Con-ass: The debate on the street
Alam na alam namin
June 3, 2009
From the Akbayan Executive Committee
June 3, 2009
Stop Gloria Forever Moves! Kick ConAss!
There are many uncertainties about the legal meaning of the passage of House Resolution 1109. What is crystal clear is that Gloria has not given up on remaining in power after 2010. Despite its patent illegality, despite divisions in the ranks of the GMA forces in the House, despite the withdrawal of HR1109’s main sponsor, Cong. Villafuerte, GMA’s people forced HR1109’s passage.
This move should be opposed in the strongest possible terms, using all means available for people to express their opposition – in the courts, in the Congress, most importantly in the streets. A broad coalition of civil society groups, political parties, religious groups, youth formations have already begun. Opposition has to be organized outside Manila. We encourage party units to take the lead in mobilizing opposition in the provinces.
What is HR1109?
HR1109 calls on Congress to convene as a Constituent Assembly. It specifically says that the House, without the Senate, can propose amendments to the constitution. It says that if the House can secure three fourths of all the members of the House and the Senate, 225 votes in all, it will fulfill the requirements under Article XVII of the Constitution.
By itself, HR1109 will have little effect except to declare to the Senate and to the public that the House is interested in convening a ConAss for the purpose of proposing amendments/revisions to the Constitution. It does not propose any specific amendments/revisions yet.
There are disagreements on the legal implications of HR1109. Cebu Rep. Pablo Garcia, an HR1109 proponent, characterizes it as a mere “call to convene”, and an invitation to the Senate to join the House in convening a ConAss. If the Senate does not “accept the invitation” – does not pass a resolution convening a ConAss – there is no legal basis for a ConAss.
But the immediate purpose of the hurried passage of HR1109 is only to create a semblance of a justiciable issue that may be raised before the Supreme Court. Gloria and her operators believe that they have enough people in the Court who can secure a decision accepting the voting formula contained in HR1109.
It is clear that GMA has not managed to secure the 225 votes needed to pull off the charade of fulfilling the Constitutional requirement of a three fourth’s vote of the members of both the House and the Senate. Their hope is that if the Supreme Court says ConAss without the Senate does not violate the Constitution, they will be able to secure the remaining votes.
Legal Obstacles
Lawyers in the opposition say that the passage of HR1109, by itself, does not create a “justiciable issue”. The expression of an intention to convene a ConAss without the Senate is not illegal. If the Senate rejects it, or chooses not to address it at all, then the entire move to convene a ConAss will remain in limbo.
There are indications that to force the issue, GMA’s people will go ahead and convene a ConAss, elect officers, and propose amendments. But without the 225 votes, the process will not even fulfill the requirements of HR1109 itself which calls for a three fourths vote. They won’t even have an argument to make to the Supreme Court.
Political Means
Under conditions of legality, if the Supreme Court does what it is supposed to do, it should be easy to stop HR1109. Because Gloria has a long record of illegal moves, in the end, Gloria’s chacha can only be stopped politically.
§ We should tell Gloria’s people in the House that we will mobilize against them in the 2010 elections,
§ We should let Supreme Court justices know that they cannot violate the Constitution with impunity,
§ We should express our anger in our schools, in the halls of Congress, most importantly in the streets (maski na umuulan)
June 2, 2009
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090602-208506/-House-approves-constituent-assembly
House approves constituent assembly
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 23:32:00 06/02/2009
Filed Under: Charter change, Politics
MANILA, Philippines – Debates dragged for hours but it took only a few
seconds for the House of Representatives to approve a resolution that
would convene Congress into a constituent assembly to amend the 1987
Constitution.
With the “ayes” registering a louder vote than the “nays,” the House
of Representatives late Tuesday approved House Resolution 1109
convening Congress into a constituent assembly to amend the 1987
Constitution.
Even as all the interpellators have yet to speak, Shariff Kabunsuan
with Cotabato City Representative Didagen Dilangalen made a motion to
stop the interpellation period and go on voting. This was immediately
seconded and approved.
Members of the minority registered their objection.
Nueva Vizcaya Representative Carlos Padilla said the country witnessed
a “simple tyranny of the majority” and called the chamber “the worst
Congress in the annals of Philippine history.”
“I believe in democracy, but this tyranny,” South Cotabato
Representative Darlene Antonino-Custodio said.
“Have we no shame? Let us stop this farce immediately,” Bukidnon
Representative Teofisto Guingona III said.
“We oppose this, this charade… Let us amend the Constitution after the
term of President Arroyo. That is the time to amend the Constitution
of the Philippines. The best way to amend the Constitution is by
constitutional convention,” said former Speaker and Pangasinan
Representative Jose de Venecia Jr.
With the passage Nueva Ecija Representative Eduardo Nonato Joson
likened the country to a woman fighting off a rapist, saying “Huwag po
kuya [Please don’t, sir].”
“Let us not gang rape our Constitution,” he said.
Bayan Muna party list Representative Teodoro Casiño said one of the
sponsors of the resolution had admitted on the floor that the “whereas
clause” in the resolution that prohibits the term extension of the
incumbent president and vice president, senators, congressmen, mayors
and other elected officials whose term will expire in 2010, and that
there would be elections in 2010 was “not binding.”
Gabriela partylist Representative Liza Maza asked one of the sponsors,
Cavite Representative Elpidio Barzaga Jr., it was possible under the
resolution to postpone the 2010 elections.
“Everything is possible, but it depends on the sound judgment of our
colleagues,” Barzaga said.
La Union Representative Victor Ortega also echoed the same view,
saying that they would rely on “trust” basis in implementing the
“whereas clause.”
Parañaque Representative Roilo Golez said the majority pledged to have
an exhaustive discussion in plenary of the resolution.
“If we cannot trust them [majority] on this very small pledge, how can
the people trust the members of this Congress as constituent
assembly,” Golez said.
Representative Luz Ilagan of Gabriela party list called the
proceedings a “night of ignominy” where the administration allies once
again used their numbers to push their agenda.
Quezon Representative Lorenzo Tañada III said he voted against the
resolution because Congress does not need to pass one in its use of
its inherent legislative powers. He added he is also against the
“crass” manifestation that the House alone can act in amending the
Constituion without engaging the Senate.
Proponents of the measure are in quandary if the House can convene as
an assembly on its own. Several lawmakers, including those form the
majority bloc, said that the Senate should be part of the process of
the constituent assembly.
“It always takes two to dance the Cha cha,” Cebu Representative Pablo
Garcia said during the earlier part of the debates.
By his interpretation, Garcia said HR 1109 was “just an invitation to
both Houses to convene in order to propose amendments to or revise the
Constitution.”
La Union Representative Victor Ortega, chairman of the committee on
constitutional amendments, echoed that the Senate could not be ignored
in the process of convening a constituent assembly.
Camarines Sur Representative Luis Villafuerte said he drafted the
resolution, but Speaker Prospero Nograles was its main author.
Villafuerte had withdrawn his signature to the resolution, saying that
there was no more time to rewrite the Constitution with barely a year
to go before the May 2010 elections.
“I have withdrawn my signature and I’m not supporting this resolution
anymore,” Vilalfuerte said, noting that “there’s a group in the
majority that’s undermining the resolution they are sponsoring.”
Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora questioned the haste with which it was
being discussed in plenary, with only two session days left and with
other key legislation pending for passage.
“Why the short cut? Why not go for the long haul, for the harder
route? Why not eschew the easy path and make the amendments to the
Constitution as important as the role of the committee on
constitutional amendments?” Zamora said.
In the resolution, it was interpreted that voting should be done upon
the three-fourths of “all the members of Congress, not three-fourths
of each House voting separately.”
Proponents of this measure had hoped that this would prompt someone to
question it before the Supreme Court, so that the tribunal could
decide whether voting by the two chambers of Congress should be done
jointly or separately.
“So what is the point of all of this, if there is no justiciable
controversy… if you agree with me that the Senate is part of the
process?” Zamora said.
Proponents of the measure are still in quandary if the House can
convene as an assembly on its own. Several lawmakers, including those
form the majority bloc, said that the Senate should be part of the
process of the constituent assembly.
Earlier in the day, administration allies vowed to use their numbers
to have HR 1109 approved on Tuesday’s session and will study the
option if the House could convene into a constituent assembly even
without the Senate.
Interviewed after presiding over a caucus of the majority, Nograles
said the bloc would pass HR 1109 and then study their next moves.
“After we pass it we will have to study our next moves, study, legal
(study),” he said.
Taking up the constituent assembly resolution was one of the
agreements within the merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD party, despite the
withdrawal of support of Villafuerte, who recently resigned as Kampi
president.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is aware of the plan of the
congressmen, the Speaker said.
“Of course, I will not deny that the President just listened, she did
not say anything, bahala kayo [It’s up to you],” he added.
The constituent assembly resolution was approved in an emergency
meeting of the committee on constitutional amendments Monday so it
could be referred to the rules committee for floor deliberation
Tuesday.
Nograles said HR 1109 would be taken up first before House Resolution
737, which seeks specific amendments to the economic provisions of the
Constitution, because it only needed the vote by a majority while the
latter resolution required three-fourths vote of all members of
Congress since it was introducing specific amendments.
As to the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) extension,
Nograles acknowledged that the pressure was now on the House after the
Senate passed it on third reading Monday night.
He said the House just received a copy of the 78-page document and was
still studying it.
“The options are basically two: first, is the easier option to adopt
their version and it’s finished. The second is to make another version
and go on bicam [bicameral committee meetings] over the holidays,”
Nograles said.
hindi tayo papayag
May 13, 2009
In response to this article, published by a foreigner in the Daily Tribune. He basically says that all the civil society groups mobilizing voters around election day (especially those involved in EDSA Dos) are self-righteous and their demands to be part of decision-making are useless.
Civil society/pressure groups/lobby groups are supposed to be part of the decision-making process. The reason behind and the role for a vibrant civil society in a functioning democracy is to aggregate interests and engage policy makers – thus becoming part of the decision making process. Unfortunately, in the Philippines civil society is most often in opposition to government figures. In other, working, democracies, elected officials actually rely on civil society to help formulate policy.
It is of utmost importance that we remember that democracy is not about getting your candidate elected, and then once elected that official has the mandate to do what they want. Democracy is an ongoing process and once elected an official is still supposed to involve multiple actors in decision making. Government officials don’t just earn the mandate of the people every time an election happens roll around – they’re supposed to earn it every day.
Personally, I think that what went wrong in 01 was not the groups that ousted Erap were too ideologically diverse. In a country of 90 million that is as complex as ours, the only way to get anything done is to appeal to a diverse group. Rather, I think the mistake was that the coalition broke up after regime change without following through on what came next. The trend of democratic backsliding across the world – not the least of such examples is our own country – really proves that regime change means nothing without some sort of managed transition. In other words, you take one corrupt, maniacal figure out of power without following through on some fundamental reform agenda and he or she will simply be replaced by another corrupt, manaical figure, and your country will likely be worse for it.
Yes, 01 was wrought with mistakes, but I think the approach of “after their candidate wins we won’t be left out in the streets” is the right one to take. Sure, people will have their personal agendas, but realistically, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. We don’t have to always lie to ourselves about being stuck to some lofty moral agenda. The idea of plural democracy is a bunch of different actors advocating for their own self-interests, and that results in something better for everyone (or at least a hell of a lot better than a controlled oligarchic state like what we’ve got now.) And so the challenge is yes, mobilize the electorate, but use that mobilization to prove that the Filipino electorate are energized and paying attention, and will hold candidates to reform post-election.
Furthermore, having disparate, personal agendas doesn’t mean such groups can’t work together post-election. They don’t have to agree on policy, nor should they. But, they can agree on some basic structural reforms that will benefit the vast majority of the country. We can’t count on vested interests to determine who wins the game, but we can count on a variety of different vested interests to determine the rules of the game. (Rawls, anyone?) For example, increased congressional control over the budget, increased transparency in appointments processes, regular reporting of government expenditures, a ban on re-appointments in upper levels of government, more independence for the office of the ombudsman, etc. At this point in our democratic development we need to focus on the basics of institution building to level the playing field. Far from the usual populist antics we are used to, these less-than-sexy political reforms can be advocated for by groups that run the gamut of the ideological spectrum, while still allowing them to remain “pure.”
One last thing – lets not forget that the Tribune is controlled by Erap. So take this editorial for what you will.
May 6, 2009
And The Lozada/Defensor Saga Continues – Judge Lorredo Order
Posted by c under The StruggleLeave a Comment
In the reform movement, we often have a cynical view of people in government. They’re all bad and corrupt. They just want to collect their paychecks and bribes without rocking the broken system. It’s just us versus them, black and white, all the time.
More and more, however, we’re seeing shades of grey. We’re seeing people inside government who want to do something good. These are the people we must strategically ally with, if nothing more (but hopefully more) to support them when they stand up to the corrupted system by simply trying to do their jobs properly.
Yes, as far as legal arguments and the technicality of court orders, it’s hard to comment on this favorably. However, what is evident is a man wholly frustrated with a corrupt administration + lackeys and their exploitation of the judicial system to further their personal vendettas and greed. I’m sure the administration will react to this court order with responses of “It’s unprofessional” and “Opining doesn’t fall under the prerogative of a judge” and “A sitting president can’t be forced to testify” and other regurgitations of the legal maneuvering they have so successfully used to avoid the reasonable execution of justice. But, if they can so brazenly prostitute our legal system to, among other aims, intimidate, threaten and silence opposition, why shouldn’t a judge use the public pulpit he has to respond.
It’s hard to pick a favorite section of this document: alluding to Mike Arroyo’s health problems as punishment for evil, suggesting that Mike Defensor could suffer a similar fate (and appealing to his family on that front), the very suggestion of Alfredo Lim, Ping Lacson and Antonio Trillianes arresting the fugitive Arroyos (though I think the kind judge meant it as a warning, I thoroughly appreciate and savor the image).
But, I think for practical purposes there is a key point we should keep in mind. This judge will not hesitate to call and if necessary compel the Arroyos to stand as witnesses. Though they can do their legal (and medical – thank you to the honorable St. Luke’s doctors) acrobatics to say that a sitting president cannot be compelled to testify, May 2010 is 12 short months away. Yet another reason to count down.
March 29, 2009
Hong Kong Magazine Calls Philippines a Nation of Servants
Posted by c under The Struggle[2] Comments
So this guy is mad that the Philippines is laying claim to the Spratly islands and has decided to express his frustration by publishing an opinion piece about how the Philippines is a country of domestic helpers and cheap labor and how if the Philippines were to challenge China, there could be 130,000 Filipina women hostages in Hong Kong homes – including his DH who has a degree in internaitonal relations from UP.
Well my blood is boiling too. I can’t even write something eloquent right now – but this is what our women, including our educated women, have to resort to just to support themselves and their families. They work as cheap labor in a country that has incredible disdain for them as Filipinos and as women. Human trafficking, de facto slavery, so many terms come to mind….we need jobs for our own people! Generations of educated talent that should be building our nation are working as slaves to foreigners.
The War At Home
March 27th, 2009
The Russians sank a Hong Kong freighter last month, killing the seven Chinese seamen on board. We can live with that—Lenin and Stalin were once the ideological mentors of all Chinese people. The Japanese planted a flag on Diàoyú Island. That’s no big problem—we Hong Kong Chinese love Japanese cartoons, Hello Kitty, and shopping in Shinjuku, let alone our round-the-clock obsession with karaoke.
But hold on—even the Filipinos? Manila has just claimed sovereignty over the scattered rocks in the South China Sea called the Spratly Islands, complete with a blatant threat from its congress to send gunboats to the South China Sea to defend the islands from China if necessary. This is beyond reproach. The reason: there are more than 130,000 Filipina maids working as $3,580-a-month cheap labor in Hong Kong. As a nation of servants, you don’t flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.
As a patriotic Chinese man, the news has made my blood boil. I summoned Louisa, my domestic assistant who holds a degree in international politics from the University of Manila, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell every one of her compatriots in Statue Square on Sunday that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belongs to China.
Grimly, I told her that if war breaks out between the Philippines and China, I would have to end her employment and send her straight home, because I would not risk the crime of treason for sponsoring an enemy of the state by paying her to wash my toilet and clean my windows 16 hours a day. With that money, she would pay taxes to her government, and they would fund a navy to invade our motherland and deeply hurt my feelings.
Oh yes. The government of the Philippines would certainly be wrong if they think we Chinese are prepared to swallow their insult and sit back and lose a Falkland Islands War in the Far East. They may have Barack Obama and the hawkish American military behind them, but we have a hostage in each of our homes in the Mid-Levels or higher. Some of my friends told me they have already declared a state of emergency at home. Their maids have been made to shout “China, Madam/Sir” loudly whenever they hear the word “Spratly.” They say the indoctrination is working as wonderfully as when we used to shout, “Long live Chairman Mao!” at the sight of a portrait of our Great Leader during the Cultural Revolution. I’m not sure if that’s going a bit too far, at least for the time being.
Chip Tsao is a best-selling author and columnist. A former reporter for the BBC, his columns have also appeared in Apple Daily, Next Magazine and CUP Magazine, among others.
February 23, 2009
Over a quarter unemployed
Hunger also higher among affected families — SWS
http://www.bworldonline.com/BW022309/content.php?id=001
OVER A QUARTER of the adult labor force are unemployed and hunger as a consequence is higher among their families, a new Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed.
The results, made exclusive to BusinessWorld, point to some 11 million Filipinos — 27.9% of the work force — as jobless as of December. While better than September’s 30.9%, the SWS said unemployment basically remained above 20% since May 2005.
The independent survey research institution’s tally compares with the official unemployment rate of 6.8% as of October — equivalent to 2.53 million Filipinos — based on the National Statistics Office’s (NSO) quarterly Labor Force survey.
The SWS uses the traditional definition of unemployment — those not working and at the same time looking for work — and classes adults as those at least 18 years old.
The government, on the other hand, includes those 15 years old onward and in April 2005 dropped the traditional definition in favor of the “availability of work” concept.
This means the NSO’s count excludes those without work but are not currently available despite wanting to work, and adds those without jobs, are available, but are not seeking work due to either tiredness/belief that no work is available; awaiting results of a job application; temporary illness/disability; bad weather; or waiting for rehire/recall.
Using the official definition, the SWS said its unemployment figure for adults 18 years old and above would be 22.3%.
“It is lower than when computed using the traditional definition because the correction for those looking for work but ’not truly available’ is much larger than the correction for those ’actually available’ though not looking for work at the moment,” it said.
The SWS also tied joblessness to hunger, saying “Unemployment raises the vulnerability of families…”.
It said 31.4% among families of the unemployed experienced “total hunger” or involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months, compared to 29.2% among families of private employees, 19.7% among families of the self-employed, and 12.7% among families of government employees.
“Severe hunger”, referring to those who experienced involuntary hunger “often” or “always” in the last three months, was 7.6% among the unemployed and private employees, 2.6% among the self-employed, and also 2.6% among government employees.
“Moderate hunger” — experiencing it “only once” or “a few times” in the last three months — was 23.8% among the unemployed, 21.6% among private employees, 17.1% among the self-employed, and 10.1% among government employees.
The fourth quarter SWS survey polled 1,500 adults in Metro Manila using face-to-face interviews. Sampling error margins used were plus or minus 2.5% for national percentages, plus or minus 6% for Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao, and plus or minus 4% for the Balance of Luzon.
Asked to comment, University of the Philippines School of Labor and Industrial Relations professor Rene E. Ofreneo said the 27.9% unemployment rate was very high.
“It’s over one-fifth of the labor force … it’s really a cause for concern. The challenge to the government in light of the crisis is to provide jobs for those displaced but also for those entering the labor force every year, that’s about one million,” he said.
Employment opportunities should also be given to those who were jobless even before the crisis, he said, adding “It’s also important to provide quality jobs.”
He said data from the Employers Confederation of the Philippines showed the informal economy accounted for some 70% of the labor force comnpared to government data which point to just 45% being informally employed.
“Somewhere between that … let’s say 50%, are definitely in the informal economy,” he said.
Alvin P. Ang, University of Santo Tomas economist, said the results of the latest SWS survey were “alarming”.
“It’s most probably true because of the global economic situation. The government has very limited fiscal capacity. But I think it won’t be solved by the government alone, the private sector should help,” he said. — from a report by Bernardette S. Sto. Domingo
February 19, 2009
Thought for the Day: Socialism and the Corporation
Posted by c under Ramblings, The StruggleLeave a Comment
Socialism can be likened to the corporate structure. As a corporation is a system which exists and engages in a variety of often complicated activities for the benefit of its shareholders, a government does the same for its citizens. As a CEO has an immense amount of executive control over the economic policies of the corporation, but is required to act in the interest of and is answerable to the shareholders, so do socialist public officeholders exercise control over state economies, yet are responsible to their constituencies.
The advantage of socialism, however, is that it addresses two major shortcomings of the corporate system: inequality and short-sightedness. The corporate structure is inherently unequal: the more money you have, the more shares you have; the more shares you have, the more say you have; the more say you have, at the potential negligence of others. Socialism does not so discriminate. The corporate structure, furthermore, is inherently biased towards the short-term. If management is unable to deliver quarter to quarter, they are dismissed and can even face prosecution. Governments, however, are inherently long-term. Elections do not occur quarterly but after a number of years. When there is a working party system, there is an incentive to ensure the party’s longevity. When there is a true working socialist system, the goal is to ensure the longevity and development of the nation.
At least, those were my thoughts as I was having my morning coffee. We socialists love life.
January 19, 2009
I just finished watching Norotrious, as a New Yorker stuck here in DC, I simply had to do it. I liked it. I really liked it and was surprised how much I actually liked it. Yes, it was a movie about hip hop, it was a movie where the music was a character and Brooklyn was a character, just as much as were Biggie, Faith, Puff, Kim and espeically Violetta. But more than the music, it was a story of a kid struggling to be a man. Even now, it was stilla shock to be reminded that Pac was 25 when he died and Big was 24. The movie did a good job of showing both Pac and big as complex figures, who just like the rest of us, are neither all good nor all bad. But, at the end of the day, these two incredibly complex figures were just kids, faced with crippling poverty, responsibility and despair as children struggling ot make it through, and then suddenly presented with ridiculous amounts of money, guns, liquor, women and all sorts of temptation. We expected them to act like men, but they were still just kids playing a man’s game.
But what surprised me even more was how emotionally attached I felt. I found myself , to my own incredulosity, holding in tears while they showed Bk erupting in a spontaneous street party when Big’s funeral procession rode through. And while I definitely felt some ownership because there were parts of the movie that one probably just wouldn’t get if they weren’t from New York (DJ Enuff actually being the DJ for all of the scenes, Angie Mar’s voice on the radio, the constant shots of Fulton street signs), I really feel my strong emotional reaction is a testament to the true meaning of Hip Hop.
Hip Hop is a culture; not a subculture, but a culture. It is the culture of the marginalized and provides a community for all of us who never really felt like we were or could be a part of mainstream white American culture. Hip Hop tells us that we have value. While mainstream America tells us we are stupid and immature and have no future because we don’t walk with the proper stiffness or speak with the proper lack of tone and twang, hip hop tells us that we can belong to something that is positive and valuable. I feel emotionally involved because I am emotionally connected to the hip hop community – the community which told me that I could belong to something as I am when mainstream America told me I had to put on a a front to belong.
This isn’t a new idea – it’s something I wrote about way back in my senior year of undergrad, but Notorious gave me a chance to revisit it. As I wrote back in 2006,
[H]ip hop culture provides a vehicle through which … youth could establish themselves as the center, with the rest of the globe on the periphery. The focus of hip hop on the issue of “legitimacy” and “repping where you’re from” [and the joy repping N to the Y brings] allows creators/producers to marginalize their marginalizers. Hip hop is a community builder for the formerly displaced, including those who are not usually included and excluding those who are not usually excluded.
January 6, 2009
FORMAL STATEMENT OF GOV. ED PANLILIO
YESTERDAY, AT ABOUT 9:30 IN THE MORNING, SEVERAL RALLYISTS COMPOSED OF FORMER PROVINCIALS CHECKERS AND MEMBERS OF PAMPANGA TRUCKERS WITH THEIR DRIVERS AND HELPERS BARGED INTO THE PROVINCIAL CAPITOL AND PROCEEDED INTO THE SECOND FLOOR KICKING ATTEMPTING TO ENTER MY OFFICE. THE DOOR WAS FORCED OPEN. THE RALLYISTS RETREATED UPON NOTING THAT MY SECURITY OFFICERS ARE READY TO ENGAGE THEM IN COMBAT AND PROTECT ME FROM ANY IMMINENT DANGER.
UNDAUNTED, THE RALLYISTS PROCEEDED TO THE OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATOR AND LIKEWISE ATTEMPTED TO BARGE INTO HER OFFICE KNOWING FULLY WELL THAT THERE ARE NO SECURITY OFFICERS WHO WOULD PROTECT HER. FORTUNATELY ENOUGH, HER STAFF IMMEDIATELY LOCKED THE DOORS WHEN THEY HEARD THE RALLYISTS GOING UP THE SECOND THE SECOND FLOOR LOBBY.
After some minutes, the rallyists went down, leaving the employees shaken by the incident. This is the provincial capitol. The seat of power in this province. And yet, the Sangguninang Panlalawigan DID NOT see fit to protect us but opened the door for these incidents to happen by unceremoniously and illegally declaring the Macario Arnedo Park as a freedom park.
Not satisfied, at about 11:30 yesterday, the rallyists repeatedly HIT and ATTACKED my two nephews who are here in the country for a vacation. They are here at the capitol to see me. Their infraction: my nephews attempted to tear down the offensive streamers put up by the former checkers. The very streamers for which I have instructed Col Singian to put down, if not arrest the rallysists for violating the law. At the time my nephews were BEING BEATEN, some policeman are just stone’s throw away.
For several months now, we have endured the daily insults thrown at us by these rallysists. Malicious, offensive streamers hung around the park and their trucks carrying libelous, suggestive pictures of me and Atty. Dabu were roving the province.
What happened yesterday merely accentuated the marked incompetence of our police force. For several months now, I have asked Col. Singian to arrest the rallyists. Yesterday morning, I have asked Col Singian to effect the arrest against the the rallyists who attempted to HARM me. Since they were NOT immediately arrested, two of those rallyists HIT my nephews. I again asked Col Singian to arrest them. Col Singian and his men DILLY-DALLIED till the period to arrest had lapsed. TILL THIS MORNING NOTHING HAPPENED. No arrest was made and none will be made.
And so today, I appear before you to express my condemnation to these acts. To the rallyists, who did not follow the rule of law. They held the rally without a permit and even barged into the provincial capitol attempting to harm me. This attack is not merely an attack to me as a person but an attack to the very office I now hold, the Office of the Governor, an attack to the people of Pampanga.
To the Sangugunian Panlalawigan, who violated both law and wisdom in declaring the Macario Arnedo Park as a freedom park. To the police officers in this province, whose ineptitude and incompetence put me and the lives of others in danger.
For more than 18 months now, I have been asking the President no less to replace Col. Keith Singian to no avail. Today, I am raising again my voice calling the PNP leadership, the DILG Secretary, and the President for the relief of Col. Singian, Col. Medina, the chief of police of the City of San Fernando, and their men for gross dereliction of duty and incompetence. And so, today, I am personally filling my petition for their relief to the office of the DILG Secretary, the Chief PNP and the NAPOLCOM.
Lastly, I am appealing to our well-meaning kabalens to open their eyes and be involved. These despicable acts are not merely due to the ineptitude of the police officers, the lack of wisdom of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the disrespect to authority and law of the rallyists. These loathsome acts are orchestrated by people who from day one do not wish me to stay a single day longer as Governor of this province. Their recount and recall move have failed. Their last resort is to discredit me, to malign me in public, to humiliate me, to intimidate me, and to make it appear that I am not fit to govern.
Should it take young, idealsistic men who saw the evil of those posters and streamers to make us realize that we have been lethargic in fighting the evil around us? We love this province. Should we remain silent and indifferent by what is happening around us? Please remember, evil triumphs when good men do nothing.
Governor Eddie T. Panlilio
Pampanga
