By Raïssa Robles
In recent days, President Benigno Aquino III has been likened to a monarch, dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Fidel Castro and even Hitler.
How did PNoy – long tagged as a “Retard”, “Abnoy” and “malambot” suddenly transition into an evil super-brained bad-ass who’s supposed to be “smarter than Marcos”?
Listen to how Noynoy critic Senator Joker Arroyo puts it. He told reporters:
The way I look at it, Noynoy is smarter than Marcos because Marcos had to issue Proclamation No. 1081 to usher in martial law. Noy doesn’t have to do anything except to muscle in on everyone.
Marcos used poverty and communism as his excuse to commit abuses. We have a one-man government now since Noy has subjugated the House and is on his way to doing so to the judiciary.
Sen. Joker’s statements made me wonder why he had such a drastic change of mind on what a Philippine president can do and cannot do.
When his chief benefactress Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was President, Sen. Joker kept his silence when she “subjugated” the House into blocking all the impeachment complaints against her. Sen. Joker also kept silent when Mrs Arroyo bent the Judiciary to do her will in several instances. Perhaps he was practicing that secret martial arts style called “The Sleeping Dragon.”
The statements of Sen. Joker and other Arroyo allies have really made me wonder just how the Executive Branch is supposed to relate to the other two branches of government – Congress and Judiciary – no matter who the sitting President is. And where the impeachment of a Supreme Court Chief Justice fits in all this.
Let’s listen to what the man on the spot, Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, has to say. In a recent speech, following his impeachment by the House of Representatives dominated by PNoy’s Liberal Party, Corona implied that what Aquino did to him was evil:
At kung sakaling magtagumpay ang impeachment na ito laban sa akin, ano sa palagay ninyo ang mangyayari? Simple lang po mga mahal kong mga kababayan — kay Ginoong Aquino na ang gabinete, kontrolado na niya ang kongreso, at hawak na niya ang Korte Suprema. Paulit-ulit na lang nilang isinisigaw ang checks and balances ng three co-equal branches of government, ngunit ang kanilang mga pagkilos ay patungo sa pagsakop sa buong sistema at kapangyarihan ng pamahalaan. Itong mga itinatanim niyang gawain ay siguradong mamumunga lamang ng isang diktadura; isang diktadura na nagmula sa paglilinlang at paglalason sa pag-iisip ng ating mga kababayan.
In other words, Corona implied it was very wrong for PNoy to control Congress. And should PNoy succeed in booting him out, Corona warned PNoy would end up controlling the judiciary as well – and that would result in a dictatorship.
Corona as well as other lawyers have also raised an important question regarding the impeachment charges against him. They said rulings by SC members on cases cannot ever be questioned because the Supreme Court IS the final arbiter on the Constitution.
In other words, how can a member of the highest court violate the Constitution when he is supposed to be THE final authority on the Constitution?
If that is so, why then did our Constitution specify “culpable violation of the Constitution” as one of the grounds for impeaching an SC justice?
When and how does an SC justice seriously violate the Constitution he has vowed to protect?
Corona for obvious reasons hasn’t explained the circumstances that would cause a violation.
No one has explained how our 3 gov’t branches ought to interact
We have recently been reminded by constitutional experts that the Presidency, Congress and Judiciary are separate, co-equal bodies independent of each other.
What they have not explained to the public during this brewing controversy is how the President is supposed to interact with the other two branches of government – within the bounds of the Constitution and the Rule of Law.
I personally witnessed such inter-action when the Senate reconvened in 1987 after a 15-year absence due to Marcos’ Martial Law. The first Senate President Jovito Salonga described relations between the Senate and the Presidency as one of “critical collaboration”.
This was demonstrated when the Senate refused to extend the Military Bases Agreement with the United States despite pleas from then President Corazon Aquino.
When I started covering the Senate in 1987, my law professor-dad handed me a really old book which he said would help me understand the way our presidential form of government is supposed to work. Sen. Joker knew my dad — they defended We Forum publisher Joe Burgos together.
My father told me when he handed me the book that while certain powers of the Presidency had been cut somewhat and certain powers added to the Judiciary and Congress, relations among the three branches of government had reverted back to how they were before 1972.
The book is called The Republic in Action and was written by one of the foremost Constitutionalists then – Senator Arturo Tolentino. The interesting thing about this book published in 1962 was that Tolentino wrote it for high school students, not for law students or lawyers.
Tolentino wanted people like you and me to understand how our government works.
Ours is a representative democracy
Tolentino began by using the Greek philosopher Aristotle’s classification of three kinds of governance – the one-man rule or monarchy; the rule by a single class or a few persons which Tolentino called an “aristocracy or oligarchy”; and thirdly, the rule by the people themselves or a democracy.
Tolentino further explained there were two types of democracy. First is a direct or pure one where the people governed themselves directly (such as in Switzerland and ancient Greece). Second is a “representative democracy” like the Philippines where citizens are represented by those they elect.
Tolentino added that:
When a person seizes the powers of government and ignores the voice of the people or of their representatives, the government is converted into a dictatorship. If the supreme concern of such a dictatorship is the welfare of the state as an entity distinct and apart from the people, its government becomes a totalitarian government.
I know Tolentino’s explanation sounds very simplistic to lawyers and political scientists. But I think it suffices for quickly understanding what a democracy is all about.
Even the first declaration of principle in our 1987 Constitution states:
The Philippines is a democratic and republican State. Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.
How do we now reconcile this concept of sovereignty residing in the people with the warning aired by Fr. Joaquin Bernas following reports that the surveys seemed to support PNoy’s moves?
Bernas, who helped draft our present Constitution, cautioned that “you cannot always trust what the populace is supporting.”
Why our type of government is called presidential
From our Civics or Social Studies classes, many of us have learned the two types of government – the presidential and the parliamentary. Fr. Bernas and the other constitutional framers chose to revive the presidential form where the government practically revolves around an office occupied by one individual with wide powers – the Presidency.
So wide are the powers, Tolentino said, that –
The President exerts a tremendous influence in legislation.
In other words, on Congress, a co-equal branch of government. The President’s influence on Congress extends beyond legislation and includes other functions such as its power to impeach. Tolentino described impeachment as Congress’ exercise of “its judicial function.”
Congress has the power to impeach a President and any member of the SC.
In turn, the President has the power to influence Congress in various ways – which are merely implied in the Constitution. Tolentino explained that one way is through :
The operation of the party system (which) provides another method by which the President can influence legislation. This method is specially useful in the case of measures recommended by him, or administration measures. The President is usually the titular head of the party in power. This party controls both houses of Congress, usually, and the leaders of Congress belong to the same party. The President can enlist the help of the legislative leaders to push through administration measures.
Given Tolentino’s explanation, what did CJ Corona mean when he said –
kay Ginoong Aquino na ang gabinete, kontrolado na niya ang kongreso….
Does this mean it is unconstitutional for PNoy – or any President for that matter – to “control” Congress through his political party mates? Or is this really how a President can effectively govern?
Tolentino also disclosed that:
If there is some difficulty for the legislative leaders alone to obtain approval of administration measures, then the President may call the members of Congress who belong to his party to a meeting, known as party caucus. In such meeting, he appeals to them and convinces them to support the administration measures. If the party caucus decides that such measures should be passed, the majority members of the Congress vote for their approval….Because of party discipline, usually none of the majority members votes against the decision of the party caucus.
CJ Corona’s impeachment by Congress was secretly decided in a Liberal Party caucus. But the opposition party allied with Mrs Arroyo branded that as a very bad thing to do. Even if they often decided political moves that way, too.
It seems though from Tolentino’s explanation that this is to be considered normal practice in our kind of presidential form of government.
One more thing. The Liberal Party-led House leadership decided to strip the committee chairmanship from a member who did not vote along party lines in the impeachment. Arroyo’s allies branded that as turning Congress into PNoy’s rubber stamp. But Tolentino said it was part of cracking the party whip.
The same thing also happened in 2005 following the embarrassing revelations on the “Hello Garci” wiretapped tapes where a voice that sounded like Mrs Arroyo asked a poll official whether she would win the 2004 elections by over a million votes.
Administration allies who demanded Arroyo’s resignation were also stripped of their House positions.
Interestingly, Tolentino raised another form of “legal” persuasion that any Philippine President has at his disposal – the “pork barrel”. Tolentino explained:
To a great extent, the influence of the President in lawmaking will depend upon his personal qualities as a leader. He can confer individually with members of Congress and persuade them to vote for an administration measure. He may influence them by the use of patronage. This means that he may give some favor or concession to a member of Congress, by the appointment of a recommendee of that member to some position in the government. He may also influence him by the release of funds for the construction of some projects sponsored by such member.
Pork barrel is a dirty word to many Filipinos. I don’t like pork barrel myself because it often ends up in the lawmaker’s pocket. When I was covering the Senate, then Senator Vicente Paterno explained to me how he reconciled himself with using pork barrel. He said that used properly, it is “the democratization of patronage.”
Pork barrel is supposed to be a way for the most far-flung districts in the country to get hold of extra funds from the national government.
In the case of Corona’s speedy impeachment, House Minority Floorleader Edcel Lagman claimed that lawmakers were blackmailed into supporting it because they were threatened with or they feared the loss of their pork barrel.
To the public, that smacked of bribery.
But if you really take a pragmatic look at it, pork barrel is part of the wheeling and dealing in Congress. Unless the Supreme Court rules it is unconstitutional.
Probably one of the canniest politicians to use pork barrel was Mrs Arroyo. However, it seems Arroyo’s allies expect PNoy not to use it because of his Matuwid na Daan.
My hubby Alan and I were debating what the difference was in Arroyo’s handing out cold cash (you remember, to Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio) and Aquino’s use of pork barrel. He pointed out to me that in Arroyo’s case, it was intended to directly benefit her because she was saving herself from being ousted from the presidency. And it was in cash with no issued receipt.
Aside from trying to influence Congress to do his bidding, Tolentino said:
The President may resort to public opinion. This is known as bringing the issue to the people. In speeches and newspaper statements, he may tell the people the reasons for his desire to have an administration measure enacted. He may induce the people to express their views on the measure. If public opinon is strongly in favor of the President’s stand, the members of Congress may ultimately approve the measure.
This is precisely what PNoy is doing now with Corona’s impeachment case. However, Fr. Bernas said he found PNoy’s speeches disturbing because
In his speeches, he sounds like Fidel Castro.
He does not go down to the level of the president’s ranting.
Last week, though, Corona branded PNoy “greedy”, a “dictator” and “a king”.
Hmmm. Is that tantamount to an unofficial judicial ruling on the powers of the presidency under the present Constitution?
Personally, I’m not bothered by what’s happening because I’ve seen much, much worse. I’m also inclined to believe that when you’re doing government spring-cleaning, you’re bound to let a lot of dust fly.
If there is any good that Corona’s impeachment has done so far, it is to make Filipinos like me think about democracy.
What exactly is a democracy? Is what is happening part of a vibrant democracy? Or are we really experiencing what Corona warned is a “creeping dictatorship?”
Is this a dictatorship or is this democracy, functioning the way it’s supposed to?
_______________________________________
Read Chief Justice Renato Corona’s post-impeachment speech delivered on December 16, 2011:
AKO ANG UNANG TAGAPAGTANGGOL NG HUSTISYA
Isang mainit at mapagpalayang hapon po sa ating lahat!
Tunay na hustisya, kadakilaan ng Kataastaasang Hukuman, at kalayaan ng hudikatura, tatlo pong prinsipyo na nagbibigay sa akin – sa ating lahat – ng lakas at tapang na harapin ang hamon at pagsubok na bunga ng masamang pulitika.
HINDI PO TAYO PAPAYAG NA LAPASTANGANIN AT ALIPUSTAHIN ANG DEMOKRASYA, AT ANG KORTE SUPREMA!
Sa isang iglap, nasampahan po ako ng isang impeachment complaint ng mababang kapulungan na kontrolado ng Liberal Party ni Ginoong Aquino at ng kanyang mga kaalyado. Sa sobrang bilis, parang wala po yatang nakaintindi o nakabasa man lang ng halos animnapung pahinang reklamo o habla. Isang
daan, walumpu’t walong kinatawan ang basta na lamang lumagda rito para isulong ang aking impeachment. Kinikilala natin ang proseso ng Saligang Batas para sa mga reklamo laban sa mga miyembro ng Korte Suprema. Ngunit ang hindi natin kinikilala ay ang pag-abuso ng kapangyarihan at proseso para samantalahin ang lahat ng paraan, makapagtalaga lamang sila ng sarili nilang mga mahistrado sa Korte Suprema.
Itong impeachment ay dala ng kasakiman na magkaroon ng isang Korte Suprema na kayang diktahan, na nakukuha sa tingin, at magkakandarapang ipatupad ang kanilang bawat hiling.
Tila yata’y napipikon at hindi sila makapagtalaga ng kanilang punong mahistrado kung susundin ang ating umiiral na Saligang Batas. Kaya pati ang inyong lingkod, hadlang daw sa kaunlaran ng bayan at pagpapatupad ng mga ipinangako sa kampanya!
Pasadahan po natin ang mga walang katuturang paratang ng ating mga magigiting na mambabatas. Walo (8) po ang hinain na paratang laban sa akin. Kaagad, makikitang dalawang uri ang bintang na nilalaman nito: sa isang banda, ‘yung mga reklamong tumutukoy sa mga personal kong kilos, at sa kabilang banda naman, ang mga reklamo na tumutukoy sa mga opisyal na pagkilos o hatol ng Korte Suprema.
Mariin kong itinatanggi ang mga bintang na may katiwalian sa mga pansarili kong kilos. Hindi po totoo ang sinasabing ayaw ko raw ilabas ang aking Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. Ito’y isang dokumentong sinusumite ko taun-taon ng walang patid. Malaking kasinungalingan ang paratang na ito.
Ako raw po ay isang midnight appointee.Dapat raw po, hindi ko tinanggap ang paghirang sa akin. Bakit po ba, para si Ginoong Aquino ang makapagtalaga ng kaniyang sariling chief justice na hawak niya sa leeg? Mapapa-iling ka talaga. Ang pagtatalaga sa inyong lingkod ay dumaan sa isang masusing proseso na ayon sa ating Saligang Batas. Kasama po dito ang proseso ng Judicial and Bar Council na noon ay pinangungunahan ng dating Punong Mahistrado Reynato Puno. Matagal na po itong pinagpasyahan ng Korte Suprema. Matagal nang tapos ito. Kung may reklamo man sila sa hatol ng Korte Suprema, sana ay noon pa, ipinaglaban na nila.
Binubuhay ito para painitin ang damdamin ng ating mga kababayan at mawalaan tayo ng tiwala sa Korte Suprema at hudikatura. Di po ba’t may kasabihan na “ang isang kasinungalingan, kapag inulit ng inulit, pagtagal, ay siyang tinatanggap bilang katotohanan?” Paano po naman naging kasalanan ang pagtanggap ng isang dakilang karangalan tulad nito? Ito ay isa lamang pong paninira ng aking katapatan sa katungkulan, kasama na po ang puri at dangal ng Kataas taasang Hukuman.
Nguni’t ang kasukdulan ng pambabastos, sa aking pananaw, ay ang pagdawit ng aking maybahay sa reklamong ito. Baka akala nila na sa ganitong paraan ako po’y madaling susuko. Mapalad po ako na mayroon akong isang mabait at matatag na kasama sa buhay, na siya ring pinagkukunan ko ng lakas at inspirasyon. Mahal na mahal kita, Tina.
Walang katotohan ang kanilang mga paratang – puro kasinungalingan. At patutunayan namin na ito ay isang pagblackmail lamang. Lingid po yata sa kanilang kaalaman na si Ginang Corona ay una pang naitalaga bago ako naging mahistrado. Bakit, hindi po ba dito sa kasalukuyang administrasyon, mayroong isang mag-asawa, kasama ang kanilang mga anak, na may matataas na puwesto?
Ang mga natitirang paratang ay ukol naman sa mga pasiya at iba pang matagal nang patakaran ng Korte Suprema. Alalahanin po natin na ayon sa ating Saligang Batas, ang Korte Suprema ay binubuo ng isang punong mahistrado at labing-apat na katulong na mahistrado. Mayroon po lamang kaming tigiisang boto, at ito po ay pantay-pantay. Ang aking boto ay kapareho lamang ng boto ng pinakahuling naitalagang mahistrado. Ang pwersa at bisa ng aking pananaw ay kapantay lamang ng pwersa at bisa ng pananaw ng kahit sino mang mahistrado. Pantay-pantay po kaming lahat dito.
At sa mga isyu na sinasabi nilang kaugnay sa dating pangulo, wala po kaming kinakatigan dito sa hukumang ito. Ang aming pasiya ay pasiya ng buong Korte Suprema at resulta ng mga indibidwal na opinyon. Ang opinyon ng isang mahistrado ay hindi desisyon ng Korte Suprema. Kahit sinumang abogado ay magsasabi sa inyo na hindi po pwedeng yapakyapakan ang karapatan ng sinuman sa ilalim ng Saligang Batas, habang hindi mo pa napapatunayan na siya ay nagkasala. May mandato ang korte na ipagtanggol higit sa lahat ang karapatang pang-tao ng indibidwal kontra sa labis-labis na kapangyarihan ng pamahalaan, lalong-lalo pa kung wala pang naisasampang kaso. Matagal na itong prinsipio at hindi na kailangang idebate. Ito ang tinatawag na PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE and RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.
Isampa ang tamang kaso sa loob ng wastong oras, na may tamang ebidensya, para walang magawa ang korte kung di hatulan at ipakulong ang nagkasala sa lipunan. Panagutin natin ang dapat managot, pero idaan natin sa wasto at tamang proseso sa ilalim ng Saligang Batas. Ano po ba ang napakahirap intindihin sa bagay na ito?
Ibang-iba po ang palakad sa gabinete, sapagkat doon, lahat ng miyembro ay mga alalay, alagad at utusan ng pangulo. Sa loob ng gabinete, ang utos ng hari, hindi nababali. Dito po sa Korte Suprema, ang pananaw ng punong mahistrado ay isa lamang. Gaya nga ng sinabi ko, kami ay patas at pare-pareho lamang na nagbibigay halaga at respeto sa opinyon ng bawat isa. Wala po kaming tungkulin at balak na maging sunod-sunuran sa isa’t-isa.
Ngayon, ipagpalagay na natin na malimit kasama ko ang mayorya sa botohan, maari ba namang magmistulang pagkampi ito, samantalang nakararami kaming sumasangayon sa isang pananaw? Kasalanan po ba na ako’y kasapi ng mayorya ng Korte sa iilang mga kaso? Marami din naman pong kaso na nasa menorya ako sapagka’t natalo sa botohan ang aming pananaw. Ito ang magpapatunay na walang nagdidikta ng boto dito sa Korte Suprema.
Kaya nga po dito natin makikita ang likas na talino at sadyang makatarungan na sistema ng hustisya sa ating saligang batas: labing-lima po kami sa Korte Suprema, upang masiguro na mangibabaw ang pananaw ng mas nakakarami. Hindi maaring magtagumpay ang pananaw ng nag-iisang mahistrado.
Samakatuwid, itong mga paratang ng pagkiling laban sa akin ay bunga lamang ng malisya at kathang-isip. Malamang, umaasa ang mga kalaban ng Korte, na ako at ang ibang 14 miyembro na di nila kayang diktahan, ay magbibitiw sa tungkulin.
At kung sakaling magtagumpay ang impeachment na ito laban sa akin, ano sa palagay ninyo ang mangyayari? Simple lang po mga mahal kong mga kababayan — kay Ginoong Aquino na ang gabinete, kontrolado na niya ang kongreso, at hawak na niya ang Korte Suprema. Paulit-ulit nalang nilang isinisigaw ang checks and balances ng three co-equal branches of government, ngunit ang kanilang mga pagkilos ay patungo sa pagsakop sa buong sistema at kapangyarihan ng pamahalaan. Itong mga itinatanim niyang gawain ay siguradong mamumunga lamang ng isang diktadura; isang diktadura na nagmula sa paglilinlang at paglalason sa pag-iisip ng ating mga kababayan.
At ngayon, sasabihin ko po sa kanilang lahat: ako’y tumututol sa walang-tigil na pangaalipusta, pangduduro at pananakot. Ako’y tumututol sa dahan-dahang binubuong diktadura ni Pangulong Benigno Simeon Aquino III.
Kahapon lamang, iginigiit ng palasyo na hindi raw ang Korte Suprema o hudikatura, at ako lang daw, ang tinitira dito sa impeachment. Ito po’y malaking kasinungalingan, dahil hindi ako naniniwala na si Renato Corona lang ang tumututol sa diktadura. Walang katotohanan na si Renato Corona lamang ang gusto nilang tanggalin sa Korte Suprema. Naniniwala po ako na tayong lahat ang kinakalaban, pati na ang mga walang-malay nilang tagahanga. Sapagkat ang tunay na layunin ay wasakin ang hudikatura, wasakin ang ating demokrasya, at pairalin ang utos ng mahal na hari. Ito ang patutunguhan ng baluktot na “Daang Matuwid.”
Matagal na po akong nagtitimpi. Hindi ko po maintindihan kung bakit nanggigigil ng husto sa akin ang mahal nating pangulo, magmula pa po sa kanyang pagkaluklok sa pwesto.
Tuwing kami’y nagkikita, lubos kong pinararamdam na kami’y dapat mag-ugnayan, magsama at magtulungan para sa bayan.Marami po tayong problema. Nandiyan po ang mabagal na takbo ng ekonomiya, kawalan ng trabaho, kahirapan at kagutuman. Mukhang hindi po niya naintindihan.
Kamakailan lamang, tinuya na naman po tayo ng harap-harapan. Tulad ng tunay na Kristianong Batangueño, tayo po ay nagpigil, at ito po ay ating pinalampas.
WALA PO AKONG KASALANAN SA INYO, GINOONG PANGULO. WALA PO AKONG KASALANAN SA TAONG-BAYAN.
Sabi nila, sarili ko lang daw po ang nakataya dito. Ang pinaglalaban po natin dito ay ang kalayaan ng Korte Suprema, kalayaan ng hudikatura, at ang pagtanggol ng demokrasya sa ilalim ng Saligang Batas. Hindi po ako papayag na sumuko sa matinding pagtatangka na mapasailalim ng ibang sangay ng pamahalaan ang Korte Suprema. Una akong tututol. Una akong lalaban.
Ginoong Pangulo, ako po ang primus inter pares dito sa Korte Suprema. Ang ibig sabihin po nito, kung kailangan ipaglaban ang Korte Suprema, ako ang uuna.
Huwag na po nating isubo ang Korte Suprema sa ano pang pagsubok o batikos ng mga mapagsamantala. Yaman din lang na ang ipinaglalaban dito ay ang Korte Suprema at ang demokrasya, karangalan at katungkulan ko po na labanan itong impeachment para sa ating lahat. Haharapin ko nang buong tapang at talino ang mga walang basehang paratang na ito, punto por punto, sa Senado. Handanghanda akong humarap sa paglilitis.
Mga kasama, matapat kong sinasabi sa inyo, mahimbing ang tulog ko at tahimik ang aking konsyensya dahil sa pagpapatupad ng lahat ng aking mga tungkulin. Ako’y nanatiling matapat sa Panginoon, sa aking sarili, sa batas, at sa sinumang tao.
Para sa mga ngayon pa lang nakakarinig ng aking panawagan, inaanyayahan ko kayong makiisa sa amin. Ngayon pa lamang ay taospuso na ang aking pasasalamat sa inyo sa inyong pagtaguyod, pakikiisa at pagpapalakas ng aming loob.
Mga minamahal kong kababayan, sa aking pagharap sa isang mapanganib na katunggali, ang aking tanging sandigan ay ang inyong pakiki-akibat, at ang paninindigan para sa Lumikha at sa ating bayan. Buong pagkukumbaba kong hinihiling ang inyong pang-unawa, subalit higit sa lahat, hinihiling kong samahan ninyo ako sa aking laban at mission.
Muli, isang maganda at maalab na hapon po sa inyong lahat. Sana’y pagpalain po tayong lahat ng Maykapal.
JkN says
Speaking of dictatorship, the supreme court is the one who should be branded as one. As the final arbiter of the law, their decisions are the law. The lawyers are prohibited to question their decisions. They are somewhat catapulted as omniscient gods of law. That is why no lawyer would go against them or criticize them. Remember what happened to atty allan paguia? NO lawyer would gamble the revocation his license just to point out the SC’s mistakes. Maybe this is why they are all rallying behind corona especially the IBP. Going against the SC would be devastating to their law careers. Whereas, giving support to the CJ would be all beneficial. If they have cases pending in the SC then CJ would likely decide in favor of them as a sign of gratitude. Public opinion is not so popular among lawyers, i think.
raissa says
Right you are.
Rallie F. Cruz says
Jkn Is very right. I do not need to say anything more.
Except for this one sure thing. Filipino mentality is predominantly Asian by nature where Democracy Western style is not the appropriate one to give us the progress like what our other Asian neighbors are enjoying at the moment.
We have identified so much ourselves with American way life especially in politics and this country is doing the worst that most of our leaders have been copying. Like an old way of copying through a carbon copy, what we produce is always blurry and sometimes ineligible.
Joker Arroyo by the way, is some one who plays according to his name.
gLitch_xix says
Halimaw mga nasa baba. (i.e. saxnviolins,johnny lin,mel)
Very interesting exchange of opinion. I had a hard time following their trains of thought. :) nkaka excite ang magaganap na impeachment trial sa January.
raissa says
It might be February.
gLitch_xix says
February.. Baka abutin daw ng six months so mga August. Kelan po yung trial para kay CGMA? If the Chief Justice is in an impeachment trial, what will happen to the Supreme Court during the trial?
raissa says
SC will continue as usual.
We don’t know if CJ Corona will take a leave.
Felimon says
Dear Raissa,
Ang galing ng mga analysis mo, wala akong masabi. Sabi nga sa kanta, ADIK SA’YO!
Ang lungkot dito sa abroad, sa pagbabasa ng Super Blog mo ay kahit papano nawawala ang homesickness ko sa atin at sa aking pamilya.
Happy Holidays!
raissa says
Salamat, Felimon.
Jejemon says
Very Dynamic Interactions amongst intellectuals.
Propaganda Site or Source of enlightment depends which side of the fence you belong.
Joe Cunningham says
I’ve been following your posts via the Corona Resign and PNoy facebook Supporters groups. After reading this post, I had to subscribe. Both you and Conrado de Quiros consistently paint clear and insightful accountings of the cancer in Filipino politics fostered by GMA and her thugs. It is people like you who speak for the collective voices of Juan & Juana dela Cruz.
It’s important to note that the Presidents supporters’ comments vastly out number those posted by GMA’s and Corona’s supporters.
You are putting the Maligaya in this year’s Pasko, and I salute you, Raissa!
raissa says
Thank you, Joe.
tengmengt says
I share Joe Cunningham’s view of you and CDQ. CDQ has resounding rhetoric and logic and you meticulously added up the evidences to present your arguments. I have no reservations commending you to friends and foes alike, knowing that you will make more mature citizens and voters out of us. Splendid work Raissa, very splendid work indeed! May this festive season bring you much joy as your take time to draw closer to those whom you love.
Johnny lin says
In fairness, Conrado De Quiroz is an excellent writer, activist. I follow his column too, but with reservation. The reason is, I am ambiguous with his loyalty principle. Before EDSA 1, he was Marcos speechwriter, in fact he lives in a townhome behind SM North, a government housing project of Marcos. Raissa, so far, is independent minded in my opinion.
Currently his brother is Social Security Commissioner appointed by PNoy.
Arsenio Reyes says
Joe Cunningham :
The PNoy supporters probably have the numbers in comments but are not in superior in the quality of comments.
Many are those who write criticisms against the actions of PNoy are not Pro-GMA or Pro-Corona. They are for the rule of law in the conduct of government.
Your comment is misleading just like many and some journalists.
I am not Pro-GMA or Pro-Corona. They should be jailed if guilty. You are most entitled to your opinion as I am entitled to it. For clarification, we are not voting in this forum so the posting numbers criteria is not a measure of right or wrong. Evidently, your slant is Pro-PNoy, that’s for sure.
Joe Cunningham says
Yes, indeed, Arsenio. I am unashamedly Pro-PNoy, kahit hindi Pinoy ako. At least he’s got the balls to do something about the blatant misuse of power in GMA’s tenure. If he manages to clean house, I suspect that foreign investor confidence will be boosted, and with it hopes for a stronger economy and better well being for Juan & Juana dela Cruz.
I’m befuddled why anyone would defend the malfeasance of GMA and her cronies in her 9 years in power. It’s been said that, with regard to politics, you can’t keep a clean sewer, and GMA has certainly contributed an overwhelming amount of sewage.
Arsenio Reyes says
Joe Cunningham :
Its all right to be Pro-PNoy. In truth and in fact, nothing to be ashamed of.
As for me, I no longer believe in any politician but not reason enoug not to hope that someday there’ll be a really good one.
As for amassing unexplained wealth or electoral sabotage, I don’t have personal knowledge about that. Anyway, she must be held responsible if guilty.
But for the cases of missing persons attributed to Gen. Palparan, I think she must answer for that because the accusations have long been in the news but to my mind there was no action or effort to investigate,
I pity the families especially the parents because I’ve read the complaints for a long time already but no action until lately. I think the missing girls are dead already that’s why they could not be presented. The writ of Amparo was issued by the then CJ Davide if I’m not mistaken.
We don’t even know what was their fault, if any. Obviously someone decided that without proper procedures. I can very well say those people may not deserve mercy. Only God can forgive them.
Johnny lin says
@Arsenio
I am a freelancer,not purely Pro PNoy. The fact is recently I posted criticizing his post deluge partying.
At any rate, you said above, GMA should answer for “missing persons attributed to General Palparan”. Why GMA? Poor Little Girl, it’s her fault for rogue official crime?
You said you did not have opinion on unexplained wealth or electoral sabotage because you don’t have personal knowledge, yet later on you said “the missing girls are dead already and those accused did not deserve mercy”. You disavowed the former and affirmed the latter; do you have personal knowledge the girls are already dead?
Arsenio Reyes says
First of all it doesn’t matter whether a person is Pro-Pinoy, anti_PNoy or neutral. We are talking about opinions and it is my opinion that since the girls can no longer be produced as ordered by the Court, I think they are already dead. Otherwise, the military should have long produce their bodies by order of the Court.
I think that is a reasonable conclusion than making a conclusion on other such other cases as graft and corruption or electoral sabotage if you want to be technical about it.
Just want to ask you an honest answer which I will accept : Do you think they are still alive?
Johnny lin says
Answer: I don’t know because there were no witnesses.
Opinion on a subject matters in terms of being white, black or grey; no other color. Color preference varies on the subject of contention.
What is common between electoral sabotage accusation and kidnapping accusation? Both are unproven. What is the difference? There are no witnesses yet on the kidnapping compared to electoral sabotage.
“the supporters of PNoy have probably the numbers in comments but are not superior in the quality of comments. Many are those who write criticisms on the actions of PNoy are not Pro-GMA or Pro-Corona. They are for the rule of law in the conduct of government”
This statement belies negative claim of Pro-GMA.
One must assume that Pro-PNoy or Anti-Corona advocates are also for the rule of law in the conduct of Corona. Your opinion on the comparison would have been stronger if both assessments are based on explicit details, that is on the conduct in government following the rule of law; the other comparison was a vague word “quality”. One describes the characteristics of a fruit, the other is described plainly, a fruit. Similar to drug testing, its always double blind study based on equal parameters then the result becomes an honest opinion the way it is observed on specific points, otherwise it’s biased.
Consistent reasoning in theoretical assumptions promotes independence while selective reasoning presumes prejudicial preference.
Arsenio Reyes says
Its OK. You are always right in the way you think you are right. Everyone is entitled to their opinion (s).
Johnny lin says
You are correct, everybody is entitled to their own opinion on substance except belittling others. I only retorted to what you aspersed.
Arsenio Reyes says
Jedem das Seine
MALYN says
Kung si Pangulong Noynoy ay dictator, sigurado siyento porsiyento bawat segundo, bawat menuto may nakukulong, Hindi ka puwedeng magsalita na against sa government. yon na lamang speech ni Thief Justice Corona, eh hindi yon uubra kung under dictatorship tayo, segurado nakaposas na si Corona pagbaba pa lang niya matapos mag talumpati at kabontot na niya ang sandamakmak na militar at pulis at diretso tangkal,. Yong pambabatikos Ni Joker Arroyo ni Atty Topaksio at ni Elena Horn kay Pangulong Noynoy at mas masahol pa kay Marcos , naku kulang pa siyang piringan at diretso sa bartolina. Sadyang nasa mindset na ng mga lawyer na kailangan nilang protektahan ang kanilang kabaro ni si Corona nasa mali man ito o tama. Sasabihin lang ni Corona na siya ang Unang Tagapagtanggol ng Hustisya naku nagkakamali siya Ang sabihin niya siya ang tagagpagtanggol at takbuhan ni Gloria
gLitch_xix says
To CJ Corona, XPGMA et al:
“You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.”
Yours,
Abraham Lincoln
wil15 says
Ms. Raissa,
I am not sure if this post is relevant to the topic on hand. This is something that’s bugging me and begging for enlightenment from people, especially lawyers, in the know.
I am not a lawyer and I am not inviting controversy. I am just wondering why some if not most lawyers seem not to be bothered by decisions of the SC which, to many of us laymen are apparently wrong. Some of them say that the SC is right even if they are wrong; that regardless of the decision we have to accept if because it is the rule of law, implying that we just have to close our eyes even if there is an obvious abuse of discretion.
I can not understand how the SC, whose members are supposed to be the cream of the crop, can change its decision five times in a particular case. Does it mean that they have not studied the issue carefully or were there other considerations in their flip-flopping?
The IBP as represented by their President is saying that the impeachment of SJ Corona is an attempt to destroy the SC as an institution. I am wondering why he can’t seem to distinguish between the SC as an institution and the justices manning the institution. If there is anybody who can destroy the SC, it is the member justices whose integrity and decisions are under the cloud of doubt.
I am wondering if the mindset of some of our lawyers is a carry over from that of their college years, I can still remember during my university days when rumbles between fraternities, whose members were mostly law students, were frequent occurrences, I overheard a frat member saying ” right or wrong I am going to defend my brod”. It was a belief share by many students.
Are some of our lawyers defending their brothers in profession, right or wrong?
That is the question that I am eagerly waiting to be enlightened.
raissa says
It’s possible that fraternal ties play a role, now that you bring it up.
It’s also possible that some lawyers are adding to their Favor Bank – hoping to collect when any of their cases land before the SC as they surely will.
It’s also possible they see that the entire legal profession is under threat from – good heavens – a non-lawyer President.
Quite a number of lawyers have this overarching belief that their additional four years of college entitle them to put their noses up in the air higher than the rest of us, college grads (except doctors, of course).
MALYN says
Dati naman mataas ang tingin at tiwala ng taumbayan sa Judiciary (SC) kaya lang naman nakakawala ng tiwala kase dahil sa nakaraang Administrasyon ni GMA. isipin nyo na lang na ng mag-appoint ng Chief Justice 2 days after election na sang-ayon sa batas ito ay hindi dapat, at ito ay labag sa batas ay ginawa pa rin ni GMA. Bakit? di ba maliwanag na sinasalawola. Kung si Mr. Corona ay may delicadeza hindi dapat niya tinanggap. bilang respeto sa susunod na administrasyon at sa saligang batas. Dahil alam niya na siya ang mapapalagay sa puwesto kaya sinamantala niya. Oh di ba.
Agapito Bagumbayan says
Malayo sa kahulugan ng diktador s Pnoy. Yung mga nagsasabi nun ay mga asong traydor sa bayan na natangalan ng kapangyarihan kaya tahol ng tahol.
Pero maiba ako ng konti kung may kayang magparating nito kay Pnoy paki sabi bilisan nya kumilos pag may trahedya lagi kasi sya huli o hindi lang maganda ang dating nya sa mga pahayagan lalo na kung high profile ang event. Tulad ng Luneta Hostage crisis, Typhoon Pedring Floods at ngayon sa Typhoon Sendong. Dito parang may basehan ang batikos sa kanya. Kasi nauuna pa yung mga news reporter kesa sa tulong from Naional Government.
Yun lang ang obserbasyon ko.
tecporum says
very interesting posts
even the comments are exciting
The EQualizer Post says
RAISSA:
Before we forget, we consider YOU one of the coolest and bravest investigative journalists in town!
Merry Christmas to you!
The EQ Post
raissa says
Thanks, EQ.
I like your site, too.
Merry Christmas!
budoktagok says
I admire you for your clear analysis
raissa says
The secret is rewriting.
And editing.
The EQualizer Post says
Noynoy Aquino, like his father, showed us that one brave man can turn the tide. And that courage, like cowardice, is contagious.
letlet says
If Pnoy is a dictator, there would be no freedom of speech, no media men and photographers, newspapers are banned, television and radio are restricted, and travels are restricted or banned. Legislative and judiciary departments are closed down. Fr. Bernas, Corona and his staff who went on court holiday and government critics are already behind prisons. Has it never entered Corona’s mind that he is still exercising his human rights including to form his defence team. I don’t believe PNoy controls the Congress. Yes, he has control of the House of Representatives but NOT the Senate. Senate President Enrile and his allies are not under the control of PNoy. Corona’s impeachment trial is given a due process of law. So there’s no dicttatorship in the making. It boils down that Corona doesn’t want to be subjected to accountability, it’s no rocket science to deduce that. To Corona – you can fool some people sometime, but you CAN’T fool people all the time.
MALYN says
thank you for your good article Okey very nice. Merry Christmas
Ylocanabelle says
what you write about and what your photo of PNoy, Makoy & Hitloy este Hitler don’t jive my dear. you just made PNoy seem like he is one with those two dickheads. sorry.
raissa says
An entertaining point of view!
HaraKiri says
The sign of losers who even lose more is the name-calling. People resort to name calling because they lose in their argument. This is scientifically proven by Psychologists. I have come across a blog site which is obviously pro-GMA. They have this motto “get real”. When you will first look at the site, you will see that everybody is praising the dwarf goddess of thieves and of course, calling the president names. I discovered the answer why there have less rebuttals on their tirade against the president. FIRST THEY WILL THREATEN YOU THAT IF YOU SAY ANYTHING AGAINST GMA (BY CALLING YOU A CLASSIC TIME -WASTER), YOU WILL BE SPAMMED. I did not stop and provoked them further. Finally, the main blogger who has the control of spamming deleted my post. They can’t take rebuttals – simple as that…then the other visitors thought I ran away because I can’t say anything and continued to call me names.
@Ylocanabelle – you are just like them. Throw a stone and run away.. cannot even say a word to defend your brillliant idea about the issue but resort to name -calling.
And BTW, one of goddess-bloggers on the site I am referring to is here too. Probably looking for resource material from Raissa’s blog LOL :-) They are not even journalists .. Just poor and struggling bloggers :-) .merely linking to sites and not doing careful research – covertly plagiarizing others’ materials.
If that goddess blogger will read this, she will probably know that I am referring to her :-)
Arsenio Reyes says
Harikiri : I agree with you that’s why I only choose whom to reply to. The name-calling and non-sense arrogant remarks are certainly disgusting and they think they win points or win the argument by doing that. I don’t think we write hear to win arguments since everybody is entitled to their own opinion. One is free to choose to accept other opinions or not. Reading other comments makes us think further whether what we believe is valid or not or is a gray area.
I think the forums are for personal opinions but should be done in a polite and non-condescending manner. We write here to get the opinions of others and thereby maybe learn in the process about issues which may affect us.
YlocanaBelle says
harakiri
I guess your name implies some subconcious desire right?
anyway I don’t consider myself a blogger but thanks for implying so. I do use Raissa’s material to prove my point against that political dynasty. I don’t consider the term I used for the 2 dictators to be ‘name calling’ but more of a play of words which I feel is more suitable for those two wicked men. really now, is this a democratic forum or not?
Johnny lin says
Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion on subject matters in any blog. Pitching foul ball first on fellow participants becomes fair game when same pitch was thrown back. Complaining afterwards is unsportsmanlike conduct, cry baby. Golden rule then is stick with the substance. Nobody wins here but we don’t know if the silent readers who could be legitimate player in the real ballgame might be swayed. They are the real target of this article. We are the pulse of the survey. Let’s us leave the secret scoring to Ms. Raissa, if she does.
gLitch_xix says
Been reading your blogs lately. two words,
SO COOL!!!!!
just disappointed with a bunch of fickle-minded citizens of my beloved republic of the Philippines commenting and ranting several irrelevant (dumb,stupid) two cents.
raissa says
Thanks.
Dumb ain’t illegal.
john says
lets not forget the people who are chased away by pnoys anti corruption policies like the smuglers,the corrupt ex military generals with pabaon, board members of government controlled corporations whose huge benefits taken away by pnoy, etc and their relatives. im sure they will not miss a beat on the chance of critizising the person who took away their livelihood.
Arsenio Reyes says
john : Totally agree with you but where’s the action? Is the government running after them including those in the GOCCs, assuming of course that those board members committed crimes.
It should not only be GMA and Corona. It seems all so quiet for them now. Perhaps, there are just too many cases to handle. They should do something about that possible problem.
john says
yes arsenio, by starting at the top will make any white collared crook to thinked twice before commiting a crime. by making the top people accountable with their crimes will send a chilling message to the people below them that they are next in line. if the government can convict those who are well connected then its easy to assumed that they will go after who’s next.
raissa says
Well said.
Arsenio Reyes says
john : But it seems the disgraceful removal of Erap did not prevent the other (subject to on-going litigation and court decision now) and people down the line.
On the crime scene, for example, the people involved in carnapping may not be considered truly big fish but it seems they are not afraid anymore. Until today, we read about carnapping not everyday but frequently. Abusive bus drivers kill dozens of people and if you mentally add them up (estimate) the numbers involved may be even close to the number of people who die in a devastating typhoon.
The whole thing on a macro-level is lawlessness, corruption being a major problem although it does not involve killing or violent physical harm against persons.
I mean, it would be more significant and beneficial to all Filipinos that crime in general be attacked on even levels proportionate to their intensity or gravity of occurrence. This would include illegal gambling,
neglect of local officials such as what happened in CDO, etc.
It would not be fair to expect PNoy to solve all of this during his term but certainly going after the other cases would be satisfactory performance.
Johnny lin says
@John
You are correct in your observation,but beware of false friendly gestures.Those corrupt people afraid of the the crackdown are thinking twice now with incarceration of big fishes.
Those people themselves or their relatives, whose illegal income from corruption is directly affected unable to secure lucrative government deals, try to destroy the credibility or the efforts of PNoy administration any which way they can by pretending to be antiGMA and anti-Corona but made sure to speak loud on evil of PNoy saying what he has not yet accomplished and exaggerate crimes or other failures in the country.
We can easily spot these people on the inconsistencies of their praises to those supporting PNoy so they wont incur their ires and and at the same time accuse PNoy on a grand scale of non performance. We are catching their “hands in the cookie jar” thru their twisted oration. They usually cry wolf when exposed.
gLitch_xix says
@ arsenio: Erap’s removal (on my point of view) is not really a blow to corruption rather a brush off to make way for another(way larger) one. I am saddened by the fact that the crime rate in the country is exponentially rising but i believe that PNoy is not turning a blind eye. I don’t have facts to prove this though. As a citizen, it is our duty and responsibility too to be vigilant. How can a criminal be caught if no one is cooperating? Our detectives aren’t as good as Sherlock Holmes or Conan Edogawa. They need witnesses too. I heard this one from a close kin. Even if someone is in distress (mugged on a bus), people are just ignoring it pretending they never heard of anything. I’m not stating this in general. there are a number of good samaritans left but slowly decreasing. May the love of Jesus be in your heart as you look onto another person.
john says
yes johnny some old bad habits are not easy to forget but it should be our responsibility to act immediately if we notice something out of ordinary. if we keep on waiting for the government to act then it might be too late. it is not enough for us just to be informed and vigilant but we also need to act if need be. if all the lozano’s in the world can file a case in the supreme court for what he believe is right, why cant an ordinary juan de la cruz do something for what he believe is right. we need to stop looking to the person standing beside us to act………
Arsenio Reyes says
john : That’s why PNoy should beware of those people who seem to be supporting him because some of them may actually want him to fail.
It would be better to criticize PNoy for his actions that may not proper. It makes him think back and analyze and maybe do it properly or effectively.
Those who are supporting him are not his friends or supporters when they support him blindly. In the end, if he fails, they will laugh at him. At least for critics, if they are right, he gains experience. If he is right, he gains more support.
For example, the articles of impeachment could have been read and discussed at least in the lower chamber for a day or two or even 3 days. It would have avoided the criticism of PNoy and the congressmen and the articles would have been approved altogether by the same number of signers/approvers.
A day or two wouldn’t matter much since today is already Dec. 26 and there is no trial yet. See! After the Senate received the articles they scheduled start of the trial on Jan. 16, 2012. All the Senate had to do was receive it and schedule! Why is this so?
Because the Senate also have equally important things to attend to. Of course, they would give the impeachment trial priority.
Even Drilon said there was no emergency for the Senate since it takes time for prosecution and defense to prepare.
PNOy should be aware of the real enemies.
Johnny lin says
John and gLitch are right, vigilance is the key
Imagine if De Lima delayed just for 3 hours, repeat 3 hours, her decision preventing GMA to travel. GMA spent her Christmas in Europe instead of imprisonment. Delaying and pleading good intention and kindness is the tactic of people with sinister motives. Palparan said he would face his charges then tried to escape the following day. Spot Palparans on this blog.
Better to be upfront rather than being hypocrite. Those claiming constructive criticism wish in reality bad things to happen and will be the first to shout, I AM RIGHT, when their wish succeed. They are doomsayers, cannot be satisfied with negativism. Don’t plead to them. They are HOPELESS based on psychological profiling.
Let’s move on. Corona in his answer to Impeachment compared himself to Jesus Christ and we the people are crucifying him.
john says
arsenio dont put everything on the governments shoulder to solve these crimes. it is the responsibility of every citizen of this republic to pitch in and help our government and community in order. we need more people like sec de lima and justice sereno who will stand up for what they believe is right for the people, its only one voice but made a great deal of difference. one single voice of dissent is louder than the deafening sound of silence. change should start from with in you, find time to be useful in your community and be vigilant to the crimes that are commited in your community then report it to the authorities, if they dont act then find another way for your voice and grievance to be heard. we are in the time of blog and commentaries someone will be listening one way or the other. did you ask your self how can you help this great nation instead of passing the buck to the president. why dont you start by electing those politicians that really care for the people, i still believe that they are an endangered species but not extinct yet, we have charismatic and idealistic young politicians that wanted change as well but if down the road they will show their true colors, then let them know that they just have 3 years and again you will be in charge of replacing them with a new one
Arsenio Reyes says
john : I agree with you that not all things can be done by the government. Actually we pitch in by paying taxes. We pitch in by criticizing the government. By criticizing, we earn nothing but self-satisfaction that we try to air our opinions on what we think is good for proper governance. I think its better than simply saying we support and not expressing one’s view how things may be done better.
We rely on the government because of its vast resources and legal means at its command. If I say Sec. de Lima is not doing her job properly, it wouldn’t matter because its a personal opinion and I am not a legal expert.
I have but one voice and it will not matter, I know. At least it has a chance to be listened to.
In the final analysis, we test a rule by its common sense, by reason for being and by its results. I haven’t voted for so many years now because I don’t see even before the elections that there is finally a good leader to lead the country properly. Many of them have done good deeds, when they were good…
john says
thats the problem from the start aresenio, if you dont vote then you dont have the right to complained for you attributed to the current situation. though its one vote but it will still make a difference to prevent the undesirable politicans get elected. do your job and elect someone then criticize him if he is not doing what he suppose to do. everyone of us are paying taxes but if you want change and stop crimes dont relay on the government all the time but start from yourself. we can organize the community to help each other rather than criticizing each other, volunterism and bayanihan are alive and well since the start of our history. for talk is just talk however eloquent it is if you dont act on it, then its still just talk.
gLitch_xix says
@ arsenio: It aint GMA and corona only. We may not know exactly what PNoy is doing because he’s not a show-off like someone I know of (itago natin sa pangalang Gloria :) ). but I believe that what we see now is just the tip of the ice berg. I have faith in the president. All we need to do is back him up. He cannot do this alone. He may not please every boss he has but c’mon, if it aint that bad, broaden your mind. konting kibot rally.
@ john: I strongly agree. Aim for the head.
Arsenio Reyes says
gLitch : Yes there’s a lot more. Like those who are responsible for illegal logging which I think is a major reason for the deaths in CDO and Iligan. We are talking here about more than a thousand lives lost and devastating property and livelihood losses probably costing billions to repair and rebuild.
It’s the same, corruption may be involved because how come there is a total ban on logging as announced by PNoy but not implemented.
PNoy has appointed his own DENR secretary but what happened? Of course, its not PNoy’s fault but still he has over-all responsibility as President.
Question now, what is the responsibility of the DENR secretary with regards to illegal logging? Will PNoy go after him including those
local government people who may been negligent for other reasons such as allowing the victims to settle in dangerous places not allowed to be settled in?
Admittedly, running a government is not simple but certainly a complex one and PNoy cannot please everybody particularly his “bosses”.
I just hope one unknown voice of criticism would not harm him. Anyway, its not listened to.
Its possible and probable that the victims knew of the illegal logging but had no other means of livelihood. For compassion’s sake we should not blame them.
raissa says
The local chief executives like the governor and mayor have the big say in what happens in their areas.
Johnny lin says
True, responsibility in government is layered from Barangay Captain to Mayor to Governor. The reason barangay officials were given much responsibilities in their areas however, they practiced how to perfect corruption rather than deciding thru their common sense. Worst are those people putting all the blames to the President and cabinet officials to what is happening to local levels, rationalizing nonsense.
gLitch_xix says
I agree with you miss raissa.
In an interview, I heard that the DENR Secretary can do little with regards to provinces under ARMM. PNoy already banned logging nationwide but this “autonomous” region did not listen. They don’t want to be under the government they don’t follow what the government says, but lo, when calamity came, who are they pointing their fingers at? I feel sorry for those victims and their families. I really feel sorry for those little (unheard) voices of the few in Mindanao.
@Arsenio: Yup, a “little” criticism won’t hurt. key word, “LITTLE”. And by the looks of it, you have a different definition of “LITTLE”.
Johnny lin says
Arsenio: they are not victims of illegal logging, they are cohorts gaining income however small from the illegal activities dangerous to other people. What happened? Innocent people died from their illegal participation.
For compassion sake, don’t blame the carnappers for shooting their victims because they do not have livelihood. For compassion sake, don’t blame the rapist doing incest on his young 10 year old sister because of poverty he could not afford to date an older woman.
This is but one idea it might not be heard but somebody has to defend those shooters and child molesters. Idea of faultfinder, what the psychiatrist would label Sick Mind.
Instead of choosing prevention to avoid injury, misplaced compassion is recommended then hope that no harm would come for the simple reason someone has to say contrary to generally accepted opinion.
That is why it is prevention because danger is foreseeable. That is why government deter carnapping because it could lead to killing, so why treat them with compassion because they are victims of unemployment, even if it is their means of livelihood from poverty?
Arsenio Reyes says
Johnny lin : I was commenting on the CDO tragedy. Its about the storm and the floods that cost lives and loss of property and livelihood. I don’t think it involved carnapping, rape, etc. that you mentioned now and they are hardly the subject matter of the CDO tragedy.
I have compassion for the victims who were poor and had no other means of employment. If you don’t have compassion for them, its your right to feel that way.
As for prevention, it should naturally follow after the tragedy.
Johnny lin says
Arsenio: the tolerant and compassionate example you gave on CDO illegal logging is equivalent to same tolerant and compassion to carnapping and rape. Its the entirety not the specificity. You were the one asking what is PNoy doing with every malfeasance and corrupt people committed? Now I gave you your own dose of medicine and you were crying, denying the essence of your statements. I told you before when you write a statement make sure you understand its consequences when somebody engages your own opinion.
Look back at what you posted to John and gLitch, digest it and look at the entire picture. As they say, “do not throw stone if you leave in a house of glass” There are so many mirrors why did not you see what you wrote? remember, Jedem das Seine!
Johnny lin says
Arsenio, as for prevention, do not wait for tragedy before acting. Recognize disaster before it happens. That is how to save lives. This is the same thing John,gLitz and I were talking about vigilance remember I also posted the kind of person who would cry foul, after pitching the first foul ball.
I am not trying to convince you, I only wanted to engage your own idea for you to realize “3D is better viewing than monovision”, if you understand what I mean.
Goodluck to you sir. Sorry, I would not wish that the tribe with your kind of vision would succeed, its dangerousto society.
john says
im with you on that one johnny lin
gLitch_xix says
BINGO!