Yesterday Senators Enrile and Arroyo tag-teamed to try to shut down the Senate hearings and one can assume they did so, to prevent the emergence of new witnesses. They failed. And so, New witness tags Arroyo couple in NBN mess. See also ZTE advanced $41M to ‘greedy group’–witness: ‘Chinese, Filipino groups to half $200M overprice’ ‘The worms just keep wriggling out of the can. See Ellen Tordesillas for additional background. I do think this is an extremely valid point: New witness in NBN probe ‘too relaxed,’ says Pangilinan: He might be a ‘Trojan Horse’.
One can assume that it is the public pressure of the hearings that leads to the leaking of documents, such as ‘Copy for FG’ is marginal note on NBN document. It’s well to remember that those grousing over the “lack” of evidence deliberately overlook how the Palace clamped down on producing documents, for obvious reasons.
As Manuel Buencamino does, so will people continue doing: asking questions to which the official answers don’t make sense.
Last night, after an emergency meeting, the Catholic hierarchy released a pastoral exhortation, ‘Seeking the Truth, Restoring Integrity’ with six main recommendations:
1. Condemn the continuing culture of corruption from the top to the bottom of our social and political ladder;
2. Urge the President and all the branches of government to take the lead in combating corruption wherever it is found;
3. Recommend the abolition of EO 464 so that those who might have knowledge of any corruption in branches of government, may be free to testify before the appropriate investigating bodies;
4. Ask the President to allow her subordinates to reveal any corrupt acts, particularly about the ZTE-NBN deal, without being obstructed in their testimony no matter who is involved;
5. Appeal to our senators and the ombudsman to use their distinct and different powers of inquiry into alleged corruption cases not for their own interests but for the common good;
6. Call on media to be a positive resource of seeking the truth and combating corruption by objective reporting without bias and partiality, selective and tendentious reporting of facts.
It’s enough to make AlterNation101 happy because it rebukes the media (does that include government media?). While bloggers like Spank Me! and at wit’s end are furious, and Palace hails CBCP for ‘not succumbing to propaganda’ others, like Bobbie Reyes say the demand to revoke Executive Order 464 is “an extremely powerful statement.” barefoot calls it a wise tactical move. I have to heartily agree with Lunasandwich who points out,
While for sure the defenders of greed and corruption will be quick to use the bishop’s statement as leverage, people should still resist the urge to label the bishops as in cohorts with the enemy. People who believe that GMA must go should not be disheartened. Maybe this time there would be much more meaning when it is the people who convince the Church’s leadership when it is time for evil leaders to go than vice-versa.
People seem to be coming to a decision on their own, anyway.
In his blog, Mon Casiple seems to agree, too:
However, there is a tilt in the balance as it categorically called for the abolition of EO 464 so that “those who might have knowledge of any corruption in branches of government may be free to testify before the appropriate investigating bodies.” The CBCP asked President Arroyo to allow her subordinates to reveal any corrupt acts, particularly on the $329.48-million ZTE NBN deal without being obstructed in their testimony, “no matter who is involved.”
The thematic unity of the CBCP revolved around the search for truth — a formula that basically puts the onus for finding it on the broad opposition. In including President Macapagal-Arroyo as participant in the search for truth, the CBCP basically satisfied the bishops friendly to her. At the same time, it also opened the door for more testimony thereby satisfying those bishops who already made up their mind on the guilt of the President.
The CBCP put itself as the cart after the horse and sidestepped its possible moral leadership on the matter of addressing the key action of calling for GMA resignation. This sends the message that it will only act decisively when the people themselves — on their own — acted decisively towards this end.
There are other nuances to Casiple’s analysis, but on the open-ended demand being significant, I also agree (note: demand, not an ultimatum because, well, essentially the bishops give the President until Kingdom Come to comply: hence the Palace’s breezy “this deserves very serious consideration,” and Scrapping EO 464 requires ‘careful study’–DoJ chief, which is officialese for “wham bang thank you, bishops”) . See Jove Francisco for the Palace’s activities: none of them involving anything the bishops suggested.
It satisfies the Jesuit conditions that things should not escalate until all the i’s have been dotted and all the t’s are crossed. By all means, do so. I am confident this proposal will go the way of that other Jesuit brainchild, the Truth Commission that bamboozled the Solita Monsods of this world into giving the President a free pass in 2005. So they’ve done it again, may their tribe increase. I’ve mentioned before that we have to consider that the real fight may only begin in 2010 when the President’s collaborators run out of rationalizations.
As Tony Abaya puts it,
Edsa 1 can be said to have taken two years and six months — Aug. 21, 1983 to Feb. 25, 1986 — to reach flashpoint of sufficient heat and energy to force Marcos and his family out of Malacanang.
If the putative Edsa 3 (or 4) were to be superimposed on this timeline, and the trigger were the revelations of Jun Lozada on Feb. 5, 2008, flashpoint would not be reached until about August 2010…
By August 2010, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would be on her first months as prime minister or as president on a third term, the Constitution having been amended in 2009 to enable her to remain in power legally and constitutionally beyond June 30, 2010, by the Kampi-Lakas dominated Congress, as is the ill-disguised aim of the ChaCha Road Show inaugurated last Feb. 12 by Albay Gov. Joey “Bitch” Salceda.
Using EO 464 as one more bridge to cross, is fine with me for that reason.
Can the President dispense with Executive Order 464? Only if:
1. She replaces it with another executive issuance that has the same effect as EO 464, or;
2. She puts the squeeze on executive officials to lie, and destroys documents that everyone knows exists.
Method 1 is what Marcos adopted with his infamous Amendment 6 to the Constitution which rendered meaningless his lifting of martial law in 1981. I’m sure some legal sleuthing in the Administrative Code and other places might dig up useful pretexts to block Senate subpoenas.
But method 2 is the easier thing to do, However, in the long run, the least effective because too much has already been said and too many trails lead straight back to her.
Easiest of all, of course, is not to budge on E.O. 464 and keep applying it, saying there are pending cases in the Supreme Court, that it requires proper study, that a special committee has been appointed to look into it and that in the fullness of time it will issue non-binding recommendations for further discussion…
Or, the President could revoke it and throw caution to the winds in which case the bishops could honestly claim paternity for a full-blown miracle.
But what has been happening is that the Catholic bishops and the moderate critics of the President as well as the collaborators, have all come to focus on E.O. 464 as the first line of the President’s defense.
And a means for piercing that defense is actively proposed by today’s Inquirer editorial, Strike for the truth: a nationwide stay-home strike (the editorial responded to this particular about-face by the Palace: Arroyo on ‘flawed’ NBN deal ‘lost in translation’–Palace). No one can say a strike is incompatible with democracy, the Constitution or the so-called government “rule of law.”
Proposing a day to stay home instead of going into the streets should be vigorously discussed (see Amando Doronila’s Arroyo’s work ethic and the Mafia for some particulars on how businessmen are tackling the question of economic costs); to ignore the proposal merely limits the already narrowing options available to the public.
Returning to the CBCP Statement, bear in mind it’s the product of a collegial body and that the immediate objective of the leading bishops was to forge a united stand. The pastoral exhortation was at least, approved unanimously. No one can complain. It may also represent the last service Archbishops Capalla and Talamayan, the President’s point men within the hierarchy, can provide the President.
So, sorry to disappoint Philippine Commentary, but I’m happy with the statement. It can only help tighten the noose and it can only further clarify the battle lines.
In the blogosphere, smoke takes a nihilist look at ongoing events, an antidote, I suppose, to the passion of Etcetera, Etcetera (heartily applauded by Manila Bay Watch). love hurts… but sometimes it’s a good hurt… and it feels like i’m alive… has some photos: see B[email protected] for Cory Aquino’s speech. Philippine Politics 04 responds to a mother’s concerns over rallies.
As always, Mabini’s prayer continues to resound down the ages:
To sum it up, the Revolution failed because it was badly led; because its leader won his post by reprehensible rather than meritorious acts; because instead of supporting the men most useful to the people, he made them useless out of jealousy. Identifying the aggrandizement of the people with his own, he judged the worth of men not by their ability, character and patriotism but rather by their degree of friendship and kinship with him; and anxious to secure the readiness of his favorites to sacrifice themselves for him, he was tolerant even of their transgressions. Because he thus neglected the people forsook him; and forsaken by the people, he was bound to fall like a waxen idol melting in the heat of adversity. God grant we do not forget such a terrible lesson, learnt at the cost of untold suffering.
This is a cool bit o’ video: How cops come up with crowd estimates.
Haha. Jon Mariano, surely you meant defrock himself and not disrobe. Medyo iba yung dating ng disrobe. 😀
mlq3, the “immoderate threat…” thread appears in an a funny form… your site is being hacked probably… better consult an IT expert… hmmm, not getting paranoid but could they spy on posters and commenters too and get hold of our ip addresses?… the anti-virus and anti-spyware programs in my laptop suddenly didn’t work this morning and I had to reinstall
hehe, this is getting fun
🙂 Jeg, you’re right of course. komidi.
Case in point, Villanueva’s call for Arroyo to call a snap election. Is he speaking as an individual or as an evangelist?
I agree with the CBCP that GMA SHOULD NOT RESIGN. Let’s hold our congressmen and mayors accountable to their duty to represent us. Don’t hold people power rallies in EDSA – do it in your local municipalities or their houses (LOL). Let’s make the system work and let’s not get played by it.
siguro nga kabayan kasi what i have done was a very informal te-a-te with taxi drivers on my way to work. I usually play devils advocated against their opinion. If their opiion are challenged sme taxi drivers would just keep quiet but some would really sustain a debate! yung isa sa lima hindi naman nya sinabing ayaw nyang mag resign si Gloria kaya lang ang sabi nya sa akin pare pareho lang yan kahit na sinong ilagay mo.
Kaso Jon, protektado ng saligang batas ang karapatan ng mga pari na makilahok sa larangang politikal bilang mamamayan. Ang problema nila, may alituntunin ata ang Papa na huwag silang sumali sa politika at limitahan ang kanilang pakikilahok sa usaping moral. Kaya yun naman ang sinusunod nila ngayon.
Sa kaso ni Villanueva, hindi siya saklaw ng Papa kaya ayun, wala siyang problema.
That’s my point Jeg, as individuals, the ordinary priests and the bishops can exercise their political rights. Pero kung isang grupo (like the CBCP), they should just keep to their own “flock”.
In Villanueva’s case, he’s like the pope of his group!
I more than worry each time the administration puts up as defense against impeachment and even people power the glowing economy. With the lie upon lies spewed at the rate faster than the PNR train , I am almost certain that the economic numbers are fudged and IS the reason Neri is afraid to go to the senate. He might be asked the “right question” that will make him admit to fudging economic numbers.
Reasons why I suspect Neri is shaking in his drawers and resisting appearing at the senate are not exactly facing malacanang’s ire over what he would say re ZTE (malacanang has admitted to the ZTE mess already) and losing his job but:
1. Economic numbers have been fiddled with;
2. he and several others erased or “lost” the trail leading to the fiddling process;
3. that the effects of the ZTE proceeds even if these are still receivables have been included in the growth numbers.
Else, how can one explain the career trip of Neri from NEDA to the budget and back? And the others……
1-3 will certainly be worst than another people power. “Lalong hinde tayo PATATAWARAN ng mundo”(to borrow from PGMA’s speech in CAVITE) if indeed malacanang did these.
JM: In Villanueva’s case, he’s like the pope of his group!
Youre right. And the JIL flock is divided on this as far as I can tell. It’s what cost him a better showing in the 2004 elections. His Luneta rally before the elections was estimated in the millions, getting the attention of the late Teddy Benigno who identified him as a leader of the future, and he even got an endorsement from Solita Monsod after Roco’s health took a turn for the worse. But when election time came, he was Garci’d (not all votes were shaved from FPJ) and some of his flock didnt vote for him. Personally I have no problem with them stepping up.
benign0 :
Like I said earlier. The Church first needs to own up to its own track record of suppressing the Truth, propagating ignorance, and undermining just about every effort to implement a sound family planning infrastructure in Pinoy society.
If we make politicians’ credibility the issue here, then let’s make the Church’s credibility an issue as well.”
VERY IRRELEVANT!
Personally I have no problem with them stepping up.
By ‘them’ I mean religious leaders.
Diego, i agree. It is very strange that while, for the past decade (1997 to 2007), real per capita GDP has been increasing, average family income as measured by the FIES has been decreasing. Gloria Arroyo’s economic numbers could be the equivalent of Marcos’ fake World War 2 medals. At the very least, NEDA has some explaining to do.
in matters of national concern, we can not ignore the participation of the catholic church as an institution. Cardinal Sin may have just wanted to express his own opinion as citizen on an issue, but the effect of what he was saying had far reaching influence than that of an ordinary citizen like a balot vendor or a taxi driver who may have expressed the same opinion. anything that he would say then was symbolic representation of the church.
I must agree with some opinion that CBCP’s less ctegorical call for a Glorias resignation will tend to douse cold water on the momentum of mass action calling for truth and accountability. To call on Gloria to lead the reform is like “asking Abu SAYAFF TO stop kidnapping. TRUE. But as MLQ3 said collective action are formed by idividual choices and conviction.
Isa pa pala sa mga opnion ng taxi drivers na nakausap ko dapat daw isara lahat ng eskwelahan mga negosyo para maka sama sya sa rally. pero kung konti lang daw di sya sasama pero gusto nya MAG RESIGN si Gloria.
I personally support the calls for GMA to resign. I think that it is important, however, that this call continue to be led and driven by us, the lay people, and not the bishops.
As the late Dean Jeremias U. Montemayor once wrote, “In a democratic political system and under a regime of Church-State separation, political tasks and functions can be performed only by the people and their duly chosen leaders and officials. Church ministers can only illumine with the light of faith the political conscience of the people and their leaders, motivate and guide their political will with moral counseling and exhortation. But only the people can actually organize, join, support, or oppose political movements and political parties. Only the people can make a choice among a number of political alternatives, and propagate such a choice. Ultimately, only the people can fiscalize and change their own government and their own public officials, only the people can fight for and defend their political rights.
If the people cannot perform any of these functions, nobody else can do it for them. Should others do it for them, either paternalism or dictatorship will result – and in either case, the people’s freedom, dignity and personal and social development will be curtailed or lost.”
So even in rallies and demonstrations, by all means let us encourage the religious to be there. As Montemayor also said “…The religious must go out to the world. If there is a demonstration, they should go there but NOT to DIRECT the demonstration. (caps mine) But only to give moral support, if moral support should be given, or to just lend their presence to promote the dignity of the human beings who are involved. But they will not start directing the picketing. That is the work of the labor leaders.”
I think that a “new” type of people power will emerge only if the people truly lead this effort and not by somehow passing the buck (once more) to the bishops.
I think that a “new†type of people power will emerge only if the people truly lead this effort and not by somehow passing the buck (once more) to the bishops.
…and the military. There’s a people power worth striving for.
What does it take to prove a case like the NBN-ZTE? An official receipt of a bribe? An affidavit admitting to the crime? Somebody help. If I listen here to lawyers and lawyer-types, the impression I get is para bang kung ikaw ay mahuhuli sa ganitong klaseng gawain, napakalaki mo nang tanga. A little knowledge in law, it seems, can net you billions in corruption and a lot of praise for being so very very smart. A few here for instance seem to be so deliriously delighted that there is no proof up to now that would hold in court…
cvj, it is ridiculous. she is the president, to whom much is given much is required. she failed miserably. as for CBCP, i don’t know what they were thinking. please don’t insult our intelligence, hindi po ito soap opera, it’s real life, 90 millions lives at stake.
A poem for Gloria…
Ako’y Pinoy
Ako’y Pinoy
Mapa itsura, pananalita
Mapa pagkain, pananamit
At kung ano ano pa!
Ako’y Pinoy
Pango ang ilong
Kayumangging kaligatan
Mautak at matalino!
Ako’y Pinoy
Mahilig sa adobo
Manggang hilaw at bagoong
Balut at San Miguel beer!
Ako’y Pinoy
Mahilig sa chocnut
Boy bawang
At Dirty ice cream!
Ako’y Pinoy
Marunong gumalang
Gumagamit ako ng salitang PO at OPO
Sa pakikipagusap sa mga matatanda.
Ako’y Pinoy
Gumagamit ng tabo
Habang naliligo
Para huwag magaksaya ng tubig!
Ako’y Pinoy
Lumaki ako sa Pinas
Naging OFW
Para dollar ang sweldo!
Ako’y Pinoy
Nagsasabi ng totoo
Sabi ng Bible
Masama ang sinugaling!
if we will let them get away with everything, how will history judge us? what will the young and the unborn say?
Tess :you are 100% right!
In these critical times, I often reread the words of the American poet Archibald Macleish: ” “How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms; by truth when it is attacked by lies; by democratic faith when it is attacked by authoritarian dogma. Always and in the final act, by determination and faith.”
whoah…what human lives are at stake? whose lives are in peril? let’s not get too dramatic here.
what do you want? how do you get it?
what will be the results of that decision? farther down the road, when you and i are no longer around, what will be the ripple effect of the decision we make today?
well said, ricelander.
I doubt whether what we talk about here will have a significant effect to others. I would tend to believe that what’s happening is for our own beliefs/stand (whether for or against the current admin) being strengthened. That’s about it. I also believe that not many are moved to support their beliefs with actual action (e.g. joining rallies, calling for Gloria to resign, etc.) by these discussions. Most are content with analysis and desktop activism. Proof? I have none, just an observation.
for all those who believe that GMA has lost her authority to represent us and the nation. For those who are able to discern truth from lies. for those who are not foolish to be fooled by the machination of this administration. join us on friday. let us walkour talk.
i shall be going there not because i am catholic,religious ar as a member of any group or civil society. i am part of the ordinary working class, a citizen of this forsaken country who believes that enough lies have been told of us, i can take no more. they must pay.
@tambay
“na feeling superior sa aming mga madla na sumusubaybay sa mga nangyayari, nagmamasid at naguusisa pa”
ikaw rin please, don’t be so presumptuous with your claim of ‘aming mga madla’
just speak for yourself.
Everyone! Give Bryanb a break! Respect him for his youth, passion and idealism, if not for his lack of life experience and his sometimes irrational rash judgements. Our country needs both passion and sobriety to be a truly great nation once again! Peace to all! And thanks to MLQ for giving us a forum to expouse our views!
that should have read “espouse” not “expouse”
Re skepticism about Madriaga’s testimony:
The value of his testimony lies in his placing the focus of the investigation on the role played by Leo San Miguel, Quirino de la Torre, and especially Ruben Reyes in the ZTE scam. Back in September, Joey De Venecia repeatedly mentioned that the three were always with Abalos in their meetings. Unfortunately, not one of the senators picked up this particular track in the investigation.
Ruben Reyes is of particular interest. As pointed out by Jamby, this guy is in the Garci tapes (he and Garci talk about Wahab Akbar and the plan to kidnap the election officer Rashma Halli). As pointed out by Newsbreak, he has close ties to Abalos, ISAFP (hence the bugging of Joey-Lozada conversations), as well as the First Family. In other words, he could be the key to the whole thing.
See this Newsbreak article:
http://www.newsbreak.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=489&Itemid=88889004
. Urge the President and all the branches of government to take the lead in combating corruption wherever it is found;-CBCP
How do we urge them combat corruption?by blogging?by sitting down?by discussing our disgust with everyone? I think there must be a force strong enough to reduce government officials’ urges to lie, to cover up,to kill, to make this nation their own enterprise.
if the new witness is a trojan horse, then this fellow is engaging in obstruction of justice. just like our friend bunye in 2005.
I think the CBCP would actually like to call for GMA’s resignation. the problem is, they don’t feel that the clamor from the people for GMA’s resignation is strong enough.
They don’t want to sound foolish and stupid. Just imagine, the CBCP, a very reputable and formidable force in Philippine politics–which popular folklore hails as the figurative shepherd of the masses during EDSA I and II–calling for the resignation of a president for the third time but terribly fails to ignite reaction from the people. what would happen to the CBCP?
when cory and company called for GMA’s resignation during the Hello garci scandal, they all looked stupid in the end when GMA was able to survive and remained in Malacanang. The people simply did not come in numbers to heed Cory’s call. the mystique of her mass appeal and moral authority over the Filipinos was shattered. Cory never looked the same again.
I think that is what the CBCP is trying to avoid. The mystique of their moral authority over the Filipinos must be preserved at the cost of breaking consistent unity with the opposition forces. they cannot let a “too early, too soon” call for resignation to expose the myth of their political influence.
but of course, if the opposition forces work doubletime and succeed in creating the right atmosphere for GMA’s ouster, expect the CBCP to jump on the bandwagon and proclaim to the high heavens that the president should resign.
sayang si joker arroyo, i admired this man since Cory’s time up to 2005. his alibis on probing questions as to where Gaite got the money and what was his intetion for loaning it to Lozada on a very generous term was moronic. what have become of this man(joker)?
@alaskadora
have a good march. i’d join you if i could.
yes, it’s better to go there without any affiliation other than your own convictions.
kwento, you are probably right about your reading of the CBCP advise. I am holding similar impression at the back of my mind. so let the people show force and leave the supposed bearer of light live in darkness
@bencard
here is a document for your perusal (as suggested by old man Salonga)
“Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees or RA 6713”
I trust most of GMA’s violations fall under this category. I would like to hear your opinion counsel.
Take note of the operative words “Ethical” and “Standards”.
I have received news that a Memorandum Circular 108 was issued by Malacanang which is actually in effect the same as E.O. 464. If this is true then even if E.O. 464 is removed as per request by CBCP, then their efforts to remove it is useless since a Memorandum Circular 108 exist anyway.
Can anyone verify this for certain?
so I suppose you’re the sort of person who takes things on faith, eh? how good for you and your immortal soul.
keep in mind however, that clergymen are people too. and as mortal, fallible humans, are also subject to the temptations of temporal power. so don’t go off placing too much stock in what a bunch of old men in robes think, ok?
but of course, if the opposition forces work doubletime and succeed in creating the right atmosphere for GMA’s ouster, expect the CBCP to jump on the bandwagon and proclaim to the high heavens that the president should resign.-Kwento..
your sarcasm over the CBCP was rightly placed. may i know which side you belong? are you part of the “opposition forces” you mentioned? the reason i ask is that because i’d like to know how man we can count on to sincerely create the atmosphere force for accountabilty to happen.
Wow! ang lakas ng brain power ng mga nagbibigay kuro dito. If only it can be harnessed to a concentrated energy to physically kick the Malacanang Palace resident evil out.
I disagree.
I wonder why nobody in the cabinet of gma could look through the lies of GMA.
alas ka dora wrote:
They’re part of the lies.
those who are angry at the CBCP for its mellow statement are nothing but individuals who cannot stand on their own convictions and need someone of higher authority to float up their beliefs.
yes i am angry at the church, but for a very diff reason (mainly re their stand on population control). this statement of the bishops though have me happy, at least. for the ff reasons:
1. the bishops no longer think that they are the people’s compass on every decision the people need to make. the bishops at least realize that “politics is not their expertise.” now, if only they’ll realize that decisions on population control is also beyond their authority to dictate to others, i’ll have a much higher respect for this group.
2. the statement did not clear GMA of wrongdoing, nor espoused the stand of tolerance (which they did in statements past). dictating to the people, and giving guidance are two very diff things. i believe the bishops finally made the right distinction on this one.
3. it was not loaded with double-speak the way their other statements had been. though i still read one bit of foolishness when they called on GMA to lead the fight agst corruption. plastikan na to! it’s like asking druglords to lead the fight agst drugs. sana man lang nagpakatotoo na sila at yung civil servants, congressmen, and senators na lang ang hinamon nila para dito. much better, kung yung mga tao mismo ang hinamon nila para mangunahan sa laban sa korapsyon.
4. this forces the people to ACT ON THEIR OWN and STOP WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO LEAD THEM.
no one will lead you except yourselves! and no one can fight for your rights, freedoms except yourselves! stop fence-sitting and make a stand now! pro or against GMA, i don’t care as long as your convictions are fully behind it!
“Everyone! Give Bryanb a break! Respect him for his youth, passion and idealism,”
Que sera, UP n is half my age. Please direct your patience to him.
“sayang si joker arroyo”
Older people have this arbitrary way of coming into a conclusion. Something in Joker’s brain must have just clicked and made him a loyalist. I dunno. Hope I’m not discriminating too much.
BrianB wrote:
Asked the same thing myself. Wrote an article in my link about him and the whys of it.
@ nash
pasensiya ka na lang. I didn’t mean to speak for others. But it just galls me that just because people don’t seem to agree with the majority stance here, you start name calling and make accusations of impropriety.
@ricelander
Nobody is deliriously happy that no proof is given. Pero point is, kung walang proof, anong gagawin mo, bitayin yung tao porke’t sabi ng iba diyan may ginawa siya? Yun lang ba ang batayan? Ang pananalita ng ilang tao. Eh kung ganun. sabihin ko lang na nagnanakaw ka at gagawa lang ako ng istorya na kapani-paniwala, tapos ka na rin.
You do need solid proof to back up the accusation. Or else, all you’ve worked for to get this person to trial will be for naught. Useless. Kasi, itatapon lang. Dapat kasi, nuon pa lang, Hello Garci pa lang, kayong mga ayaw sa kanya, hinanapan niyo na ng butas ang pangulo. Hindi yung sinasayang ang oras na sumigaw sa kalye. Build an airtight case. And then work on the congressmen one by one. Show them the solid proof. You wasted 2 years knashing your teeth and shouting she should go without offering anything. In short, tamad kayong magtrabaho para itaboy yung kinamumuhian niyo. Di niyo tinapat ang galing ninyo sa galing niya.
Sa Pilipinas, madaling gumawa ng storya. Ask the poor, madalas din sila gawan ng storya para makulong sila di ba? We feel for them also. But what is good for the goose should also be good for the gander, di ba?
I hope this clarifies why I am at this point listening and observing what is going on. It doesn’t mean I don’t agree with you. It just means I want to be fair. Just because you feel they’re not fair doesn’t mean we have stoop to their level.
“if the new witness is a trojan horse,”
Kind of like that guy who filed an impeachment again.
“Urge the President and all the branches of government to take the lead in combating corruption wherever it is found;”
Yep, taken intelligently, this sentence sounds like an absolution. Taken obliquely pinoy-style, the Bishops are telling the Prez to “change.” Parang nagpaparinig.
“I hope this clarifies why I am at this point listening and observing what is going on.”
Tambay, what is your opinion on the Hello Garci tape?