ALL right. The Comelec has yet to proclaim the winners yet — largely due to the interference of TEAM Unity — but I think it’s safe to say that Genuine Opposition candidates are going to get most of the 12 seats up for grabs in the Senate. 7-3-2 (GO-TU-independent) the last time I checked.
Now what?
I don’t know.
What I do know is that, barring some miraculous turn of events, impeachment is not going to happen. The Congress is unquestionably Arroyo’s; though there are congressmen who oppose her, notably the representatives of party-lists like Bayan Muna and Anakpawis, the grim truth is that they are the minority. Not to mention the fact that Arroyo’s allies in the Congress have demonstrated time and again a lack of delicadeza. They’re not going to shy away from employing underhanded tactics or bulldozing through all opposition (regardless of how legitimate the dissent is) to get what they want.
Which means that though the Senate would probably vote to impeach Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in a trial, the Congress would never let the impeachment case reach the Senate in the first place.
Charter change?
Well, the entire country saw what happened the last time Congress tried shoving that down our throats. Every major faction — the opposition, the activists, the Church, etc. — made its opposition to Cha-cha known, and its proponents hastily backed down. But I seriously doubt that’s the end of that. Cha-cha continues to lurk in the background, waiting for a chance to reenter the political scene.
Unfortunately, there’s not much the Senate can do if or when Congress decides to revive the issue. Besides complaining on national television, that is. That worked last time, helping to sway public opinion against the initiative and the proposed Constitutional Assembly, but Filipinos are quick to forget. They can forget, for example, that a candidate who once hated Erap enough to cry is now hand in hand with him in election ads. They can forget all the reasons they didn’t like Cha-cha and become swayed by the propaganda of the administration.
As I said, I don’t have all the answers. No crystal ball wherein the future reveals itself to me. But I have to hope that GO accomplishes something besides proclaiming their disgust at the current administration, and plotting its demise. The 2007 elections are behind us — now we must hope we voted the right people into their positions.
May 28th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
What? GO voters should know what to expect now that more opposition senators are sitting in the chamber. Investigatons, more investigatons and endless investigations with each senator slugging it out one another to get the lion share in exposure. And then what’s next? Nothing!!!!
That’s the saddest part. Too much effort and time and specially money are spent during investigatons but nothing comes out of any investigation at all. Aid of legislation? Come on. Just how many laws were passed by the previous Senate? 6 laws when they could have crafted so much given the many investigations of different subjects that they had done.
Well, at least, I am thankful if GO senators will create political turmoil in the country and give a semblance of instability. At least, I will see my dollars back to the 50s exchange rate. My family will enjoy the higher rate per dollar.
I have wished for TU to dominate the Senate to maintain political stability in the country so that the economic momentum we are seeing will continue. Obviously, the majority doesn’t want progress and peace to reign. Ok lang. Tutal dolyares naman ang kinikita ko at sino ba ang maghihirap? Eh ayaw ng marami sa katahimikan pwes magdusa ang walang kita.