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 3rd, 2007 at 3:22 pm
“Ay naku, kung magdominate nga lahat ng GO, sigurado ba tayo na uunlad?
I’m sure they will be having intellectual debate again sa senate which could make our system bad or should i say “bulok� na sistema.
Let’s wait and see kung nao nga mangyayari, hindi na tayo nadala sa mga una pang elections na nangyari. Did our country improve?”
let me ask you that question, did it? with GMA at the helm? what i know is our country is now the most corrupt. everything GMA did was to make sure to stay in power. as far as im concern nothing is for sure, but i would want someone who is not going to look away when they see a problem, someone who will investigate anything that is anomalous.
what kind of system are you suggesting? parliamentary? we’ve been there, remember? marcos time? and now you want that form of govt again? its not the system thats the problem its whos running the system. “absolute power corrupts absolutely”.
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:41 pm
And yes, i forgot to mention.
With Pabling Garcia joining the fray to run as Majority floor leader against De Venicia, he will surely lose because he does not have the numbers. And then his party, KAMPI will be the minority group in Congress.
When that happens both the Minority and Majority group will now be Admin.
It will be the end of whatever opposition there is in the house.
People underestimate GMA. She is really a good tactician or his advisers are.
While the opposition in the house led by the idiot Drilon as LP head wants to support Garcia.
Once an idiot, always an idiot!
June 2nd, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Lagot? Why? Because GO senators won? From the beginning i think GMA’s game plan was to vote as many adminstration congressmen as possible. I dont think she dreamed of having the TU senators win. TU was just a smoke screen. The senators will never ever be able to impeach her. Parliamentary shift? Even her own Senators like Joker would not approve of that.
Open your eyes people. With GMA in control of congress and the majority of local officials, she still holds the edge.
June 2nd, 2007 at 1:15 pm
opposition dominated senate? do your job the best that you can.
MAKE LANDMARK LEGISLATIONS SO THAT THE PEOPLE MAY REMEMBER YOU…….
June 2nd, 2007 at 3:39 am
Proud Welfarevillian
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).
***********
Salina
I’m glad he’s losing his butt. He’s losing because the filipino people had enough. Imagine E-VAT. They’re deducting it automaticly from payroll.
Anong klasi yan. Only stupid idiot made this stupid E-vat into law; Only the rich has has been benefitting from this so call E-VAT. Not the poor people. While the rich enjoying their life, The poor people can’t barely eat, Not even 1 x a day.