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 30th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
To Tony
I have written countless of times that GMA’s time is but 3 years and she’ll be like you and me: another private citizen. My point is: instead of the opposition doing nothing but just plain and simple politicking to earn extra mileage for their individual political careers, why can’t they at least behave like constructive oppositionists.
Don’t tell me about being a victim of militarization. During Marcos times, I suffered in the hands of the military due to my activism. What GMA did was nothing compared to the Martial Law years.
Crony? I have too much self respect to be considered someone else’s crony. I have my own capabilities that I don’t need anyone’s help to land a decent paying job.
I love my country that’s why I am against the antics of the opposition. No matter how much the country will suffer, they just don’t give a damn for as long as they can inflict the greatest damage to the Administration of GMA.
You and I have no choice. GMA sits as the president of our country. Just because I may not like GMA personally I would do my utmost to unseat her dragging in the process the country’s progress. As a patriotic citizen, the hierarchy of my values is God, country and family in this order.
I have hated the Marcos regime like no other. I participated in countless rallies. But I still paid my taxes even if I found the regime despicable. It is my civic duty to do so notwithstanding my personal biases. Same with GMA. I may not like her personally but I will not do anything that would make my country goes from bad to worse.
I hope the opposition behaves similarly. Hindi yong, kahit kudeta na which is nothing but a naked power grab eh pini prayer rally pa o kung anong kaek-ekan ang palabas. Is this democratic? And if we are to believe the pious pronouncements of these people, they adhere to the ideals of democracy and will fight to the bitter end to protect democracy in the country. Really? Tapos, hawak kamay si Trillanes? Shit.
May 30th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
I don’t want to appear skiting but well, well, well!!! With another political crisis for the Arroyo government looming in the Philippines, I expect the Peso to go on a free fall again and an economic meltdown in order in the near future. It’s about time, as those lovely condominiums are appearing a bit overpriced for our Australian dollars…Thank you to all Filipinos who voted for GO GO GO. You have given us a rosy future of living like kings (with cheap servants to boot !) in your country when we go there for a cheap holiday or retirement in the future…
May 30th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Englishman
To Salinas…The past tense of catch is caught…got caught sounds better than got catch. Just so you don’t appear funny next time…Maybe you should just stick to Filipino next time. Nothing wrong with that !!!
***************
Salina
Hey, You! there is nothing wrong with my catch or caught. If I write it wrong it just too bad. Just like I just wrote STEAL, Instead of STILL. Oh, well. No one’s perfect. sorry, Guys! Just pretend I didn’t write that wrong! I just screw up! He he he he….Coffee, anyone?
Ok..actually I was wrong too. I got caught…The caught in this context is not a past tense but a past participle-like got bitten…Anyway, keep checking your your grammar..Btw, it’s “It’s just too bad” and not it just too bad.
May 30th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
legarda
lacson
pangilinan
arroyo
angara
escudero
villar
these are the guys i’ve voted.
GO? TU? who cares? i am a free man. im going to vote the candidates to which, the best of my knowledge, “DESERVING” for a slot in the senate.
FYI: Peso got stronger not SOLELY because of hte remittances by the ofws. but also becuase of, (admit it or not)economic stability of the government. the government had earned the foreign investors trust.
GINAGAMIT TALAGA PGMA ang UTAK nya. kaya nga lahat ng attemp na pabagsakin ang administration nya e hindi nag succeed.
kung magkakaroon man ng SNAP election gaya ng sinisigaw ng isa sa mga posters ng thread na to, i would still vote for PGMA.
OK sa akin ECONOMIC STRATEGY nya.
ang ayoko kay erap is:
1. d marunong makipag usap in straight english. pano nya maipopromote ang pilipinas, especially ang potencials ng bawat pilipino sa ibang bansa?
take note, in sales, madali kang makabenta kung magaling kang makipag usap.
2. daming mansions that worth millionS of peso. san nanggaling ung ginamit nya para dun?
3. sugarol. tapos, nakunan pa ng video.
4. bobo, kasi nakulong.
(ung pagiging babaero nya, ok lang sa akin un, kasi, lalaki naman tayo e. tanggap na un ng mga babae.lol)
sinasabi nyang para sa mahihirap siya, pero, sa isang segment ng Jessica Soho nung time pa nya, dami kayang squater sa buong maynila ang lalong naghihirap. minsan, naging katuwaan tuloy dati ang “ERAP para lalo kang MAHIRAP” na kasabihan.
i dont mean to offend PRO ERAPs in here, ok? STRAIGHT FACTS lang po.
suggestion ko, uminom ng sustagen, para iwas MEMORY GAP. nakakalimutan kasi natin ang mga flaws ni erap e.
kaya, magsipag nalang tayo. kasi, gaya ng sinabi ko sa isa sa mga thread sa blog na to, wala naman kasi talagang makakatulong sa atin kundi ung mga sarili lang natin e.
ung mga politiko, tandaan nyo, ang #1priority nila, DAPAT, laws that would benefit each and EVERY taxpayers. (parang d na kasali ung mga walng pambayad noh.) heheh. cge na nga isama na rin natin sila.
un lang.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:48 am
It’s just so unfortunate that Ralph Recto is lagging behind the Senatorial elections. In 2001, we have made the right choice not just because he was riding behind the name of Vilma Santos but because he thinks he can make a difference in this country. Now, if the EVAT law is the only thing that will make this senator lose his chances in the new senate then so be it… but again, this is not just the only law that he had passed, also imagine the complexity of this bill that only a high-caliber senator can make into law. I don’t think that EVAT is anti-masa, it made us where we are now in the eyes of IMF… I guess the problem we are facing is that how these tax collections are being used by our government, congress and local officials… thus the fight for graft and corruption is still on.
His bio show the ff laws passed.
In his three terms (from 1992 to 2001) as Member of the House of Representatives, most of his legislative measures which were enacted into law dealt with economic reforms and poverty alleviation, among which are the Special Economic Zone Law (RA 7916); the Comprehensive Tax Reform Law (RA 8424); Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act (RA 8425); Amendments to the Special Economic Zone Law (RA 8748); Regional Headquarters Law (RA 8756); Retail Trade Liberalization Law (RA 8762).
During the 13th Congress the following legislations were enacted: RA 9337 (EVAT); RA 9333 (LATERAL ATTRITION); RA 9334 (SIN TAX); and on the 12th Congress : RA 9301 (PHILIPPINES OVERSEAS SHIPPING); RA 9295 (DOMESTIC SHIPPING DEVELOPMENT ACT); RA 9294 (FCDU); RA 9243 (DST) ; RA 9238 (GRT) RA 9224 (EXCISE on AUTOMOBILES); RA 9182 (SPV); RA 9178 (BMBE); RA 9167 (FILM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL) and RA 9341 (RENT CONTROL).