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.
July 6th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
To the GO-dominated Senate, Good Luck to all you! May you work for the good of the nation and not too-focused on the presidential ambition of some your partymates. Support good legislations but oppose oppressive and unjust policies of the Arroyo Government. Work for the betterment of the majority of the electorates who put you on power but also listen to the reasons why others did not vote for you. They may not help you on your candidacy but everyone now is your constituency. You represent the the voice of every Filipino in any corner of the world in the upper chamber of the House.
July 2nd, 2007 at 12:46 pm
TO SALINA
Just saw your post. What I reported earlier was strictly unbiased, being a direct quote from a newspaper, and nobody, not even the President, can pad it. You’re the one who’s being biased.
June 22nd, 2007 at 5:18 am
Pian
We’re not under Junta unlike Burma. The government has no control over the judiciary (as attested to by its recent setback with the Batasan 5), certainly not the media (television, radio, newspaper, internet), which is so unlike the Marcos dictatorship where only 2 newspapers are allowed to circulate and their content should be pro-administration, and not the Senate. In spite of our divisiveness, our economy is growing. Let me quote a newspaper article dated 01Jun07 (so this is strictly an unbiased point of view). 6.9% GDP (take note: not GNP so it excludes OFW remittances) growth fastest since ’90. Then it has a reprint from Financial Times, allow me to quote some portions: This month Texas Instruments of the US announced plans for a $1bn assembly test site, while Saudi Arabia to plough $153m in Manila hotel complex.
…Net foreign buying on the $160bn stock market rose 73% year-on-year in the first four months of 2007.
…there are opportunities in infrastructure and mining: the Philippines has extractable mineral wealth worth $840bn, or 10 times GDP … Only a fraction of this is being tapped …
From 05Jun07 – Mining investments seen to hit $10B
World’s largest miner eyes $1B nickel project in RP
…BHP Billiton, the world’s biggest miner, is looking to invest up to $1 billion in a nickel project in the southern Philippines … President Arroyo met mining executives during her brief visit to Australia last week …
Prices have gone up mainly because of E-Vat (which is an unpopular but necessary decision to maintain our credit rating) but this will only be in the beginning for investor confidence is moving back as attested by the above.
The good news is our economy is growing in spite of our divisiveness. But this growth would be used mainly to pay off the country’s extremely huge debt mostly incurred during the Marcos dictatorship (which financed the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant for example), debt-servicing given priority to maintain/increase our credit rating so that in the event we need cash and nothing is available from us, we will have ready creditors who would rely mainly on our credit rating or our ability to pay, so anyone who expects this growth should indicate an immediate reduction of hunger and poverty will certainly not happen overnight. The good news though is we are getting there. I hope the new Senators will not hamper this momentum and solely take the credit for it, because the momentum already began.
So what more if we are united?
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I’m sick and tired hearing your so call booming economy. Truth of the matter is, Your so call 6.9% is pad. Just like she pad her votes in May 10, Presidential election. Read the letest news. If you can’t understand it. Sorry, Ka nalang. As we all knew it. Gloria Arroyo, keep lying to her teeth. She’s not telling the filipino people the truth about the philippines economy. Don’t be surprise the Philippines economy will collapse. Because of her. She keep padding her so call booming economy because she know she can. If you believe her. You’re not any better then her. Gloria Arroyo, is the biggest LIAR!!! Salinas
June 22nd, 2007 at 5:10 am
OFW in Afghanistan
GO wins the Senate, then what? They work and deliver the goods.
It pains me to see the Salina bashing. Can’t we just capture the essence of her thoughts? Why are we so patient with other national’s English and way of expression but so impatient with Salina’s contribution. I really do not understand this. Salina, just give it your best sh
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I’m sorry, Mr: But, I’am only telling the truth. If you can’t understand what I’m saying there is nothing I can do about it.
But, Please, Read so you can understand. If you remember I was saying early that the so call booming economy that Gloria Arroyo, Bragging about. Is a temporary situtation. And nobody believe me. I hope you’re reading the newspaper. Because its already out that the economy is window dressing by none other but the bugos President of cebu.
I’am not lying! When I said that Gloria Arroyo, Lying to her teeth. Either you people believe me or not. I don’t care for as long as I’m telling the truth what I’m posting here. I’m not a liar like Gloria Arroyo. Read all my posting check it out for yourself. And compare it to the news. Tugma talaga. How do I know that? simple,….very simple….The BIR taxes collection is fall short. where the hell Gloria Arroyo, Get her figure, If is not from padding it. So, That she maybe look good. I know for the fact that Gloria Arroyo, keep lying to the filipino people about her so call booming economy because there is more filipino people are starving. Only stupid idiots won’t know it.
Not even this stupid idiot Salinas,duh….
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June 11th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
GO wins the Senate, then what? They work and deliver the goods.
It pains me to see the Salina bashing. Can’t we just capture the essence of her thoughts? Why are we so patient with other national’s English and way of expression but so impatient with Salina’s contribution. I really do not understand this. Salina, just give it your best shot!