Now that Mayor Fred Lim has opened Mendiola to rallies, it seems that the Fortress by the Pasig is unperturbed by this development. You might be wondering why. Over-confidence? Bravado?
Aren’t you wondering why Norberto Gonzales is appointed as acting SecDef for a month? Ostensibly, incoming SecDef Gilbert Teodoro Jr. is on vacation, and will take office next month. I find this reason unbelievable for two reasons.
One, if you are appointed by a president, do you ask him/her to wait?
Two, if so, why Gonzales of all people? Why not Eduardo Ermita? Why move Hermogenes Ebdane to Public Works if Teodoro is only available next month? Isn’t it more logical to wait till next month?
So why Gonzales? First, he is a trial balloon for something that will take effect soon. Second, he is a good counterfoil to communist rebels and leftist organizations. Just a day after his interim appointment, Gonzales already rattled his saber. He fits the bill for the trial balloon phase.
Then, Raul Gonzalez, the poster boy of the Arroyo administration, still sits at Justice. And he scares everyone with the powers vested on his department by a law that takes effect soon.
Now, going back to the question. Why is the Fortress not troubled by Lim’s action on Mendiola? Because the Human Security Act takes effect on July 15. The body that is responsible for the implementation of the said law is the Anti-Terrorism Council. Who sits on the Council? Here’s Section 53 of Republic Act number 9372:
SEC. 53. Anti-Terrorism Council. – An Anti-Terrorism Council, hereinafter referred to, for brevity, as the “Council,” is hereby created. The members of the Council are: (1) the Executive Secretary, who shall be its chairperson; (2) the Secretary of Justice, who shall be its Vice Chairperson; and (3) the Secretary of Foreign Affairs; (4) the Secretary of National Defense; (5) the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government; (6) the Secretary of Finance; and (7) the National Security Advisor, as its other members.
(Dean Jorge Bocobo is kind enough to post the bill in his blog. Read it here.)
Currently, these people will sit at the Council:
(1) Executive Secretary – Eduardo Ermita
(2) Justice Secretary – Raul Gonzalez
(3) Foreign Affairs Secretary – Alberto Romulo
(4) National Defense Secretary – Norberto Gonzales (interim)
(5) Interior Secretary – Ronaldo Puno
(6) Finance Secretary – Margarito Teves
(7) National Security Adviser – Norberto Gonzales (concurrent interim SecDef)
Four hawks, two probable doves. I’m not sure about Teodoro, probably a dove.
Still wondering why?
arbet,
4 hawks
1 papa’s boy
1 henpecked husband
1 deodorant.
Teves is only there for money laundering portion of the law.
Romulo is there for international image management and nothing else.
It’s the remaining five who matter. They are the ones with the means and the power over our civil liberties.
out of the five, who scares you the most? And why?
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All of them scares me!
Why? Because they all work for the occupant of the Fortress!
Tsk. Kala ko naman pwede nang mag-rally sa Mendiola.
Baka pinaghahandaan na ng Malacanan ang reaksyon ng mga tao kapag binigyan ng guilty verdict si Erap.
Mam Jowana, pwede pa rin naman magrally sa Mendiola. Yun nga lang, andun yung threat. Kaya yun ang dahilan kung bakit kampante sila kahit magrally ang mga tao.
Freedom to congregate makes democracy strong. Mendiola is Mabuhay.
If JoMa is a terrorist why wouldn’t America just take him and hand him over to our government.
Don’t look for him in Iraq nor in Afghanistan. He has an address. And they know.
Nakatatakot.
Hi, Arthur. Because The Netherlands wouldn’t hand him over to the Americans. Now, if the Americans can convince The Hague, Sison will have reasons to be afraid.
As for freedom to congregate, any freedom should always be balanced with responsibility.
Exactly the problem lies to whom the label terrorist apply. As in left-wing the field increases proportionately to how far one moves to the right.
A freedom ends where the right of others begin.
Unfortunately, as someone once said:
“We are willing to lose our freedoms just to advance this country.”
Or something to that effect. I think they are the majority (like pre-martial law days), unfortunately.