By Raïssa Robles
It is very surreal, saddening and enraging that on the eve of the 32nd commemoration of the 1986 Edsa People Power we are once again being threatened by a Philippine President with a nationwide imposition of martial law.
Already, a third of the nation is under military rule.
Edsa 1986 – The people rush inside Camp Crame. PHOTO BY Sonny Camarillo.
Thousands have died in a bloody crackdown ostensibly against illegal drugs. Although their deaths are supposedly under investigation, the results of any such investigations have rarely been shared with the public.
Members of the press are threatened with violence and continuously harassed online. The organizations they write for are harshly condemned for publishing stories that question the President’s policies.
Congressmen, doing the bidding of the would-be dictator, are frenziedly drafting a new Constitution that will reduce civil and political rights and turn Asia’s fledgling democracy back to authoritarian rule.
In short, we seem to be going back in time.
Thirty-two years after booting out dictator Ferdinand Marcos, someone else is closely copying what the late tyrant did. And that person is a self-confessed Marcos lover.
How did we come to this?
And what will we do about it?
Duterte himself has given us the answer. In his message to the Filipino nation on the eve of Edsa people power, he said that “a people’s courage and resolve can alter the course of our nation’s history.”
According to Duterte, “The People Power Revolution has become the enduring symbol of our determination to fight for what is right and – during our country’s most crucial and trying times – to defend and uphold our cherished democratic values.”
Duterte urged, “Let us further enrich our democracy by empowering our citizenry, defending their rights and strengthening the institutions that safeguard their freedom.”
You can read the Philippine News Agency article on Duterte’s message by clicking here.
Frankly, Duterte’s message sounds like it did not come from him. Unless he had a lobotomy recently which made the two halves of his brain operate independently.
I’m saying this because this doesn’t sound like the same murder maddened leader who constantly delivers the same “kill” message; threatens to bomb schools that are communist-infiltrated and destroy the private property of jeepney owners; and airily dismisses children killed during drug operations as “collateral damage”.
This freedom-loving Duterte is not the same Duterte who, on the night after his inauguration as president, motored to Manila’s poorest district of Tondo and told residents there to “kill” the children of their neighbors who are drug addicts because their own parents would be loath to do it.
Interestingly, Duterte did not deliver his Edsa message in person by appearing in Edsa. He is skipping Sunday’s Edsa rites.
Perhaps he does not really want to celebrate Edsa People Power, because it is all about the power of the people.
Edsa’s People Power message is clear and constant – leaders are accountable to the people and the people have the power over their leaders.
As my Twitter friend Kristoffer Pasion @indiohistorian put it, quoting the title of a book on the Arab Spring written by Internet activist Wael Ghonim: “The power of the people is greater than the people in power.”
When people wake up.
leona says
– ‘According to former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, who heads the 20-member consultative committee tasked to propose Charter amendments, the six-year term limit imposed by the 1987 Constitution would still apply to Duterte even if the country transitions to a federal system during his term.’
. . . as if Du30 and his congressmen including senators will take this idea!
This idea will be written on a papel de Japon for the wastebasket.
arc says
sometimes, I think, puno does not know kung sino ang kaharap niya, duterte has no respect for the law. we really should not be cha-cha-ing sa panahong ito.
puno can say anything until he turns black and blue, we have to remember duterte hired him as consultant, retained and paid for by duterte. it’s puno’s job to lull taumbayan, fool even the taumbayan. and on durterte’s order, puno will pacify taumbayan, convince taumbayan to trust him when he says how good cha cha is, how apt, how how the carabaw de batuten, sayaw puno, eh, sayaw pula, isang pera . . . he, he, he.
all puno says may mean nothing, dahil sa isang iglap, duterte can overturn all, all, all. except perhaps puno’s bank account will benefit greatly from this charade of a cha cha.
if puno will not say the right thing by duterte, fail to calm and convince the taumbayan the merits of chacha, he could get fired and lose consultancy fee.
for me, what puno says goes in one ear and out the other.
how much is that dog on the window, the one with . . .
kalahari says
WELLNESS VS INDEFINITE – the SC bomb has been defused
CJ Sereno has apologized for the “inaccuracy” committed by one of her spokespersons as regards the nature of her leave of absence from the SC.
Sereno made the statement after 13 of her fellow justices said that they reached a consensus during the en banc session on Tuesday that she should take an indefinite leave. A spokesman said that she was only taking a two-week “wellness leave”
A letter Sereno sent to the deputy court administrator referred to her absence as an “indefinite leave”
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/645087/sereno-apologizes-for-inaccuracy-in-conveying-nature-of-leave/story/
fersty says
Now, Mr. Carpio is Acting CJ on the high court.
Will he be unseated also?
The Adm will have a judicial problem
having ACJ Carpio at the Court.
arc says
looks like sc made fake news with sereno’s leave, buti it was corrected on time. ganon talaga; blink’ and fake news gets in. still, sereno was alert and fake news was averted.
now about acting cj carpio, methink po, he’ll be next to be impeached if he continues on being anti china at ipaglaban ang territoryo natin.
arc says
ay, ganito yata, the 13 justices want sereno to take indefinite leave, pero sereno only want to take wellness leave, not the indefinite leave as recommended. medyo pinipilit yata nila si sereno na mag-indefinite leave. but in the end, it’s sereno’s call, her choice, her decision to take only wellness leave and not the indefinite leave recommended, tapos ito, medyo galit ang mga justices sa kanya.
well, the justices the likes of de castro cannot make a dent in sereno’s armor duon mismo sa lower house, the many times de castro et all attended the hearing. sereno fought back harder, each time more determined and resolute.
kaya, sa tingin ko, the justices tried another trick and that is to corner sereno sa supreme court mismo, make her go on indefinite leave, where in sereno’s absence anything can go. like maybe if sereno goes on indefinite, the justices will post guards sa entrance mismo ng supreme court with special instruction not to admit sereno ever again.
somehow, I like sereno’s stance: trust no one. he, he, he.
fersty says
Now, read this: [ By By: Jhesset O. Enano – Reporter / @JhessetEnanoINQ
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 07:38 AM March 03, 2018]
Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/972597/experts-slam-misuse-of-psychological-assessment-vs-cj#ixzz58dnaS6ry
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
‘A professional group of psychologists on Friday criticized the “misuse” of the 2012 psychological assessment of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno during the House committee hearings on the impeachment complaint against her.’
‘To use a psychological assessment conducted in 2012 [which was for the purpose of Chief Justice Sereno’s appointment] for the current legislative proceedings is a misuse of those results.’
‘PAP also rebuked statements that said Sereno had “failed” the evaluation, calling these “misleading” because psychological assessments were not pass-or-fail tests.’
‘Tria, who served as an “expert witness” for the justice committee, said Sereno allegedly displayed five of nine symptoms of “mental disturbance.”
But PAP criticized the conclusions, which Tria said were based on the allegations aired throughout the 15-week hearing.’
‘“If a psychologist bases his or her assessment on only one of these methods or from secondhand reports, then conclusions about ‘mental disturbance’ based on alleged symptoms that indicate such a condition are misleading, if not inaccurate,” PAP added.
Summa Total: Dr. Tria’s CONCLUSION about
‘mental disturbance’ of CJ Sereno based on alleged
symptoms that indicate such condition
are MISLEADING and INACCURATE.
PAP Group says!
Na misled ang Lower House. Will the Senate
be misled also?
If [or when] Senate acquits CJ Sereno
without Dr. Tria’s misleading conclusion
taken into consideration,
Dr. Tria’s professional license will be
a target for revocation by CJ Sereno.
. . . and for liability for CIVIL DAMAGES too!
kalahari says
The senate impeachment court composed of the like of Paquiao, nancy, etc are not expected to discuss/deliberate on the legal issues but is largely dependent on the number of PRRD loyalists – similar to the fate of impeached CJ Corona on his failure to include properties on his SALNs.
Only the Pinoy loyalists like Pangilinan, Drillon, De Lima, Trillanes, Aquino, etc may likely based their votes on the merits of the case.
In other words – its a NUMBER GAME – and Sereno’s days are unfortunately numbered.
netty says
Justice to justices making injustices and suing each other is ludicrous.
Anyone who suffered the likes of Justice Sereno would avail of any wellness, sick leave or compassionate leave from work.
Mostly western countries allow these kind of leaves to ordinary workers and employees if one qualifies FOR STRESS RELATED causes, FAMILY EMERGENCY ILLNESS to care for members and other similar events affecting the employee.
Why can’t the senators make some laws than focusing on impeachment .
This is the first thing Sereno should work on if she survives and can still tame the mutinous staff, to rectify the wellness leave for embattled employee.
She would be fine fighting those groupies of nonsense low-makers and those gross justices who are themselves crazy , they shouldn’t be allowed to sit and make the SC LOOK FUNNY.
fersty says
‘Tria listed the first four symptoms of mental disturbance displayed by Sereno—grandiosity, preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success and power, sense of entitlement, and tendency to be “interpersonally exploitative,” or taking advantage of others for her own ends.’
I.Q.
grandiosity = many in public offices.
preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success and power =
many also in public offices.
sense of entitlement = again, so many in public
offices.
Last is: tendency to be “interpersonally exploitative,” or taking advantage of others for her own ends = also a thousand many in
public offices.
How many in the SC have all
of the above? Lahat?
In both Houses in CONGRESS how many? Everybody?
In the Executive Dept? One or two, three, etc.?
I.Q.
Q: What do you call a clean idiot?
A: Soap on a dope.
Q: Why does a man’s penis have a hole in it?
A: So he can get oxygen to his brain.
Scientists say the universe is made up of Protons, Neutrons, and Electrons. They forgot to mention Morons.
Keep talking, someday you’ll say something intelligent!
What is a good score in I.Q. Test?
Answer:
Intelligence Interval Cognitive Designation:
85 – 114 Average (68% of test takers)
115 – 129 Above average
130 – 144 Gifted (2.3% of test takers)
145 – 159 Genius (Less than 1% of test takers)
CJ Serene then has AVERAGE score = 109.
How about the other SC justices? Gifted = 130 -144.
In Congress, both Houses? Genius! = 145-159 out of
110 Million Pilipinos!
Executive Dept? 0 – 84!
Who are the morons? 16 Million voters.
Who owns WPS? CHINA.
Philippines? Ask CHINA.
CJ Sereno with 109 score is not disqualified then.
Dra. Tria is wrong then.
Lower House is wrong then.
Senate? Let us wait and see their score.
‘I Am Average. I Will Not Resign.’
kalahari says
THE INSIDE STORY – WHY SC JUSTICES FORCED SERENO TO GO ON LEAVE?
CJ Sereno’s official letter regarding her leave is anticipated. Will it settle things for now, or will it cause more trouble in the Supreme Court?
The tipping point came last Tuesday, February 20, when the Supreme Court en banc received official communication from the House of Representatives which raised issues surrounding the alleged missing SALNs of Sereno
Suddenly, the en banc was confronted with a situation where a co-equal branch was asking them something they did not know the answer to. There were allegations the appointed Chief Justice did not comply with requirements for her appointment
That Tuesday, the en banc required Sereno to explain herself, at the very least, to them
Sereno had not yet responded with an explanation. Between Feb. 20 and the next en banc session on Feb. 27, the animosity grew more intense
On Feb. 27, justices – except for AJ Benjamin Caguioa who was on leave – reportedly reached a consensus and “forced Sereno to take a leave.” Her camp came out with its own version of events, saying that she had just decided to advance a previously scheduled “wellness leave.” This agitated the justices who felt that she backtracked on her word.
That Sereno has refused to explain the SALN issue, among other things that concern the court, was taken as an affront to the en banc, a court insider said.
“This is no longer an issue of legality but an issue of respect,” said one justice during the heated exchange during the en banc session on Tuesday, Feb. 27
Two justices said they did not actually have a uniform or set agenda coming to the en banc on Tuesday. “Nagpapakiramdaman ang lahat.”
It was AJ Samuel Martires who spoke first, asking Sereno to explain the SALN issue.
One justice said: You are speaking with your peers and I think you owe us the courtesy of explaining yourself.”
Another justice asked Sereno: “You freely speak to the media to explain yourself but you cannot come clean with your colleagues?”
Throughout all their questions, the insider said Sereno stuck to one answer: “In two months you will see my defense, “referring to the trial at the senate
Martires dared Sereno: “Gusto mo mag resign tayong dalawa?”
Other justices tried to cool the heated emotions, until one justice expressly told Sereno to just take an indefinite leave to allow the SC breathing room
Three well-informed sources at the High Court said the wisdom behind the request for an indefinite leave was to make sure the court preserves evidence and removes undue influence on witnesses and other involved officials
It would also allow the remaining justices to assess the evidence before them and take the necessary steps to “exact accountability to the institution.” one justice said
Martires reportedly said: “I love this institution. I have been serving the institution for the past 17 years. I will not allow the two political branches to interfere in the independence of the judiciary, because that will imperil democracy. Let the cleansing start from within.”
Sereno asked for a 10-minute recess. When she returned, she announced to the en banc: “Starting Thursday, I am taking my indefinite leave of absence. I wish to attend the division hearing on Wednesday,”
After two long hours, the session ended and justices went back to their chambers.
When they tuned in to the news, they learned that Sereno’s spokesperson announced that the CJ “was taking her wellness leave early,” contrary to the indefinite leave that was agreed upon by all, including Sereno herself.
That again riled up the justices. “She lied again,” one justice said. “She’s deceptive,” another said. Another one said: She’s courting trouble.”
Rappler Inside Track 2/28/18
fersty says
That is the problem with the SC
that during the vetting for CJ post
they did not follow the vetting rules
and other rules.
Puro pakikisama. Puro nag bulag-
bulagan noon. Now, they realize
something is wrong and was wrong.
Some/many came out questioning
Sereno’s appointment. An IN-FIGHTING
among themselves to the damage
of the Institution. Too late in the hour.
Damage is done.
If only uprightness in the vetting
before the JBC was done at the time.
So, I say: Dr. Tria! Do you need to
examine also the other SC justices
if any of them are also disturbed
or causing disturbances?
How about the President? Since day
1 up to now has been acting very
strangely. Disturbed and disturbing?
When? When everything has gone
past the stage of remedial actions?
Officials surrounding the President
claps when he makes disturbing
remarks and clinch their fists in
support of it. Isn’t this sign of
disturbed and disturbing? It is.
A CJ and a President fighting against
each other in their disturbances. Wow!
Who is in worst and dangerous condition
between the two?
I remember…ARC said to have PDutz
examined mentally and physically. I
agree.
No one in the tier of authority has
taken heed. Nobody believes he needs
such an examination. It’s all there:
the SIGNS. The ACTIONS. UTTERANCES.
And worst: the supporters are also
CLAPPING in support. How dangerous
are we getting into? The worst of it.
This Adm is losing lives. Losing its
territories. Losing its pride and honor.
Now, it has lost its mind.
Again, when is the examination to be
done?
I seem to be losing also my m…nd.
he he
fersty says
the above…under moderation
pa?
arc says
para sa akin po, it’s okay to have mental disturbances, grandiosity, fantasies, etc, so long as you know where your limit is, and you know where and when to stop. you know where fantasy ends and reality begins and you are oriented and attune to the environment.
thank the lord for people like margaret mitchell, her mind is full of fantasies, she was able to write gone with the winds, jk rowlings’ harry potter series, and many others similarly ‘disturbed’ individual that were able to write literary masterpieces and best sellers of all times.