One of the sins of Gloria Arroyo is appointing Raul Gonzalezs as Secretary of Justice in an acting capacity for seven years running. He should have been appointed as Presidential Assistant for Bad Propaganda.

Known for saying stupid things, the latest idiocy from him stems from the apparent murder of US Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell.

From the Inquirer:

She was careless and irresponsible. She took a lonely walk by herself in [that] deserted area.

We can learn a few things from this idiocy:

1. The Philippines is not safe for foreigners and for Filipinos, too. Imagine, you cannot take a lonely walk in a deserted area. Strong Republic huh?

The US should issue a travel advisory on the Philippines. After all, the Acting Secretary of Justice himself has told the entire world that our country is not safe for foreigners.

2. If you are walking with someone, is it a lonely walk?

3. You should not comment on something when you don’t have sufficient information. Apparently, Julia Campbell was not alone, she was with the probable killer when she took that walk.

4. As I had said in a comment in the previous post, evil is necessary for us to know what is good. Atty. Theodore Te says it more forcefully than I could.

How much more must we endure from him?

If you have learned anything from Gonzales’ words of wisdom, please share them in the comments.

A lot of things are bothering me about this May elections.

The general consensus is that the cheating for this coming elections will be minimal. Yet, there are several facts that trouble me. One, the Comelec had ordered extra 1 million ballots printed. Second, the Comelec has purged the voters list; around a million names were removed. So what’s the use of the extra ballots?

Third, the administration is not bothered by the strong showing of the opposition in the senatorial race. Heck, it was even nonchalant when reacting to surveys. However, when a survey result showing that the voters will vote opposition in the local polls was released, the administration almost went ballistic.

Fourth, the administration hacks keep on harping about machinery delivering Team Unity to victory; one drunk hack even predicted a 12-0 sweep by the administration, survey results to the contrary notwithstanding. What machinery they are talking about? Is the Maguindanao governor’s enticement part of that machinery?

Fifth, the Comelec refuses to disclose the nominees of the party lists participating in this year’s elections. The Comelec did so in 2001 and in 2004, why can’t they do that this year? Is it because of the accusations that some party list groups are just administration fronts?

Taking all of these into consideration, and the fact that the people is now aware of the cheating mechanisms available, the question now is this: will there be cheating? And if yes, in what form?

I think it will help if we know what is the goal of the administration for this year’s elections. It is actually very simple, and very obvious. It has been their goal since 2004 – the survival of Gloria Arroyo’s hold in the Fortress by the Pasig.

So the goal this year is to prevent the opposition from gaining enough seats in the House of Representatives. The goal is to make another impeachment impossible.

Knowing the goal, we can now answer some questions. Will there be cheating this year? Probably. In what form? In a way that is localized in nature.

Let me explain. It seems that the administration has already conceded the senatorial race; all those things that administration hacks were saying are all bravado. Cheating on this level will be too obvious. (It is still possible, in order to insert a candidate or two, but that’s the most they can do.)

The administration has placed its bets on the local races. There are races where administration candidates are running unopposed, so scratch those. What to watch out for are the races that are perceived to be close or where the opposition is strong.

If there will be cheating, it will in the local polls. This is where the administration cannot afford to lose.

Words have multiple meanings, and the intended meaning is gleaned from its context – the way the word is used in a statement. Thus, when you string words with others, your meaning, your intent, your thought, may change depending on the context.

This is important when analyzing arguments and statements, most specially statements with multiple clauses. Multiple clauses are tricky, and here is where most arguments and debates begin. For you might mean one thing on the first clause, but may change because of context of the second clause.

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This idea has been in my mind since last night, as I leave the University Hotel, right after iBlog. I guess this qualify for the Artist’s way, right, Mr. Vader?

I am supposed to post about the party list system, but got sidelined by the enormity of the task. I wish to explain the system, how it works, and what groups are qualified. With the arbitrariness of the Comelec in accrediting party list organizations (dropping Ang Ladlad, and not Alliance Transport Sector and 1-United Transport Koalisyon and Kapatiran ng mga Na Kulong na Walang Sala), an easy-to-understand explanation is needed to show why Benjamin Abalos is appointed as chair of Comelec (this news is just a piece of the pie).

Anyway, read the text of Republic Act 7941 (the Party List Law) and a Comelec primer on the party list system.

While I do not have a list of senatorial candidates to vote (yet), I have already chosen CIBAC as my party list vote. My apologies to you and you and you for not selecting Kabataan for the party list. Let me explain why.

My aunt is a Born Again, and she does missionary work for her church. One morning at the breakfast table, she asked me to vote for Alagad in the party list elections. I asked her why, and she said the party is helpful (nakakatulong was the word that she used). Knowing that this party had given us Rodante Marcoleta (who is in my Wall of Shame) and his hairdo, I politely said no.

Now, here is why I am voting for Cibac. One, it has been consistent on its stand regarding accountability of government officials. Second, it is pro-impeachment. And third, the primary voters of this party list are Born Again Christians. If my aunt is any indication, the Born Again vote is now divided, and the support for Cibac will be eroded.

Cibac deserves to retain its seat in the House of Representatives, and it deserves to gain two more. That is why I am voting for Cibac. I will not try to convince you to vote for Cibac. Just go to their Web site, read, and see if it deserves your own vote.

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Join the discussion on GO vs. TU Web site smackdown! Go here and leave your ratings and comments. Go tell others.

Monday being a holiday, I was able to see another episode of Forum 2007. The topic was about Mindanao, and the candidates featured were Aquilino Pimentel III, Adrian Sison, and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Mindanao is a complicated topic, and someone not from Mindanao cannot comment on the topic with confidence. Pimentel and Zubiri are both from Mindanao, and thus their confidence showed. Sison was very confident also, though I’m not sure if he’s from Mindanao.

My impression on Zubiri is that he is a politician at heart. His answers (like the other two) were motherhood statements coupled with references to his accomplishments in his congressional district. He mouthed the roads and other infrastructure that his pork barrel has funded (implying that people of Bukidnon should be thankful); he even had a so-called score card, a folder containing pictures of infra projects in Bukidnon. This is what a true-blue politician will do.

Pimentel’s and Zubiri’s proposed solutions to the Mindanao problem do not differ that much; Sison emphasized on education, which to me is rather short-sighted, as if education alone will solve the problems in Mindanao. However, Zubiri’s a bit incoherent on his proposals, to the point that I myself can’t remember anything specific except for infrastructure and the like.

Sadly, he had not shared to the viewers and panelists his specific legislative agenda for Mindanao. And that’s where the problem is.

He is running for senator, which is a legislative position. His proposed solutions are all under the purview of the executive, thus I am scratching my head in asking, “Why should I vote for this guy, when he has not presented his legislative agenda for Mindanao?”

And, by the way, was he not part of the fools at the House of Representatives that wanted to abolish the Senate? And now he is running for a seat at the chamber that he wanted abolished? This is what we call an about face, a classic in the politician’s playbook. Why should I vote for him?

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SIDE NOTES:

Pimentel said it best: “The problem in Mindanao is not just a problem of Mindanaoaons, it is the problem of all Filipinos.”

Amina Rasul’s questions were very leading. She had stated her questions in such a way that she would get the answers that she wanted. Unfortunately, two of the candidates answered that diverged from her questions. Guess who they were?

When asked about the Anti Terror Law, Pimentel had said that it is unconstitutional. He suggested that ARMM create a Commission on Human Rights wqith prosecutorial powers. Why the national CHR does not have this power is a question with no answers.

Today we commemorate the valor of the Filipino soldiers in fighting the Japanese during World War II.

This date is actually the date when Bataan fell to the Japanese, and majority of the American and Filipino soldiers were forced to do the so called Death March.

This day we should remember the sacrifices that our war veterans did to liberate the country.

May the government get its act together to take the plight of our war veterans and retired soldiers seriously.

May the US government see the light and justly compensate the efforts given by Filipino war veterans.

May the Filipino people realize that there are aspirations greater than getting rich or living the life that they wanted.

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My paternal grandfather was a war veteran, but he was not able to set foot on the US. He died when I was still young, so I never got to ask him war stories. His brother fared better; he now lives in the Bay Area of California, and drops by the Philippines from time to time. The last time I saw him was when my paternal grandmother (his sister-in-law) died. Never got to ask him war stories then. Hopefully it is not too late.

Do you know someone who is a war veteran? Do you have war stories to share? Post them in the comments or post about it.

This post is to disagree with Abe Olandres on the issue of blogging as a privilege and not a right.

Blogging is a natural extension of what is stated in Article III Section 4 of the Philippine Constitution, and I quote:

No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.

That article is entitled “Bill of Rights”. That section was placed there in posterity so that no one will ever tell somebody what he can say, when he can say what he wants, and how he wants to say it. No one is given the privilege of exercising free speech at the detriment of the others.

The UN Declaration of Human Rights (of which the Philippines is a signatory) guarantees the freedom of expression in Article 19:

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Abe’s arguments are best rebutted by Willy Prilles of Naga, and I quote him:

Yes, the lack of internet access, time and facility for language are formidable barriers to blogging today. But their existence does not make blogging less of a right that every citizen should have the freedom to enjoy — or decide not to enjoy at all.

In the same manner that simply because the Philippine blogging community today is a mostly elitist segment of society at large should deter ordinary citizens from wanting their voice to be heard and demanding their own seat on the table — in cyberspace. To the contrary, it is our challenge to tear down these barriers, or at least die trying.

Yes, blogging in the Philippines is limited at the moment. Blogging requires time, and time requires an Internet connection being available all the time. But this constraint can be overcome. Blogging is not always typing at the keyboard; one can write his/her thoughts on paper, rewrite, compile, and post them when the connection is possible. Blogging does not require that you blog every hour and every day. Blogging only requires that you post at some semblance of regularity.

Yes, blogging requires good language skills. What better way to hone that skill than blogging?

If blogging is not for everyone, then freedom of speech is not for everyone, too. So why bother with a Constitution? Besides, those who advance this line of argument only emphasizes the fact that we live in a class-based society.

Blogging is for everyone, but not everyone is born to blog. There lies the difference. I think.

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I understand where Abe is coming from. Fresh from the success of the Philippine Blog Awards, there are some quarters who are somehow unhappy with the event. That is to be expected. Only that some have overreacted. Sometimes being pissed off drives someone to say something irrational. All we can do is be magnanimous and graceful both at the same time.

Apologies have been issued, and it’s time to bury the hatchet, and enter the holidays with peace of mind.

The problem with most news organizations in the Philippines (and probably everywhere) is that they are owned by corporations and as such, they are constrained by commercial considerations in their operations and time slots.

This year being an election year, news organizations will play a big role in the way people will vote. Afterall, the news is the people’s primary source of information with regards to candidates and platforms. It is therefore important that news organizations present what the voters need. It is their duty, if you ask me.

Unfortunately, most of them are governed by the avarice of profits, hence they are constrained by ratings and ads.

Take for example ABS-CBN‘s Forum 2007. It aims to expose senatorial candidates and their ideas to the voting public. However, it is shown on ANC, which is on cable TV, thus the number of people who can watch is limited. It is shown on Channel 2, but at 4AM, who’s going to watch it?

GMA7, on the other hand, has The Philippine Agenda. Instead of dealing with candidates, the show instead focuses on issues that affects the country. It is shown on Channel 7 on Sundays, 7PM. By limiting the show on issues, the producers hope ” to raise viewers’ level of concern and awareness on the country’s recurring problems so that, in turn, they can make sound choices come election day”. What the people need to know is where do candidates stand on these issues. I’m afraid the GMA show will not address the question at all.

ABS-CBN is unwilling to sacrifice its primetime slots because it is trying to catch up with GMA7, while GMA7 has decided to present something half-useful. The TV news organizations somehow fail to fulfill their functions as conduits of needed information. I hope radio, online, and print media fare better. But among these, TV is the most potent, and yet most impotent.

Aquilino Pimentel III was hardpressed in defending himself with the political dynasty issue being raised by certain quarters. The same issue was raised at last week’s Forum 2007.

The Constitution calls for the Congress to pass a law banning political dynasties. As Article II, Section 26 states:

The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.

My position on this issue is here.

His position is that as long as there is no law, political dynasty is not an issue. Cute.

Aside from motherhood statements (don’t they all give statements like that), his answer to a certain query jives with my position on EDSA II. When asked about EDSA II, he said that the logical conclusion would have been for Estrada to resign. He also took potshots at the constructive resignation doctrine, which for me is an unsound and indefensible one. It is a mistake that history will have to judge. Soon.

At the very least, he held himself better than Joker Arroyo and Zosimo Paredes.

I am considering Ang Kapatiran candidates. But I am disappointed with Zosimo Paredes’ performance at the ANC show. He was as if rambling, and at one point, his answer was way off from the panelist’s question.

He stated their platform and principles, and I can’t help but shake my head, because what he had said was no different from what GO and TU are stating – pure motherhood statements. Though he had stated concrete plans, I am not sure how that would be feasible.

For example, he said that if elected, he and the other Ang Kapatiran candidates will support Charter change, and he had stated a specific section that he wants to remove (Article II, Section 3):

Civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military. The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the people and the State. Its goal is to secure the sovereignty of the State and the integrity of the national territory.

He said that the clause “The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the people and the State.” is the reason why there are military adventurists who committed coups/mutinies. Hmm, say that again? As if removing that clause would eradicate military adventurism. Besides, the Constitution is clear: the goal of the AFP is to secure the sovereignty and territory of the Philippines.

I still have to hear the other two Ang Kapatiran candidates to speak. I hope they would fare better.