Corona Impeachment: The Guingona Proposition

Senator Teofisto Guingona III made a startling proposition--offer the Chief Justice to resign and offer Justice Antonio Carpio to serve the remainder of his term. Guingona probably  meant well when he offered this. However, as a friend, I must say that it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.


Everyone knows that TG is close to the powers-that-be, especially the President. TG is a close friend of the President, actually, a batch 1981 of the Ateneo where the President belongs. By trying to broker this deal, TG is trying to represent not the people, but the Interests working inside Bahay Pangarap.


TG's proposal, under normal circumstances, would have worked. The reason why I say that it leaves a bad taste in the mouth is because it exposes the real reason behind efforts to oust the Chief Justice.


It just proves that President Aquino and those powers that influence him are pushing for Justice Carpio as a replacement of Corona.


For all Filipinos present and who are reading this piece---Carpio is no different than Corona. Fact is, Carpio is worse than Corona.


Carpio intends to become Chief Justice because he wants his law firm to dominate the judiciary. He wants the "Firm" to be the compania inter pares of this country. 


Carpio is close to the Cojuangcos. If the plan succeeds, Carpio is expected not just to be the rubber stamp of the palace--he is expected to be the senior puppy of Noynoy. By revealing Malacanang's dark plan, Guingona unwittingly alienated the palace from the People.


Hence, Malacanang is really not after cleansing the judiciary of scalawags in robes. Malacanang is never interested in really stamping out graft and corruption in the massive bureaucracy, oh no.


Malacanang is pushing for its political agenda, plain and simple. This agenda is connected with Big Business. For decades, Big Business has put its money on politics just to get those juicy jewels built by the former Marcos administration to ensure that basic services are within the people's reach.


Look what happened shortly after the Marcos administration---every single industry of this country was sold to the highest bidder, regardless of who they are, or what are their real intentions of buying government utilities.


And because BIg Business money is now entangled or tied with the political future of this government, it is in the best interest of those who "invested" their money in government to secure an administration that is most favorable to them and would not harm their interests or stake. 


IMagine if say, PLDT man Manny Pangilinan encounters an adversarial government. What would happen to the billions of dollars he invested in several firms?


What if, say, this government changes, and becomes anti-business, what will happen to those properties of the government illegally acquired by friends of the former dispensations?


IN these cases, the final arbiter, according to the Constitution, is the Supreme Court. It is the last sanctuary of the people's true sovereign power. If this institution is corrupted, and individuals put in there not because of their erudition but because of their closeness and dogged adherence to the whims and caprices of Taipans and Mestizo hacienderos and conos, what happens is the continued en-slavery of the people to Big Business. 


Carpio would not be the last man standing to defend the people's interests from the continuing encroachment of Big Business, oh no. Fact is, Carpio will spearhead the complete offering of government to the altar of Big Business.

Sleepiness cause vehicular accidents

Senator TG's son, Peter Norman, figured in an early morning vehicular accident. HIs vehicle rammed the center island unto the Katipunan flyover. He was not drunk. He was just sleepy.


Good thing that Peter Norman is now out of danger and no one was killed. 


I understand what Peter went thru. I, myself, nearly got myself killed in several instances, driving while so sleepy. Sleepiness behind the wheel is a cause of several accidents here in the Philippines and even in the United States. According to a study, its prevalent among college students and one-fifth of all vehicular accidents are caused by sleepiness behind the wheel.


Brake and Direct Line found 74 per cent of British drivers have felt tired while behind the wheel in the past 12 months. While the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) did a study on the effects of sleepiness on drivers. 


Sometime last year, I nearly figured in an accident along South Superhighway. I just came from Laguna and was travelling along the highway when I noticed that I was veering towards the center island. And my SUV is going to the left and to the right. Then I suddenly woke up finding myself still driving. Since I was so sleepy, I decided to go to the nearby gas station and give myself several minutes of rest. 


It also happened to me driving along the NOrth Express way. When I was young, I can drive up to Baguio in 3 or 4 hours flat, without stopping. I also remembered the time when I can just go up to Ilocos and drive straight and just stop in Vigan. Now, I can't do it any longer.


I admit--I suffer from a sleep disorder called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea deprives you of precious oxygen when you sleep. That's why I'm always lacking of sleep. 


Three tips for drivers who feel sleepy when behind the wheel.


1. Don't drive. Stop, and go to a nearby gas station. Sleep. Don't fight it, you'll lose.
2. Drink coffee. It will give you a 15 minute boost. Afterwards, find or look for a nice place to rest.
3. Stretch. The trick is you have to get more oxygen into your system especially your brain. Lack of air or oxygen causes sleepiness. When you suffer from erratic breathing patterns, that's a great sign that you need to consult a sleep therapist.