‘Why we can’t support call for GMA to resign’
POSTSCRIPT  By Federico D. Pascual Jr.
Sunday, March 16, 2008

ffflor:

‘Why we can’t support call for GMA to resign’
POSTSCRIPT  By Federico D. Pascual Jr.
Sunday, March 16, 2008

THIS Sunday, I share a piece by Fr. Ranhilio Callangan Aquino, dean of the Graduate School of Law of San Beda College (Mendio-la) on calls for President Gloria Arroyo to resign. He says, and I concur:

“I am not an apologist for President Arroyo. I have received no favors from her. I believe that she is a competent President and I also believe in the Rule of Law, no matter that the law may, in several respects, be infirm. And by the precepts of the Rule of Law to which I adhere, pressuring the President into resigning by swaying public opinion away from her and alienating the allegiance of the military is anathema.

“My own reflections on the moral dimensions of the problems confirm me in the legal position I have so far taken.

“1. I have followed with keen attention the proceedings in the Senate. Joey de Venecia’s testimony clearly implicates the First Gentleman. Under the current legal doctrine of individual responsibility, there is no justification to impute to the President whatever wrongdoings the First Gentleman may be guilty of. I am not yet conceding that he is guilty.

“2. The testimony of Jun Lozada, while rich in many details, contains not a single incriminatory statement against the President. There are innuendos that the NBN deal was known to, if not brokered, by some Malacañang personalities, but innuendo is never evidence, and when we take such a serious move as urging the people to press for the resignation of the President, such a call must, by all moral precepts, rest on moral certitude!

“3. Much of the testimony of Lozada in the Senate would fail the test of judicial admissibility. The Senate does not adhere to the Rules of Evidence. It is not required to, because its task is not judicial.

“4. The Senators are not the impartial investigators and judges that judicial proceedings call for. Most of the Senators are political adversaries of PGMA. The witness answers as he is led by the questions. In court, most of these questions are characterized as ‘leading,’ and are disallowed in direct examinations because they lead the witness to the kind of answer the proponent of the question — in this case, the senators — wish to elicit from the witness.

“5. Section 15 (1) of Republic Act 6770 vests in the Ombudsman the power to investigate ‘any public officer or employee, office or agency’ when an act or omission complained of appears to be illegal or even merely improper. I do not read, nor is there reason to read, the exclusion of the President from the power of the Ombudsman to investigate. Section 22 is in fact express about its power to investigate impeachable officials. I would like to hear the Ombudsman tell us whether or not there is probable cause in the first place because this, the Senate of its own cannot determine, nor does it possess the power to do so!

“6. What shocks me is the irresponsibility with which a lawyer and a Senator of the Republic should prejudice the Ombudsman and dissuade the public from lending credence to the Ombudsman. Why should he? The reason is not too difficult to fathom: Since this particular senator has always wanted the President ousted, he wants public attention focused on the Senate, majority of whose members are having a heyday with the investigations at which they get the chance to bash the President. Proceedings before the Ombudsman should be more sedate, more orderly, more rational.

“7. The contention that the Ombudsman and the Justice Secretary cannot conduct credible investigations because they are presidential appointees is specious! Were that so, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the associate justices of the High Court, the justices of all superior courts, judges of courts, members of the Constitutional Commissions — all would lack credibility because all are presidential appointees. Is it then our sad fate in this blighted Republic that only the Senators are to be trusted? All the clowning that has taken place in the Senate thus far convinces me otherwise: That it is one of the least credible institutions in this country.

“8. Is it really the truth we seek? I have the sickening feeling that the President’s foes have already decided what the ‘truth’ is — that she is guilty. If the Ombudsman were to find no probable cause against the President or reason to indict the President in the Lower House (that is tasked with filing the articles of impeachment) after a thorough investigation, would the members of the opposition and the media be willing to accept this as ‘true’? I have my serious doubts. But that is exactly the trouble: If they have decided beforehand what ‘true’ is, then all investigations are unavailing.

“9. When one protests his earnestness in search of the truth and at the same time presses for the resignation of the President, one is guilty of a ‘performative contradiction.’ If you search for the truth, you do not yet know whether or not she is guilty. But if you do not know this yet, what reason is there to ask her to resign?

“10. Asking for the President’s resignation gives now the military the signal to shift allegiances: From following the chain of command to breaking it. I find pathetic and ludicrous Jose Ma. Sison’s call to the military to shift allegiances.

“11. When did all these coup attempts disruptive of civil government start? They all started with the politicization of the military. While we lauded their role in the first EDSA People Power revolution, we also opened a Pandora’s Box — the ugly prospect of the military dictating upon civilian government and making the latter hostage to it. How shall we ever have a government that truly subjects military authority to civilian rule if we court military support for the ouster of civilian government?

“11. The two EDSA People Power exercises we have gone through got us the results we wanted THEN — the ouster of Marcos, the ouster of Erap. But have these resulted in the strengthening of democratic institutions? They definitely have not. And when the institutions of democracy and justice are weakened by extra-systemic measures like people power, snap elections, premature departures from office of duly constituted authorities, we deter the maturing of our democracy.

“12. It has been repeatedly argued that the President’s resignation is not unconstitutional. But forcing her to by inviting the military for example to disavow obedience to their Commander-in-Chief and the civilian population not to submit to authority is certainly unconstitutional.”

I GUESS, MOST FILIPINOS WANT HER OUT OF THE OFFICE BUT THERE'S SO MUCH POVERTY IN THE LAND THAT THEY'D RATHER 

WORK TO EAT THAN GO OUT AND MARCH IN THE STREETS TO  OUST HER... 

HOW CAN YOU WALK A LONG MILE IF YOUR STOMACH IS EMPTY? 

KAYA NAG HIHINTAY NA LANG SILA KUNG ANO ANG MANGYAYARI.. 

palahubug99:

Tama ka dyan, Flor. However, I have to say that reform must start from the very top. In order to institute a revamp, we need to catapult Fr. Ed Panlilio to the presidency via military coup because he would never make it in regular a mano-a-mano election. Once we have ethical leadership at the very top, declare martial law and clean up the pigsty that Phil. politics has become. Fire all of the senators and batasan, have all cabinet-level officers tender their mandatory resignations immediately, revise the horribly one-sided 1987 constitution that favors the filthy rich, jail or hang corrupt government employees (this is possible with military support), seize and sequester the haciendas and assets owned by the 134 ruling elite families (again possible with military support) and implement meaningful land reform, hire a new ombudsman group made up of seminarians and fresh law school graduates that will be a government watchdog answerable only to the president. This is called LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD to encourage Pinoy entrepreneurs to establish new businesses free from Chinoy meddling by giving them access to capital. To create good-paying jobs and develop our manufacturing and heavy industries, we need to invite foreign companies to invest in our country which means enticing them with tax breaks. This is the only way we can stop the hemorrhage of our highly skilled OFWs leaving to seek work elsewhere.

 

I think what you are thinking more or less resembles what happened in either Malaysians or Indonesians in the past. They kick-out all Chinese from the government and sequesterred all their assets and businesses and turned them over to non-Chinese in their nations. We can only hope for the great revolution to happen in our country.

The only difference is Malaysia and Indonesia is dominated by Muslims. All I can say is those Muslims are very brave in what they did. We can only hope that Christian dominated nation can put such very effective revolution in the Philippines. I guess the first move is for Filipinos to " GET THEIR BALLS BACK" in order to put up such a revolution.

By the way, here are some post from Pinoyexchange forum with the subject "Discrimination between Filipinos and Chinese"

 www.pinoyexchange.com: "Discrimination between Filipinos and Chinese"

Quote: Originally Posted by wazdog View Post emanresu, aren't you noticing that NO ONE is arguing with your posts. Let's just say it isn't because its watertight. You have no idea what real racism is like. Simple example: Malaysia. http://www.worldpress.org/2298.cfm

I like what you posted. But apparently, it only shows one side of the picture, the Chinese as the victim of racism. Ironically, that's completely the opposite of the realities here in the Philippines, where most Filipinos are the victims of racism by the ruling Chinese monopolies.

On the otherside of the coin. I've read one article, I am not sure if it is Malaysia or Indonesia case. It says that their country was once overwhelmingly Chinese controlled monopoly of almost any business, while most of the People who live in the country who are non-Chinese got no chance to economically rise due to the intentional discriminative policies by the ruling Chinese monopolies against the non-Chinese nationals. The non-Chinese got finally fed up and decided to take matters in their own hands which created a revolution against the ruling Chinese monopolies. Of course it was dramatic and violent. It led them to take control of any political aspect of their government. They then sequesterred Chinese companies and redistributed them to non-Chinese. Their government even created some sort of "affirmative action" that gives assistance and lend capitals to non-Chinese only.

Today, their nation has effectively, achieved a better economic equality status between the minority Chinese nationals and the overwhelmingly non-Chinese nationals The above examples fit almost exactly the picture of the Philippines. Perharps, a revolution just like what happend in the above story is just what the Phillipines needs in order to move forward from its current state.

 

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elgoog

Corruption in our country does not quite resemble the racism by the ruling Chinese monopolies that happened to “either Malaysians or Indonesians…” Actually, it does not fit almost exactly the picture of the Philippines.

Corruption in our country has an etiology that is complex, enduring, and virulent. Therefore, it needs a special, effective, and sustainable treatment/cure. Whatever that is!!! Meanwhile, reforms must not only start from the very top, but from the very bottom as well. So, why not fix the problemsssssss also aside from fixing the blame?

ffflor:

Corruption in our country does not quite resemble the racism by the ruling Chinese monopolies that happened to “either Malaysians or Indonesians…” Actually, it does not fit almost exactly the picture of the Philippines.

Corruption in our country has an etiology that is complex, enduring, and virulent. Therefore, it needs a special, effective, and sustainable treatment/cure. Whatever that is!!! Meanwhile, reforms must not only start from the very top, but from the very bottom as well. So, why not fix the problemsssssss also aside from fixing the blame?

we can do that...but who will fix the biggest problem---corruption under GMA govt?

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Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.

To ffflor:

Thanks for sharing Fr. Aquino's piece.

Corruption under GMA govt is a subtopic to Corruption in the Philippines.

                        

The People of the Philippines! The Filipinos should file criminal charges against GMA, just like Erap! Are we in a democratic country that says an individual is innocent until proven guilty? Put her behind the bars (not in a rest house) and give her no pardon.  I am aware of the many loopholes in our justice system so it is very important to be vigilant during her trial. We should know better now! Our constitution should be very useful. Without it, the slightest peace and order is not possible.  Justice for all!!!

President John F. Kennedy expressed it rather well when he said, 

 "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."

Really, is GMA doing the corruption, or the goverment itself? When did we start hearing this corruption problem of the Philippines? Was it only when GMA began to reign? When will the Philippines have a President that they like? Because, eversince, I didn't see a leader of the country that people appreciated. I think GMA, although, her goverment is not as good as in HK, or as in Singapore, I don't think people can not see the difference of the current goverment from the previous.

 I will take for example my country of birth, Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a very clean , very progressive country and most of all, no descrimination when it comes to justice. Is it because of the Chief Excutive's  effort alone? Absolutely not. Because of people's good unity, because goverment officials do their work with their best efforts and not looking on other officials' mistakes.

I do appreciate the sensible posts of "elgoog", by the way. *smiles*

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"If you don't like my apples, don't shake my tree!"

President John F. Kennedy expressed it rather well when he said, 

 "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."

Really, is GMA doing the corruption, or the goverment itself? When did we start hearing this corruption problem of the Philippines? Was it only when GMA began to reign? When will the Philippines have a President that they like? Because, eversince, I didn't see a leader of the country that people appreciated. I think GMA, although, her goverment is not as good as in HK, or as in Singapore, I don't think people can not see the difference of the current goverment from the previous.

 I will take for example my country of birth, Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a very clean , very progressive country and most of all, no descrimination when it comes to justice. Is it because of the Chief Excutive's  effort alone? Absolutely not. Because of people's good unity, because goverment officials do their work with their best efforts and not looking on other officials' mistakes.

I do appreciate the sensible posts of "elgoog", by the way. *smiles*

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"If you don't like my apples, don't shake my tree!"

Sweet&Sour:

President John F. Kennedy expressed it rather well when he said, 

 "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."

Really, is GMA doing the corruption, or the goverment itself? When did we start hearing this corruption problem of the Philippines? Was it only when GMA began to reign? When will the Philippines have a President that they like? Because, eversince, I didn't see a leader of the country that people appreciated. I think GMA, although, her goverment is not as good as in HK, or as in Singapore, I don't think people can not see the difference of the current goverment from the previous.

 I will take for example my country of birth, Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a very clean , very progressive country and most of all, no descrimination when it comes to justice. Is it because of the Chief Excutive's  effort alone? Absolutely not. Because of people's good unity, because goverment officials do their work with their best efforts and not looking on other officials' mistakes.

I do appreciate the sensible posts of "elgoog", by the way. *smiles*

kailan ba sinabi ni JFK yan? ahhh...during the difficult time sa giyera sa vietnam....that's the problem, since corruption is been there for long time, pinoys seems to accept it as a normal part of life...no aacountability...no changes...few resistance but failed...new beggining, end up being worst....corruption is so powerful....since when do you appreciate poverty, unemployemnt, poor education, healthcare.? cute words...unity....but it does not have to be equal to poverty.....

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Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.