Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Enrile, the oldest senator goes mano a mano w/ Trillanes, the youngest senator

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By Raïssa Robles

This is a most unusual showdown between Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and the youngest member of the Senate, Antonio Trillanes.

Harsh, biting words were said here.

Libelous words were said here.

UPDATE as of 8:30 pm September 18, 2012:

Trillanes uttered his most cutting remark against Enrile when he accused the latter of being former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s secret agent in the Senate:

Nakakatawag si GMA, solid samahan nilang dalawa. Nagpapadikta kay GMA. He’s being held by the balls. I don’t know baka my utang na loob.

 Enrile does owe a lot to Arroyo. He won in 2004 because of her.

You can read the rest of the story by R.G. Cruz here.

Trillanes has now set the ball rolling for Enrile’s fall from the Senate presidency.

Enrile must have seen this coming like a train. This could explain why Enrile was in an icy rage by the time Senate minority floor leader Alan Peter Cayetano tried to intervene diplomatically.

Enrile flicked Cayetano away saying –

Your Honor, I’ve been in charge of national security in this country before you were born and I know what I’m talking about.

You have to watch the ABS-CBN ANC video below. My hubby Alan remarked to me  –

It’s like watching Mean Girls, only a lot uglier.

 

UPDATE: Mel, an active member of our  Cyber Plaza Miranda, found this other video. This is actually the continuation of the video above. Thanks @Mel

Even as I write this, political realignments may be taking place.

Don’t worry. Such realignments are normal in the Senate.

It’s only a wonder that Enrile has lasted in the top post for so long.

The even more serious effect on all these is the possible fallout on the country’s already tense relations with China.

UPDATE Sept. 19, 2012 as of 9:14 pm:

Enrile claims Trillanes is the senator behind the plot to oust him. 

 

UPDATE: Sept. 19, 2012 as of 10:21 pm

This is the privilege speech of Trillanes wherein he announced he was leaving the coalition that was behind Enrile. Thanks @Mel who found it. It was this speech that led to the verbal clash with Enrile.

Looking back, I believe it was the failed backdoor negotiations between Trillanes and Arroyo that also prompted Trillanes to resort to a coup on July 27, 2003.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IHzgY54Mgg

Comments

  1. how did GMA help Enrile in 2004 ? wasn’t Enrile running under the FPJ/Loren ticket, and he primarily won because he used the PPP issue in the electricity bills ? is it just because he also called garci? wasn’t the SWS and Pulse survey before the elections already indicating JPE in the magic 12 ?

  2. a batch mate from high school was pma graduate in 94′ . trillanes was batch 95′. according to my batch mate, AT4 then was already a world class a**hole.

  3. Hi raissa, your posts are always interesting and frank., straight to the point even with documents to support it. I do hope you post something about the real Jackie Enrile. We have to know the truth and somebody who has the “you know what” must do it. You see I am a high school student during Martial Law and at that time the Enriles are the ultimate bullies…even notorious than the young Marcoses. We need to know what really happened to Anido. We need something coming from the Anidos, the neighbors, the police, the Vers and all those that are willing to share what really happened. Where is the suicide note? Can we have a copy? ….These are things that we have to know so that people will either vindicate…or….maybe if possible…the culprit is exposed. Jackie is about to become a Senator…with his immense wealth, he can do it…..the least we can do is to get the truth and share it.

  4. To digress a bit (but somehow related), I read this Inquirer article regarding a bishop’s ivory collection and pedophiliac background.

    Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles actually did a Johnnymandering when he was asked to comment about Msgr. Cristobal Garcia’s collection of icons made of ivory and child abuse allegation, he retorted that this has something to do with the RH bill, about how the government is behind this smear campaign against the church.

    Classic Johnnymandering. Tinanong ng matino, ililihis ang usapan.

  6. Kudos to Louis “Barok” Biraogo and the ALAM party list for taking the initiative and cudgels on behalf of filipino netizens!

    Long live free speech and freedom of expression in the Philippines!

    Petitions filed with SC vs ‘cyber libel’ law

    MANILA, Philippines – Businessman and taxpayer Louis “Barok” Biraogo has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to prevent the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Philippine National Police (PNP) from enforcing several provisions of Republic Act (RA) No. 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

    The law enacted by President Aquino on September 12 criminalizes and penalizes libel in cyberspace.

    In a 28-page petition for certiorari, prohibition, injunction and preliminary injunction filed on Sept. 24 obtained by ABS-CBN News, Biraogo asked the high court to immediately issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) or a writ of preliminary injunction to restrain the implementation of Sec. 4(c) [4], Sec. 12, Sec. 20, and the penal provisions of the law on the basis of unconstitutionality.

    “With the enactment of Republic Act No. 10175, cyber technology, once a boom to petitioner and the general public, is now subjected to subtle but pervasive State monitoring and control,” the petition read.

    Biraogo, who was upheld by the high court in a petition assailing the constitutionality of the Aquino administration’s Truth Commission, also alleged that the passage of the law is tainted with grave abuse of discretion on the part of Congress, which approved it, and Mr. Aquino, who signed it into law.

    …

    Biraogo said the questioned provisions cast a “chilling effect” on the rights of individuals.

    A similar petition, raising similar grounds, was also filed by ALAM party list with the high court.

    READ THE whole story at Petitions filed with SC vs ‘cyber libel’ law By Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN News. Posted at 09/25/2012 1:39 PM | Updated as of 09/25/2012 1:41 PM

    • Heck, I got crossed eye with the other article (Was Senator Sotto lying?) and this article. It wasn’t meant to be posted or commented here. So sue err lecture me. LOL!

      Sorry Raïssa, can you kindly delete this (as above) please. Thanks.

  7. Nakisali na si Binay. At this time, it is frustrating, discouraging and aggravating to see how some people would rather close their eyes on what is obviously wrong.

    Trillanes may not have done everything by the book, but by the looks of it, he has done something more positive than anyone else. Del Rosario “threatens” to resign because he was demoralized. He should resign because he was inept, that’s a fact.

    At a time when careful diplomacy was critical, he simply didn’t deliver.

    Meanwhile, Enrile should wake up. The more he waves around those brady notes, the more he resorts to mud slinging…as he gets cocky, he should be more aware that he is refreshing people’s memory on who he was. He might revive a deep seated negative image of him during martial law years.

    • @ max.

      Nakisali si Binay, Tama ka, It is really frustrating, discouraging, aggrevating to see this trapo Binay na sa toto0 lang dapat ay siya ang pinadala kisa kay trillanes kaso ay wala na yatang tiwala si Pnoy kay Binay dahil sa mga kasamahan nito na puro trapos at walang ginawa kondi magbatikos gayon TAMA naman mga ginagawa ni Pnoy. Ang tanong kulang nasaan kaya sila noon panahon ni convicted thief justice nato corona at noon nasagsagan nang mga anomally ni GMA at ka TROPA nitong mga Mandarambong?

      YES to R.H. Bill at Ipasa na dahil ito ang makakatulong sa bawat mag asawa kong paano mag Plano nang PAMILYA. Sagot ito sa kahirapan dahil mahirap talaga Magpalaki at Magpakain at Magtaguyod nang Maraming anak…

    • let the old jpe talk. the more he talks, the more he is exposed. and the chances of ill effect on his son is getting apparent.

  9. just read the message of Binay during the 40th NPC anniversary and lambasted AT4 narrating what the latter just said against del rosario. its not been cleared if the accusation of Enrile is true that he really got hold of the SECRET notes of Brady. now, the vice president is already curtailing the future of AT4. ma’am raissa this is very unfair. no one came to the rescue of AT4. the Philippines has more future with AT4 rather than with people of their kind….

    • @ vivian,

      Tama ka vivian, Pinahanga ako ni Trillanes dahil siya lang nanindigan against enrile dahil patuloy pala itong si enrile sa pagpadikta kay GMA at isang tawag lang pala ni GMA? Dating sec.of national depense si enrile kaya alam niya na hindi niya dapat ilahad kong ano man ang mga napag usapan between china,bradly at trillanes dahil wala idudulot na kabutihan sa bansa bagkus it would create troubles? Alam ito ni enrile kaya lang dahil sa pansariling interes indi na nag iisip dahil ang gusto ay gumante? sayang na enrile napunta kay trillanes ang supporta nang nakararami…

  11. This is off topic and addressed to @Andrew Lim.

    Here’s another possible bullet point for your thesis on Catholicism.

    Unlike Protestants, Catholics rely on Church authority to interpret scripture. The Church places great emphasis on maintaining this authority which, at its core, is highlighted in the doctrine of papal infallibility.

    Because the believer relies on external authority for his beliefs, there is no need for him to deeply reflect on the moral laws of scripture and to internalize these. It is sufficient for him to observe, not the substance of his religion, but its forms in rites and rituals.

    This reliance on external authority extends to politics. The Filipino wants strong leaders to lead the country out of the doldrums and do things for his – both the Filipino and the leader – personal welfare ahead of the state’s welfare. He does not look to himself and hold himself responsible in any way, shape or form for the state of the country. No, he would rather rely on someone in authority, a patron, to give him a job and fix things up while he goes on his merry way. He will, in return, support the patron with his vote and canine loyalty – until a richer patron comes along.

    It would be interesting if you could establish the incidence of strong leaderships and dictatorships in Catholic countries, and see if there is indeed a correlation.

    • @springwoodman

      Very penetrating insight. Tnx. Sounds very plausible. Though I have to find supporting evidence to make that point stronger. Transparency International has referred to me research papers on the linkage of corruption and religion as well. If you happen to come across some, pls forward it to me.

      So much anecdotal evidence I’ve found out just recently:

      a. In the EU zone bailout, it’s the Protestant countries bailing out the Catholic countries! Germany is bailing out Italy, Ireland, Portugal and Spain. As far as I know, no Protestant country has required a financial bailout yet.

      b. Bro Armin Luistro ( a De LaSalle brother) of the DepEd says that he prefers to let students “decide for themselves if Martial Law was good or bad”.(Inquirer, Sept 23) Incredible! He passes up the responsibility to teach the young the errors of the past. ” Forgive and forget” is taught instead of “justice before reconciliation”. Where is the clear sense of right and wrong?

      As for the correlation of dictatorships in Catholic countries what immediately comes to mind is the Latin American experience- Pinochet, Somoza, Noriega, etc. So much commonality in countries introduced to Catholicism by Spain- dictatorships, income inequality, ineffective justice system, corruption, violence, impunity, poverty and a strong Catholic Church influence in the nation’s affairs.I wonder why?

      Keep the ideas coming, @springwoodman. Much appreciated.

      • My two centavos worth, if I may. I think it’s the Catholics’ too much reliance in God to bring them the things they want. Exemplified by the term “Bahala na ang Diyos.” Promotes laziness.

      • @a.lim,
        incredible, if armin luistro really said that,”to let students decide for themselves if martial law was good or bad”, he must be hallucinating. too bad..

      • Andrew

        1. Re the reliance on external authority, is it still the case that Catholics are not encouraged to read the Bible on their own? I have this impression from way back, but do not know whether the practice is still extant.

        2. Another point in relation to this “indirect” observance of scripture is the practice of intercession. Here I am speaking of the cult around Mary and the community of saints. Catholicism is monotheistic in theory but polytheistic in practice. You do not have to pray to Jesus; you can pray to the Mother in any of her various forms or to any saint depending on what help you are seeking.

        3. Strictly speaking, this practice can be interpreted as idolatry, but this is not the point I wish to make. I have relatives in locos Sur, where most towns are named after a saint. I am not certain, but town fiestas are centered on their own saints, and this is not only true of the towns of that province but of all towns nationwide.

        4. I know that a fiesta is a great event in the life of the community. People look forward to it and spend a great deal of their resources for its success. Has anyone made the connection that fiestas are the intersection of the secular with the sectarian? Of the State with the Church? In a way, this is how the Church has so deeply seeped into the culture of the nation, and how tight its grip is on the lives of each and every Filipino.

        5. To a certain extent, there is moral corruption in the celebration of fiestas. For example, it encourages citizens to divert money for their children’s education to the acquisition of fine clothes; it tells them that winning a beauty contest is more important than studying for high grades.

        6. From another viewpoint, I assume that government funds are earmarked for fiestas. Is there a possibility of corruption in this area?

        I leave it to you to further analyse these points.

  12. Talks between Mar Roxas and Chines VP Xi Jinping were “constructive and cordial.”, per official statement from Malacanang. Xi pparently expressed appreciation” over Aquino’s decision to send Roxas as special envoy, as it showed “the importance that President Aquino attaches to Philippines-China relations,”

    Does this not give credence to Trillanes’ backchanelling work, didn’t Enrile read out from Brady’s supposedly secret notes that it was Trillanes who suggested “Mar Roxas na lang”?

    Wonder what the old man will have to say about this now.

    • Cha, most likely Enrile will again get the confidential notes of
      Mar’s discussions, demand that Mar make public the details of his talks in China or else he will call him a traitor in the halls of the Senate and in media.

      • Won’t be surprised if that happens, Phil. His friend from UNA will be very pleased. For all we know this might have been one of the triggers surrounding this back-channeling mess. Baka masama ang loob ni Binay na si Roxas ang pinadala sa China. Didn’t Brady suggest the Vice-President before Trillanes said “Si Roxas na lang”.

  13. Sottoraption

    Now we know why Sotto does not admit he was guilty of “plagiarism”and “attribution” to him of libel insertion in n cybercrime bill.

    He is uniquely gifted intellectually, his friends swear to it

    Proof:

    1.He learned that Australia is part of Asia continent because Australia is Intercontinental. The first his singing group travelled to Australia he was given a brochure from the HOTEL the cover of which pictured a kangaroo and the slogan “INTERCONTINENTAL AUSTRALIA” your home in Asia.

    2. He thinks plagiarism is a disease(plague) that is why he denied he got it from blogger Sarah

    3. He understands “attribution” is a form of tribute that is why he denied he was the one.

    Sue me
    He he he

  14. Cha says:
    September 22, 2012 at 1:55 pm

    And what do you call faking your own ambush to justify the declaration of martial law and/or divulging the contents of sensitive documents on the senate floor in response to accusations about a completely different matter from another senator??

    Imagine. What a Senator. Nakakahiya!

    So, nabilog ang ulo ng lahat. lyon ang pinalalabas niya.

    This gentleman is foisting a falsehood.

    This guy is involving us with a major problem. My God, this guy is a fraud.

    Filipino ba iyan? Makabayan ba iyan? My God! What kind of a Senator is this?

    Well, enough of this because Enrile had already said:

    I do not want to discuss anymore this sordid matter.

    —–
    Note: Emphasis mine.