Democracy and ZTE by Ryan Maboloc
I received this forwarded email by Ryan Maboloc, a 32-year old Filipino currently taking up Masters in Applied Socio-Political Ethics in Sweden:
From a descriptive point of view, Mr. Hadji Balahadja’s analysis of Philippine politics (The Call for Social Democracy) is right. There is corruption in government, bad leadership, the same genes are in power, etc. From a prescriptive point of view, I think the solution lies somewhere else. Not in politics. Not even in changing the system of government. Democracy is only instrumental to people’s freedom; it is not freedom in itself. Democracy, at best, in the way it is practiced in the Philippines, in our dear country, secures only, through mass protests, the negative rights of people, i.e. freedom from an oppressive government, freedom from corruption, freedom from violence, etc. But, at the end of the day, when JDV wakes up in the morning, when GMA reads “There’s the Rub” in the Inquirer, still, they’ll be sitting in their verandas, their coffees served in imported porcelain, and mind you, they won’t even touch their salamis. Now, the same is true to some wanna-be-heroes, i.e., businessmen, priests, professionals, the so-called civil society. But the real issue is, if you know where and what, is the fact that the common tao will wake up thinkin’ “unsa ug asa ko mangita ug pamahaw para sa akong lima ka anak?”.
No Studying Needed
As a lame attempt to respond to the CBCP Pastoral Letter, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has formed a team to scrap EO 464.
According to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, the team will be composed of
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol, Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera, the deputy executive secretary for legal affairs and the head of the government corporate counsel.
They will meet this afternoon to “study” the scrapping of EO 464.
Remembering People Power
I barely four years old when the first People Power occurred. I remember watching it on the television but not really understanding what it meant. I would only know and understand what it is from the history books I would read as a student.
Years later, as a college student, I became part of People Power 2 in EDSA. It was an exhilarating experience to be part of a historic event. It is not often that a bloodless revolution would occur. It was something I was proud of, that I was one of thousands of Filipinos who didn’t sit and watch while an injustice occurred. I was part and is still part of People Power.
I’ll Believe It, When I See It
Emphasizing that her family didn’t profit from the infamous ZTE NBN Deal, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has vowed that “whoever is found guilty will be made to answer.” Arroyo asserts that her family has not gained anything illegally.
Arroyo Owes Us
Yes, definitely… I agree with the administration’s assertion that “no one person can take credit for Arroyo presidency.” That is why it is baffling that Arroyo is turning her back on the thousands of Filipinos who should be credited for her presidency.
Not A Bribe?
Deputy Executive Secretary Manuel Gaite has admitted to have given PhP500,000 to NBN Witness Jun Lozada. The money, according to Gaite, is not a bribe, but financial assistance for Lozada. Gaite denies that the money was given to prevent Lozada from testifying. Gaite also asserts that the money was not from government funds.
The Height of Hypocrisy
Commenting on the NBN fiasco, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had been quoted as saying… “This type of charges emerged even in previous administrations as part of our less than impressive political culture.” The gall to criticize the country’s “less than impressive political culture,” when she herself has abused this political culture, and has even added a new level of brazen lying, cheating, and stealing when she promised not to run in the 2004 elections, when she was involved in the “Hello Garci” scandal, and refuse to be investigated. KAPAL!
And when she was already in power as the country’s “president,” did she do anything to change this political culture that she is criticizing? NO! She has practiced and espoused patronage politics, she had given power, and prestige to those who remain loyal to her. Need I even mention the replacement of de Venecia by Nograles as the Palace’s biggest lapdog Speaker of the House?
Arroyo vs Corruption
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered 2 Cabinet groups to jumpstart reforms against corruption. This amidst the multiple accusations of corruption against her and her family members, most controversial of which is concerning the National Broadband Network (NBN).
28 years old from Davao City, blogging since 2004. :)
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