Alleba Politics

According to Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio Bunye, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants a “just” and “fair” settlement of the issues thrown at her and her family.

If she’s really for a “just” and “fair” settlement, why did she invoke EO 464 and prevented her Cabinet members and military officials from testifying in the Congress?

If she’s really for a justice and fairness, why did she apologize to the Philippine nation and plead innocence at the same time?

If she’s really for justice and fairness, then why did her cohorts in the Congress quash the impeachment charges filed against her?

If she’s really for justice and fairness, why doesn’t she just tell the truth about the “Hello Garci” tapes?

If she’s really for justice and fairness, why did the legislators who voted for the pursuance of the impeachment cases?

If she’s really for justice and fairness, why is Imelda Marcos suddenly by her side?

Tell me, President Arroyo, how do you define justice and fairness?

Marine Captain Nicanor Faeldon was finally captured more than a month after he “escaped” from Fort Bonifacio. Faeldon is one of the leaders of the so-called “Magdalo Group” aka the Oakwood Mutineers. He was caught while driving home to his safe house from SM City. While out of military custody, Faeldon has launched insults at the AFP by releasing videos of him freely going inside military and police camps.

Along with Faeldon, his girlfriend Captain Candelaria Rivas was also captured. Rivas was one of the military prosecutors in the cases filed against the mutineers. The AFP is now thinking of filing charges against Rivas. Allegedly, while working on the mutineers’ case, Rivas and Faeldon got close and fell in love. Now, Rivas has explicitly expressed her sympathy for the cause of the Magdalo Group.

Now the AFP is scrambling to silence the cry for arms of the Magdalo Group. According to reports, their weariness has been slowly growing and they have gained a lot of sympathizers among the ranks. Reports are saying that they are just waiting for the right time to launch a coup de etat against the already unstable presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Currently, four of Faeldon’s comrades in the Magdalo group are also out of military custody. They allegedly escaped last January 17. Another officer said to be affiliated with the group has also been declared AWOL.

Sounds like a twisted plot for a primetime teleserye, doesn’t it? Sadly, it’s not fiction. Abangan ang susunod na kabanata!

Last January 19, 2006, a letter entitled “Promoting tourism - Davao’s way” was published in the Opinion Section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The letter was written by Danilo A. Reyes of the Asian Human Rights Commission.

Reyes opened his letter with the following quote: “Round them up and put them elsewhere, away from public sight.” According to Reyes, this was the solution of Davao City officials to get rid of vagrants and street children in time for the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) that is being held in Davao City. According to Reyes the vagrants and street children were also humiliated because he quotes that they were seen as “possible accessories to the criminals and terrorists.”

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Yesterday afternoon, Magdalo group spokesperson Lt Sgt Antonio Trillanes spoke against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Last night, four of Trillanes’ comrades in the Magdalo Group went missing.

According to the PNP, 1st Lt Nathaniel Rabonza, 1st Lt Lawrence San Juan, 1st Lt Sonny Sarmiento, and 1st Lt Patricio Bumindang were missing during the 9 pm headcount in Camp Aguinaldo. On the other hand, Atty. Rene Saguisag, Atty. Roel Pulido and Atty. Theodore Te are casting doubt on the jail break scenario. Allegedly, one of the four called Atty. Pulido and informed him that they will be transferred to solitary confinement (bartolina). Thus, the lawyers fear that the four have not escaped. Other pundits speculate that the four might have been “rescued” by their sympathizers.

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Having been “insulted” by the opposition when he wasn’t invited to the opposition’s meeting, Atty. Oliver Lozano, has filed an impeachment case against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo AGAIN! Lozano reportedly talked to opposition leader Rep. Francis Escudero who allegedly did not discourage Lozano from filing another impeachment case.

I think Lozano should just give it a rest. Who takes him seriously anyway? The administration thinks he is a clown. The opposition thinks he is a cohort of the administration since he files faulty/problematic impeachment cases.

I don’t think that this impeachment case will prosper. The first one didn’t and this one is likely not to get the required number of votes. Especially, since Lozano doesn’t seem to have any credibility. And this “new” case is basically the old one only with a newer date stamp. Finally, most lagislators now see any impeachment case as futile and a mere “moro-moro.”

What now? Who knows?