Category Archives: Ink

Words are more than just a combination of letters

10
Dec

A People on Standby

Posted by | Categories Ink | Tagged ,

This is an essay by Black and White Movement’s Vicente Romano:

As soon as the Manila Pen siege was over, there was a flurry of pronouncements from just about every political group as well as personalities from both sides of the political divide. Invariably, the statements depicted Trillanes and Lim as misguided, military adventurists, rebels, criminals, or arrogant fools for repeating the same mistakes in Oakwood and in 2006. At best, some would say they sympathized with Trillanes’ and Lim’s cause, but did not agree with their methods.

But why did they have to wait until the standoff was over before they spoke their minds? Simple. They weren’t really sure about how the incident would turn out and they didn’t want to be caught with their feet in their mouths just in case Trillanes et al prevailed.

This is probably why no politician of significant stature came out during the siege. Most of them were probably somewhere in Makati, on standby, monitoring how things would develop. And if it looked like regime change was imminent, they were ready to make a grand appearance, abandoning all current loyalties, reminiscent of EDSA 2.

Even more worrisome, at least to the administration, was the non-appearance of military top brass during the critical, early hours of the standoff. The most natural thing for the administration to do in order to show that it was still in control of the chain of command was to arrange for some star-studded generals to declare their unequivocal loyalty. Esperon was in Mindanao. But where were the service commanders? They, too, were seemingly on standby, caught by surprise, unsure if Lim and Trillanes had the numbers. They did not declare loyalty for either side, most likely not wanting to be caught on the wrong side when the dust settled.

There was one text message I received from an unknown number that I found rather amusing, “Panawagan ni Trillanes na mag-aklas, dinedma! Sawa na sa gulo ang ating bayan, tama na! Magkaisa na lang sa pagsulong ng bayan.”

I think that declaration was way off the mark. How do you explain the spontaneous show of support from office workers cheering and waving, motorists honking their horns in support as Trillanes and company were marching towards Manila Pen? How do you explain the surveys showing the people outraged at the impunity and brazenness of corruption by this regime?

I get these opinions all the time – text messages, email, or even chance encounters in public places from people I don’t know, “You’re doing the right thing. Don’t give up. Keep the faith!” At times, I’m tempted to ask them, “What about you? What do you plan to do about it?” I don’t bother, because I have an inkling of what they will say, “I’m sorry, but I’m busy… busy trying to earn a living, or trying to make ends meet.”

Was Trillanes misguided? Maybe. But not in the usual sense.

I think he read the people’s mood correctly. They are outraged. They want regime change. But they’re not willing to take an active role in effecting change. They just want to be saved from this wretched regime!

I believe Trillanes was misguided, maybe even betrayed, by people who committed to give their support but did not deliver.

CHED Chairman Romulo Neri, could have been an interested party. It was rumored that he was supposed to join the group at Manila Pen to finally reveal what most people already know anyway – that after he told GMA about the bribe offer by Abalos, she asked him to ignore it and gave specific instructions for him to work on getting the ZTE project approved by the NEDA Board in time for her China trip, which was only 2 days away.

In past interviews, Neri has refused to reveal what he knows, claiming that his revelations might trigger an EDSA-like uprising. He reportedly finds the idea of regime change by the same old, recycled politicians, revolting (pun intended). However, rumors abound that privately, he has intimated to being open to a post-GMA scenario that would include his reform agenda.

Let us suppose that Neri may have communicated these ideas to the Magdalo. These revelations and ideas by an official of this administration probably emboldened them to plot the Manila Pen siege. Now, the Magdalo had a just cause around which to rally the people.

Let us suppose there were the unit commanders who were poised to leave their barracks to join Trillanes and Lim. They were perhaps waiting for Neri’s defection as their signal to move. Instead, they saw Argee Guevarra and JV Bautista beside Trillanes at the Pen. To the military, these are the poster boys of communism. Seeing them would have planted seeds of doubt in their rightist hearts. “Are we risking everything, just to turn it over to commies?” they probably asked. The man in the wig was the clincher, turning the whole exercise into a farce.

And so, they all decided to stand by. But they waited too long. Esperon would later report, “the other group was pre-empted”, whatever that means. The rest of the story you already know.

Trillanes apologists will claim, “the end justifies the means” regarding his latest caper. I do not buy that. But I do believe that this administration has shut off every legitimate venue for redress.

What do you do when the major mode of making a President accountable – impeachment, is bastardized by a rubber-stamp Congress? Where do you go when an unimpeachable witness like Fr. Ed Panlilio testifies that bribery of the highest order may have occurred at the Palace involving scandalous amounts given to political allies? Certainly not to a Department of Justice headed by a GMA stooge.

When you have an administration that selectively applies the rule of law and methodically perverts it for self-preservation, you will, for the same reason always have people who will resort to extra-constitutional means to seek justice.

Personally, I think what Trillanes did at Manila Pen is not much different from what Ramos did at EDSA 1 or Angie Reyes did at EDSA 2. If EDSA 1 and 2 failed, Ramos and Reyes would have been labeled no differently from Trillanes and Lim – misguided, misadventurists, rebels, or even fools.

What a difference success makes! Even heels (remember Chavit Singson in EDSA 2?) can become heroes. Failure does the exact opposite: would-be heroes are called fools.

Digressing a bit, I heard that Manila Pen is planning to sue for damages the rebel group. Nevertheless, the hotel is willing to give a 20% discount considering the participation of senior citizens like Guingona, Dodong Nemenzo, and Bishop Labayen. It would be truly comical, were it not tragic and pathetic, to see octogenarians leading the fight against moral bankruptcy in government.

Where are the youth in all of this?

Most of them are on standby, waiting for their work visas from various embassies. This is proof of the depth of hopelessness when the aspirations of our youth are reduced to wanting to leave the country at the earliest opportunity.

Well… I think I will just join the rest of our people on standby and wait for this regime to crumble from its own weight of greed and corruption. Already, there are cracks in the alliance in Congress, they’re all fighting over the spoils. With Puno now ascendant at the Palace, the other officials will necessarily be diminished, if not completely defrocked. That spells trouble.

Greed and addiction to power will propel them to overstay beyond 2010. Already, charter change is back at the top of the agenda in Congress. I think the administration is already crafting a martial law template that will be declared at the flimsiest excuse. The unconstitutional 5-hour curfew was merely a trial balloon.

And then it will happen. It will reach a breaking point that will lead to a popular uprising. Such has been the cycle we go through in our modern history.

A new order will be established. History will be rewritten, and it will give a kinder account of the Manila Pen siege. It is merely a pre-cursor of things to come. Trillanes and company are not fools after all.

For now, all we can do is pray that God hasten the cycle of change. God bless our country.

This is Enteng Romano on standby.

His thoughts are in consonance with the previous post.

7
Dec

Laban sa manipesto ng mga tamad mag-isip

Posted by | Categories Ink | Tagged , ,

Bilang panlaban sa manipesto ng mga tamad mag-isip (paumanhin, pero hindi ko bibigyan iyon ng importansya, mabuting hanapin ninyo ito sa tulong ng Google), basahin ang opinyon ni Atty. Raul Pangalangan. Pakibasa nang mabuti, para inyong mapagtanto ang ating katamaran:

We treat revolutions and coup attempts as if we had absolutely nothing to do with them. We externalize political events as something wholly distinct from our private lives and choices. Sad to say, that is so incorrect. If we are truly a democracy, rebellions should win only with our support or be doomed to lose without it. But now we prefer to be mere spectators, a democracy of onlookers who sit on the sidelines waiting for the smoke to clear … and to cheer on the victor. Faced with a historical moment, we hedged our bets, and chose to wager not on the basis of who’s right and who’s wrong, but rather on the basis of whose side has more guns and tanks.

7
Dec

Panglahatang bastusan

Posted by | Categories Ink | Tagged , ,

Nakakasawa na palagi kong naririnig ang parirala na “rule of law”, lalo na kung ito ang namumutawi sa mga bunganga ng mga taong garapal na lumalapastangan at bumabastos sa ating mga batas.

Noong isang araw, aking nasabi na balewala ang ginawang pagsasampa ng National Press Club sa Commission on Human Rights ng isang reklamo laban sa ilang opisyal ng pamahalaan at kapulisan. Bukod sa kawalang integridad at kredibilidad ng nasabing samahan, wala ring mangyayari dahil kulang sa kapangyarihan ang komisyon. Wala itong kakayanan na mag-usig ng mga lumabag sa karapatang pangtao.

Tinanggap ng komisyon ang reklamo, at ipinatawag ng komisyon sina Ronaldo Puno, kalihim para sa Ugnayang Panloob at Lokal na Pamahalaan; at Avelino Razon, punong direktor para sa Pambansang Pulisya ng Pilipinas. Ngunit, bilang pagpapakita ng kawalang-halaga ng komisyon at pag-alipusta sa batas, hindi nagpakita ang dalawa.

Hindi rito nagtatapos ang pambabastos. Noong isang araw, nagpulong ang mga pinuno ng ilang media organizations, mga pinuno ng pamahalaan, at pamunuan ng Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas. Ginanap ang pagpupulong upang magkaroon ng isang kasunduan ang lahat pagdating sa mga sitwasyong katulad ng nangyari sa Manila Pen. Bagamat walang nangyari sa naturang pagpupulong, ipinakita ni Puno kung sino ang nambabastos sa batas. Sinabi nito na kanila pa ring huhulihin ang sinomang reporter na sa kanilang palagay ay balakid sa paggulong ng katarungan (obstructing justice). Oo, kanila pa ring huhulihin kahit na ang ginagawa lang ng media ay ipahatid sa lahat ang mga pangyayari.

At patuloy pa rin sila sa kanilang paniniwala na tama ang ginawa nilang pag-aresto sa mga reporter na nasa loob ng hotel noong pwersahang pasukin ito ng mga pulis. Isang malaking pambabastos sa batas ang ginawa ng mga pulis, at isang mas malaking pambabastos sa batas ang patuloy na pagmamatigas nina Puno at Razon na tama sila. Isa si Atty. Theodore Te sa mga manananggol na nagsabi na mali ang ginawang pag-aresto ng mga pulis.

Hindi pa riyan natatapos ang lahat. Unti-unti nang ginagamit ng rehimeng Arroyo ang “rule by law” sa pamamagitan ng (1) paglabas ng isang matandang kautusan na sinulat noong panahon ni Gng. Aquino, na nagbibigay babala sa media sa pagbibigay-panahon sa sinumang rebelde; at (2) ang pagrepaso ng Kagawaran ng Katarungan sa mga prangkisa ng mga istasyon ng telebisyon at radyo upang malamang kung may nilabag ang mga ito noong araw na iyon. Ginagamit nila ang batas upang takutin ang media – isang garapalang pambabastos sa tunay na kahulugan ng “rule of law.”

Nakakalungkot na karamihan sa mga Pilipino ngayon ang kumukutya sa media organizations dahil sa kanilang paghahatid ng mga pangyayari sa Manila Pen. May isa pa ngang walang magawa sa buhay ang nagsimula ng isang online petition laban sa isang malaking istasyon. Ang masasabi ko lang ay ito. Una, bakit ang istasyon lang na iyon? Bakit hindi niya isinama lahat ng mga media organization na lakas-loob na naghatid ng balita? Ikalawa, nakakatakot ang ganitong ugali, kasi ito ang sinamantala ni Ferdinand Marcos upang isailalim ang bansa sa batas militar. Kung tutuusin nga eh hindi na kailangan ni Gloria Arroyo na magdeklara ng martial law. Tutal, kaya naman niyang bastusin ang batas, at wala namang pakialam ang mga taong katulad ng nabanggit ko kanina. Naalala ko tuloy si Bong Austero. Hindi pala mauubos ang mga taong tulad niya.

Sa pangwakas, ang pagyurak sa karapatan ng media na ipahayag ang mga nangyayari sa ating kapaligiran ay mali at isang malinaw na pambabastos sa batas at sa Konstitusyon ng ating bansa.

—

Pero ano ang mas nakakalungkot? Pinababayaan lang natin sila na alipustain, babuyin, bastusin, at pawalang-halaga ang ating mga batas. Tandaan natin na ang kapangyarihan ng batas ay nanggagaling sa atin; ang garapal na pagbastos sa batas ay garapal na pagbastos sa atin. Hanggang kailan tayo papayag na bastusin na lamang nang ganun?

Simula sa araw na ito, lahat ng inyong mababasa rito tuwing araw ng Biyernes ay nakasulat sa wikang Filipino. Ang mga sulatin sa araw ng Biyernes ay may tag na sa-wikang-Filipino.

5
Dec

Sumilao sa Metro Manila

Posted by | Categories Ink | Tagged ,

The irony is almost lost.

The marching Sumilao farmers are now in Metro Manila. These Sumilao farmers began their journey from Sumilao, a poor municipality in the province of Bukidnon, where Juan Miguel Zuburi, Senator of Maguindanao, hails from. Yesterday, the Sumilao farmers went to the Senate, and they were able to talk with several senators. Zubiri, unfortunately, was not among them.

Conveniently, he was included in the congressional junket to Spain, accompanying her patron, Gloria Arroyo. When he drops by Lourdes, I hope that when he prays, he will be enlightened enough to support these Sumilao farmers.

Who am I kidding, though?

The irony is still there, though: while the Sumilao farmers had marched 1700 kilometers by foot (riding sea vessels to jump from several islands), under the glare of the sun and the sleet of the rains, sleeping where they were accommodated, eating whatever food they can scrounge; there is the senator of Maguindanao, flying business class, staying at plush hotels (paid for by the host country or by our taxes I cannot say), eating succulent and mouth-watering dishes.

All I can say is that the reign of greed is truly upon us. Kailan sisilaw ang liwanag ng katarungan?

For more updates on the Sumilao march, click here.

5
Dec

News people under siege

Posted by | Categories Ink | Tagged , ,

If you have received a letter like this one, what would you do?

TO: MARIA RESSA
Head of ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs

GREETINGS:

By virtue of the authority vested upon me pursuant to Section 6 of Republic Act 5750, you are commanded to appear before the office of Southern Metro Manila Criminal Investigation and Detection Team, NCRCIDU, CIDG SPD Compound, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on December 5, 2007 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning and bring with you a DVD copy of raw video footage re-March of SENATOR ANTONIO S TRILLANES IV and GEN. DANILO LIM together with thirteen (13) other members of Magdalo soldiers and civilian supporters from RTC, Branch 148, Makati City to Manila Peninsula Hotel.

FAIL NOT UNDER THE PENALTY OF LAW:

WITNESS my signature this 3rd day of December 2007, Camp Crame, Quezon City, Philippines.

EDGARDO M. DOROMAL
Police Director
Director, CIDG

FAIL NOT UNDER THE PENALTY OF LAW. Ominous words.

—

I think the dialogue between the Arroyo dogs and the media being facilitated by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas (KBP) is a useless exercise. Let’s face it: the Philippine National Police had erred when it arrested and/or handcuffed several media people who covered the Manila Peninsula Hotel affair. No amount of dialogue will change that.

Anyway, what’s the dialogue for? To draft guidelines on coverage of crucial situations? It is almost as good as the PNP telling the media on how to cover an event. Yes, the police wants to control the way media covers such events. I think this is some form of prior restraint, and good thing the media people who attended that dialogue are clearly showing where they stand (except NBN 4, but that should be expected from a government-owned propaganda machine). Jessica Soho was even gleeful when she pointed out that it is a good thing GMA 7 is no longer a KBP member.

And as for the KBP, I have not realized that it has become an Arroyo factotum. Tsk, another institution compromised by Arroyo’s scorched earth policy.

3
Dec

Notes on the Manila Peninsula Hotel affair

Posted by | Categories Ink | Tagged ,

Some people have already said this, and I had made the same observations to some people, but I think a lot of people haven’t realized how dangerous the Arroyo regime’s reaction to the Manila Pen affair.

Many thought that the PNP’s action was an overkill. Two armored personel carriers, several hundred elite police men, loads of tear gas – is it really an overkill? There are tactical blunders in the police’s action. For example, why force themselves in a sofa-bariccaded front door when there are other entrances that they can use? Why use an APC to force the front door open when they can use other means? I think someone’s ego was seriously pricked, hence the action (that someone’s name sounds like a part of a vehicle).

But no, the medium is the message. The police reaction is precisely overkill because the Arroyo regime is sending a message to its enemies – it will not hesitate to kill just to survive. The queen’s enemies better think twice.

—

What the police did to media men last Thursday is the worst blunder, the most stupid blunder that they can ever do. And it does not end there.

Earlier today, Plinky Webb (one of those “processed” by the police) interviewed the Director General of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Avelino Razon. To be honest, he seems to be the most media-savvy PNP chief since Babylon, and he appears to be a decent chap. Apparently not. In the interview, he said that if media people decides to file a case against the police, they will have no choice but to file a countersuit.

Yes, that is called blackmail.

—

And probably the most scary part for the Arroyo regime – the military. How afraid can the queen be of her armed forces? The official action was entirely a police matter. Logically.

But there is one thing that was buried deep by the usual propaganda crap and litanies by dogs and monkeys. Remember that Trillanes et al were escorted by military police at the courtroom. How were they able to pull the stunt off? It scared Hermogenes Esperon so much that the AFP chief by default claimed that they were ordered to go along. Fool.

Hence the absence of the AFP in last Thursday’s affair. The Arroyo regime is deeply scared of the possibility of the military supporting Trillanes instead.

—

The reactions to the Manila Peninsula Affair reminded me of George Orwell’s Animal Farm. I don’t know why. Maybe I should reread that novel. If you can connect the two, please let me know.

Maybe it was because of Vivian Yuchengco.

Speaking of Yuchengco, her reaction is typical of those who have a lot to lose in a big social upheaval. Understandable, but her family’s reaction to the Pacific Plans fiasco, however, puts a damper on Yuchengco’s credibility. Her reaction is not surprising. Remember her family’s reaction to the PEP Coalition? The Yuchengco family filed libel cases against the officers of the PEP Coalition.

Niloko na, kinasuhan pa. Still want the status quo? It can happen to you.

—

I am currently re-reading John Cornwell’s Hitler’s Pope. I had read this once, and I was re-reading it, since I think the book’s contents are relevant to how the current Roman Catholic hierarchy is acting (or not acting).

Have you read this book? What is your take on it?

—

Finally, as I have said, the regime’s later actions after Trillanes surrendered are disturbing. Let’s outline them:

* The media being treated as suspects and some of them being handcuffed. Read the following accounts for context:
– From Manila Pen to Bicutan: When the Media Became the Story
– Hours, media grit in the Manila Pen
– ABS-CBN reporter: No one told us to leave Pen

* The PNP declared a 12AM-5AM curfew for a rather large area of Luzon.

Scary? Both of these already happened before.

If there’s one thing that Gloria Arroyo has learned from this episode, it is this: she can declare martial law anytime and no one would bother crying foul. Well, some few people would cry foul, but not enough to deter her.

—

To end this post, let me quote Ederic Eder:

“Sa kaloob-looban natin, gusto rin natin ng pagbabago. Ngunit nagagalit tayo sa mga mapangahas na nais gumambala sa maalwan nating pamumuhay.”

I could have not said it any better.

3
Dec

If they vote now, the Senate will not kick Trillanes out

Posted by | Categories Ink | Tagged

Last Friday, Miriam Defensor Santiago, the epitome of sanity in the Senate, had threatened to file a resolution for the suspension or expulsion of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for that November 29 stunt (she already did.). While Senate President Manny Villar thinks this resolution will not prosper and Senator Aquilino Pimentel says the opposition will block such a resolution, anything can happen. So, let us speculate who will vote for the resolution.

Assuming that resolution goes like this: “RESOLVED, that Antonio Trillanes IV be expelled from/suspended from being member of the Philippine Senate.” The vote will likely go this way:

Yes
Edgardo Angara
Joker Arroyo
Juan Ponce Enrile
Richard Gordon
Miriam Defensor Santiago
Juan Miguel Zubiri

No
Benigno Aquino III
Rodolfo Biazon
Alan Peter Cayetano
Francis Escudero
Jose Estrada
Panfilo Lacson
Loren Legarda
Ma. Consuelo Madrigal
Francis Pangilinan
Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
Manuel Roxas II
Manuel Villar

Maybe yes
Pia Cayetano
Gregorio Honasan
Manuel Lapid
Ramon Revilla Jr.

The possible NO senators who can switch to yes are:

* Estrada – We will now see if the pardon for Joseph Estrada will affect Jinggoy’s stance. Note Erap’s reaction to the Manila Pen affair.
* Lacson – If the gossip is true (that Ping Lacson is involved in the Thursday Pen affair), his voting YES will be a strong indication.
* Legarda – Cmon, she can switch sides like it is her second nature. Kidding aside, she is rather silent on the issue.
* Roxas – He always plays safe, so voting Yes will not be a surprise.
* Villar – Another play-safe senator, he claims that the Santiago resolution will not prosper. He knows how to switch sides at the right times. If he sees that the Trillanes caper is unpopular, he can always vote yes when the time comes, right?

—

Mrs. Santiago should somehow reconsider her idea. Remember what she said in the days before the May 1 siege of the Fortress by the Pasig? Remember when she admitted to the entire universe that she lied when she claimed that she will commit suicide if Erap is impeached (well, he was removed from office extra-constitutionally)? Remember when she said that corruption originated in China? The opposition could have censured her (they should have), but they did not. Her ghosts will haunt her soon.

3
Dec

National Press Club’s credibility problems

Posted by | Categories Ink | Tagged , ,

I put into question the motives, credibility, and sincerity of the National Press Club when it threatened to file a complaint against the police for the unlawful arrest made against news people last Thursday.

I just find their proposed action icky for the following reasons:

1. This is the very same organization that censored a mural made by a group of artists because of political implications. They have several “offending” parts defaced, all because the guest of honor for the opening of their restaurant might get offended. The guest of honor? Gloria Arroyo. Ironic, no? Whether the complaint is sincere or an attempt to deodorize the NPC’s image remains to be seen. However…

2. I doubt the sincerity of the group in filing the complaint. Of all places, why file a complaint at the Commission on Human Rights? CHR is as toothless as a baby panda. It can only investigate and recommend. It has no prosecutorial powers. In the end, the complaint is useless. Also, when another group files another complaint, this time a criminal one, forum-shopping may be raised by the prosecutors, thus seeing a criminal complaint dismissed.

3. The NPC in the recent years, including this one, has been beset by credibility problems. For this year, aside from the mural censorship, it has disposed of the Manansala mural. Also, in parallel to the legitimacy problems of Gloria Arroyo, the current crop of officers suffer from legitimacy problem, too. (I just find it ironic that they had Gloria Arroyo as guest of honor in that restaurant opening, heh.)

If there’s anyone who should sue the police, it should be the media people who were arrested/invited/whatever by the police. They are more credible than the NPC.

1
Dec

“Dissent without action is consent”

Posted by | Categories Ink | Tagged ,

“Dissent without action is consent.”

Discuss in the comments below. Remove the personalities and stick with the statement.

30
Nov

The parable of pigs

Posted by | Categories Ink | Tagged

It is very easy to describe pigs. They are simple-minded, and they don’t care at all – they don’t care about their fellow pigs, they don’t care about their pig pens (they do care, but not that much). Heck, they don’t even care that they are up for slaughter. They don’t care at all as long as they are fed enough and on time. They don’t care as long as they get to mate (and they don’t care about the partner, as long as they have their sex). They don’t care as long as they appear to be superficially clean (even if it stinks to high heavens). They don’t care as long as long as their pig pen appears to be clean (even if it stinks to high heavens). They don’t care at all as long as all of their needs and wants are fulfilled. They don’t care at all as long as their comforts are not affected.

Question: how many pigs are there in this country? Just ask these guys.


“In a nation run by swine, all pigs are upward-mobile and the rest of us are fucked until we can put our acts together: Not necessarily to Win, but mainly to keep from Losing Completely” – Hunter S. Thompson.