitude of Spirit.

And call on the thousands of New Patriots and arm them with the Spirit of the Revolution.

Let these Patriots rise and defend the Motherland from these demonic rapists.

I also call on my colleagues over at the Open Democracy Foundation. Help us. Help the Filipino People. Let us marshall our forces and defeat these counter-democratic forces that threaten the very lives and futures of every Filipino.

Resolution 1109: The Mother of All Scandals

We are watching safely in our homes while Congressmen, especially allies of Mrs. Arroyo, slowly tear up the clothes of the Motherland.

If this Resolution 1109 passes tonight, it is a virtual rape of the 1987 Constitution. It's like allowing a serial rapist to do everything despicable against an unwilling victim.

Will the Opposition file a case before the Supreme Court? I counsel them not to file anything. Let these devils do their thing. If, as what former president Joseph Estrada and all these presidentiables threats are true, then, the People will rise up to defend the Motherland from this crime most foul.

This scene tonight is more despicable than the Katrina Halili-Hayden Kho sex scandal. In fact, this is a lurid scam that offends not just our rational minds but also our entire being.

We just saw the most shameful crime ever committed by these devils in barongs. And where are those who vowed to defend the Constitution against all threats? They should hang themselves since they already failed to protect the very Charter they are supposed to defend with their lives.

TO ALL PATRIOTIC FILIPINOS, A CALL TO ARMS!!!

JOIN CARDINAL ROSALES IN A MASS TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY AT ST. PETER'S CHURCH AT 2PM AGAINST THIS PILLAGE OF THE 1987 CONSTITUTION

The Rape of the 1987 Constitution

As I write this, a coup is being hatched right in the middle of the plenary hall of the controversial Lower house. Majority Congressman just arrogated the entire plenary powers given to them by the Constitution to expedite the passage of Resolution 1109. No Senator was on the floor. The Lower House forgot that the very nature of our system is that of a bicameral system. What they are doing right now is an outright violation of the Constitution. It is very clear in the Constitution that all proposals for charter change should involve both Houses, voting separately. By doing this extended session tonight, they clearly showed a resolve to push for cha-cha whatever happens.

Clearly, this extra-constitutional exercise is meant to open and destroy the Charter. What they plan to do is expedite the passage of the Resolution so that they can present this as a gift to Mrs. Arroyo, who is safely ensconced abroad while this rape of the Charter is being implemented. It is very clear that these people meant to change the system of government prior to May 10, 2010. Inspite of what other Opposition figures think, that there is really no time for charter change, the Lower House can proceed acting as a Constituent Assembly while waiting for the Supreme Court to resolve this justiciable issue.

If they pass Resolution 1109, opening the Charter and convening themselves as a Constituent Assembly, the Majority can introduce changes in the Charter the minute it is approved. The Speaker can again arrogate full powers to himself and call for an extension of the session for charter change. It is wrong to assume that there is still time to avert their cha-cha plans since the Lower House would now have full and blanket powers the very minute this Resolution is passed.

And what is the plan of those behind this coup? Obviously, to present a New System of Government come the State of the Nation Address of Mrs. Arroyo in July. Yes, the government is not lying when it said that elections will push thru come May 10, 2010. There will be elections, albeit, for representatives of a federal parliamentary unicameral system.

What I am concerned is the non-chalance being shown by the People regarding this matter. It is chilling, to say the least. Where is the People while these rapists assault the very Charter of the Filipino People?

And where are the soldiers who vowed to protect the Constitution and the People? This is a crime most foul.