I am amused by the exchange of comments with regards to the attempted suspension of Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay by the DILG upon orders of the Ombudsman. Amused because while some (most of them out of this country) argue that people should let the rule OF law take its course, they conveniently forget that the Fortress by the Pasig is operating on the rule BY law.

Rule by law: if at first you failed, try and try again. That’s how this administration operates. Let’s have some examples.

Rule by law: file the same case but with a different petitioner. Let’s take that “little” case at Naga. Jesse Robredo was suspended from being mayor of Naga because “he is not a Filipino citizen.” Robredo has served as Naga mayor for 15 years, and he had faced disqualification cases because of his citizenship. He won all those cases except this one, which was filed by Jojo Villafuerte (the previous cases were filed by another political rival).

John Nery had called the Brawner-penned decision as “the essential document of the 2007 vote.” I would be more daring and call it a mini “Hello, Garci” of 2007.

Winnie Monsod minced no words about this case; for the first time I applaud her piece in the PDI. And Atty. Edwin Lacierda weighs in on the matter.

Rule by law: file the same case but with a different petitioner or in a different form. Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay was issued a preventive suspension order in October 2006 by the Ombudsman based on a complaint (ghost employees) by a political opponent. He succesfully got a temporary restraining order from the Court of Appeals. Several months later, and almost a week before the elections, he was being suspended, this time for an administrative case filed by another political opponent. Fearing for a Binay landslide, the DILG made a retreat.

Rule by law: if you can’t beat it, hijack it. And then there’s the party list elections. Akbayan and several groups had accused the Fortress of fielding party list groups that are mere administration fronts. To prove its case, it has requested for the list of party list nominees. The Comelec refused.

Then, a memo was leaked. It was supposed to be a memo from the Fortress’ Office of External Affairs informing Gloria Arroyo of the formation of “special concerns groups” to ensure the victory of party list groups (4 parties) friendly to the Fortress. The memo also asks for Php5.5 million.

Akbayan and several other groups petitioned the Supreme Court to compel Comelec to release the list of party list nominees. The High Court ruled in favor of Akbayan et al. And as feared, the list reveals a can of disgusting worms. Read Ricky Carandang’s Pretzel Logic.

Rule of law? Passe; it’s so 60s. It’s the new millenium; it’s now rule by law, and some people still thinks you have to let the rule of law takes its course. That’s the problem with being outside the system for so long. The only thing you see is the facade; you don’t get to see what’s behind it.

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I like this song from Batibot (courtesy of Misterhubs):

Kung hindi pwede minsan, subukan
Kung ang kasunod ay di pa rin, ulitin

Ganyan lang, ganyan lang
Di dapat magmukmok
Harapin ang pagsubok, ngayon.

Lahat ay kayang gawin
Kung sisikapin
Kung wala pa ring mangyari
subukan lang kung pwede.

Ganyan lang, ganyan lang
di dapat iyakan
Harapin ang pagsubok
Kayang-kaya mo ‘yan.

Batibot has never been more relevant than now.