Juan Miguel Zubiri was proclaimed a senator, despite his victory being attributed to the problematic Maguindanao vote, with one whistleblower dead. The Supreme Court splits itself in the middle when Aquilino Pimentel III petitioned the Court to stop Zubiri’s proclamation. Most of justices that are known to be close to Gloria Arroyo voted to turn down Pimentel’s petition.

Zubiri is now in a rather inenviable position of being known as senator of Maguindanao. He should not shake that image, since he is the senator from Maguindanao.

Manuel L. Quezon III echoes what is probably the most troubling sign of the times:

At the very least, all sides should take Zubiri at his word, when he says he will work doubly hard to prove that his critics’ misgivings about him are misguided.
xxx
Only he, through legislation that makes a repeat of this year’s messy elections impossible, can turn a term of scorn into a badge of pride.

The logic behind the idea is simple: it is OK to cheat as long as you deliver, that you prove that you can do the job.

Sorry, says John Marzan, it doesn’t work that way. I agree.

This is a distressing development in our society. The degradation of simple values like honesty and integrity is scary; the emergence of the value of materialism even more so. This degradation, this apathy that had enabled Gloria Arroyo to remain in the Fortress despite the fact that she should have been booted out will enable Zubiri to erase the “senator from Maguindanao” monicker. He is OK as long as he delivers, most of us will say, despite the fact that he won via questionable means. Cheats are OK, as long as we earn our bread and get our latest gadgets and gossip.

And if the trend continues, all a mischievous politician has to do is to cheat and when “elected”, “prove” that he can deliver. We might as well ditch our election laws.

—

NOTES:

1. Placeholder shows that with a little dash of command votes combined with “divine intervention”, you can get yourself elected.
2. John Marzan complains that despite a lower electricity consumption, his electricity bill is higher than last month’s. My mom noticed the same thing. Read your bill; Meralco (defensively) explains why.
3. The Philippine Experience points out the absurdity-stupidity of topsy-turvy decision making by Comelec.

I think it is time for the Philippine Government to quit the peace talks with the MILF and stamp them out of this world for good.

Yesterday, around 50 members of the 1st Marine Brigade who are looking for Father Giancarlo Bossi were fired upon by members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. In an exchange that took several hours, fourteen Marines were killed. The MILF claimed responsibility for the attack, claiming that the Marines entered their territory without informing them. They fired shots in self defense, they say. Read this account by the GMA-7 reporter who accompanied the Marines, who witnessed that despicable act by the MILF.

But when it was found out that 10 of the dead Marines were beheaded, the MILF immediately disowned the act, and claims that bandits did the dastardly act.

The incident yesterday has shown us that the MILF is not sincere in the peace talks.

1. Just because the Marines entered their “territory” does not mean they have hostile intent.
2. The MILF claims that they fired in self-defense. What self defense when (a) you know you outnumber the enemy; (b) they haven’t fired any shot before that incident; and (c) there is a ceasefire?
3. If they claim that they own the territory and that bandits did the beheading, how come the bandits were able to enter the said area without being fired upon?

Before this act, I have no stand on the issue of MILF. Now, after watching the GMA-7 footage, my stand is as follows:

The MILF has clearly shown through deception and lies that it is not sincere in the peace talks. They took the opportunity given to them by the Arroyo administration by rearming and regrouping. Remember that Joseph Estrada had embarked on an all-out war against the MILF, where the Armed Forces of the Philippines were able to take back Camp Abu Bakar (MILF’s main base), where MILF top leaders were killed. Estrada was criticized for warmongering, but the MILF was reduced to almost the size of a small bandit group. When Gloria Arroyo assumed power, the government went into peace talks with the MILF. Six years of useless talks, with both sides violating agreements made. Six years, where the MILF was able to gather new members, steal several arms, and establish new territories.

Now, this incident only goes to show not only the insincerity of the MILF, it also shows that the MILF will only negotiate on its own terms.

I believe that it is time to end the peace talks and treat the MILF as what it truly is – an organization of deceitful bandits.

—

I take exception to Manuel L. Quezon III’s assertion that:

This is only a hunch, but the foreign blogosphere seems far more interested in Philippine rebels behead 10 soldiers (see grim photos published by the Mindanao Examiner) than Filipino bloggers, particularly when it comes to commentary (simply reprinting entire news stories doesn’t cut it).

It is unfair to Tingog.com and Patsada Karajaw, who blogged about this incident. It is unfair to Filipino bloggers who are either slow in comprehension, or who could only blog about it at the end of the working day, or who could blog about it only when they have money to pay an hour’s rent in an Intenet shop.

To end the opposition blunder (and to prove that they are united), I suggest that both Manuel Villar and Aquilino Pimentel II withdraw from the Senate President race. This action will show good faith from both of them, and will probably satisfy the ambitions of presidentiables among the senators. This will also show that the senators listen to the call of the people.

Find a neutral one to be opposition’s candidate for Senate President, one that is acceptable to all opposition members. One that has no ambitions. One that will not compromise with the administration senators for personal gain.

Aquilino Pimentel II almost fits the bill, but for Villar he is not, since Pimentel-as-Senate-President is being pushed by Panfilo Lacson, another presidential wanna-be, and by Manuel Roxas II and Loren Legarda in the background.

Let’s list down the opposition senators (in alphabetical order):

* Aquino III, Benigno (Noynoy)
* Biazon, Rodolfo
* Cayetano, Alan Peter
* Escudero, Francis
* Estrada, Jose (Jinggoy)
* Lacson, Panfilo
* Legarda, Loren
* Madrigal, Ma. Consuelo (Jamby)
* Pimentel II, Aquilino
* Roxas II, Manuel (Mar)
* Trillanes IV, Antonio
* Villar, Manuel (Manny)

Take out the presidentiables (Lacson, Legarda, Roxas, Villar). Aquino and Biazon will support whoever Roxas supports. Since Roxas purpotedly supports Pimentel, so the two Liberals will vote for Pimentel. Lacson, Legarda, and Madrigal will also vote for Pimentel. Cayetano, Estrada, and Escudero will support Villar. I am not sure about Trillanes. So Villar has to court the administration senators for support, which means a Mongrel Majority is about to arrive.

Anyway, I am surprised that Estrada is supporting Villar, despite the facts that (1) Villar betrayed Estrada by railroading the impeachment; and (2) Villar betrayed the opposition by soliciting support from administration senators. Is Joseph Estrada up to something? Jinggoy Estrada as dark horse, acceptable candidate for the opposition?

To be honest, it is hard to push for a compromise candidate, unless they agree to support a neophyte senator who is opposition and not aligned to anybody. That leaves Trillanes, which is impossible, since the Arroyo administration is hell bent on keeping him in detention. Aquino, Cayetano, and Escudero have cast their lots already. Estrada and Madrigal have cast their lots, too.

My aim in this exercise is to find a candidate that will suit everyone. My problem is that everyone is already committed to either Villar and Pimentel; and to push for Escudero, for example, will only result in division. I am not sure if Trillanes has committed to support Pimentel; even if he is neutral in this case, he is not suitable not because he is not qualified – see above. The best case scenario is one candidate only; everyone sacrificing their ambitions and agenda for unity. But that’s wishful thinking.

Here’s a suggestion to Manny Villar: withdraw, support Pimentel, and play bleeding heart till 2010. You know, “I sacrifice my ambition in order to unite the opposition and serve the people.” Play the martyr. He can use that in his 2010 ads. The people will like it.

The recent statements issued by Mayor Alfredo S. Lim regarding Mendiola have led to a lot of people to ask a lot of questions. Probably the biggest question is: has he turned to the dark side, er, to the administration?

For context, read this Philippine Star report posted at ABS-CBN News.

I see the context as this: Fred Lim was a policeman who rose from the ranks. His assurance to Gloria Arroyo is just an extension, an assertion of his past experiences. Besides, as mayor, one of his duties is to ensure that peace reigns over the city. And since the Fortress is in Manila, that falls under his jurisdiction.

Besides, the Fortress is heavily fortified. The gate that was almost breached last May 1, 2001 is no longer a gate. I believe there is a standby force, ready to be deployed to the Fortress if needed.

As Manuel L. Quezon III has said, it is a cheap and easy guarantee.

Regarding his stand about rallies in Mendiola, it will surely not earn him pogi points from the Left; heck, there’s no love lost between the two. I think the law is on Lim’s side. Batas Pambansa 880 is still in effect, and since it is the law, Lim has no choice but to implement it.

My stand on rallies is simple: do it but do not cause inconvenience to others. I will defend your rights, but not at the expense of others. Also, rallies should be allowed to a certain limit. Rights should be exercised with responsibility.

The Left is fond of symbolism. Mendiola is just a road, yet it equates Mendiola to a symbol of freedom. You know, we can always rally at other places, but the Left insists on Mendiola. Here’s the problem with rallies: how can we be sure that we get our message across?

If you want a revolution, you influence the people. Inconvenience them, and see them turn away from you. People wouldn’t mind the inconvenience if you can influence them to agree to your cause; here, the Left has failed. This is their main problem.

As for Fred Lim, he has to seek balance between the right of the people to assemble and the right of others to be left alone in peace. I can understand Lim’s concern, since that part of the University Belt is prone to traffic jam. Four major roads converged on it – Mendiola, Azcarraga, Nepomuceno, and Legarda. These roads are not really that wide, and with the volume of traffic everyday, just close one lane and you’ll get a traffic jam. And the fact that there are several schools in the area makes things a wee bit complicated.

Although why not open one lane of Mendiola from the convergence point up to the next intersection? (In the map below, the area that I am proposing is marked by a red line, and terminates at the red box.) Maybe that stretch would be enough for rallies everyday, since Mendiola is not really a major thoroughfare as compared to Azcarraga and Legarda. Yes, that will put rallies closer to the Fortress, but as I have said, it is heavily fortified, still far from the Fortress, and they can always call for backup before a scheduled rally begins.

(Click on the image to enlarge.)

No, Lim has not turned to the dark side. He is just aiming at a balance. Maybe the Left should negotiate with him; who knows, he might open Mendiola entirely to rallies.

Alright, I have one additional blog to nominate to The Top Ten Emerging Influential Blogs of 2007. Yep only one, because only one submitted his blog for consideration, and I was not able to browse last weekend due to erratic Smart 3G connection.

Anyway, I am not fond of watching video on the Web. Aside from being handicapped by having a dialup connection at home, I don’t like the quality of the video on the Web (though that is due to the limitation set by the video host). Yet I am amazed by the creativity of the blogger behind Cokskiblue. I do not presume to be knowledgeable about blogging in the Philippines, but I think this blog is the first to specialize in video logging. Sure some bloggers post videos on their blogs, Cokskiblue is probably the first to concentrate on blogging purely by video.

Despite the limitations imposed by technology, the vlogger has presented his ideas clearly, and in a humorous way.

I am not sure if there are Filipino vloggers like Coy; if there are, Cokskiblue is probably the first among them. And some of them might have been influenced by this vlog.

That makes nine. Here are the blogs that I have nominated:

Week 1:
Fire Eyed Boy
Be Seen | Be Heard
Past Lives

Week 2:
Mobility Philippines
The Patsada Karajaw Nation

Week 3:
Tingog.com – The Voice of the Filipino
SugoiStuff
Filipinayzd

Week 4:
Cokskiblue

I have exercised a strikeout in Week Three. I can still do so, when I find better blogs, or if someone has nominated a better blog. I still have one slot to fill. So if your blog’s start date is not earlier than August 2006, and you think your blog is influential, leave the URL at the comments. Or if you want, you can nominate someone else’s blog. As long as it meets the minimum criteria stated earlier, it is fine, leave the URL at the comments.

(PS: to those who are in the running and would want to increase their chances, leave your URL at the comments.)

Dear Senators of the Republic,

It seems Gloria Arroyo is right. The administration has won the 2007 elections. Her allies are teeming in the House of Reprehensibles. The local positions are mostly allied with the administration.

The Senate? Sure it was dominated by the opposition – an aggrupation that is fractured from the very start, glued together by their opposition to Arroyo and nothing else. However, most of you are ambitious politicians who are not only eyeing a Senate seat. You are looking ahead.

Now that you have taken their oaths, some of you have began undercutting each other, trying to place themselves in a position that will propel them to the Fortress by the Pasig, forgetting that they were elected by the people to serve them.

Just look at one of them. He ran under the opposition, and just to get the position that he wanted, he reached out to administration senators. Maybe that’s why Arroyo is unperturbed by Genuine Opposition’s victory – either he is a Trojan horse, or she knew that GO will crumble as soon as they get their seats. And one day, when we poor people wake up, we will find an administration-dominated Senate even if we voted opposition.

Then there is this senator who is ambitious enough to cause division among GO senators. And there are two more who would benefit if the Trojan horse is undercut.

The Senate of the Republic is so full of ambitious politicians, that give them firearms, and we will have a Senate that is pro-Arroyo.

Dear Senators, you have betrayed the trust of the people who have voted for you. You prove yourselves no better than the members of the House of Reprehensibles. Your actions only prove that Juan Miguel Zubiri is really worthy of joining the Senate.

Dear Senators of the Republic: you are elected by the people because they believe that you will put this administration in check. But no. You haven’t even began your sessions, you have already betrayed us because of your ambitions.

Dear Senators of the Republic: you have spit on our collective faces when you squabble for positions. We ask that you unite for us. But what have you done?

Dear Senators of the Republic: do not make me regret voting for you. Otherwise, shame on you. And the people that you have betrayed will make sure that in 2010, the ambitious among you shall taste the wrath of a people betrayed.

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?

One night, my mom heard someone shout “balut!” So she went out of the house to buy two. She was surprised to see a young boy, less than five feet in height, thin, carrying a basket of balut and chicharon.

My mom being inquisitive, she asked the kid some questions.

“How old are you?”

“Ten,” the boy answered.

“Are you studying?” , my mom asked as she pays for the balut.

“No, mam,” said the boy, giving my mom the balut wrapped in paper.

“How much do you earn?”

“Not much. Just enough to get anothet batch tomorrow and some food to eat.”

And so the boy moved on, shouting “balut”, walking along Tenth Avenue, taking no heed of the jeep and tricycles and the usual cars plying that road.

—

This is to answer Ric Saludo’s media blast this morning. He must be reacting to Boo Chanco’s column.

Yesterday, I saw an investigation about the 2004 tsunami that had devastated Thailand and Indonesia. While not conclusive, the findings were scary.

The Philippines being an archipelago, we are susceptible to a tsunami (and a tsunami scare). I wonder if coastal cities and towns have plans in such an event.

I live in Caloocan. While it is not a coastal city, it is very near Manila and Navotas, whose western borders end at the Manila Bay. I do have friends in Navotas, and I am scared for their safety in case of a tsunami. Afterall, in the 2004 tsunami, the waves got inland for as far as 2 kilometers.

Knowing that we Filipinos are poor on planning, I doubt there is a contingency plan in place. Now I think is the best time to ask/compel/order (take your pick) our leaders to plan for such an eventuality; this should have been a campaign issue. We should be prepared now and not wait for another disaster to strike before we act. It is about time we stop being reactive and instead be proactive on disaster prevention and management.