Earthquake news (Batanes, Catanduanes, and eastern Bicol) dominated AM radio last night; see the nifty Inquirer.net Earthquake Map.
There was an interesting observation made by Jove Francisco in his blog. He noticed that last Friday, the President held a mass oath-taking at the Palace, to which the military noticeable didn’t turn up. This helps explain, perhaps, why the President decided to sit out the Makati rally in the confines of Camp Crame. Read the whole entry, it’s a fascinating peek into what was going on in the Palace last Friday (see also his entry on the arrest of hecklers and continuing nervousness in the Palace; see the related news item, Rains abort unity walk of 77 mayors ).
Have fun with diagrams: See Romulo Neri’s cluttered booty capitalism chart. What’s interesting is his focus is on six captive industries, revolving around Alcantara, Aboitiz, Razon, Tan, and Gokongwei. The bubbles are, apperently, his view of “circles of influence.” For a detailed example, see PAL controls gateways through CAB, say experts.
On to today’s main event. Yesterday Amando Doronila pointed out that Battle arena over NBN shifts to SC. Today, the Supreme Court hears oral arguments, with one report saying it will be a Close call on Neri case. Last night, however, I ran into a former cabinet member with a formidable reputation as a lawyer, and he said that the case was really an open-and-shut one. He was confident the Supreme Court would divide along the lines shown by its decision on prior restraint. While a loyalty vote is possible, he viewed it as improbable. The reason is that everyone knows this will be a decision avidly studied in the schools, and the Justices know they’re deciding a landmark case with near-unbreakable precedents. They wouldn’t risk their reputations on this one.
Last night, the former cabinet member said the sensible path for the Justices to follow, would be to question Neri in an executive session. The news, today, is troubling: Neri a no-show as SC starts oral arguments. One has to wonder if this is of Neri’s doing or a Palace strategy, to deny the Justices information.
Read Fr. Joaquin Bernas SJ’s An E.O. 464 Catechism. He explains what the legal issues to be determined by the high court will be. Particularly relevant is the so-called “Nixon Doctrine”:
Q. Must every claim of executive privilege based on the above enumeration be honored?
A. No. The Court in Senate v. Ermita said that in determining the validity of a claim of privilege, the question that must be asked is not only whether the requested information falls within one of the traditional privileges, but also whether that privilege should be honored in a given procedural setting. Thus it is not for one claiming executive privilege “to unilaterally determine that a duly-issued Subpoena should be totally disregarded.”
Q. Who then determines whether the claimed privilege should be honored?
A. The Court. Thus, for instance, when the Nixon administration claimed privilege for certain tapes about the Watergate break-in, the Court, after looking at the claimed privilege behind closed doors, held that the tapes were not covered by privilege and should be released.
For this reason, our Court also said that “Absent then a statement of the specific basis of a claim of executive privilege, there is no way of determining whether it falls under one of the traditional privileges, or whether, given the circumstances in which it is made, it should be respected.” The lack of specificity renders an assessment of the potential harm resulting from disclosure impossible.
Speaking of E.O. 464… Let’s look at the the demands that have been made by three groups. The CBCP in its pastoral exhortation, the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan of the Ateneo, and the group of former government officials in their statement issued today.
Here are there demands, arranged in terms of their connection with each other:
They are, on the whole, reasonable demands, that address present problems as well as the need for institutional changes. What the demands lack, however, is a timetable (except for the ex-government officials). This is a serious problem, because, as Edilberto de Jesus points out, today, the President continues to be ambiguous if not actually dissembling:
Arroyo made the following points in the interview:
1. Corruption angered her as much as it did the people.
2. As soon as there was talk of anomalies, she immediately took a step to cancel it.
3. As soon as an informant complained to her about corruption, she looked for a way to cancel the project.
4. She only received the report about corruption the day before the signing of the supply contract.
5. She could not see her way to canceling the project the night before the signing of the supply contract because another country was involved.
What she did not say also deserves attention.
1. She did not identify the whistle-blower(s).
2. She did not explain the anomalies in the deal.
It is not clear whether the “pag-uusap na anomalya” (talk of anomalies) and the “nagsumbong” (informant) referred to the same source. But her action, contrary to what the trio of Cabinet officials tried to convey, indicated that there was more than just loose talk of anomalies from tattle-tales.
Arroyo could not simply say that she heard talk about anomalies; she knew about the specific attempt to bribe CHEd Chair Romy Nery. Did she learn about other anomalies from other sources? In any case, she must have found both the whistle-blower(s) and the report credible. Despite assurances from her officials that the deal was clean, she eventually (not immediately) cancelled the project.
Let us grant that the confusion about Arroyo’s radio interview arose in part from language problems or from multiple voices interpreting what she said. She can quickly clarify the issue by explaining what she had meant to say in the interview. She knows which pieces belong to the puzzle and how to put them together.
At this point, however, what is important and what will contribute to the complete picture is no longer what she said or did not say, but what she did and did not do.
If she is as “galit sa katiwalian,” why did she not act, agad-agad, to investigate the anomalies and to punish their perpetrators?
Why has she not supported the Senate investigations? Why has she not provided the Senate with the documentation of the deal?
Why has she allowed officials who could shed light on the corruption to invoke E.O, 464?
Why has she not held to account those of her officials who continue to maintain that the ZTE-NBN deal was aboveboard?
There are appeals for the Truth, but no threat of consequences if the demands aren’t met. I respect the position of the bishops that they aren’t the ones who should be making threats, but if that’s the case, it’s incumbent among the groups pushing for a more centrist, moderate, resolution of current problems to come to a consensus on a timetable.
I understand that there are some natural dates and pressure point events that various groups are considering:
1. The decision of the Supreme Court on executive privilege, 3-4 weeks after today’s hearing of oral arguments;
2. Income Tax day in April;
3. The expiration of Gen. Esperon’s extended tour of duty as AFP Chief of Staff in May;
4. Labor Day;
5. Independence Day
6. The opening of the new session of Congress in July;
7. The expiration of the one-year ban on impeachment complaints in October (deliberations, including passing better rules, can begin in July);
8. pressure point event: if the government attempts a “same dog, different collar” tactic to achieve the same purposes as E.O. 464 while formally revoking it;
9. pressure point event: if the administration, even if faced with a S.C. decision clarifying executive privilege, continues to be uncooperative vis-a-vis the Senate;
10. pressure point event: if the administration attempts to revive Charter Change;
11. pressure point event: if members of the economic team resign from the cabinet.
The 6-7 month period from April 15 to October is more than enough time for even the most moderate groups to firm up what they will do, if the President proves more inclined to pursue dilatory tactics.
I believe, in light of the above, the urgent need is for:
1. The middle forces to consolidate and pursue a consensus;
2. And having forged that consensus to consider that while some are more focused on the President, and others on longer-lasting and more wide-spread reforms, the two are not incompatible if their goal is a Reform Constituency that can challenge the Right and the Left not just now, or 2010, but beyond. John Nery puts it this way:
The strategic value of the 2010 elections lies in that deadline; a transfer of power is already in the schedule. The more our aspiring presidential candidates prepare for the May 10, 2010 contest, the more any cancellation or postponement of the elections (say, through a manufactured people’s initiative) will be resisted. No Filipino politician, not even Ferdinand Marcos, has struck it rich by betting against the Filipino’s passion for the vote. So let Mar Roxas hawk more Tide laundry products, or Manny Villar visit more provinces, or Dick Gordon play coy with Cebu’s Gwen Garcia–their ambition serves democracy’s purpose.
At the same time, the outrage over the official impunity and immoderate greed revealed by the NBN scandal must continue to be expressed. Even if people power seems unlikely, protesters must still take to the streets, fill up the churches, organize school forums, reclaim the public square.
It’s possible that such “communal action,” in the Catholic bishops’ hopelessly ambiguous term, may provoke a confluence of events that will lead to an earlier day of reckoning for the Arroyo administration. Well and good. (We must be open to surprises.) But even if it doesn’t, what of it? The important thing is to do our part.
Father Rector Rolando de la Rosa of the University of Santo Tomas asked Lozada and former president Corazon Aquino and the others who attended the Mass for Truth at the university last Sunday to consider the best way to return integrity to government: “the best way is not through a “rigodon” of leaders who are forcibly removed through people power, but through an enlightened, educated and conscientious electoral process. We have 26 months before the next election. We have enough time to prepare ourselves so we can vote wisely. Let us use people power during election time, not only before or after.”
Some extremely thought-provoking entries in the blogosphere: the most thought-provoking being Writer’s Block’s A Comprehensive Proposal for an EDSA Reform. I do think, though, that when it comes to politics, personalities can never, and never ought to be, separated from the issues, because it is a human activity and not a science. Also, getting rid of the Senate is extremely unwise, though the process for electing its members can stand review. I disagree that Federalism goes hand-in-hand with the parliamentery system; it is, to my mind, even better suited to a presidential and bicameral system. As for proposals for the redistribution of wealth, I’ve long advocated the manner in which Britain broke the power of the aristocracy: through Death Duties. The accumulation of wealth in one person’s lifetime, is to be commended; the destructive effects of inherited wealth is what the British looked at and solved, by making it very difficult to pass on fortunes without greatly diminishing them. This democratized Britain in a generation without stifling entrepreneurship.
The following entries look into the various constituencies that are participating, or not, in current events. New Philippine Revolution on current and future configurations (see also an interesting entry of his on the Vatican position). Mon Casiple calls it the “elite dilemma.” Scriptorium asks, is impeachment better than People Power?
pastilan! reproduces a paper that gives us an insight into how the Left view the middle class, and ongoing debates on how to engage it -or co-opt it, or neutralize it. {caffeine sparks} looks at those who proclaim that being apolitical is a virtue. The need to take a stand, but not get used and abused, is tackled by abashet.
Sonnie’s Porch, and What Do We Care?, and Bayen’s Living Room, and I’m A Baby! and Ang Kape Ni LaTtEX express the reasons behind their misgivings concerning People Power. A Simple Life takes up the cudgels for loyalists. smoke has an interesting entry on what she perceives to be a war of political attrition. Peryodistang Pinay on image-making on media.
“that whether or not it is a democratic exercise” above should read “than whether or not it is a democratic exercise“.
Bert:
er, i was thinking about Atty. Oliver Lozano and his bogus impeachment complaints… i’m sure he’s getting another one ready in order to inoculate his Empress for yet another year.
Hey, if Lozada wants to file one, who’s stopping him? I’m sure more than a few spotlight-hungry congressmen just might bite.
Manolo,
Thank you for Neri’s Booty Capitalism Chart.
Anna, i guess DJB is just awaiting instructions from W.
Re: “Actually, I thank President Ronald Reagan for 1986.” – DJB
I see… Ok, at least that is setting the record straight CLEANLY!
People power was what drove highly esteemed Pres Reagan to finally instruct Pres Marcos to cut and cut cleanly. Without that people power element, Pres Reagan along with George Schultz would continue support for the ‘sonofabitch.’
Do think you also ought to be thankful to Filipino People Power of 1986. (But that’s just me — don’t mind me.)
Chuck,
Awaiting instructions to do what? Cut and cut cleanly?
Many Filipinos tend to trust foreigners rather than do common sense analysis on geopolitics. Unknown to this same group that the policy of these foreigners are geared towards their nations interest and not necessarily for the benefit of the Filipinos, whether they be an ally or not. Heavy vestiges of colonial mentality still reeks.
(It was Paul Laxalt who told Marcos to cut and cut cleanly.)
Elections vs Revolts,
For people who think protecting votes is easier than unseating a president, imagine yourself being watchers and teachers at voting stations in some places in Mindanao.
Election volunteers talk a good game but they are pretty much useless camera hogs. They help little and are totally insignificant in the final equation.
MBW,
It’s incredible that we blame America for Marcos more than we blame Marcos for Marcos.
Weren’t we independent already for forty years by the time he was overthrown?
Ah, but yeah, we blame them for EVERYTHING.
But who really saved the Filipinos in 1986? Reagan? Cardinal Sin? Cory Aquino? Or lupus?
My only point here is that there ain’t nothing inherently bloodless about a people power movement.
Perhaps the enchantment of the idea won’t wear off around here until that happens.
Kabayan: “Heavy vestiges of colonial mentality still reeks.”
My, what perfect English you have!
Dean,
Who’s blaming America for Marcos more than we blame Marcos for Marcos?
I thought we were talking about you thanking America or Pres Reagan more precisely for being able to return home?
Anyway, didnt you infer that had Reagan or Schultz or Laxalt not instructed Marcos, peaceful people power might not have worked meaning there would have been bloodshed so confirming what you say is BLAMING America for Marcos’ cutting and cutting cleanly?
Just thought you should have a nice word for people power too after thanking Pres Reagan… is that wrong?
kabayan, these are not vestiges and they not only reek. Colonial mentality has the Filipino soul in chains.
Heck, many educated Filipinos don’t even know how to process information in a logical way. Without referencing foreigners, they seem totally helpless.
Re: “My only point here is that there ain’t nothing inherently bloodless about a people power movement. ” — DJB
Of course not — coudev told you that myself. So far, Philippine people power has been peaceful and that’s rather good news.
@brianb
“many educated Filipinos don’t even know how to process information in a logical way. Without referencing foreigners, they seem totally helpless”
…and so I quote cicero when….
Oh god, it’s that word ‘colonial mentality’ again…:D Akala ko ba “we are the world”…I thought good ideas are universal. “Foreigners”, what’s that?
Please expound.
cheers
.
“I will be true to the Constitution and to myself who has been mandated to leave the post when my term ends in 2010,â€ÂGloria Arroyo—Do you believe her?
Since we are into giving credit into the bloodless nature of the original EDSA, i would give more credit to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Unlike their counterparts in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) or in Burma for that matter, they did not fire into the crowd even when ordered.
cvj,
I agree that “constitutionality” is not more fundamental than democracy. But the challenge to people power ideologues is to convince the people themselves of that. It is an essentially elitist idea that the People don’t really understand the constitution. I think they are largely ignorant of its Letter, that is true. But not its Spirit.
I have called people power a form of fascism. But it’s really closer to “psychic dentistry.” My living proof of that is Joseph Estrada. For what exactly did people power accomplish but 6 years of people power congratulating itself, when he’s stronger than he ever was now.
Quod erap demonstrandum.
And DJB, if you really put your head into it, re “But who really saved the Filipinos in 1986?“, technically, the military folks who caved in to popular demand and who refused to roll their tanks on the people on Edsa who were people powering then probably saved the Filipinos in 1986.
(Now, don’t get on your high horse and ram your Pres Reagan saved the Filipinos discourse, Ok? Absolutely not interested in Pres Reagan’s implicit/explicit last-minute decision to join Filipino people power in 1986.)
At the end of the day, I think the Filipinos ralistically saved themselves.
Aha, cvj and I are on the same wavelength!
preemptive first strike
GMA’s chief legal counsel sergio apostol announced this afternoon that the Eo464 was already dead. This latest tact of GMA’s legal zealots is the same ploy they did on the state of rebellion order where GMA revoked it before the Supreme Court could issue its ruling. In this afternoon’s marathon hearing at SC, the comments and questions of the justices seemed going against Neri’s arguments. As justice carpio strongly put it: Neri can’t hide crime.
with its impending defeat again at the Highest Tribunal, malacañang did a preemptive first strike, hoping that the SC, which issued strong rulings against her previous executive orders, will come out with a modest one since the issue would become moot and academic. If the SC could release its ruling before GMA could revoke it; and the ruling would contain strong comments against Neri’s basis on executive privilege, this will cement the crookedness of Malacañang’s interpretation of our laws and how it used them to cover up the truth.
“which issued strong rulings against her previous executive orders, will come out with a modest one since the issue would become moot and academic.” — Jason
Wow! That is really more than just pulling the rug from under the Senate’s feet (with all the Senators standing on the rug…)
Of course, come crunch time, i.e. to face the Senate, Neri will be do-lallying under another sort of EO that will contain prohibitive clauses, “You can’t say this, you can’t say that, nyanyanyanyaaa…”
Legal system as in “paisahan” system (naisahan…)
There is a thin line between bloodless confrontation between military units and guns blazing.
In fact, my recollection is that more than half-the-time that Philippine military units faced each other (with a group on the side of the sitting president and another group, opposed), people pulled the trigger.
And had Marcos made it to Batac as opposed to being conned to a Hawaii luau, who knows how many body bags would have been needed?
Senator Zubiri according to the ABS-CBN website distributed 450,000 pesos each to every Bohol mayor on Feb. 24 from his pork barrel.
My oh my, there must be crazy going ons at the Department of Budget these days, plus the coffers of jueteng and drug lords.
BENIGNO, IKAW ANG PRUWEBA NA ANG MASAMANG DAMO, MAHIRAP MAMATAY. SA ISANG MATINONG MUNDO, ANG MGA KATULAD MO AY DAPAT-RAPAT PATAY NA AT NABUBULOK NA SA ILALIM NG LUPA, KASO BUHAY KA PA PERO ANG KALULUWA MO INAAGNAS NA KAHIT NA NASA IBABAW KA PA LANG NG LUPA …
Since 1986 we have been under the rule of liberal fascists (all that jazz about freedom). They close their eyes on the shenanigans of oligarchs who tend to neutralize the workings of a representative democracy.
“SA ISANG MATINONG MUNDO, ANG MGA KATULAD MO AY DAPAT-RAPAT PATAY NA AT NABUBULOK NA SA ILALIM NG LUPA, KASO BUHAY KA PA PERO ANG KALULUWA MO INAAGNAS NA KAHIT NA NASA IBABAW KA PA LANG NG LUPA …”
Maliit talaga ang manoy mo ano, kaya sigaw ka nang sigaw. I hope one day, we can meet.
I mean, one day me and you will get together.
DJB: I am confused by your use of “fascism”.
fas·cism Function: noun
Etymology: Italian fascismo Date: 1921
1. often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
2: a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control
——————
I suppose what you are highlighting PeoplePower Philippine style as a tendency or exercise by a minority to dictate its wishes onto a majority.
jason, don’t celebrate so soon.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080304-122781/Supreme-Court-suspends-oral-arguments-on-Neri-petition
latest is that the senate will vote tomorrow on a toothless compromise. neri will appear, but he will not answer three questions:
1. whether gma followed up the deal with neri
2. whether gma instructed neri to prioritize the project
3. what gma instructed neri to do after learning of 200 million peso bribe of abalos.
also, per the compromise, neri can still invoke executive privilege and if he raises it, senate can question things again before the sc.
senate votes on whether to accept the compromise tomorrow. obviously, there’s a sense, whether justified or not, that this case will not be decided on its merits by the sc but on the basis of a loyalty vote.
what will the people do if the a regime uses the vast resources of the state against its people? Like in the case of Marcos, he used the military to protect him, controlled Congress and our courts to become a rubber stamp of his wishes. If we have a govt like that, are we going to rely on election to change the regime? Dean, Do we have any alternative rather than people power?
UPn (at 12:02am), i think DJB is just following the lead of Humpty Dumpty who told Alice (in Wonderland):
‘Liberal fascism’ means what DJB chooses it to mean, neither more nor less.
mlq:
What the heck. it would be better for the senate not to enter into a compromise with the executive. but im optimistic majority of our senators will reject the three conditions.
Mlq3 said March 5th, 2008 at 12:06 am latest is that the senate will vote tomorrow on a toothless compromise. neri will appear, but he will not answer three questions: confirms my suspicion that the much-awaited SC decision on the E whatever is useless…
Of course, come crunch time, i.e. to face the Senate, Neri will be do-lallying under another sort of EO that will contain prohibitive clauses, “You can’t say this, you can’t say that, nyanyanyanyaaa…â€Â
Re: “but im optimistic majority of our senators will reject the three conditions.” — Jason
But what can they do? Can they arrest and jail Neri if Neri refuses to answer those questions? If they do that, all Neri has to do is feign some heart attack or something and will be treated in a first class hospital paid with taxpayers’ money! Lusot and loko!
PLEASE PASS ON: THE LAME “E-MANDIRIGMA” SYNDROME OF SOME LAME BRAINED PINOYS
Referring to these sites:
http://gmaresign.blogspot.com/
http://blacknwhitemovement.blogspot.com/
http://jenijenjen.blogspot.com/
Sus, eto nanaman ang mga “e-mandirigma”. This is so LAME. Walang mangyayari sa inyo hanggang INTERNET lang kayo. Kung gusto nyo mag rebolusyon dapat humawak kayo ng mga baril at lumusob sa malacanang hindi yung “blogswarm” na di naman binabasa ni GMA. Ni hindi nyo nga alam kung sino ipapalit niyo kay GMA eh.
Some say they want De Castro, the Black and White movement (lame brains) say they don’t like De Castro (they advocate GMA and Noli to resign), some say it should be Puno, some say Erap, some say they don’t even know who to replace GMA with but they want her out.
If you want to be revolutionaries don’t hide behind your blogs and computers. Go out and wield a weapon and attack Malacanang if you are real people like Mao Zedong, Che Guevarra or Ayatollah Khomeini and not a bunch of URKLEs in that show Saved by the Bell. What a bunch of posers and wussy geeks these are na nag-ngangangawa sa blogs. A bunch of whining crybaby CONYO-english speaking (saying “now na”, “now naman”) computer geeks clearly cannot defeat GMA and her forces.
Tamo si Trillanes naniwala na susuportahan siya ng mga “e-mandirigma” pero ano nangyari? Busy sila sa kaka “blog” at kagagawa ng mga photoshop collage na naglalagay kay Trillanes sa Philippine flag at may mga corning motto. Noong nakitang may mga SWAT na at Marines eh nag stay na lang sa mga computer nila at nang-ngangangawa sa mga blog.
GMA will remain in power no matter what. The “opposition” people are clueless and have their own agendas which makes their ranks broken and weak.
Imagine they even say:
“kung edsa 2 napabagsak natin thru SMS now, naman.
the president web 2.0 brought down, the president blogging brought down, the first president social media brought down” -daveQ
Yeah, right. Imagine a bunch of wimpy bloggers and e-mail forwarders saying “now naman” or “now na” facing the PSG? The PSG and PNP will jut laugh and GMA will just send in her janitors to chase the “e-mandirigma” weaklings away with brooms.
The Senate and the Presidency really should follow parliamentary procedures. 😉
So, what’s left for people to do? Ta…da… People power!
Don’t forget to take DJB with you! As cvj once said, “Besides, who will protect the right flank?
jason, let’s hope so. the lawyers can inform us if there’s been a case, before, where such an important decision resulted in a compromise offer.
i’m reminded of marcos’ sept. 24, 1972 diary entry:
https://www.quezon.ph/?p=1515
CBCP or any religious groups is non functional to change the Pidalism government The church are not the only builders of hope in the minds of our people. Politicians needed the help of preachers, priest and cults to subvert and change our lawful form of government..Preachers have been used by politicians to assist them in its harassment and plunder. Politicians offered preachers a bribe, of big bucks, and most preachers accepted the bribe. Politicians cannot propagate their false information and lies if preachers teach the truths we find in Holy Scripture. Our Bibles give us a record of the rise and fall of many different governments.The Bible gives us the story of many great men who challenged evil and wicked governments.Many of God’s servants were threatened, imprisoned, thrown into fiery furnaces, thrown to the lions and etc. when they refused to obey politician-created laws.
Cardinal Rosales churches of today, people are taught, our government is a higher power to which we, the people, are subject. People should support a government which does good and maintains justice and order. Rosales and Pidal have much in common. Both have become professional liars where success is measured by how many followers they have. Both are confidence manipulator who play games with people’s mind. Basic freedom has always been denied because they wanted control. Pidal and church have used each other at the expense of the people.
As long as politicians can bombard us with their platitudes about doing good and never be challenged on the immoral means they use the size and power of this Pidalism government will never be controlled. For there can be no decline in the calls upon government to do something about such things as poverty, the homeless, the aged, and the sick until the force and violence that must support such governmental actions is recognized and morally condemned. We the Filipinos need to get our act together in condemning the illegal act of Pidalism and the entire structure of her government. Not the bishop of the Cardinal!
manila:
after the senate rejects the compromise, they can wait for the ruling of the sc. if the ruling is against neri’s petition, then the senate can arrest and undress him during the investigation. 🙂
‘Liberal fascism’ means what DJB chooses it to mean, neither more nor less.
— cvj
I think there is weight to the term. Since 1986, liberalism after the fall of the dictatorship took over, with its emphasis on rights and freedom (i.e. especially the freedom of the press) and reached its fascistic height in Edsa Dos when an upper-class led civil society, together with the middle class and the military brought down a duly constituted Estrada government.
The operative connotation is when it is contrasted with liberal democracy which is what we have theoretically. However, our form of liberalism tends to be fascistic since our social foundation is made up of oligarchs lording it over the majority of the people. Oligarchs have a quasi-legal hold of our economy and political system. Philipine oligarchs are the purveyors of western style liberalism, with their focus on economic rights, and political freedom.
When power of the few meets liberal thought, you have liberal fascism.
My hope is that people power this time would led to a real liberal democracy.
I take it that you are using ‘proof’ loosely (in a Humpty-Dumpty sort of way) unless you are able to show that all possible (or at least probable) paths since People Power would have led to Erap’s freedom.
As i see it, there was nothing inevitable about Erap’s pardon. That was Gloria’s decision. There was also nothing inevitable about Gloria’s cheating in 2004 nor in her decision to run for President (after promising not to). Those were also her decisions. People power did make her accession to the Presidency possible, but our mistake was not to hold her to the same standards that we held Erap.
while waiting for the outcome, another beer please.
“My hope is that people power this time would led to a real liberal democracy.” — Madonna
Same here!
That will be a GnT for me please…
alternatives. how about the other institutions of government? there’s also the opposition…these problems we have are political after all. our penchant for people power goes back, not just to 1986 but to our culture. People power has its good and dangerous points all reflective of the good and bad in our culture.
at this point, all i can see is EMOTIONS, our hard headedness to face reality, getting into the chest-thumping and fang-showing mode when with the pack, bahala na, the lack of foresight due to our proclivity for taking shortcuts, AND our own disregard for the law when we are in our own country but so diligently follow when we are abroad.
And we have the nerve to ask, “Bakit hindi ganito sa Pilipinas?” Kasi sa Pilipinas, hindi naman tayo sumusunod. okay, that was unnecessary…i went overboard but what the heck…bahala na!
Madonna, i agree with your definition (more or less). What i disagree with is DJB’s assertion that “People Power is nothing but liberal fascism.“. Rather Orwellian.
madonna, really now…who are you expecting to bring us that? one shining example of Filipino genius or maybe a genie? wishes are great but the reality is, it didn’t take us overnight to get to where we are and to get to a liberal democracy, which not everyone may want btw, it will take a lot of hard work, from all of us who want it. we start by facing reality and grow up then get down to the dirty work.
2010 is almost here and elections will be as dirty and controversial as the last….if we don’t do something about it ourselves.