In my column today, I tried my hand at reading public opinion on graft and corruption under GMA — and why more people haven’t taken to the streets. (I actually did the reading last Thursday, before the Rotary Club of Manila, on the same day as the Trillanes caper.)
I sifted through the findings of three surveys, but essentially the attempt is a meditation on the latest (October 2007) Pulse Asia poll. These findings, in particular:
(Please click on the images to enlarge them.)
The conclusion I reached (and of course I am aware I could have gotten things fundamentally wrong) suggests that Ping Lacson’s latest attempt to disclose another corruption scandal still won’t force people out into the streets.
The lesson for regime-changers: Corruption scandals do not prematurely bring down an administration, but proof of something else entirely — brazen fraud, gross impunity, lewd dancing in the halls of the Senate.
This also suggests that suspending the high-profile Senate hearings on the ZTE case, where revelations not only of corruption but of obvious duplicity or gross arrogance were a real possibility, was a strategic mistake on the part of the opposition.
What do you think? More to the point, what kind of brazenness, similar to the “na-onse tayo” vote on the second Velarde envelope, would set the streets on fire?
December 5th, 2007 at 9:36 am
Chris
hohummm…wake me up when there;s no more Philippines
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Away ko nga! If you want to sleep through it. Go ahead. Or better yet stay where you’re, You have more chance to live a better life.
December 5th, 2007 at 9:35 am
Bopols
I voted for the opposition in the last senatorial elections. Initially, they were okey doing their jobs. However, after a few months, I was pssed and turned of because of the following issues that came out. First, the senate leadership and then senate inquiries without closing it. and so on…
I challenge the opposition to provide a concrete economic plan, a decent leader that can be on top of everything and show a unified opposition working together. Majority of FIlipinos already know that GMA is corrupt. That’s a given. On the other hand, Filipinos want an assurance that the opposition can provide a better economic plan in case they will be in power. Do these three issues i enumerated and I think it’s a sure fire formula for success in whatever undertaking the opposition will do plus the support of people power.
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Your vote to the opposition is not a waste. Because they’re doing everything in their power to do their job the suppose too. The only problem with that is Gloria Arroyo/cronies won’t let them do their job. she always block them so that the truth will not come out. And if they go to the street like Sen: Trillanes, & co. Did, They too be rotten in jail. They’re playing it safe. I hope I’m right on this one.
As I said before it doesn’t matter how you do to oust Gloria Arroyo, Is not going to prosper because she control these corrup/PNP/AFP/JUDGES which is they’re the one suppose to serve and protect the filipino people,. But they’re not. They’re only protecting the corrupt Gloria Arroyo!
December 5th, 2007 at 9:17 am
For me the main reason why people did not take to the streets is because most Filipinos are still not convinced of the need to oust PGMA inspite of all the accusations hurled against her by the opposition and critics. In the first place, who will replace her in the event she is ousted? Trillanes? Erap? Jinggoy? Binay? Lacson? Can we be sure these people will not commit graft and corruption? In fact Erap was already tried and found guilty beyond reasonable doubt. On the “Hello Garci issue” we know that wiretapping is illegal and it cannot be used as evidence in any court of law. Regarding extrajudicial killings, it seems improbable that Arroyo ordered for these people to be killed.
Seguro if Trillanes had not surrendered and died fighting for his cause I feel that most people would be touched and flock to the streets but I doubt if they will succeed in ousting the President.
December 5th, 2007 at 9:08 am
I voted for the opposition in the last senatorial elections. Initially, they were okey doing their jobs. However, after a few months, I was pssed and turned of because of the following issues that came out. First, the senate leadership and then senate inquiries without closing it. and so on…
I challenge the opposition to provide a concrete economic plan, a decent leader that can be on top of everything and show a unified opposition working together. Majority of FIlipinos already know that GMA is corrupt. That’s a given. On the other hand, Filipinos want an assurance that the opposition can provide a better economic plan in case they will be in power. Do these three issues i enumerated and I think it’s a sure fire formula for success in whatever undertaking the opposition will do plus the support of people power.
December 5th, 2007 at 6:00 am
hohummm…wake me up when there;s no more Philippines