We have always been made to believe that a sitting president is immune from suits.
Gloria Arroyo has never been elected to the presidency and is therefore an illegitimate president. Nevertheless, she sits in Malacañang and she is afforded presidential privileges including immunity from suits.
But lawyer Harry Roque thinks otherwise. Together with former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Ma. Dominga Padilla, Roel Garcia, Bebu Bulchand, and Fr. Jose Dizon, he filed a case before the Ombudsman against Arroyo for violating Republic Act No. 3019 otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) as well as provisions of the Revised Penal Code (RPC).
Included in the suit are Gloria Arroyo’s husband Mike Arroyo, former Comelec Chair Benjamin Abalos, and former Economic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri. The case is in connection with their alleged involvement in the allegedly scandalous deal between the Philippine government and ZTE Corporation, a publicly-listed telecommunications equipment supplier in Hong Kong and China, to put up the controversial National Broadband Network project in the Philippines.
Roque said “this case involves a novel yet important point of law – the issue of whether Mrs. Arroyo, who is a sitting President, can and should be sued for unlawful acts or omissions, in the face of the traditional doctrine of presidential immunity from suits.”
The citizen-complainants believe it is time to discard this colonial jurisprudential legacy shielding the highest official of the land from suits even where the President is guilty of disregarding her constitutional duties.
Instead, they argue for a “functional” approach that recognizes that where impunity in any form is perpetuated by those who occupy a high office, immunity must give way to responsibility, in keeping with the constitutional principle that “a public office is a public trust.”
Here are more of Roque’s notes on the suit:
“Indeed, this cardinal constitutional principle, enshrined in Sec. 1, Art XI of the 1987 Constitution, goes against the idea that the President is akin to royalty (who must not be touched) or that her office should be protected from suits simply because it should be publicly revered; these ideas were borrowed from court practice in colonial days, when the Philippine Supreme Court under the American colonial government gave the Governor General blanket immunity from suits.
“Today, even the American Supreme Court has veered away from the old notion of presidential immunity, as shown by the case of Clinton v. Jones, where it allowed a suit for damages against a sitting President for unofficial acts. Today, a culture of impunity in government reigns – extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and as addressed in this case, graft and corruption. What has the President done to solve this problem? Instead, as in this case, we find the President herself abetting and allowing the commission of a crime involving a member of her own Cabinet in the anomalous ZTE broadband deal.
“Thus we allege: Respondent Mrs. Arroyo is guilty of abetting or tolerating the commission of a crime when she did nothing despite her having been told by Respondent Neri about a bribe offer from Respondent Abalos. Her omission violates Art. 208 of the Revised Penal Code, which provides for a penalty of prision correccional upon a public official who in dereliction of his or her duties, “shall maliciously refrain from instituting prosecution or the punishment of violators of the law or shall tolerate the commission of offenses.”
“Moreover, she also violated § 1 (a) of PD 1829, which provides that “[a] penalty of prision correccional in its maximum period shall be imposed upon any person who knowingly and willfully obstructs, impedes or delays the apprehension of suspects and the investigation of criminal cases by… (a) preventing witnesses from reporting the commission of any offense.”
“Despite her having been told about the bribe offer, Respondent Mrs. Arroyo obstructed the apprehension of Respondent Abalos and the investigation of the same offense by (a) not acting on it and (b) her active support for the ZTE proposal to undertake the NBN project, as indicated by her presence in the Sept. 21, 2007 signing of an agreement between her agents and ZTE officials in China; and (c) her express invocation of “executive privilege” through her alter ego –no less than Respondent Neri himself – when pressed to shed light on the anomalous deal by members of the Senate in their exercise of the power of the Upper House to inquire in aid of legislation about deals such as the NBN project;
“In fact, considering all these circumstances, there is a strong ground to charge Respondent Mrs. Arroyo with violation of § 3 (e) of RA 3019, for “[c]ausing any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official, administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross inexcusable negligence.”
I’m all for this novel suit. No one should be above the law, especially a bogus president.
Why wasn’t DoTC chief Leandro Mendoza included in the complaint?
Yes! At pigain si Tita Nerissa!
Did someone forget Leandro Mendoza? Ihabol!
oo nga ano? where’s mendoza?
It’s a good test case.
The minions will certainly go to the Supreme Court, and ask for a TRO. The Court may or may not grant the TRO, either following judicial precedent in the US, or crafting a Pinoy precedent.
For tactical purposes, I would sue, separately, one of them; maybe, Abalos. Even if US judicial precedent is followed by the Philippine Supreme Court, the prosecutor may ask that a subpoena be issued for the records, minutes (remember the NEDA minutes), and even tape recordings of Malacanang meetings, pursuant to precedent in the case of US v. Nixon 418 U.S. 683.
Like stated above, i-demanda rin si Leandro Mendoza, and subpoena the ZTE contract.
Does the Solicitor General have the guts of Frank Chavez? Not supporting the government if he believes it is unjust to do so?
Crimes are never official acts. So can these people avail of the services of the Sol-Gen? Kikita na naman ang mga private lawyers. Whether good or not, pumapatak ang metro nila.
If Arroyo is stripped of immunity from suit, don’t forget to strip her clothes too. Baka may nakasingit sa kanyang mga parte ng katawan ang mga pera.
Let’s observe how Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol and Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera handle the presidential immunity issue. I think presidential immunity from suit does not covers de facto president or usurper.
What do we expect from Jose Pidal’s crony Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez? This will be an impartiality test case for Ombudsman Gutierrez. She should be loyal to the Constitution not to Gloria Arroyo or Jose Pidal. The Joc-Joc Bolante fertilizer scam is going nowhere. She even absolved former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos’ criminal liability in the over-priced election counting machines. ZTE-NBN scam key player Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila should be also included in the complaint.
The question is which court will it eventually end? Our legal occupants are two compromised, perhaps, if there will be a blanket replacement of all the SC and Ombudsman members not appointed by the president but by the Legal Community.
Atty is right a good test case, but it appears that the results are already in the burner. Pag marumi ang kaldero at ang dating laman ay panis, garantisado na maglalasang panis din ang ano mang lulutuin.
The case was filed before the Ombudsman?
I think we should expect this result: case dismissed!
If Ombudsman could let Abalos and other high profile crooks go unscathed, how much more for this great pretender from Malacanang?
As long as the illegal president remains the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces with the law enforcement under Esperon at her beck and call, stripping her of her immunity is untenable. She will certainly use her power to her advantage.
Let us imagine, for instance, that punggok is stripped of her immunity but with her control is left intact. I cannot see someone knock the door of Malacanang, “Madame President, you are under arrest for your conspiracy with your laws to destabilize the constitution.” I do not know of any prison cell that is big enough to hold punggok and her acolytes and neocons in remand while a criminal case in which the has been charged is pending in court. Such can only happen when our country are relieved of her subsumption to the powers of the Chief Executive. No matter her offence, the President can only be arrested and detained when she has lost power, either through impeachment, expiration of her term of office or the overthrow of her government through unconstitutional means.
Only the Tongress in general and the Senate in particular, have been greatly empowered to watch over the executive. They make the laws and can override presidential vetoes. They have power to check the ways the executive is managing or mismanaging public funds. They have the power to apply various levels of sanctions, including impeachment, the Supreme Court is the catalytic converter, also has roles under the Constitution to check the excesses of every center of power.. Then, of course, we have the societal watchdogs such as the media, pressure groups and civil society organs, all enabled to ensure that operatives of government are kept within the limits of the law.
Cont.
The problem we have, therefore, is not the immunity granted the Presidency by the Constitution. Our problem, really, is the relative inability or unwillingness of the legislature, judiciary and the watchdog organs of our country to rise to the challenges of their duties and stamp their authority. If we are genuinely concerned about the excesses of the president, we must be eager to encourage the other realms of the country to use their powers of checks and oversight. We have found out that it is possible to de-immunize and prosecute an executive office holder such as Marcos and Erap.
There may be cases where the Chief Executive manages to use her powers to escape de-immunization and prosecution. If a corrupt President is left in no doubt that she will still face the law when she leaves office, she will bring herself under the law while in office or resigned like Nixon. We in the Philippines simply bring back former corrupt traditional politicians and heads of state to power. There lies our problem. Not the immunity.
Hurrah! Told you, guys, it could be done for no one is above the law. Lalo na kung kriminal ang nakaupo! Bakit siya bibigyan ng immunity from prosecution. In fact, mismong Election Code of the Philippines provides that anyone who breaks even just one of its provisions can be disqualified and prosecuted, no need for any useless impeachment petition as a matter of fact.
I support the lawsuit filed by ex-Senator Guingona and Atty. Roque. We’ll invite them to come to Japan perhaps when the short woman comes to Japan on her own invitation to herself!!!
Anything that will do away with goria should be resorted. We have lots of good and well-meaning lawyers who could argue its merits before the court(I’m now deleting the L because this unglorious woman don’t deserved to be named glorya in the first place). The case could be filed in any court and let’s see which court will admit or reject it. Expect the hordes of Malacanang spokesmen, who are always quick in depending their small little goria, do their yakity-yakitak with all kinds of scripted and worn out lines we heard many times already.
Ombudsman? Sori, lumagpas sa mata ko yun a!
Maganda na sana ang pakiramdam ko biglang nawalan na naman ng pag-asa!
Dun ako sa logic ni Cocoy kesa sa Ombudsman, ayos na ayos sana ang mga puntos ni Lawyer Harry.
Ombudsman? Hindi ba iyan ang teritoryo noong girlfriend ni Pidal? Yuck!
Patay agad, OM-BADS-MAN pero
Lawyer Roque, Guingona and others may have all the legal reasons to charge Gloria of anti-graft and corrupt practices or whatever. Down the road, the question remains: who will try them? The Ombudsman, Sandiganbayan? They are Gloria’s kow-towing courts no better than the kangaroo courts we all know.
Wondering where this legal action will lead us to.
Hawaiianguy has a point…who would try her? People should try her. That means another People Power is imperative.
Pechanco, “…People Power is imperative.” Agreed!
When democracy is mocked by corrupt and illegitimate leaders, when all the state institutions have gone bankrupt, and when all remedies have been exhausted, the people are left with no other option. The only way is to remove those leaders, who have prostituted our democratic way of life, and consign them where they rightly belong – the dungeons of hell.
Our last bastion of hope, so-called civil society, is fractured. Those moralists from CBCP and other sectors are vainly waiting for nothing. It’s time to stand up and be counted, now!
Gising na pinoy, gabi na naman!
hawaiianguy Says:
Wondering where this legal action will lead us to.
this will lead us to nowhere
I-demand rin si Merceditas for sitting on cases. Then you will have the Deputy taking on the case.
Will he be different? I don’t know, but there must be no let-up, since there is no let-up anyway, in assaulting the public coffers.
This is classic example of kumonoy for gloria and the cheding. A dismissal of the case might yet start the spark of real unrest. Upholding the case would be a bad day for gloria, who incidentally sent ermita to US to pave the way for safe passage of gloria on the WAY OUT.
Sorry. I meant i-demanda.
atty26252
Pwede na rin i-demand si Merceditas na mag-resign na bukod sa idemanda na siya for sleeping on the job. Masyadong obvious ang kanyang pagkiling kay goria. Once mayroon nang kaso sa korte, kahit anong korte na tatanggap nito, at maging garapalan ang desisyon pabor kay goria, baka yan na ang signal that will spark real unrest.
Ahem, again. Let it be noted that the precedent upon which Harry Roque and Teofisto Guingona are challenging presidential immunity from suit while in office, is a United States Supreme Court ruling in the matter of Paula Jones versus Bill Clinton. Let us give credit where credit is due, ok? God Bless America!
Maiba lang ako ng topic, yon palang nagpamudmud ng pera sa iskuwater ni Glorya na “White Lady” ay si Evardone pala.. bakla kasi .. lol.
Galing nila talagang umiwas ang mga aso ni Glorya dati dine-deny nila ngayon kung saang pondo na galing. At eto pa yong dalawa lang daw ang binigyan, e saan galing yong iba? Ayaw niyo pang sabihin na bigay ng mga taumbayan. Mga BUGOK!!!!!!!! LOKOHIN NIYO ANG PAMILYA NIYO …. KUNG MERON. PALAGAY KO SINGAW LANG KAYO.
Agree with the Dean, regarding the doctrine of “functional approach.” That was developed by Justice John Paul Stevens, writing for the US Supreme Court in the case of Clinton v Jones 520 US 681.
Paula Jones sued Clinton in the District Court (RTC sa Phil.) for damages for “abhorrent” sexual advances while Clinton was governor of Arkansas. Clinton filed a motion to dismiss claiming Presidential immunity, which was denied. He went to the Court of Appeals, talo na naman; to the Supreme Court, talo pa rin.
It was in the Supreme Court where the doctrine of fucntional approach was laid down.
The Court allowed the suit for acts done unofficially – before he became president.
So the question is, are there any illegal acts of the Hobbit when she was vice-president? Ilabas ang mga pala. Time to dig up the dirt, if any.
Chi;
Thanks for agreeing on my logic.
ShivaRn;
Wondering where this legal action will lead us to.
this will lead us to nowhere.
I agree it’s not clear what justifies the outcome. Politicians have sold this lie to our people and us being the people would be safe if we give up our every right.Politician thinks that we are not being the brightest bunch of people, have eaten this out of our hands for such a long time. We the People simply turn off our brains, and jump on the stupidity bandwagon whenever another person are involved.By no means should be playing vigilante to see what dirt we can dig up . After all,We the brown-skined people have done nothing wrong.We are all guilty until proven innocent. Seems to me that runs in stark contrast to living in a country that’s free and stands for Democracy. Hence, I say hold these corrupt president accountable for her crimes.She could have easily said no. Also, and this won’t happen, but I think many of the politicians going along with this charade should end up in jail. “It is unconscionable that such a basic right of our people has been violated, and that the president is the perpetrator,”
Nabasa ko minsan dito sa blog ni Ellen na (sabi nila) si Senator Madrigal ay tauhan nun ni gloria tapos nagresign dahil pinapa-deposit ni gloria ang pondo sa kanyang private account. Panahon pa yata ito nung secreatary or undersecretary si gloria. Pwede bang gamitin yan pra pagdemanda ke gloria?
I would be surprised if this exercise is going to be successful under the present scenario! It will be a neat trick to pull with the Courts pack with justices in cahoots with GMA…
Iisa na lang ang solution sa mga problema ng Pilipinas; SUNUGIN lahat para mabura at makapag-umpisa ulit!
DJBRIZALIST:
Let it be noted that the precedent upon which Harry Roque and Teofisto Guingona are challenging presidential immunity from suit while in office, is a United States Supreme Court ruling in the matter of Paula Jones versus Bill Clinton.
You got my vote on that, Our 1935 constitution was adapted the American system. Now, We have the Miranda’s Doctrine and Amparo’s Writ.
Since the Philippine Supreme Court is adopting it’s precedence ruling on American justice system, Why they could not implement the American Bills of Right? In that case, we can demand our freedom and exercise the fifth amendment if we don’t want to talk to police interrogator.
Can we fiie a case against the Ombudsman? Or shall I just wait for people power to happen and remove her and then sue her?
Stupid, stupid, stupid Erap.
He should just have waited a little bit and ask for pardon on the next LEGITIMATE president.
Now he is legitimizing the reign of this morally bankrupt usurper!
“Kung para sa bayan, handa akong magtiis.” – Joseph Estrada.
Apparently all Erap cares about is his rayuma and his libido.
Arroyo’s house of cards is falling apart and the thief asks for pardon from the devil!
Cocoy,
Okay lang ba kayo diyan, malayo ba kayo sa sunog?
atty36252 Says:
Paula Jones sued Clinton in the District Court (RTC sa Phil.) for damages for “abhorrent” sexual advances
…
Paula Jones got compensated as a result.
Let’s see if gloria will compensate the pinoy people.
Totie;
Okay lang naman Amigo!Medyo malayo ang sunog sa lugar ko about 20 miles,kaya lang umaabot dito sa amin ang amoy ng sunog at mga abu kaya sarado ang lahat ng bintana sa bahay.Pangkaraniwan na ito sa California.Marami ng bahay ang nasunog,pero hindi problema iyon dahil may mga insurance naman ang mga homeowners.
Cocoy,
Igan, Good at least safe kayo. I can feel their pain mahirap yan, kami naman last April Flood. ubos ang laman ng bahay namin pati mga vintage photographs, negatives and slides from the 86 Revolution. Sayang.
All this talk of a possible full pardon is getting some anti-Gloria people uncomfortable. The full pardon will allow Erap to run again for the Presidency?
What happens to the presidential wannabes Roxas, Legarda, Lacson, etc? They go their separate ways?
Wasak na naman ang opposition against Gloria? Divided they all fall.
Some Cabinet men were reportedly about to resign.
All this time I’ve been wondering how these people like Ermita, Bunye, Puno, etc are able to face their family at the dinner table.
And for their kids, it’s surely an embarrassment in school. How can they allow their kids to go through such suffering?
JDV blames some of Gloria’s Cabinet for the mess the government is in and wants the Cabinet revamped. He spares Gloria from blame. They fall into each other’s embrace once again … with Ramos doing the pimping… again.
And that is why JDV can never be a true leader of this country.
Phil Cruz;
Ermita, Bunye, & et.al.? They don’t care even if their kids are into shame. Beside, they are all benefitted from their root nodes’ deed. What’s important to these cold-blooded croc is that their pockets are always full of ‘crispy’ peso bills. Am sure they will just raise their brows and then say, ” What is morality if doesn’t give you and your family a luxury?” i.e. why they are well-sticked to the our great mob family, the glue-r-yuck’s!
Off topic :
re : Lagayan sa Malacanang
Now they’re saying the money given to tongressmen, govs and vice govs came from the funds of ULAP. Didn’t ULAP deny it the first time it was attributed to them by Puno?
Wala na talaga, mga hiloung-talilong na ang mga lintek.
Ellenville;
How about Joke-joke Volatile of fertilizer scam? Dapat samphan din ito ng kaso at papanagutin sa batas kahit na nga sya nagtatago sa labas ng bansa. Sama nyo na rin si Hello Garci at Esperon…all these shoud be incarcerated.
Oks na oks ang kasong isinampa vs. GMA and co. , could be a leverage of sort. Kung tumatakbo na nga ang one year immunity ni GMA against impeachment, at least kahit papano tatakbo na rin ang kaso against her. Sabi nga ni tayerevo, GMA’s house is falling apart kaya lahat ng immunity ng hayop na yan (from impeachment and from suit) e malamang na mawala, sa lalong madaling panahon, God willing.
Teyerevo: Stupid 3X si Erap, iniisip e rayuma at libido lang nya. Arroyo’s house of cards is falling apart and the thief asks for pardon from the devil!
Ba’t ganon, if Erap is a thief and Gloria is a devil e sino kaya ang matino. I can see no reason para madismaya sa ginawa ni Erap re: pardon, I can only sympathize with him considering his personal situations. Pero ‘tong si tayerevo, mukhang asar na asar kay Erap even blaming him for what he believed is good for him. May hinala akong maka-Gloria actually ‘tong si tayerevo.
As I have said many times before, I am not a lawyer, but this last event made me speculate about the future. We have a senator who is in jail, maybe we can have a president in jail? But then she can always pardon herself.
broadbandido & all OFW;
(Off Topic)
see this site http://www.arabnews.com (look for the article under world news section: Measures Pushed to Help OFWs With Strong Peso. DOLE is on panic!!! This is good and a slap for glue-r-yuck.
Right on, Norpil. She can always pardon herself. What else has she not done to make a mockery of the Constitution and the institutions?
Like living with Alice in Wonderland, isn’t it? It’s surreal.
I wonder who advised Estrada to surrender to the criminal? Bulok din ang katwiran sa totoo lang.
As for the “para sa bayan” thing, forget it. Mas inuna ang sarili.
Mamamatay na raw kasi ang ina! I bet you, the mother won’t be happy to be used as an excuse for this cowardice. Asking for pardon is admitting he has committed a crime!!! How can his mother be happy about that?
Ang dami pang palusot!!! Yuck!
If Erap is a thief, Gloria is a robber. Better still, magnanakaw na mandarambong pa!!! 😛
Whatever moral or political clout Estrada still holds is now gone.
History will remember him as nothing more than a convicted plunderer pardoned by the devil.
Ystakei,… oooh… you are so right! Took the words right out of my mouth.
jab-straight:
Our choice is not limited between Estrada and Arroyo. Pareho silang magnanakaw.
Thieves of the same feather pardon one another.
Ellenvile;
Nakalimutan nyo na yata that ERAP is an award winning actor during his era. As for Glue-r-yuck, she’s a stage play actress wanna be kaya matindi syang umarte. Remember her “I am sorry”. Ala-broadway hinde ba?
Actually, I am no Erap fan. But I was gradually impressed by his staunch stance of not asking for pardon from what he insistently calls an illegitimate President. Medyo lumambot ng konti ang feeling ko para sa kanya. Pero ngayon…
According to some of his aides, Erap is merely taking one step backward and later three steps forward. Why? He intends to again run for President after the full pardon?
And if he wins, will we have another round of midnight drinking and merrymaking and jueting collecting? No thanks.
Erap can do one last heroic service to the country. Be an instrument of uniting the opposition. Give his blessings to an opposition presidential candidate with true integrity!
Krunck :
Thanks for the Arabnews link.
Mafeeh muskellah broadbandido. Afwan.
Phil,
“Erap can do one last heroic service to the country. Be an instrument of uniting the opposition. Give his blessings to an opposition presidential candidate with true integrity!.”
My reason for pardoning Erap is rather ‘machiavelic’. There is apparently a strong opposition from the civil society for Erap to be pardoned. If true, then I surmise a “presidential” pardon will not be acceptable to members of the civil society – such could be an igniting force that could reverberate against Gloria and before she knows it, she might be kicked out.
So am all for the pardon… Erap accepting pardon would be his one last heroic service to the country.
OK ito a! Parang sinabi ni Erap, “Suko na ako sa demonyo!”
Erap should have read his Bible, and heed this counsel from the Lord:
Unano, being an un-elected officer of the land, does not have any power to pardon anybody.
I still don’t understand why this evil woman is not made a pariah of all decent people and government of the world.
Ang lakas ng loob at ang kapal ng mukha to hobnob with the legitimate leaders of the world. Dapat sa kanya, ang kahalubilo lang ay sina Mugabe, yung Junta ng burma, si kim Jong Il, leader ng Taliban, Osama, at iba pang underworld charatcers.
*characters*
I am also not an erap fan, still, thinking of him as a former president whose freedom of movement was taken away for many years, it will not be surprising if he accept a pardon. For me he deserved to be free, considering the circumstances that befell him. As for what he intends to do when he is free is his prerogative. Who knows, maybe he changed under detention and had really the time to think of the country he did not want to leave out in exile.
Anna,
Re: My reason for pardoning Erap is rather ‘machiavelic’. There is apparently a strong opposition from the civil society for Erap to be pardoned. If true, then I surmise a “presidential” pardon will not be acceptable to members of the civil society – such could be an igniting force that could reverberate against Gloria and before she knows it, she might be kicked out.
So am all for the pardon… Erap accepting pardon would be his one last heroic service to the country.
“So am all for the pardon… Erap accepting pardon would be his one last heroic service to the country.”
***
Here, too!
In a previous loop I said that the full pardon will be Erap’s gain, not Gloria’s.
Though not a CS member, Sabit Singson has already began floating to leave Gloria if Erap gets pardon. Malaking gulo ‘yan!
Heh! Baka nga malaking gulo yan. Pero I believe diyan papasok si Mike Arroyo para amuin si Singson… heh!
Tongue ina talaga…ngayon lang ako nakapasok dito. I got a very hard time logging into this blog. About Sabit Singson, as usual he would have his way. He knows so much about GMA and Piggydal that the only way to silence this evil man is to kill him. As long as this man is alive, he will continue to cause harm and damage to everyone. Sa mukha na lang, mas pangit pa kay Lucifer. Tongue ina niya!
Hahahaha! Sabit is so used being “amoy’ by the Pig guy! Laki sa layaw si Sabit!
Pechanco,
Tinulugan ko na last night, hintay ako for 3 hours…nada open ni Pidal ang Ellenville.
Piggydal, will use it from now on. Approve ba sa ‘yo, Pechanco?
O mangungurakot na naman si unano. This is one of the reasons I guess why the blast at Glorietta happened. Para may dahilan siyang kurakutin ang mga bagong singil na taxes, etc.
Malaya banner: Gloria ‘hogs’ intel funds with P650M Ang tindi ng pagkaganid ng walanghiya!
Gising na mga pinoy, hapon na at malapit nang gumabi!!!
Nakakadismaya talaga! Pare: By accepting “pardon” unconditional or not is still an admission that you did wrong. And now you want us to believe that you are willing to sacrifice your life for the sake of our country? Magsama na kayo..who is the lesser of the two evils? demonyo is demonyo in any language, in any place, at any time..
Rose, please understand Erap if he finally made the decision.
Legally, wala na siyang pag-asa. The Sandigan will dismiss his motion for reconsideration. Pagdating sa Supreme Court, hindi mare-revert ang decision. Right or wrong, the SC has made a decision legitimizing GMA. Paano nila babawiin iyan ngayon? Isa pa, mahigit na kalahati sa SC Justices ay appointees ni GMA. With no other legal remedy, the next best option is to ask for unconditional pardon. Kung ilaban ni Erap iyan sa SC, aabutin ng matagal. Another factor is his dying mom. Kung minsan kasi dumarating sa isang tao ang magpasiya ng isang masakit at mahirap na pasya. People would understand him just the same. Ang mga galit lang iyon mga hindi tunay na maka-Erap. Iyon takot na makalabas siya.
Once Erap is out, he could strengthen the opposition. Basta ba walang lihim silang kasunduan ni GMA, okay lang sa karamihan. Kaya sino tayo dito na huhusga sa kanya. Give him the break that he deserves. Hindi naman mababawasan ang pagmamahal sa kanya ng bayan.
Para sa akin okey lang huminge ng unconditional pardon si Dating Pangulong Joseph Estrada. Dahil ang masa ay nag disisyon na noong nakaraan halalan. Alam natin na walang kasalanan ang dating pangulo. Sa isang banda patama ito kay Gloriang Baliw, isipin na lang natin nag pakumbaba si Erap para sa ikagaganda ng bayang Pilipinas. Dapat si Gloriang Baliw ay magpakumbaba din, mag “RESIGN” bilang pekeng “pangGULO” at ayaw na ng taong bayan sa kanya. Ang tanong, magbitiw kaya ang makapal na pagmumukha na si Gloriang Baliw?
Pangulong Joseph Estrada ako po ay sumasaludo sa inyong disisyon. Ang pagpapakumbaba ay may katumbas na kasaganahang ani.
Kung ang pagpipilian lang ay ang mahal na ina at pagpakumbaba, pipiliin ko din ang pardon. Hindi ito ang panahon na patunayan kung gaano kalaki ang bayag ng isang lalaki. Whether we like it or not, whether we hate GMA or not…the fact remains that she’s the current President even if she’s illegal. Lahat ng transactions sa government ay under sa kanya at pirma niya. If you apply for a passport, it’s the DFA that signs and stamps on it. And DFA is under GMA’s government. Wala kang magagawa kundi kilalanin ang kasalukuyang gobyerno na si GMA and pinuno ano man kasama siya. Kung gusto mong mag-abroad, you should acknowledge the present government under her. Painful as it is, GMA is the de-fuckto president.
Sinabi mo pa, Rose. Enough of the choice between two evils. I really thought Asiong Salonga of the movies would have more balls. Kung ang magli-lead lang naman sa rebolusyon kuno ng mga pilipino e duwag, mabuti pa huwag na lang. Mamamahamak lang iyan.
Pahamak—iyan ang trademark ng maraming pinoy sa totoo lang. Pirming manghihila ng makakasama sa dusa. It’s what this pardon of Erap is going to result into. More abuses by the power that be!!!
Reminds me of the many Filipinos caught here and then would even try to get out of police hold by squealing on other Filipinos doing the same crimes they did. Kaya dito, Rose, gustung-gusto ng mga pulis nanghuhuli ng mga pilipino kasi nagtuturo at namamahamak.
Sinong may sabing hindi mahalaga ang magpakita ng tapang laban sa mga halimaw?
Iyong pardon kuno ni Erap ay isa pang makakadagdag sa yabang ni GLORC kaya bakit gugustuhin ng mga matitinong pilipino na sumuko siya dahil lang sa gusto niyang makasama kuno ang nanay niya? Mahinang katwiran para sa akin. Para siyang sumuko kay Satanas!
Gising na mga tulog, malapit na namang dumilim!
Anna,
Hmmm…you got a point there.
Ewan ko kung matatawag na suko ang unconditional pardon. There comes a time when a person has to make a very difficult decision. Sabihin na lang natin na mababaw ang dahilan na makapiling ang ina pero this reason alone justifies Erap’s agreement to seek pardon. Walang masama. On the legal and practical side of it, Erap has not chance of winning the case.
Sandiganbayan would dismiss his motion for reconsideration. Kung pumayag sila, parang sinabi na nila na nagkamali sila sa pag-decision. If the appeal reaches the Supreme Court, how can SC reverse its decision. SC affirmed the legitimacy of GMA. Even if all the faults lie on that Davide, the SC has to protect its institution. Besides, more than half of the SC justices are GMA appointees. Erap has to wait many years for the reason and while waiting he would have to be in Muntinlupa. Kung makalabas siya, he can be with his mom and family at the same time help the opposition. Erap will be a big determining factor in the election of the next President in 2010. Huwag tayong gumaya sa mga iba na kasabwat sa pagtalsik kay Erap na ngayon ay maingay. They’re just a bunch of hypocrites!
Correction: Erap has to wait for many years for the decision (not reason). Ang sa akin lang, maging practical tayo kung minsan. Tanggapin natin ang isang laban na alam natin na malabong manalo. Erap’s seeking pardon doesn’t make him less as a person. Kung ako siya, tutulong ako sa opposition na ibagsak o palitan si GMA.
ellen, hindi kaya may clerical error doon sa isinampa nina atty roque, former VP guingona, et al si sec mendoza. dapat kasali siya doon maski alam natin na ginamit lang siya nina gloria “tiyanak”, fg mike pidal, abalos
Erap did the right thing and there was nothing wrong about it. As long as it is unconditional and no admission of guilt okay lang. Sometimes you have to accept compromise. He can exonerate himself more effectively if he is out of jail. He can freely talk to whoever and whenever he wants.
Here is the kicker, what will happen to Chavit once Erap is unconditionally pardoned? What if Gloria drops the ax onto Chavits head? What if the witch hunts dirty fingers points to the direction of Chavit, implicating him with death of the two Tobacco Excise Tax main personalities? Di kasama yung mga na tepok sa free ride ni Chavit.
Chavit, ngayon siguradong Sabit ka.
By staying in prison, Erap would have catalyzed the ouster of Arroyo. Picture a Ninoy defiling Marcos, one who suffer unjustly at the hands of an evil regime.
Out of prison and in the comforts of his San Juan mansion, Erap is a spent force politically. It shows he is concerned with nothing but his own personal well-being. He is not fighting the fight that his “masa” constituency expects him to fight. He compromised and co-opted with Gloria. In effect, he recognized the legality of his conviction and the legitimacy of an illegitimate president.
But then of course, Erap is no Ninoy.
He’s just an aging, hedonistic, amiable fellow who signs his bank account as Jose Velarde in front of Clarissa Ocampo.
What a moron!
Tayevero,
I have no love lost for Erap but I didn’t like how he, the constitutionally elected president of the Philippines, was toppled in that fashion. His toppling then through extra-constitutional measures was the cause of the political upheavals that we are experiencing today. The rule of law was broken and from then on, the Philippines went downhill…
Unwittingly, Erap could be the saving grace for this nation, I mean his pardon just might be the nation’s saving grace, i.e., Gloria could be kicked out too. My reason might be machiavellic in nature but I call on this tired, spent force to make a last hurrah and ask for that pardon!
AdeBrux,
Unwittingly huh?
Sana nga.
But i doubt it.
Tayerevo,
You mean, Civil Society which has been vehemently against an Erap pardon won’t go up in arms against Gloria for Erap’s pardon?
AdeBrux
Sana.
And it’s about time.
But what civil society?
Bunch of them had been co-opted by Gloria as well.