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 Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 4:37 am
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 8:52 am
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 8:55 am
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 8:58 am
Former President Joseph Estrada said yesterday that President Arroyo�s Truth Commission may get off the ground given the resources of Malaca�ang, but its future and credibility are doomed from the very beginning.
Estrada�s observations may ring true as already, the proposed Truth Commission has drawn criticisms from virtually every sector of the House and the Senate, including Arroyo�s known allies in Congress.
Minority and independent solons led by Iloilo Rep. Rolex Suplico and Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras reject the Truth Commission saying it is unconstitutional. Others, like Para�aque Rep. Roilo Golez and Bayan Muna Reps. Teddy Casi�o and Satur Ocampo, believe it is a ploy to delay or muddle the impeachment proceedings.
Still others, like Senator Rodolfo Biazon, warn it may create more problems than it solves.
Estrada reminded the public that the Truth Commission was originally initiated and proposed by the Makati Business Club and so-called civil society leaders who are "certified allies of the Arroyo administration."
The Truth Commission, added Estrada, was floated immediately following Mrs. Arroyo�s public apology over the "Hello Garci" wiretapped tape where she was recorded having a conversation with a Commission on Election (Comelec) official.
Estrada noted that when the creation of the Truth Commission was proposed by the "boys� club of big business and vested interests, there were already reports that the Concepcion brothers, Raul and Jose, and the highly controversial Guillermo Luz would be among those to be appointed."
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. has been consistent in questioning the meddling of Luz in Philippine politics as an official of the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), despite his alleged Canadian citizenship.
"The Truth Commission will be nothing but a comedy of error and terror. Given the profile of the proponents and their biases, it is so easy to predict the untruths such a commission will come up with," said Estrada.
Estrada also questioned the constitutionality of the Truth Commission, which he said, is "nowhere provided in the Constitution to investigate electoral fraud against a sitting President, a process which should be done only before an impeachment hearing in Congress."
Fr. Joaquin Bernas, S. J., who was mentioned by Malaca�ang as among those who might be appointed to the Truth Commission, rejected the proposal on the same day it was announced by the Arroyo administration.
Bernas, former dean of the Ateneo Law School, and a sought-after legal authority, in published reports, said the Truth Commission is unconstitutional, adding that the proper venue to probe electoral frauds would be the Presidential Electoral Tribunal and the impeachment court.
Estrada also described Malaca�ang�s creation of the Truth Commission, as "ill-timed" given Mrs. Arroyo�s public distrust rating at a high of 81 percent as reported by Pulse Asia.
The detained leader also cited former Senator John Osme�a�s revelations of alleged cheating by Mrs. Arroyo in Cebu and 10 other places against opponent Fernando Poe Jr. Osme�a had left the opposition last year to run with the Arroyo ticket in the May 2004 elections.
Osme�a, in a press conference Tuesday, declared that FPJ won last year�s elections by at least 740,000 votes citing following a year-long study of election records he officially commissioned.
Estrada, who was among the first to denounce the proposed Truth Commission, said: "The Truth Commission is nothing more but an unconstitutional instrument to buy time for Mrs. Arroyo aimed to obscure the rising demands for her immediate resignation from all directions."
Commission will muddle impeach process � solons
Members of the House minority bloc and independent solons yesterday lambasted the creation of the so-called Truth Commission saying it is unconstitutional and will muddle the issues against Mrs. Arroyo and hinder the imminent impeachment process.
Iloilo Rep. Rolex Suplico and Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras, both of the opposition, also said Mrs. Arroyo�s creation of the truth commission could be used in the impeachment complaint because it is illegal.
"It is a dilatory tactic presumably intended to delay the impeachment proceedings. It is illegal and unconstitutional. It has no legal basis," Suplico said yesterday.
"We are awaiting the EO because should she push through with it, we would include it as one of the grounds for impeachment," Suplico said.
Paras, Para�aque Rep. Roilo Golez and Bayan Muna Reps. Teddy Casi�o and Satur Ocampo said that it would interfere and pre-empt the results of the impeachment process.
"This strategy is meant to becloud and interfere with both the PGMA resign campaign and the impeach PGMA effort now about to start in the House," Golez said.
Golez explained that the term Truth Commission was first used in South Africa after the termination of the white rule and the ascendancy of Nelson Mandela as president. It was not created to investigate the president, but to investigate the truth about apartheid.
"A PGMA-created Truth Commission to investigate PGMA would never take off because of its dubious credibility and constitutional infirmity. Without Garcillano, and with an uncooperative President, that commission is doomed from the start," Golez said.
"Mrs. Arroyo�s Truth Commission is nothing but a grand deception and ploy to prolong her stay in power," Ocampo said.
Majority, minority blocs agree to reject Arroyo�s proposal
By BEN ROSARIO
At loggerheads in almost all political issues affecting Malaca�ang, the majority and minority bloc in the House of Representatives finally found something to agree about � both reject the creation of the Truth Commission.
The newly-formed Independent bloc composed of congressmen representing leftist organizations said the decision of President Arroyo to create a Truth Commission "is nothing but a grand deception and ploy to prolong herself in power."
Senior administration Reps. Prospero Pichay (Lakas, Surigao del Sur) and Constantino Jaraula (Lakas, Cagayan de Oro City) expressed their admiration of Arroyo�s sincerity in ferreting out the truth about accusations of fraud in the presidential elections but both believe the panel would only muddle the impeachment proceedings in the House.
Their views were echoed by Senior Deputy Minority Leader Rolex Suplico (LDP, Iloilo) and Jacinto Paras (KNP, Negros Oriental).
In an open letter to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, President Arroyo said she will form the Truth Commission or a similar fact-finding panel that would conduct a probe into the allegations of election fraud hurled against her by opposition forces.
Last week, pro-Arroyo Reps. Salacnib Baterina (Lakas, Ilocos Norte); Roque Ablan (KBL, Ilocos Norte) and Antonio Cuenco (Lakas, Cebu City) told reporters that they have filed a bill seeking the creation of the Truth Commission.
Jaraula, chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Reforms, explained that the President does not have the legislative authority to empower the Commission "with sufficient authority and power to pursue its objectives as envisioned by the CBCP."
He added that the truth panel will also suffer from a serious credibility problem because its members will be appointed by the President who is the subject of the investigation.
"The Commission cannot have the coercive power to compel appearance of any person, declare in contempt refusal to appear and/or compel related government agencies to render service to it," he explained.
The Truth Commission which being organized by the Palace may cause more divisiveness rather than closure to our political problems, Sen. Rodolfo Biazon warned.
Biazon said that with its doubtful character, the Truth Commission is only a waste of time that could hinder the impeachment process now underway in the House.
"At this point, the truth commission is not needed," he said.
He said that political quarters critical of the administration may have some basis for doubting the motive for the creation of a fact-finding commission at a time when the impeachment case against the President is being prepared.
"This seems to be preempting the impeachment process," Biazon said.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. expressed fear that the Commission is just another ploy to save President Arroyo "from (her) inevitable downfall."
According to Sen. Serge Osme�a, the country would save a lot of energy and time if only the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) would open the ballot boxes and do away with technicalities.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan said the creation of an independent counsel to conduct investigations of impeachable officials is a better option. (With a report by Jude Galford III)
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 8:59 am
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 9:01 am
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 9:05 am
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 9:07 am
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 9:09 am
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 9:10 am
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 9:14 am
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 9:15 am
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 5:32 pm
Philippine Politics and Corruption: A Sociopolitical Digression
In the last Pearl, I presented a contrarian view of the current ruckus in the Philippines. I focused on a number of positive factors and did my best to come to a more-or-less optimistic conclusion. In addition to providing a useful counterpoint to the prevailing drumbeat of despair, it may have reminded readers that the current situation, dismal and disturbing though it be, won't last forever.
Nevertheless, I can't find it within myself to generate another such piece. The reality is that this is one heck of a mess and the fate of the country hangs in precarious balance.
Perhaps I can contribute to the debate by stepping back, putting on my academic hat, and providing some perspective on a question that may puzzle the uninitiated - Why is the Philippines so darn corrupt? Or, to rephrase it using an old hillbilly idiom my grandpa used a lot, why are so many key players here crooked as a dog's hind leg?
Herewith, a few observations on the seemingly impenetrable jungle of Philippine politics and corruption. Interested readers might want to refer to An Oversimplified History Lesson or Cronies and Booty Capitalism for additional background.
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 5:33 pm
TEN "doves" in the Arroyo Cabinet are expected to announce their irrevocable resignation in a press conference this morning, in a bid to outflank the President who had preempted them by hastily announcing last night that she was overhauling her Cabinet. (See "Hawks" and "doves" post.) A number of them will also call for the resignation of the President.
The resignations of these Cabinet members will by far be the most damaging fallout from the controversies rocking the Arroyo administration, after wiretapped conversations implying the rigging of the 2004 elections were made public in early June. Various sectors have since then called for the President�s resignation, or, at the least, the creation of a Truth Commission.
The resignations will be led by no less than the President�s economic managers, in what is seen as a signal to the business community that they have lost their trust in the administration. Those expected to leave are Finance secretary Cesar Purisima, Budget secretary Emilia Boncodin and Trade secretary Juan Santos. They will be joined by Social Welfare secretary Dinky Soliman, Presidential Peace Adviser Ging Deles, and Education secretary Butch Abad.
With the resignation of these individuals, the President will be left with the "hawks" in her ranks, among them Environment secretary Mike Defensor and Presidential Management Staff Chief Rigoberto Tiglao.
Permalink
18 Comments �
rgrosario said,
July 8, 2005 @ 10:06 am
i hope mike defensor will do the same as the other did. one word i can describe mike is that �sayang� bata pa naman siya dont put yourself taht will destroy your political career. bilib pa naman ako sa iyo before.Pls doj secretary resign also, parang ba ang sarap ng upo mo lagi sa upuan whwnever i watch you interview by the media. I�m begging pls go�����
sinningsaint said,
July 8, 2005 @ 10:17 am
if majority of the cabinet posts are vacant, will the Presidency be considered �incapacitated�� whatever you call it?� then it would be imperative for the VP to take over?? di ba parang ganun yun?? how does the process go ba??
ang kulit naman kasi Gloria e!!� winarningan naman na kasi e� nakakapanghina� at anu pa nga ba: yung mga tulad ni angie reyes, ebdane, defensor, mendoza (dotc), neri� naku, tingnan mo, yun pa ang matitira jan�
sina sec. dinky, sec. purisima, sec. boncodin.. i think these people are doing well naman� sila pa �tong dinidare ni gloria� naman, naman, NAMAN!!
ANYWAYS, hanggang Cabinet secrataries lang ba?� hindi ba kasali yung mga heads of agencies like GSIS?�
Chihiro said,
July 8, 2005 @ 10:20 am
^ no� hindi ganun. majority of the cabinet can write to Congress and declare that the President is TEMPORARILY incapacitated to govern. Pag nag-resign sila, wala na sila pwedeng gawin under the Consti.
gangster_roger said,
July 8, 2005 @ 10:25 am
Gloria will be forced out. Thats for sure.
I think the replacement is going to create more trouble when the opposition groups start jostling for power. Im ready to go out in the streets if the replacement is going to be the military or a traditional politician. this is going to get ugly.
masha said,
July 8, 2005 @ 10:43 am
asa pa na umalis si mike d. �fair-haired� boy yan ni gma. yung mga galing militar, di yan aalis. wala na silang career pagkatapos. winston garcia? are you kidding? he got his position because of the delivery of cebu votes. gma kid rin yan. why bite the hand that feeds you. because of his appointment to the gsis, garcia was able to buy a house in san lorenzo, makati, one of the most expensive real estate in manila, and a volvo. otherwise wala namang bahay yan sa maynila.
Garcigwen said,
July 8, 2005 @ 11:07 am
Timber!
Partisanong Lagalag said,
July 8, 2005 @ 11:13 am
It�s sad, those who are now left to defend a dying regime, with the likes of Defensor and Tiglao, are those who were once aligned with left. Ironic, but according to Bob Dylan, times they are a-changin�. Indeed and it�s changin� fast.
jonas said,
July 8, 2005 @ 11:41 am
Classic lapdog si Mike Defensor. Sayang, batang-bata nag-pasira kaagad. Mahirap ba namang intindihin ang kapakanan ng bayan kesa sa personal na relasyon?
Partisanong Lagalag said,
July 8, 2005 @ 12:37 pm
Sabagay matagal nang naging Trapo si Mike, mula pa nong naging Congressman siya. Ang tanging naging puhunan nya sa kanyang trapong-political career ay ang kanyang pagiging aktibista sa kilusang kabataang estudyante nung araw. Si Mike ang epitome ng isang kareristang-opurtunista. Sayang, bata pa, bistado na. Wala na siyang mapaglalagyan ngayon kundi maging habambuhay na Trapo.
masha said,
July 8, 2005 @ 12:50 pm
jonas, dapat idagdag sa tanong�lalo na�t may asawa na siya?
long71 said,
July 8, 2005 @ 8:22 pm
napanuod ko nga si mike defensor sa tv, para siyang nagtatampong, natuturete na bata. pa akti-aktibista pa ng kumag nuon�trapo rin pala kalalabasan.
DIMITRI said,
July 8, 2005 @ 9:02 pm
cge, magmatigas kapa gma, galitin mupa ang pinoy ng mahalintulad kayo sa mga chaucescu ng romania
puretuts said,
July 9, 2005 @ 12:57 pm
Dating pseudo activist sa UP yan. Burgis na activist. Sayang matalino at magaling pa naman si Mike (former classmate ko).
tobebs said,
July 9, 2005 @ 1:57 pm
Sayang talaga si Mike. Sinira nya ang kredibilidad nya sa kakadepensa kay Gng. Arroyo. He could be a good Secretary of National Defense.
emer said,
July 9, 2005 @ 5:00 pm
nagmumukha na ngang engot sa kadedepensa k GMA.. . sayang ka mike defensor di ka magkandatuto sa pagsisinungaling.. sinayang mo ang talino ..
matamlay said,
July 9, 2005 @ 5:43 pm
Walang sawa talaga si mike sa pagsisinungaling para idepensa si arroyo. Nakakahiya ka mike ipinakita mo rin kong sino ka. Taga punas ka lang pala sa mabahong puwit ni GMA.
swerty said,
July 9, 2005 @ 6:17 pm
tsk tsk� Mike Defensor� bata ka pa TRA-PO na.
korab said,
July 12, 2005 @ 11:09 am
palagay ko mas nagiisip lang si Mike D sa pag depensa kay gma�..mas nakakagulat yung mga pulitiko na gustong magbalik kay erap or magluklok kay Susan Roces or kay Lacson�at mas lalong di nagiisip yung mga taong naniniwala pa din sa komunismo kagaya ng maraming bloggers dito�
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 5:34 pm
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Reply
