Went to the Bastusang Pambansa to see the action but most of it took place not on the floor, where Romulo Neri was sitting in a panel defending the CHED budget as members of congressmen took turns asking pointed questions to beef up the budgets for their districts. It was a very nerve-wracking three hours for all concerned.
Had a chance to prowl the galleries and the floor and get scuttlebutt from members of the House.
One account of this morning’s meeting at the Palace was that the main bone of contention was the upcoming baranggay elections. Congressmen were very anxious that the polls not be postponed, as it was an opportunity for them to spread goodies around. Demands were supposed to be 50,000 per kagawad or a total of 5 million for each congressman to dole out. The President had given assurances but had even been pursued with calls while she was in China, to assure that the written assurances that the polls would push through, were genuine. The badgering continued this morning, with congressmen supposedly in a foul mood and threatening mischief if the President didn’t do the doling out right there and then.
Another account was simpler, which was a Palace guarantee of 45 35 million per congressman, 25 million in “soft” pork and 10 milion in “hard” pork, whatever that means in congressional terms. In exchange, the congressmen pledged cooperation with the President in terms of pursuing her agenda.
But the figures discussed are impossible to verify (and every congressman could have been lying). The main topic of interest was, what was the Speaker going to do, and what were his options? Opinions among members of the House varied. They ranged from the Speaker had the numbers, to the President had the numbers, to the problem that Friday, it turns out, is a holiday which is why the President wanted matters settled by tonight.
The problem was that the Speaker was not inclined to refer the impeachment complaint prior to the recess. The question then was whether this would precipitate a showdown in the House, and who, exactly, had the numbers; also, there was the very real problem that if the complaint wasn’t referred prior to the break, the October 25 Senate hearing would take place, and if anything ended up revealed in that hearing, the revelations could lead to the complaint being amended and possibly fortified.
The Speaker’s options, as discussed by various sources, ranged from his having pulled a fast one last night by checking himself into the hospital for whatever reason (gastritis, LBM, etc.) and told the House to go on recess early, to his suddenly fainting in his office this afternoon and being rushed from the House in an ambulance, thus causing pandemonium, to the Mace either disappearing or being grabbed by his loyalists, thereby disrupting the session, to someone questioning the quorum, suddenly ending the session. But then the entire budget would have been imperiled.
Or the Speaker could publicly state he would not refer the complaint until the maximum period allowed, November 11.
Or the Speaker could decide that he faced an ethical dilemma, and announce he was inhibiting himself from the whole matter. This was the solution, apparently, put forward by the Palace as a face-saving gesture but involved its own risks. The Speaker’s lawyer, Raul Lambino of Sigaw ng Bayan fame, gave the Speaker similar advice, couched in terms of his right not to participate in forwarding a document obviously aimed more at the Speaker and his son than the President. The Speaker, by taking himself out of the game, would then pass the ball to Deputy Speaker Raul del Mar.
Del Mar could then easily say that it being his call, he would hold the ball until after the recess. Or, del Mar could then send the complaint immediately to the Committee on Rules, which could then sit on it; or the Committee on Rules could instantly send it to the Committee on Justice…
For an hour, from around 3:30 to 4:30 talk centered on whether the Speaker would take himself out of the game or force a showdown. Then at around that time came word there would be a press conference at the Speaker’s office. Up to that time there were still members of the House proposing that the Speaker should pass the ball to del Mar but that del Mar shouldn’t do the Palace any favors.
Like war, members of the press spend a lot of time just waiting then suddenly heaving into action. By 5 pm the media was huddled outside the door of the Speaker’s office as various congressmen trickled out and basically refused to say anything. Finally the doors opened. Mad stampede as everyone rushed in.
The Speaker looked remarkably calm and relaxed. Arrayed around him were various House members and the Speaker’s people, including Atty. Lambino.
At one point, the Speaker got up and disappeared; call of nature, I asked a reporter? Probably a phone call from the Palace, someone else said.
The Speaker reemerged, the press conference formally began. It played out pretty much as everyone had expected:
De Venecia inhibits self from Arroyo impeach rap; Arroyo impeach case referred to panel; JDV inhibits himself; JDV inhibits self from impeach rap.
I asked a couple of questions, because the Speaker said he was withdrawing from participating in the process, even though he had misgivings because of bribery allegations, etc., etc., but he urged del Mar to attend to his ministerial duty. Del Mar smoothly said he would transmit the complaint to the Committee on Rules. Art Defensor chimed in and said as chairman he was going to calendar the referral before the plenary that very night, for referral, in turn, to the Committee on Justice.
The sending of the paper from Deputy Speaker to Rules Chairman to Justice Committee of course constituting the start of the one-year countdown of the ban on further impeachment complaints.
So my questions focused on asking del Mar why he was rushing to refer the complaint, his answer was, it’s ministerial, and then I asked Defensor if he, as Chairman, could act on behalf of a committee he only chaired but which had more than himself as members; Defensor was offended and said the whole procedure is normally concluded as he said it would be, that he was confident in speaking for the committee, etc.
Questions from the reporters present concentrated on this rush to start the Constitutional countdown while others focused on relations between the Speaker and the President.
But I had to keep asking myself, why is the Speaker, who, depending on whom you asked earlier that afternoon, had been browbeaten by the President, or threatened with being deposed, or otherwise facing a momentous event in his political life, so relaxed, so calm -and what did he have to gain from surrendering to the Palace?
Fine, he actually did the ethical thing, but I have to wonder if his inhibiting himself was the best legal advice. Fine, he gets to keep the Speakership, if the President did have the numbers. He may even think he did the country a favor by heading off the possibility of an impeachment, and the President maybe, owes him another favor.
But what does he have to gain, politically, from caving in like this?
He has to have something up his sleeve, I kept telling myself as I left the press conference.
But I have to figure out what that could be.
Update 7:58 pm and 9:08 pm Got a report that on radio it was pointed out that there’s a problem with what the Speaker did. The Constitution, according to some lawyers (and Rep. Rufus Rodriguez is apparently already raising hell about it on the floor of the House as I write this), does not give the Speaker any discretion.
The Speaker, and only the Speaker, must do the referral. He cannot delegate it, he cannot inhibit himself, it can only be the Speaker and no one else. So goes the argument.
I asked some lawyers and they concur: when the Constitution is clear and specific, and cites no exceptions, then it must be done in the manner and by whom the Constitution says. One lawyer gave a Solomonic answer: is the Speaker the only person who can refer the complaint, and if the Speaker didn’t, is there a justiciable case?
Here are their various answers:
Yes, based on the constitution [article XI. section 3.[2] and the rules of the house on impeachment [section 3. Rule 3.]. But note section 14 [h.] of the Rules of the House. authorizing the speaker to designate a member as tempo presiding officer. after informing the deputy speakers in case he/she temporarily unable to do so.
Yes the supreme court can resolve it. Note Francisco vs. House of Rep case in 2003, supreme court ruled that the power of judicial review includes power of review over justiciable issues in impeachment proceedings.
Yes. Its really a subject of justiciable review, based on Francisco decision. In this case any person may initiate it as a taxpayer suit or have a congressman question it in SC…
I think it is a jusiticable controversy but i doubt referral can be described as defective [cuz] SC will look at the House Rules in addition to the constitution. SC will try to harmonize house rules and charter and i think if they do so, they will rule this referral valid.
Because the constitution does not envision situations where speaker is unable to perform and so SC will take a look at house rules and see if speaker did the right thing. if under house rules, speaker did the right procedure, then SC will rule referral valid.Nature abhors a vacuum, the house rules filled up that vacuum.
Better question is: Can a constitutional duty be delegated? Its like the prez asking somebody to deliver SONA.
But you know justice committee can also order amendment of complaint but that’s a stretch.
So those are the contending views. But if it’s true that a legal wrinkle exists….
It’s a possibility too delicious for words.
JDV: “But Madam President, I did what you told me…”
del Mar: “But Madam, I did what you and the Speaker told me…”
Defensor: “But Madam, I did what you and the Speaker and del Mar told me….”
Everyone’s ass is covered except the one who was supposed to benefit from the inoculation!
More from Uniffors and from Ellen Tordesillas.
Technorati Tags: constitution, House of Representatives, impeachment, philippines, politics, president
Devils, sounds like the book’s interesting enough to break my practice of not reading fiction.
cvj, much of what passes for good fiction is in reality, just a mirror of the real world. Science Fiction can be categorized as large scale models of geopolitics set in a fictional world. Read this classics: The Moon is A Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein (anarchism and how to precipitate one), The Dispossessed (another form of anarchism) by Ursula Le Guin, Moving Mars (what pre-emptive war would look like if Bush had a giant death ray) by Greg Bear and you’ll realize how much SF in general is not about science, but about human politics, usually predating present events by decades or centuries. it’s not a crystal ball you can gaze at for fortune telling, but SF is a kind of story-telling following the logical course of events into different possible ends.
Fantasy on the other hand, characterizes personal struggles. It depicts on a grand scale battles bet good and evil. Even while it narrates the hero or heroine’s struggle with themselves. Its message and moral are timeless, the conflicts oftentimes just the same. Age old questions which humanity struggles with each generations are tackled.
Fantasy is heavy on character development, while SF is world-building on a galaxy scale.
you should read up on fiction, much the same as I am reading up on my non-fiction. you’ll be surprised at how much you can learn, reading all kinds of genre of literature.
“Devils, sounds like the book’s interesting enough to break my practice of not reading fiction.” cvj
what types of literature are you fond of?
It’s going to take strong stands to overcome the manufactured distractions and distortions.But for so long as the GMA spin doctors and a compliant media keep bringing up more spins,we need to do more to neutralize the power of their spins.
Maybe if it was Teri Hatcher who handed out the enveloped bribes to our congressman then someone will be so indignant as to start a petition?
Hmm, I know a couple of BBC producers, I must have them around for tea so we can incorporate this new joke about Filipino congressman being bribed….
Uy, si Malu Fernandez, may bagong column…..
Devils, thanks for the explanation and the reading recommendations. I realized some years back that if i only read fiction in my younger years, i would have acted smarter in certain situations.
Tililing, i don’t read literature, although i know that i should.
“I have sat at the sumptuous tables of power, but I have not run away with the silverware.”
Diosdado Macapagal
“I have sat at the sumptuous tables of power, but I have not run away with the silverware.â€Â
Diosdado Macapagal
Its hard to believe the guy is related to this “damsel who distresses us.”
cvj, devils,
Oftentimes science fiction is a glimpse of future realities, there’s an older generation – Jules Verne
http://www.jules-verne.co.uk/
“There is one safeguard known generally to the wise, which is an advantage and security to all, but especially to democracies as against despots. What is it? Distrust.” Demosthenes
To the 189 or so TONGressmen/women in the Bastusan Pambansa, here’s to you, a novelty song written by Bob Merrill in 1952:
How much is that doggie in the window? (arf! arf!)
The one with the waggley tail
How much is that doggie in the window? (arf! arf!)
I do hope that doggie’s for sale
JDV’s withdrawal from the bakuna exposed it as the frace that it is. Recall that he transmitted the Lozano complaint.
I think lumaban naman si JDV. Pero natalo siya. That meeting in Malacanang showed him who had the numbers.
If he had gone down fighting can you imagine how easy the Palace could have spinned it so that the whole ZTE mess would fall on his and Joey’s head instead of Gloria’s and Mike’s?
Gloria’s minions in the House would have overthrown him claiming that he did not want to refer the impeachme because he wanted to cover up his and his son’s wrongdoings. The focus would have shifted to him.
By taking himself out of the picture, Gloria remains in center frame. Look at today’s headlines. It’s all about the bribes to congressmen.
The delicadeza card was the only card he could play. It was not an ace, not even a face card, but look at the trouble it’s causing Gloria.
First, there’s a question whether Del Mar’s referral was allowed by law.
Second, if the opposition boycotts the sham impeachment, Gloria’s minions will be forced to jerk each other off in front of TV cameras.
“By taking himself out of the picture, Gloria remains in center frame. Look at today’s headlines. It’s all about the bribes to congressmen.manuel buencamino
connections….
Jarius exposes on ZTE deals…
Cong.Padilla names Abalos as the “comelec official” in the ZTE deal…
Joey De Venecia out in the open on the gory details of the ZTE scandal…
Neri implicates Abalos…
Abalos resigns….
Pro Bono now Pro Bonus Lawyer files “inoculation” case…
Cong.Beltran exposed brrbery attempt by Kampi Deputy Sec.General
Ronnie Puno fires Ver and washes his hands…
GMA calls 190 congressman for “consultations on how to rush “inoculation” move
today’s headlines :”P500k bribery” for congressmen…
The dots keep getting connected…..All started from an expose of a brave journalist!
Do you want to guess how the dots will be further connected…?
“Hard†and “soft,†like porn; same old faces screwing us;
jerk each other off in front of TV cameras
Hey, I notice there’s a predominance of repressed sexual energy here. 🙂
“Do you want to guess how the dots will be further connected…?” – Mav
Mav, it is my suspicion that the “dots” or “money trail” will lead to powers that are outside the political arena already, in the quiet realms of the “king makers.”
consider the second-hand sources of this alleged bribery, guys. rolex suplico (how can anyone trust a guy named after a watch), and the spurned influence peddler named joey. i can’t believe the “fearless” media is having a feeding frenzy over this hearsay over hearsay speculation. such is the kind of (dis)information you get from this over-rated institution. and see how you guys react? you read so much to it, you’re so gullible. that’s why you always have eggs on your face. this is a continuing pattern – someone will start a wild rumor, the irresponsible media will jump on it, the public will swallow it, hook, line and sinker, then demand for the president’s head.
btw, mlq3, when asked to specify the institutions you alleged to have been “destroyed” by president arroyo, you can do no better than cite the impeachment process and people’s power. how so? by thrice beating the impeachment attempts, and by thwarting the spurious, copy cat edsa protests one after the other?
“maybe it would be easier for those obsessed with impeaching the president to make a template or an impeachment software that they can use every year until 2010.”
Now this is where we differ bencard!
I would like to see Gloria impeached. I dont mind if she spend the rest of her term defending herself in the impeachment court.I dont even want her to resign becuase that would cover up a lot of issues. And trying her of plunder in sandigan bayan would take very long and has no media coverage. I want her to defend herself in full view of the people.
I know, I know she has some achievement and hardworking but there were so many issues against her and that must be settled before her term ends.
As for the congress, eventually they will ran out of albi not to transmit the impeachment to the senate. tatablan din yan.
rego, that’s fine. but the key word is “defend”. gma has a RIGHT to defend herself. that’s part of due process. and if she prevails, that is also a part of it. you don’t expect her to provide the evidence against herself, do you? the accusers should do the work. “put up or shut up”, isn’t that what we always say? if they don’t have the numbers, they lose, and that also is part of due process.
“Oftentimes science fiction is a glimpse of future realities, there’s an older generation – Jules Verne
http://www.jules-verne.co.uk/” ramrod
classic novels in particular would encompass timeless plots, themes, and situations. i’ve read three books by verne, the more famous ones, around the world in 80 days and 20,000 leagues under the sea. was more into the works of dumas, shakespeare, cervantes, hugo, wells (also of classic sci-fi fame). most if not a good portion of present day stories are based from these timeless pieces. (well, that’s why they are called classics in the first place).
“rego, that’s fine. but the key word is “defendâ€Â. gma has a RIGHT to defend herself. that’s part of due process. and if she prevails, that is also a part of it. you don’t expect her to provide the evidence against herself, do you? the accusers should do the work. “put up or shut upâ€Â, isn’t that what we always say? if they don’t have the numbers, they lose, and that also is part of due process.” beancard
100% agree. i remember a court case wherein the lawyer of the plaintiff was complaining to the judge why the defendants won’t give them a copy of an original document. who in his right mind would put his/her head in the chopping board? the burden of proof always lie in the accuser not the accusee. it’s as simple as that.
MLQ3:
What was the the rationale for the attempt to bribe Cong.Beltran to sponsor the “inoculation move” when they had the “numbers” anyway?
For Guinness World Records:
The most expensive inoculation shot in history:P94.5million
anti-impeachment shot for GMA!
computation:195 congressmen x P500,000 per congressman.
Oh, sure, Bencard, GMA has the right to defend herself, by buying off congressmen using the people’s money. Part of your rule of law. After all, it’s just a numbers game. The one who buys the most numbers wins. Cebu Rep. Cuenco has admitted in a radio interview that he received P200,000 during breakfast at Malacanang. To people without any sense of right or wrong, this is par for the course. The legal trumps the moral.
Rego, congratulations! Finally, you’ve realized that GMA must be impeached and that she must make an accounting of herself “in full view of the people”. Do I see here a Saul on his way to Damascus?
MAV, I think the rationale was to lead the dog off the scent. Had Beltran endorsed the impeachment complaint, who would believe it would lead all the way to Malacanang?
Bencard,
One legitimate attempt and two fake ones.
First fake was filed by Oliver Lozano and endorsed by Marcoleta.
Second fake was filed by Oliver Pulido and emdorsed by Marcoleta San Luis.
As Ellen Tordesillas asked, why are the pro Gloria congressmen in such a rush to file the Pulido’s impeachment while the opposition is opposing it?
Defense is okay. But you’re a lawyer and you should know that even lawyers are bound by ethics.
And surely a FAKE impeachment complaint, a bakuna or a pre-emptive strike against a real impeachment complaint, is something that only dirt bag jail house lawyers would countenance.
Don’t you agree, Mr. counselor?
I was a GMA supporter even before EDSA 2, she looked decent, intelligent, and hardworking, the complete opposite of Erap. For me she was the “managerial” type of president, not a trapo, that I believed the country really needed and was long overdue. Impressions based on paper and television have a tendency to be misleading I suppose, because the events that unraveled from the time she was seated up to now proved to be otherwise.
Just tonight as I was buying something from a sidewalk vendor, I happened to read the newspaper that was used as wrapper, a Bandera actually dated October 10, 2007, the article was entitled “CoA uncovers P329M idle books, supplies.” Some P329 milliion worth of textbooks, information and communication technology products, computers and instructional materials were found idle around the offices of school officials or in stockrooms.
This brought to mind my own encounter although indirectly with GMA’s unique way of disbursing funds. A couple of years ago before I decided to become an OFW, I handled the sales group of the commercial printing arm of FEP (which is the company printing the Inquirer). I was called for a meeting by people who had a big project – books/textbooks for the government. I met them, about 7 to 8 people in Starbucks Shangrila (the mall across the hotel) and they introduced themselves, that they were from the office of the president and they had a budget of P200million for public school books. The guy who I suppose was their supervisor or probably the highest ranking explained to me that they were going to use “discretionary funds” and that the transaction will be in cash, no receipts. What was strange to me was that they wanted a 60% mark-up, meaning the cost of the project was really 40% of P200million, the 60% was for them. They even encouraged me to see if we have old textbook stocks on hand so it would be easier. All they knew was that I was from Lexmedia a printer for several publishers, bookd, magazines, etc., so I decided to do a more complete company presentation. When I mentioned that the company was owned by the same owners of The Daily Inquirer, the mood suddenly changed, they were not as forthcoming as they were when we started, even saying “don’t say anything about what we talked about to your boss” adding we could disappear because of this. I told my boss of course and we never pursued the poject. But sometimes that encounter haunts me, did they really not know I was with a sister company of Inquirer or they knew and thought maybe I would mention it to my bosses and the paper will pursue this story and discredit GMA? I will never know for sure…
I believe that our founding fathers were not pretentious and pompous hypocrites to believe that the constitution they established was PERFECT. Thats why there are provisions for amendments, because they probably thought that along the way we will encounter situations wherein the current laws were not relevant or applicable anymore.
The RULE OF LAW to me is like a sword,it can be wielded justly or unjustly depending on who wields it. If human civilization adhered perfectly to the RULE OF LAW, there would not have been a MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., or a GANDHI, champions of CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.
shaman, how do you know that what cuenco received was ordinary “pork barrel” alloted for his district anyway. question for you. does congressional allocation (aka pork barrel) go directly to congressman’s pocket for his own personal use? i said a few posts ago, the problem is systemic. there has to be a better way to distribute funds to localities – one that is insulated from wild speculations of wrongdoing spread by the media and ingested by its “gullible”, push-over readers. had you, and people like you, not blindly opposed constitutional amendment initiatives and proposals, we could have addressed these perennial problems once and for all. but no, you were so petrified with fear of gma’s speculated retention of power beyond 2010 – another bogey man created by the “fearless” media.
another question: why would there be a necessity to bribe congressmen so the latter could reject an admittedly sterile impeachment complaint that has already been pronounced “dead on arrival”? you may think gma is that stupid but i think you are wrong.
buencamino, there’s nothing unethical about defending oneself, or for a lawyer – his client, under the rule of law and jurisprudence. btw, there were two complaints that were legally found “insufficient in form and substance”. one is still awaiting official verdict.
In the game of Political Survivor, guess who just got voted off the island.
It’s so pathetic. JdV had a chance to become a hero and now he finds himself totally outplayed and disarmed. I don’t understand how a savvy operator like Joe could have not seen that his only hold over GMA was the threat of impeachment. Naturally, she would try to neutralize it.
That’s it, game over. Voldemort wins.
Bencard:if they don’t have the numbers, they lose, and that also is part of due process.
This is ok if the honorable congressmen were debating on say, to impose Value Added Tax or not. To use their numbers to cover up a wrong doing by the highest official is not democracy, it is plain and simple tyranny.
Shaman, i remember Rego has been consistent in wanting GMA to go through the impeachment process even before.
“Defense is okay. But you’re a lawyer and you should know that even lawyers are bound by ethics.”
Depends on who the lawyer is.
Bencard:
The bribes were not meant to get congressmen to reject the impeachment per se–they were meant to illustrate to JdV the hold GMA has over as many as 190 congressmen, in case JdV is entertaining the idea of allowing a stronger impeachment complaint to be filed. Basically, she has shown him, you try anything funny, I WILL unseat you.
But MLQ, does this mean that GMA has managed to destroy JdV’s power base practically overnight? I knew there’d been raids on Lakas membership, but I thought there were enough JdV loyalists to keep GMA from complete domination. Have so many really deserted JdV?
There is poetic justice in this world…
Al Gore wins the the Nobel Peace Prize for raising global awareness on man-made climate changes.
George Bush is reviled for waging HIS unpopular war in Iraq.
Steal an election, kill thousands of people over a lie, use the Constitution as toilet paper….
…in the end, Karma will get ya!
“Bencard,
One legitimate attempt and two fake ones.
First fake was filed by Oliver Lozano and endorsed by Marcoleta.
Second fake was filed by Oliver Pulido and emdorsed by Marcoleta San Luis.
As Ellen Tordesillas asked, why are the pro Gloria congressmen in such a rush to file the Pulido’s impeachment while the opposition is opposing it?
Defense is okay. But you’re a lawyer and you should know that even lawyers are bound by ethics.
And surely a FAKE impeachment complaint, a bakuna or a pre-emptive strike against a real impeachment complaint, is something that only dirt bag jail house lawyers would countenance.
Don’t you agree, Mr. counselor?” manuelbuencamino
i’m not a lawyer but why oh why the opposition been always outmaneuvered (with the likes of ronnie zamora on the opposition side) year-in, year-out. it’s like they have become sitting duck opposition. care to enlighten us all?
would you like to educate us also on what’s ethical and unethical for lawyers to do since you seem to have a full grasp on issues.
3 years in a row of a pre-emptive strike and the opposition didn’t see it coming. are they that slow? or are they that obvious?
don’t you agree, mr. journalist/columnist/whatever? 😀
levi, you’re begging the question. what “wrongdoing” was covered up?
Gloria’s people will defend her at a price, that is part of staying in power, like the Mugabe of Zimbabwe, there are still a substantial number of people that will say he is just doing his jobs, moving Zimbabwe to become a first world country in maybe for next 100 years. That the oppositions don’t have the evidence to support their allegations that he is corrupt, and that is also from people who do no get the benefits but truly believe that he is an upstanding ruler. With allegations of illegalities piling against Gloria, the same people, those that are bought and those that are not, will always say the same as Mugabe’s supporters, even when some have doubts…
Someone should question that Bernasian interpretation of the impeachment process before the Supreme Court again. The SC might be more inclined to reverse its decision because of the Lozano and Pulido charade.
“The Devil’s greatest accomplishment was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” – JIM CAROLL
Mav, can “karma” have any effect on people with devilish powers already? People who wantonly do evil things but can make it appear they are not, convincing even the most intelligent(?) among us?
“Bencard:
The bribes were not meant to get congressmen to reject the impeachment per se–they were meant to illustrate to JdV the hold GMA has over as many as 190 congressmen, in case JdV is entertaining the idea of allowing a stronger impeachment complaint to be filed. Basically, she has shown him, you try anything funny, I WILL unseat you.
But MLQ, does this mean that GMA has managed to destroy JdV’s power base practically overnight? I knew there’d been raids on Lakas membership, but I thought there were enough JdV loyalists to keep GMA from complete domination. Have so many really deserted JdV?” mike
if bencard is a lawyer, i am his sidekick (ala sancho panza from don quixote fame) 😀
there’s a silent player you did not consider – fvr. he might be retired but after all it was him who founded lakas. jdv might be the garfield of the lower house but his funny face does not mean he’s that naive. he saw this coming alright but he has his own reasons why he let these things happen.
it’s been how many years that we have not seen a more substantial impeachment complaint. i don’t understand that all these years, the opposition has nothing prepared come the termination of the one year ban, why?
“With allegations of illegalities piling against Gloria, the same people, those that are bought and those that are not, will always say the same as Mugabe’s supporters, even when some have doubts…justice in waiting”
Don’t worry! There is poetic justice in this world.
Gore wins the Nobel Prize.
But looks what is happening to Bushie.Reviled the world over.
Steal an election, use the Constitution as toilet paper….
…in the end, Karma will get ya!Even in the PHILIPPINES!
“Gloria’s people will defend her at a price, that is part of staying in power, like the Mugabe of Zimbabwe, there are still a substantial number of people that will say he is just doing his jobs, moving Zimbabwe to become a first world country in maybe for next 100 years. That the oppositions don’t have the evidence to support their allegations that he is corrupt, and that is also from people who do no get the benefits but truly believe that he is an upstanding ruler. With allegations of illegalities piling against Gloria, the same people, those that are bought and those that are not, will always say the same as Mugabe’s supporters, even when some have doubts…” justice in waiting
quite easy to allege yet quite hard to prove, isn’t it? gone were the days of the french revolution and the russian revolution where people just kill their king or their tsar, no questions asked.
majority of african countries are failed states. their resources is a boon and a bane since there are a lot of third parties who wants to get a piece of the pie. blood diamonds in sierra leone, angola and liberia, petroleum in nigeria.
how about a french-revolution and russian-revolution style in the philippines? wow, i want to be one of those in the frontline with a machete 😀
ramrod, all lawyers are bound by ethics, no ifs or buts or “it depends”. legal ethics has the force of law, the proven violation of which could make the lawyer a lawyer no more, and/or a jailbird. this is not the same as the so-called “journalists’ code of ethics”. i don’t know what kind of sanctions it has, if any, other than civil or criminal sanctions for its transgressions should they constitute actionable wrongs.
Tililing:
I’m not sure what your point was about FVR. I agree with MLQ–he seems to have been completely sidelined as a player, and I think he’s bitter about it, so I think he’s sitting out this one. And of course JdV has reasons for what he’s doing–what we’re all doing here is speculating what those reasons may be.
As for the opposition filing a substantial impeachment complaint, perhaps the answer is not so difficult: it’s much faster to file a flawed impeachment charge than to build a formidable impeachment complaint. So perhaps the adminstration “vaccinators” beat the opposition to the punch every time.
bencard: the institutions damaged by the president, to an extent not matched even during martial law are: the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary. she has gutted morale in the civil service. she has set back professionalism in the armed forces a generation. she has moved business and government closer to the negative relationship they had prior to the post edsa reforms.
where she has genuine achievements is in some streamlining of petty corruption in the bureaucracy.
bencard, please correct me if i am wrong. the pain of being disbarred is a risk lawyers take if they engage themselves in unethical actions with regards to their profession, right?
regarding media people, the only way to have them accountable is thru libel yet their still complain and cry foul. i don’t know what sanctions await them with the kbp (kapisanan ng mga brodkaster ng pilipinas or kapisanan ng mga bobo ng pilipinas?) there are excesses in the media and it’s obvious.
bencard, i for, one, will be very pleased to eat humble pie if june 30, 2010 rolls around and we’ve managed to elect a new president and have a fresh start.
just as i hope you will gladly eat a steaming helping of it, too, if
a) we manage the above despite a move by gma to amend the constitution before then
b) the new president/prime minister is gma.
mike, 3 years and the opposition haven’t made as your term it, a formidable impeachment complaint. where they been all these years? still gathering and digging data and information that isn’t there? even cases filed pending in the prosecutor’s office have a time frame and some of them do have results.
with all the resources of the opposition, all their lawyers, all their so-called non-existent witnesses, what now? what happened? where’s the complaint they always been bragging about, where? i don’t see even a shadow of it. if malacanang beat them once, okay. if malacanang beat them twice, acceptable. but thrice? smells like rotten rat carcass.
mike,
don’t forget jdv started out as a congressman before martial law, around the time the house actually had to build a bullet-proof glass wall around its session floor to protect itself from the public.
he’s a survivor and he seems healthy to me. he has one term left to go. the president does not.
tililing, because the process was designed with serious cases in mind. just this year, a serious case could be built on the jarius bondoc revelations and zte-nbn and if you wait a little more, on cybered.
if you wait.
which the palace could not.
and which the opposition, if it wanted to mount a credible and serious case, has to do.