This news report is the basis of the Supreme Court’s ruling declaring the Government’s policy on Calibrated Preemptive Response (CPR) illegal and unconstitutional. Watch and listen closely to what this reporter has to say:
Gets mo?
The recent New York Times Editorial reads:
Filipinos thought they had put an end to electoral chicanery and governmental intimidation when they overthrew the Marcos dictatorship two decades ago. Unfortunately, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has completely lost touch with the ideals that inspired that 1986 “people power” movement.
Yes Virginia, it’s the New York Times. And yes, Sec. Gonzales couldn’t cite them for inciting to sedition…harharhar…
If anything, this editorial clearly states the fact that the US or some of its influential institutions are not happy the way GMA is running the show for Uncle Sam. Although the editorial says that “Mrs. Arroyo is no Ferdinand Marcos”, but it adds, “at least not yet”. Its succeeding statement however, shows that GMA has a strong tendency of becoming one.
Not only that, the editorial also called the attention of Dubya to warn GMA that she is undermining a hard-won democracy thus making Philippines a country far more vulnerable to terrorist pressures. When the US uses the keyword “terrorism” in the context of the Philippines, for them it also means the communist insurgency.
This NY Times editorial is not only a slight dissing, it is a serious warning for GMA. Everyone knows that Philippine politics is very much tied to US interests. Somehow, the US acting very much like a Pinoy’s Big Brother, decides on who’s in or out. Marcos received Uncle Sam’s eviction notice after he became the number one recruiter for the NPA. This time, Uncle Sam has an inkling to believe that GMA is just doing the same. Although the NY Times editorial comes only as the sharpest criticism against GMA but it is not the first time that the US expressed its doubts and criticism on GMA. Preceding this editorial was the statement released by the US giving GMA a polite caution when she delared PP 1017.
Now if other US institutions will follow suit soon, then its a sure signal for GMA to start packing up.The skies are now getting cloudy for GMA and Company.
Hey! Well, okay. Maybe this one piece won’t hurt.
– Powerpuff Blossom
Oh yes, not only has it become curioser and curiouser how the subplots developed in the drama of the PNP and Department of Justice’s efforts to put “destabilizers†and “enemies of the state†behind bars. It has also become crazier and more comical how their stupid efforts are composed in news headlines.
I have to admit that I laughed when I read this freudian slip of a headline:
Hooded ex-NPA fingers Dinky
(Oouucchh!!!)
You’re a bad monkey, Mojo!
– Powerpuff Blossom
Thx to Manolo for fingering this headline.
When the Gloriagate started last year, there was this open letter from a supposed middle-class-taxpayer that circulated through email and landed in some blogs. His letter puts the blame on the lazy poor, the political opposition, the militant left and everyone else who attends anti-GMA rallies as stabilizers and the source of our crisis and for Pete’s sake, our traffic problems. It earned a lot of comments from supposed “middle-class” bloggers whose common line goes, “you just wrote what I really felt, etc…”.
Once again, this kind of open letters are circulating the internet and the blogosphere. Again, supposed “middle-class-neutral-independent” commenters are in the same chorus line singing “you just wrote what we the silent and marginalized majority really feels”. I just don’t know how and when the middle-class becomes the majority in a society where classes are stratified in a social structure likened to that of a pyramid. In my understanding, that is why it’s called middle class, because it belonged to neither the minority who are rich or the majority who are poor.
Personally I have nothing against people wanting to express their views by writing them down through open letters, essays, statements, letters to the editor. Some people even express their opinions with devastating results through Proclamations. What irritates me is the ambiguity and hypocritical pretensions of these letter’s content. While it tries to present a neutral view, it obviously betrays a bias and partisan position. Either the writer is just naive and lost in the jungle of his own confusion or it is intentionally written in ambiguity to pass itself as an alternative pole while actually taking a side.
Many of these so-called open letters belabors in presenting a supposed sound, balanced and neutral view. But quite predictably these open-letters provide only a complimentary accounting on GMA’s liabilities while puts the weight of blame on the opposition, the militants and all non-members of the GMA fans club as the source of our countries instability and the usual traffic jam. As expected these letters ends up with the oft-repeated cries of “we are angry, sick and tired, and wants to move on”,”the democratic processes have already absolved GMA”, “rallies only creates traffic”,”those opposed to GMA are only power grabbers”,…etc.
The PP 1017 is lifted but GMA’s government still continues to probe on the conspiracy theory that has become the very basis of its proclamation. They have already lifted the proclamation but the basis for such proclamation is yet to be established. Such weird logic.
According to Malacanan’s resident Goebbels, “We want people to be enlightened about what’s happening in the country, …. and the continued conspiracy between the left and the right,” But that they still have to prove.
It is because of this alleged conspiracy that people are now being arrested. It is because of this alleged conspiracy that media outfits now face a dreaded possibility of being closed down or taken over. It is because of this alleged conspiracy that the PNP and the AFP are given powers to suppress “lawless violence” – a term which is left to be defined according to the police’s and military’s own judgement and understanding.
Perhaps the conspiracy was too well planned because a good conspiracy is unprovable. The complete lack of evidence is the surest sign that the conspiracy is working. Or maybe, GMA and her minions are simply stupid not to realize that once you got the whole spectrum of society (left, right and center) up against them, then practically it no longer becomes a conspiracy but an open call to change an illegitimate government.
This conspiracy theory is like a cock-and-bull story that is being forcibly told to us during bedtime. And as this conspiracy theory continues, let’s sing all together; “I have two hands the ‘left’ and the ‘right’,” hold them up high so clean and bright clap them softly one, two, three clean little hands are good to see.”
“I will not run as President”– Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
“I am sorry”– Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
“I will lift the state of national emergency at the earliest possible time”– Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.” – Joseph Goebbels, German Nazi Minister of Propaganda, 1933-1945
Figures.
Call it coincidence, but this photo taken by Reuters, strikingly captured a scene that conveys a subliminal message on the essence of GMA’s state of emergency. Police (or soldiers) walk past a billboard of the movie Close To You, as they position themselves close to some TV stations. The Police said they’re there to guard these vital installations.
Just recently the Police raided and virtually closed down the Daily Tribune simply because it doesn’t love GMA. The Police also just gave a warning that they will close down or take over radio and tv stations and newspaper publishing houses who do not follow a set of standards provided by, well the Police. The Police are now busy closing in to arrest suspected destabilizers, coup plotters, or just anybody they imagined to be not a member of the GMA fans club. Funny thing is that the Police are now moving quick to arrest all, imagined or real, enemies of GMA but they can’t arrest Joc-Joc Bolante. Or, say, can they arrest Cory Aquino, Col. Ariel Querubin, Cong. Peping Cojouangco, Boy Saycon, Bill Luz, Jejomar Binay, all members of the minority bloc in Congress or members of the opposition in the Senate, etc? That remains to be seen.
Back to the Photo, yes, it is a clear picture of what Proclamation 1017 is all about. It puts the entire military and the police, “Close to You”, to arrest you or close down your business, if you do not love GMA.