United under the regional broad alliance STOP NA!, various sectors across Southern Tagalog composed of lawyers, students, urban poor, church and other cause-oriented groups, including railway-dwellers and victims of demolition brought about by the $932 million Southrail Project held a Caravan for Truth, Justice and Accountability en route to the Inter-faith rally in Makati City last February 29.
STOP NA (Southern Tagalog Organization and People’s Network Against Corruption, Poverty and Attack on People’s Rights) is a regional broad alliance conceived last February 25 by organizations and individuals against corruption.
Some 20-30 vehicles from different provinces in the region hit the road in the symbolic event, which commenced in Crossing, Calamba City at around 8AM and pushed through to Makati City later in the afternoon inspite harassments by PNP personnel.
Early on, the group staged a prayer vigil for truth and justice, attended by around 200 protestors from various parts of Southern Tagalog in Crossing, Calamba City last February 28, alongside the simultaneous protest actions in Lucena City, UP Los Banos and Pacita Complex. It also served as the converging point of the group before pushing to Makati.
According to Pastor Joel Tendero, spokesperson of STOP NA!, that the caravan is a way of showing solidarity with other sectors who advocates fighting corruption and in support of star witness Jun Lozada.
“We need to show to the Arroyo government that people from the province are even more against corrupt officials than in Manila, especially that many poor families reside in the provinces due to rampant corruption and the rotten system of government”, he said.
Arman Albarillo, secretary-general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Southern Tagalog (BAYAN-ST) meanwhile insisted that Arroyo should vacate her post considering her abuses against the people.
”The Arroyo government deserves no more chance. If people afforded to set aside the 2004 Election scandal and other unsolved corruption cases like the Fertilizer Fund scam, then the ZTE-NBN Deal will not spear her as people find more basis to demand her ouster”, he added.
Bani Cambronero, convenor of STOP NA! cited a blatant case of corruption under the Southrail Project where around 20, 000 families along the railways will soon be displaced.
“This anomalous project is one of the many projects where the First Family had made their share of wealth. In fact, the government has targeted a complete demolition within the year to facilitate their kickbacks”, he added.
On their way to Makati however, operatives from the Calamba City Philippine National Police, Traffic Management Group (TMG), including Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams blocked their entry along National Highway in Brgy. San Cristobal, Calamba City at around 9AM. At least four police cars occupied the road allowing a total blockade of the national road preventing ordinary commuters to pass the area. Police cited conflicting reasons for blocking the group, claiming traffic violation, standard procedure for a red alert status, and security concerns.
The stand-off lasted for almost 5 hours before the group receded and find a route off to Makati. The harassment continued along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) where another TMG personnel attempted to stop and chase the group but the protesters managed to evade them.
The group later arrived in Makati at around 5PM and joined the 80, 000 crowd calling for Arroyo’s ouster.
Meanwhile, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) in a statement condemned the coordinated harassments and sought legal action against the PNP. Rally organizers also plans file similar charges before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
GMA's Bane in Her Kind of Democracy
And now the end is near…
It would happen anytime soon if we are to make it possible. The end of tyranny; of corruption; of prolonged suffering; of political subjugation; of civil unrest, at least under the reigns of no less than the fascist government of GMA. It’s been eight years since EDSA II and yet its fruits were yielded to rotting. The promise of EDSA II was put in vain, and even worst, the inspiration left by EDSA I, the pioneer people uprising elsewhere. But let’s look at some scenarios surrounding this controversy.
Economic leap in 30 years
Few weeks ago, the unassuming economic men of GMA declared history in terms of the country’s economic growth in the past three decades, surpassing the Tiger economy boasted by then President Ramos. More to this, they said that our economy is as of the moment, the most stable and viable economy in the continent, even at the onset of a looming US recession. Really, GMA works in mysterious ways. But then the bottom line of the economy boils down to how the people see and feel such breakthrough. We can’t live by the numbers alone, but by every pound of food; the earning in every available work and the services due to us.
Economy by the numbers is no less than digging into a treasure pit and letting your neighbors get them out. Impressive as it may sound but the ordinary Filipino has to eat and survive by the day. The economic growth must be felt. It must convert to food, to work, to social services and the likes. These are the simple things poor Filipinos aspire everyday from the established government. They deserve of these simple treasures. But present scenario is far from reality.
Alongside the news of an economic turn around, here comes a complete cycle of chronic and acute corruption in GMA’s government. Direct links to GMA have also been established or at least her immediate family. And just recently, no less, she admitted a flaw of the China-based deal prior to signing it, but true to being advocate of maximum tolerance (popular in law enforcement agencies), yet she allowed this to proceed, and if not for the strong souls of writer Jarius Bondoc, Vice-Gov. Rolex Suplico, Joey and recently Jun Lozada, GMA and her cohorts (Abalos, Neri, her husband, and company) may have been reflecting up to now on how to spend such a fortune. Sometimes, divine intervention really works, and again, pre-empting the self-perpetrated (meaning government) corruption or what I call corruption-politics. For all they’re vested self-interest, they get what they deserve from the beginning.
The people are exhausted of ‘people power’
Indeed some may assume that Filipinos are physically tired of another people power, but they are never ever blinded by the prevailing acute corruption and political conquest of the Arroyo regime. While the Palace maintains stability, all the more that voices from across sectors and persuasions reverberate in different democratic grounds (Mendiola, Welcome Rotonda, EDSA Shrine,etc. and now Ayala Avenue) and the media, including house of worships and faith. USEC Golez is confident of proclaiming that the silent majority in the countryside is by the president, but which majority is he talking about if only their cohorts in the local governments (Leagues of Towns, Cities, Provinces, and ULAP) are speaking for themselves and making out of their caprices, and not on behalf of their constituents. Golez even downplayed the recent Interfaith Rally, the biggest so far after the ZTE scandal, that there are 80 million plus Filipinos and the 80 thousand souls present, including those who faced harassments along their way, is not reflective of people’s sentiments. Shame to this better turned bitter alter ego of GMA for he inflict so much remorse to his master, such that instead of plain and simple defense, Golez seemed to downplay the clout at the cost of desecrating the essence of the 500 thousand people-driven EDSA 2, which by the way is not all reflective of the 80 million Filipinos. But in God’s mercy, GMA was enthroned in the Palace because of that popular movement. He should then go to hell with GMA instead.
As long as corruption in government, remarkably under GMA administration (Fertilizer scam, PIATCO deal, IMPSA deal, FG account, Macapagal Boulevard, etc.), the rest of the Filipinos won’t lose sight of the beauty of fighting evil. Underestimating the aspirations of ordinary Filipino is an irreversible mistake for the administration. It only takes a critical turn somewhere, and history will repeat itself.
Do the loco ‘Cha-Cha’ or Snap Elections
True to its musical anatomy, the literal cha-cha dance steps come in at intervals. Just like the Cha-Cha or Charter Change of the Palace. Whenever controversies hound GMA, Cha-Cha always comes to play and stops when tension subsides, and many politicians go with its tune. In spite of a Supreme Court ruling halting the constitutional amendment through people initiative, here comes newly installed House Speaker Boy Nograles recalling calls for Cha-Cha via Constituent Assembly. Whichever their agenda, it’s as clear as moonlight that this is diversionary tactics to sway the focus of people away from the ZTE-Lozada scandal, or if it were successful, GMA may enjoy a term extension to pave way for a parliamentary con federal form of government. Moreover, Cory came to the rescue and with aid from CBCP, she asserted a blockade to the new Cha-Cha moves.
Rep. Edno Joson (Nueva Ecija) for his part calls for a snap elections. For the sake of getting rid with GMA and Noli de Casto, and given that they both resign to give way for the snap polls, who will then contend for the vacant post. How sure are we that they wouldn’t come from the lineage of GMA? That maybe a quick way of getting rid with GMA but questions on its legality and viability lies within the discretion of the court. Besides, calling for one is giving due advantage to the administration given its resources. It may even legitimize GMA later on if the winner comes from her allies.
It would happen anytime soon if we are to make it possible. The end of tyranny; of corruption; of prolonged suffering; of political subjugation; of civil unrest, at least under the reigns of no less than the fascist government of GMA. It’s been eight years since EDSA II and yet its fruits were yielded to rotting. The promise of EDSA II was put in vain, and even worst, the inspiration left by EDSA I, the pioneer people uprising elsewhere. But let’s look at some scenarios surrounding this controversy.
Economic leap in 30 years
Few weeks ago, the unassuming economic men of GMA declared history in terms of the country’s economic growth in the past three decades, surpassing the Tiger economy boasted by then President Ramos. More to this, they said that our economy is as of the moment, the most stable and viable economy in the continent, even at the onset of a looming US recession. Really, GMA works in mysterious ways. But then the bottom line of the economy boils down to how the people see and feel such breakthrough. We can’t live by the numbers alone, but by every pound of food; the earning in every available work and the services due to us.
Economy by the numbers is no less than digging into a treasure pit and letting your neighbors get them out. Impressive as it may sound but the ordinary Filipino has to eat and survive by the day. The economic growth must be felt. It must convert to food, to work, to social services and the likes. These are the simple things poor Filipinos aspire everyday from the established government. They deserve of these simple treasures. But present scenario is far from reality.
Alongside the news of an economic turn around, here comes a complete cycle of chronic and acute corruption in GMA’s government. Direct links to GMA have also been established or at least her immediate family. And just recently, no less, she admitted a flaw of the China-based deal prior to signing it, but true to being advocate of maximum tolerance (popular in law enforcement agencies), yet she allowed this to proceed, and if not for the strong souls of writer Jarius Bondoc, Vice-Gov. Rolex Suplico, Joey and recently Jun Lozada, GMA and her cohorts (Abalos, Neri, her husband, and company) may have been reflecting up to now on how to spend such a fortune. Sometimes, divine intervention really works, and again, pre-empting the self-perpetrated (meaning government) corruption or what I call corruption-politics. For all they’re vested self-interest, they get what they deserve from the beginning.
The people are exhausted of ‘people power’
Indeed some may assume that Filipinos are physically tired of another people power, but they are never ever blinded by the prevailing acute corruption and political conquest of the Arroyo regime. While the Palace maintains stability, all the more that voices from across sectors and persuasions reverberate in different democratic grounds (Mendiola, Welcome Rotonda, EDSA Shrine,etc. and now Ayala Avenue) and the media, including house of worships and faith. USEC Golez is confident of proclaiming that the silent majority in the countryside is by the president, but which majority is he talking about if only their cohorts in the local governments (Leagues of Towns, Cities, Provinces, and ULAP) are speaking for themselves and making out of their caprices, and not on behalf of their constituents. Golez even downplayed the recent Interfaith Rally, the biggest so far after the ZTE scandal, that there are 80 million plus Filipinos and the 80 thousand souls present, including those who faced harassments along their way, is not reflective of people’s sentiments. Shame to this better turned bitter alter ego of GMA for he inflict so much remorse to his master, such that instead of plain and simple defense, Golez seemed to downplay the clout at the cost of desecrating the essence of the 500 thousand people-driven EDSA 2, which by the way is not all reflective of the 80 million Filipinos. But in God’s mercy, GMA was enthroned in the Palace because of that popular movement. He should then go to hell with GMA instead.
As long as corruption in government, remarkably under GMA administration (Fertilizer scam, PIATCO deal, IMPSA deal, FG account, Macapagal Boulevard, etc.), the rest of the Filipinos won’t lose sight of the beauty of fighting evil. Underestimating the aspirations of ordinary Filipino is an irreversible mistake for the administration. It only takes a critical turn somewhere, and history will repeat itself.
Do the loco ‘Cha-Cha’ or Snap Elections
True to its musical anatomy, the literal cha-cha dance steps come in at intervals. Just like the Cha-Cha or Charter Change of the Palace. Whenever controversies hound GMA, Cha-Cha always comes to play and stops when tension subsides, and many politicians go with its tune. In spite of a Supreme Court ruling halting the constitutional amendment through people initiative, here comes newly installed House Speaker Boy Nograles recalling calls for Cha-Cha via Constituent Assembly. Whichever their agenda, it’s as clear as moonlight that this is diversionary tactics to sway the focus of people away from the ZTE-Lozada scandal, or if it were successful, GMA may enjoy a term extension to pave way for a parliamentary con federal form of government. Moreover, Cory came to the rescue and with aid from CBCP, she asserted a blockade to the new Cha-Cha moves.
Rep. Edno Joson (Nueva Ecija) for his part calls for a snap elections. For the sake of getting rid with GMA and Noli de Casto, and given that they both resign to give way for the snap polls, who will then contend for the vacant post. How sure are we that they wouldn’t come from the lineage of GMA? That maybe a quick way of getting rid with GMA but questions on its legality and viability lies within the discretion of the court. Besides, calling for one is giving due advantage to the administration given its resources. It may even legitimize GMA later on if the winner comes from her allies.
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