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.
June 1st, 2007 at 6:57 am
One word sums it all up…
Diktat!!!
Brace yourself up for the first onslaugh any time soon, Juan dela Cruz!!!
May 31st, 2007 at 9:17 pm
To MBM,
Taxes are good for the development of the country specially if tax collecting is fare (no evasion) and tax collected is put to good use. In Germany, France and Beligum, where 50% of their income goes to taxes, but no one is really complaining.
Most say that imposing EVAT would increase prices of commodities and utilities but latest economic data (Jan 2007) had shown that inflation rate had slowed down to a 4-year low at an amazing 2.6% in Feb ‘07.
Making our IMF credit rating favorable is not only for the purpose of borrowing money but also to show the world that we can PAY. Debt servicing is something that we need to do after several investment fiascoes of past regimes to include the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. Unless we discover huge reserves of oil right smack in the center of Metro Manila, we might as well pay rather than hide our heads under the sand. This is the sad reality. Money that should have gone to education, public works, etc go to debt servicing.
For me, I think that the challenge for the government is strong tax collecting power, pursue the big tax evaders and policing power in putting corrupt officials in jail. Easy for me to say, but I am hopeful.
May 31st, 2007 at 8:11 pm
***************
Salina
Hello, Englishman: Just remember one thing, Everybody make mistake, After all no one perfect. So, I really don’t mind if somebody say something about it. In fact I’m greatful to the fact that somebody notice my mistake therefore I can correct it.
As a matter fact I just finish write, “its� but what I really want to write is “each�.
Oh, well. I’m only human I do make mistake. Thats where I learn by making mistake.
*************
Englishman
Just thought I’ll do some editing for you. Your comment above should really read like the one below. I used caps to highlight mistakes…
Hello, Englishman. Just remember one thing. Everybody makeS mistakeS, After all no one’S perfect. So I really don’t mind if somebody sayS something about it. In fact I’m gratEful to the fact that somebody HAS noticeD my mistakeS SO I can correct it.
As a matter fact I just finishED writING “its� but what I really want to write is “each�.
Oh, well. I’m only human. I do make mistakeS. That’S HOW I learn. By making mistakeS.
May 31st, 2007 at 7:35 pm
I have never been impressed by what the GO senatorial candidates had to offer. In fact their political adds were all filled with backlashings against the present government. It’s a shame the majority of the Filipinos didn’t see through that when it was just simply “common sense”.
May 31st, 2007 at 7:23 pm
panong di magpapakamatay yan e sa laki ba naman ng pork barrel gagawin lahat nyan mga yan kahit mandaya.
ewan ko lang, pero napansin ko lang parang tamad na atmad yang mga mambabatas natin sa dalawang kapulubgan nung di pa binababa ang budget ng pork barrel.