What Now?
June 27th, 2005 at 7:49 am (General, National Politics)
Now that Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has effectively admitted that it is indeed her voicethat was recorded in the so-called “Hello, Garci” tapes, what now? I admit that her admission is a good step towards recovery, it does nothing to restore back the faith and trust of the Filipino people on her, her presidency’s legitimacy and her governance.
Now that she has spoken, the concerned government agencies, the opposition and, most importantly, civil society must now examine carefully the legal steps that must be taken that she has indeed spoken the entire truth and did nothing to betray the Filipino people and jeopardize the stability of the country and the already tainted sanctity of the country’s electoral process. Moreover, the social, economic and moral implications and repercussions of the events must also be examined as well as those of the legal steps that may be taken.
Ultimately, the government, the opposition and civil society must prioritize the stability and integrity of the country and its its democratic processes. Now is not the time for grandstanding and politicking. At times of uncertainty and social upheaval, the country and its citizens are looking for trustworthy people who we know are looking after the country’s best interests only and not their own personal or political gain.
Surely, this is not the end of this chapter as Pres. Arroyo wished it would be. This is only the beginning.
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Lino said,
June 27, 2005 at 11:38 pm
Ang masasabi ko lang ay malaking katangahan ang ginawa ni GMA. Ngunit bumalik ang respeto ko para sa kanya noong inamin nya ang kanyang pagkakamali kahapon. Pero pag-isipan natin nang mabuti. Bakit nga ba lumabas ang lintek na video na yan?? Bakit ba may recording in the first place? Ibig sabihin nyan ay mga tao sa oposisyon na may masamang balak kay GMA sa umpisa pa lang noong di pa sya nananalo sa eleksyon. Mas pipiliin ko na lang ang isang mundong may GMA na presidente kaysa FPJ na gagamitin lamang ng oposisyon para yumaman. Talagang pinagpala tayo ng Diyos dahil kung si Loren ang nanalo bilang bise, siya na sana ang pumalit kay FPJ bilang presidente. Amen Allelujah!
Jesus said,
June 28, 2005 at 12:15 am
I have nothing against GMA, but i guess what she did was brave on her part but it would have no effect whatsoever to the current crisis, and if there is, it would only add to the confusion and chaos among the people. I am against what Lino’s comment that if FPJ won the elections last year, he wouldve only been a puppet of the opposition — well for the past 2 decades, if one noticed it, our past presidents were nothing but puppets. either way it was a lose-lose situation for the 2004 elections, thats why i didnt vote and i still believe that what i did was right.
the only right thing for GMA to do now, after apologizing is to voluntarily step down from presidency. as long as she remains in malacañang, there would be social unrest and the country would go nowhere but in a downward spiral towards self-destruction. She did apologize, yes, but after this do we really believe that it would go back to normal? 5 more years of uncertainty?
i guess we just have to wait.
** and maybe, as opportunistic as Filipinos can be, maybe they can make this into a movie.
eyeswideshut said,
June 28, 2005 at 4:13 am
Clinton apologized to the Americans about the “lapse of judgment” he had when he chose to have a sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky. The people forgave him. Indeed he is just a man who was fell to the power of sexual lust.
Gloria asked the Filipinos to forgive her because of the “lapse of judgment” that she did when she called a Comelec personnel during the height of the 2004 canvassing of votes. Will the Filipinos forgive her?
Well I would but only if she resigns. Although I’ve seen how corrupt the elections can be, I can’t accept a leader who out of pressure, finally acknowledge that it was her voice. After stonewalling the issue for almost 15 days, she finally admitted her lapse in judgment.
My vote is my biggest contribution to the democracy that we have. And as far as I know DEMOCRACY means: of the people, by the people, for the people. And this is my right of suffrage. My right to speak out. My right to choose the leader whom I believe is able.
Surely I wouldn’t buy the idea that because GMA is sitting as president that makes us “pinagpala tayo ng Diyos” as per Lino.
The Lord never condones cheaters or liars. He surely forgives but he punishes. The Lord is just. He is always just.
Night Shift said,
June 28, 2005 at 11:26 pm
President Clinton have indeed committed a mistake when he had an affair with Monica. That is an offense that would count as personal. PGMA committed a mistake, and certainly it was not only personal, her violation is against an entire nation. If you have heard the tape or have read a copy of its transcript, you will now for a fact that the president cheated. The fact that Garcillano was appointed for a position in the Comelec, points out that the whole thing was pre meditated and have been very well conceived. The opposition is just doing their job as a watchdog, in a democracy, oppositions are expected to do as they have done. They are there to inhibit what is beyond lawful, to act as fiscalizers, to serve as an opposition. Imagine having an oppostion who does not oppose! that is rather more frighthening diba!
Yerma said,
June 30, 2005 at 1:20 am
But haven’t you noticed? All our past “oppositions” are always out to overthrow the administrations they’re opposed to! You really believe they have noble intentions? I dont’ think so. Why? They’re calling for snap elections. If they want to follow the rule of law they should simply let Noli de Castro take over if GMA resigns or is impeached. But no, they want snap elections, which means they want to put another pushover president in Malacanang. How can you say that FPJ will not be a “puppet” president? He’s an actor who knows zilch about politics. He doesn’t know right from left. He was a puppet right from the beginning! Erap just wants to get his sorry ass out of house arrest and get richer and even possibly run again as president. Haven’t you forgotten what he did to our country? What kind of shame he put us into with his utter stupidity? Whatever happened to the spirit of EDSA Dos? If FPJ had won it’s like putting his idiot best friend back in power, albeit vicariously. If you guys think that asking GMA to resign is what’s best for this country, you are dead wrong. Forget what’s right or wrong anymore. Forget morality or justice. Whoever will step into the picture will be the same corrupt crackhead like Erap or Marcos or GMA. Everyone cheats in the elections, don’t you know that yet, Night Shift? I’d be hard pressed to find anyone in power who didn’t. Why do you think our legislators shot down automated counting? Our elections are a joke. Should GMA be replaced, it will be the same old mess, just in a different trash can.
Mike Watson said,
June 30, 2005 at 11:33 am
I feel badly for the Philippines. One politician after another. As a frequent visitor to the Philippines it is hands down one of the most beautiful places on earth. The simple reality is corruption is everywhere, most definitely it is in the United States, but nowhere has it been so obvious than in the P.I.
God Bless the Philippines and I hope things ar righted.
E. Server said,
July 6, 2005 at 2:12 am
Yerma, are you angry or what?
I believe in sticking within the bounds of the Constitution when deciding GMA’s fate. Calling for snap elections is crazy. Magastos yun and siguradong meron na namang pandadaraya. Impeachment na lang. Pero the opposition doesn’t want an impeachment because they can’t use the phone conversations as evidence. Wala din silang guts na lumabas sa EDSA para mag EDSA Kwatro. So ano ba talaga? GMA should step down voluntarily. But if Noli can’t be assured of succession, GMA should stay where she is.
Francis said,
August 2, 2005 at 12:52 am
I agree, Noli de Castro can’t really be assured of succession. Magkasabwat lang sila ni Arroyo sa pangdaraya. Intellectually and morally, Noli cant be trusted.
Why should we entrust the country’s governance to a certified cheater like Noli. Nandaya lang yan kaya naupo sa puwesto.
Paano mo rerespetuhin ang isang liderato na punongpuno ng pagpapanggap at kasinungalingan?
Alleba Politics » Blog Archive » Whose Dark Conspiracy? said,
September 2, 2007 at 8:53 pm
[…] Of course these accusations are a cause for concern. Were we duped by Arroyo and her cohorts? By now, there is not doubt in my mind that Arroyo is capable of dirty tricks just to attain power. First, she broke her promise not to run for the Preisdency. Then, came the “Hello Garci” tape. Then again, she has hinted that she is thinking of running for Congress come 2010. And of course, Arroyo and her cohorts are still resisting the Senate’s re-opening of the “Hello Garci” issue. […]