Antonio Trillanes, failed mutineer turned Senator of the Republic, has decided to play for all the marbles. After holing up in the Manila Peninsula with about 30 soldiers, he has asked the public to choose between him and the President.
I get the sense that this pseudo-mutiny or quasi-coup will not end peacefully.
December 9th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Bert:
Thanks for the vote of confidence. However, I am not good. No one is. Jesus said “No one is good - except God alone.” Luke 18.
I am not really espousing the parliamentary system. I just mentioned that it would be “better” (to save money) out of frustration from the current form of government which has ceased to work.
I believe that to understand the present, we need to look back at history. I think the 1987 Constitutional Convention overreacted a bit by changing the two-party system (which I think was working) to a multi-party system. I think they changed it because after Marcos was deposed, they were afraid that it would be easy for 1 person to control 2 parties (as what Marcos had unconstitutionally achieved through Martial law) than a multi-party system.
The downside of the latter is that any Tom, Dick and Harry can form his own party and become President (e.g. Ramos…although he turned out to be a relatively good choice [personally I would have voted for Sen. Jovito Salonga at that time], even if he is not qualified to do so (e.g. ERAP).
Note that before Marcos came in the picture, the two party system was working well, e.g. The original Nacionalista party (as oppose to the current Nacionalista party of Danding Cojuanco) and the Liberal party (still relatively intact…except for Lito Atienza who is more like from GMA’s Kampi) (sort of akin to the Republican and Democratic system here in the U.S.). With a strong 2-party system, the parties are able to field the most (in the party’s opinion) qualified Presidential candidate (unlike today where movie and TV personalities who are clearly not qualified can run). Note that Presidents after 1965 are not selected by the majority as in the past (that is why we had better Presidents then) but by a mere plurality of Filipinos - there are just too many candidates.
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that most Filipino voters seem to lack the political maturity and the education (they should start teaching the Constitution and values at the elementary level. What is DECS doing?) to select qualified candidates. Although, there has been some improvement in that area (e.g. Manny Pacquiao’s loss to Darlene Custodio in the Gen San congressional race).
(By the way, I really hate that shoe commercial featuring Manny Pacquiao with “Lupang Hinirang” playing at the background…”ang mamatay nang dahil sayo.” Apparently, the makers think he is a national hero. Jose Rizal is national hero. Manny Pacquiao is an athlete).
However, there are still a significant number of voters that are having a hard time distinguishing between popularity and competence.
The other problem is that our system (which was originally based on the American system of “separation of powers” of the 3 branches of government (Executive, Legislative & Judiciary) - the purpose of which was to check and balance each other has failed to work after 1972 because Marcos “doctored” it beyond recognition. As a result, the Office of the President became more powerful (unlike the U.S. version) than the two other branches (Congress w/c includes the lower house and the Senate).
Here, Pres. Bush would not be able to issue an E.O. prohibiting executive officials from appearing in a Senate hearing because it is unconstitutional and a violation of the checks and balances principle. Executive officials are generally (and should be) answerable to Congress.
However, it does not work in the Philippines because Malacanang is able to buy the Congressmen through the release of funds (which is a violation of the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act). In effect, Philippine congressmen become beholden to the President (that’s why 34 of them went with her to Madrid even if it appears they have no business being there especially that there is a huge backlog of bills pending at the Batasan). This is not what separation of powers was originally intended.
I believe, however, that the current system can be fixed by going back to the 2-party system (through a Constitutional amendment) and maybe clipping the powers of the President. But it appears that no one trusts whoever will attempt to fix with the Constitution.
December 9th, 2007 at 11:51 am
pinilit lang daw si lim na sumama sa manila pen……..
isang dagok na naman kay trillanes………
baka may napipilitan lang dyan na nagtatanggol kay trillanes……….
now is time, join lim……..
December 8th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Kabayan
Philippines, is now recognized top ten in the world in terms of prevalence of bribery. Yet the administration simply ignores this and go their merry corrupt ways.
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petty bribery yata……………….
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tignan ninyo eksena………..
si totoy nagaaral, gumagawa ng assignment.
ina: toy, eto 10 piso, bili ka ng 5 pisong mantika, sa iyo na sukli.
totoy: opo inay.
sunod na araw.
si totoy nagaaral, gumagawa ng assignment.
ina: toy, eto 5 piso, bili ka ng 5 pisong mantika.
totoy: mamya na po, nag aaral pa ako.
bata pa lang natuturuan na ng bribery, hindi kikilos kung walang lagay……….
isang suhesyon lang po. umpisahan po natin sa sariling bahay, iwasto po natin ang values na ipinamumukat sa ating mga anak para hindi kalakihan……..
December 8th, 2007 at 8:57 am
Earthquake intensity 4 in Samar, intensity 3 in Rizal and intensity 3 in Leyte
December 8th, 2007 at 6:19 am
“There’s a difference between us. You think the people of this country exist to provide you with position. I think your position exists to provide those people with freedom. And I go to make sure that they have it.” - William Wallace.