by Carmela Fonbuena,
abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak
Biazon slams Devanadera for poor defense
An apparent debate between Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago and Makati City Rep. Teodoro Locsin on martial law in Maguindanao stood out in the second day of Congress’ joint session.
Santiago opposed while Locsin defended Proclamation 1959 declaring martial law and suspending the writ of habeas corpus in Maguindanao.
“It is not without irony that I stand here defending martial law. But I do defend it. Nowhere and at no time has martial law been justified nor based more sufficiently or incontrovertible facts…. Look at the bodies. Look at the arms stockpiles,” Locsin told the plenary.
As publisher of the Philippines’ Free Press, Locsin’s father was among those detained by President Marcos when martial law was declared in September 1972.
The Arroyo administration said the imposition of martial law in Maguindanao last December 4 was needed due to the presence of heavily armed groups which were preventing the enforcement of the law with regard to the massacre of 57 people–including 30 journalists–in the worst election-related violence in Philippine history.
“We are seeing Maguindanao and what we see, unless we are morally blind, cries out for martial law–at least for now,” Locsin said.
Locsin called on the executive department to make sure real changes happen with the enforcement of martial law.
“Proceed to destroy the political infrastructure of one warlord family—though I hope not to favor the other one—and permanently dismantle their political influence in the province—though I hope not to establish the political influence of the other warlord clan,” Locsin said.
Santiago’s lecture
Santiago, on the other hand, challenged the government to show physical proof of actual rebellion in Maguindanao to justify martial law as required by the Constitution.
She lectured the plenary on the definition of rebellion. She even requested to take the podium beside the resource speakers to deliver what she called an “academic discourse” on martial law.
“If there is such a rebellion, why have we never seen any such footage in the TV newscasts or on the Internet? Are we now adopting the new concept of a secret rebellion? That would be a contradiction in terms, an oxymoron, like woman who is secretly pregnant,” Santiago said.
“Proclamation No. 1959 does not even claim that there is a state of actual rebellion. This, in itself, is a fatal flaw. Instead, the proclamation claims that ‘heavily armed groups in the province of Maguindanao have established positions to resist government troops.’ The Constitution does not impose the condition that heavily armed groups have established positions to resist. The Constitution imposes the condition that there is actual rebellion. Thus, the Proclamation does not comply with the first condition,” Santiago added.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Victor Ibrado admitted that they have no proof that “rebel groups” in Maguindanao have staged armed attacks. Ibrado said they have detected 400 “rebel groups” in the province, but they have “no reports” of actual rebellion.
Acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera argued that violent clashes are not needed to prove rebellion.
“When it comes to rebellion, we had a situation, based on the reports, that the armed groups were already, in effect, depriving the chief executive of its powers to enforce the law. They were already having their own organization, they were already having their own government. It is not something that is looming. It is something that is already happening,” she said.
Senate outnumbered
Santiago and Locsin posed no questions to the resource speakers from the executive branch. They merely read speeches supporting their positions.
Speaking to reporters after her speech, Santiago said Locsin is “wrong” in saying that ideology has been removed as an element of rebellion with the scrapping of the anti-subversion law.
Santiago said it is futile to debate in the joint session. “We (Senate) expect to lose. We are going to the valley of death,” she said.
The two lawmakers, known for their sharp tongues, may as well have represented their respective chambers.
Seventeen senators, including Santiago, have signed a resolution opposing martial law in Maguindanao.
While the House of Representatives deferred plans to conduct informal voting among its members, House Speaker Prospero Nograles remains confident majority of congressmen are in favor of the proclamation.
So far, only 34 congressmen have signed various anti-martial law resolutions. Together with the 17 senators, only 51 lawmakers may be expected to vote against martial law.
At least 147 votes are needed to revoke martial law. The senators have conceded that the decision to revoke the proclamation depends on the congressmen, most of whom are allies of Malacañang. There are 268 congressmen and 23 senators.
Speaking to reporters, Nograles said he expects the joint session to vote on December 15 on the revocation of Proclamation No. 1959.
Nevertheless, Santiago said she is counting on the Supreme Court to immediately act favorably on petitions seeking to declare Proclamation 1959 unconstitutional.
Biazon hits Devanadera
Senator Rodolfo Biazon ended an otherwise diplomatic second day of Congress’ joint session by accusing acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera of wasting their time.
“Pinapaikot. Tsinutsubibo mo kami!,” Biazon said, prompting the suspension of the joint session until 4 p.m. on Monday, December 14.
Biazon was asking Devanadera to explain an earlier statement on the supposed “legal impediments by the usual requirements of the law” that justified the declaration of Martial Law.
Agnes replied: “The existence of rebellion….”
An angry Biazon cut her and shouted: “Answer my question! You are not answering my question. What were the impediments required or put on by the usual requirements of the law that is the reason why martial law was declared.”
“Pinapaikot mo kami. My question is very clear. What are these impediments intended to be removed by the declaration of martial law?”
In another attempt to answer, Devanadera said: “May I just probably reconstruct the sentence. At the time the martial law was declared, what are being quelled are the rebellious acts we can regard as the impediments.”
That’s when Biazon gave up pursuing his question. “Oh my God. That, to me, is not an answer….It is very clear that Secretary Devanadera, who issued that statement, did not present to us the impediments by the usual requirements of the law designed to be removed by the declaration of martial law.”
Biazon was following up questions on the presence of actual rebellion to justify the proclamation.
Critics argued that the earlier declaration of a state of emergency was sufficient in enforcing the law in Maguindanao.
Sen. Francisco Pangilinan said the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police have swiftly apprehended the suspects and relieved their own members alleged to be part of Ampatuans’ private armies.
“It did not appear that they were having a difficult time doing their work,” he said, adding that if there was indeed a rebellion, it should have already been crippled by security forces.
Stuck on an issue
After 12 hours of deliberations since Wednesday, Congress’ joint session failed to move on from debating the presence of “actual rebellion” to justify Proclamation No. 1959 as required by the 1987 Constitution.
One after another, critics of the proclamation pressed the representatives of the executive department to show proof of violent clashes between the so-called rebels and the government troops.
“In my heart, gusto ko ng martial law. But in my legal mind, there is no factual basis,” said Senator Richard Gordon.
“If there is such a rebellion, why have we never seen any such footage in the TV newscasts or on the Internet? Are we now adopting the new concept of a secret rebellion?,” Santiago said.
Acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera repeatedly argued that violent clashes are not needed to prove rebellion.
“When it comes to rebellion, we had a situation based on the reports that the armed groups were already in effect depriving the chief executive of its powers to enforce the law. They were already having their own organization, they were already having their own government. It is not something that is looming. It is something that is already happening,” she said.
Unconvinced, the questions continued.
Pursue murder case
Senators Francis Pangilinan, Alan Peter Cayetano, and Gordon expressed concern that the declaration of martial law could weaken the case against the Ampatuans.
While the crimes of rebellion and murder are both meted the maximum penalty of reclusion perpetua or a possible imprisonment of 40 years, charges of multiple counts of murder merit a harsher sentence.
Since 57 people were killed in the Maguindanao massacre on November 23, Pangilinan said that the perpetrators could actually be slapped with over 2000 years of imprisonment (40 years x 57).
Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. currently faces 40 counts of murder. If found guilty, he could be jailed for 1, 600 years.
However, if the rest of the Ampatuans and other respondents were only charged with rebellion, they could be put behind bars for only 40 years at most.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently charged Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, five other Ampatuans plus 17 others with rebellion.
Devanadera said during the interpellations, however, that after martial law was proclaimed in Maguindanao, charges of multiple murder have been filed in the court against Andal Ampatuan Jr., while complaints against 82 others are being evaluated by the DOJ.
The DOJ has insisted that even with the filing of rebellion charges, the government will still pursue separate murder raps against the suspects, if evidence so warrants.
Meanwhile, Cayetano warned that the cases built against the Ampatuans and the others could be rendered useless in the face of a possible Supreme Court ruling striking down Proclamation 1959 as unconstitutional. — with reports from Purple S. Romero, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak
It is all about a matter of trust/distrust against GMA. Ang martial law ay isang extra ordinary power ng isang president. Marami ang walang tiwala kay GMA.
Unang una, may duda sa legitimacy ng pagkaka halal kay GMA bilang pangulo.
Marami at sagad na sagad ang mga kasamaan ni GMA na hindi maipagkatiwala sa kanya ang martial law power.
Kung tunay ang pagkakahalal ni GMA at naging maayos na naninilbihan, hindi sya pagdududahan at pag isipan ng masama.
Si Miriam talaga, tumatanda na.
a woman secretly pregnant. Sa Ayala-Alabang maski sa Project 4 at sa Tondo man, meron niyan — woman secretly pregnant.
Walang “IT” ang dating sa akin ni Teddy Locsin as a politician, boring and uncolorful. Si Brenda, kahit may tililing madalas ay brilliant at passionate pagdating sa mga issues gaya ng Konstitusyon.
the ever multi-talented Miriam Santiago, exasperatingly regains her wits and seemingly courageous enough to side with civil libertarians on this particularly important issue.
her wits and wisdom, most unfortunate though, apparently is cyclical; visits, and clear her senses, only when elections is just around the corner.
a talent indeed.
Okay na yan kahit absolved niya si Gloria.
There are allegations that Inday Miriam is opposing this martial law because it is the handiwork of Puno. Alam natin kung gaano kamuhi ni Inday Miriam ang mga PUno.
Si Teddy Boy Locsin naman, nakuha na rin ang GMA virus na nalanghap ni Joker Arroyo. Bastos pa man din bumira yang si Locsin.
Pati ang Simbahang Katoliko, aprub diyan sa Martial Law, hindi ba? Hindi ba may binasang statement from Bishop Quevedo sina Puno na pabor sa martial law?
Ang Iglesiya ni Kristo, may nabanggit ba?
Members of this joint Congress have heard enough from their “resource speakers.”
Members of congress therefore should now conclude and stick to the issue at hand: Was there a rebellion prior to the proclamation of martial law? Yes or no.
And then vote to revoke or not to revoke but based and focused on one thing and one thing only. Full stop!
Mali ang hinarap ni Biazon. Dapat si Ibrado.
Ang tanong, what is the military value of martial law (suspension of habeas corpus, other rights, etc.) that necessitates its imposition to quell a rebellion? It is the military that recommended it, so tell me.
Are you saying you need martial law for a non-shooting rebellion? Do you remember when I quelled a rebellion without martial law in 1989? Didn’t this Gringo here have men shooting back? Didn’t he even have some air force planes with him? You’re telling me that you need legal ammo for a military objective? And you call yourself a soldier?
Tama si Sax: Dapat si Ibrado, both are from the military.
Eto galit kayo kay Locsin … sabay sabay nating bigkasin ang katagang ….. Putang Ina rin ang Ina mo Locsin!!!!!!
By not addressing Ibrado directly, he was guilty of patronising a fellow career military officer. Inutile senator!
Wala akong tiwala dito kay Norberto Gonzales … mukhang siya ang utak sa kaguluhang ito. Isama niyo na rin etong si Puno … kaya nagwithdraw siya sa pagka-Bise dahil may plano sila. Sana hindi ako nagkamali. Kaya ingat lang kayo diyan mga kababayan ko. Mukhang ayaw nilang patahimikin ang ating Bansa.
Hep hep hep. . .take it easy guys. . .it’s obviously beyond Ibrado. . .he was almost squirming in his seat, an indication of utter resignation on what is clearly indefensible. . .I assure you, he’s no hawk. . .this ML thing is more likely the brainchild of Bert Gonzales. . . Biazon knows this. That’s why he’s at Devanadera’s throat. . .I can only symphatize with the men in uniform. . .defending Glue’s follies is really hardsell. . .nakakahiya. . . .pag ganitong klase ang dinidepensahan mo, the only thing that’s always honorable to do is to resign. . .34 years in the service plus cadet years. . . 85% lang naman ang macocommute mo sa unsused leave balance mo pag mandatory retirement e. Why wait for that day and continue to humiliate yourself by defending a commander in-cheat?
Da bes sigurong gawin natin ay sugurin ang Malakanyang at patalsikin lahat ang mga nakatira ngayon doon. Unahan na natin kung anong mga pina-plano nila. Destroy da enemi before dey destroy us. Oh-Ha!!!!!
Henry,
Why wait for that day and continue to humiliate yourself by defending a commander in-cheat?
Tama ka… Ibrado shoud resign. That would be the best tactical move he could ever make in his entire military career.
He will be the toast of Filipinodom!
Bakit parehas ang ini-isip natin Igang Henry? Siguro parehas ang takbo ng ating imahinasyon …. heheheheeheh.
Either he defends her to the hilt — wrong or no wrong — or he does the honourable thing instead of squirming in his seat because he can’t defend the indefensible: resign.
Sumalangit nawa ang mga kaluluwa ng mga pinaslang nitong mga Ampatuan. Kasama sila sa isang malaking plano na gustong ipatupad sa ating Bansa. Kanya’t mga kababayan ko lalo na ang mga kakandidato sa darating na eleksiyon … isantabi muna niyo ang ayong mga ambisyon at atin munang resolbahin itong masamang binabalak ang mga taong ito lalo na dito kay Norberto Gonzales … Alang alang sa ating mahal na Bansang sinilangan.
Kung may bayag yan, he will point the gun at Gloria. Puro na lang pity because they have to defend the indefensible. Why defend the indefensible when they can defend the Constitution and the Republic?
Ang tagal ko nang hinihintay na may magkabayag na tutukan ang mga naglalapastangan sa Saligang Batas.
Bakit hindi gayahin ang Turkish Military?
Ganyan sana ang naging role ng RAM, but Gringo’s loyalty was to Manong Johnny, not the Constitution.
General Ibrado .. plis wag kang mag-resign …. lusubin mo na lang yong Malakanyang at ibitin ng patiwarik ang mga makapili ….. kung talagang gusto mong i-save sa isang malaking kapahamakan ang ating Bansa. Wag mong gayahin si Yano na mapagbigyan lang ang amo … nag-resign na sa isang kondisyon …. gawin siyang ambasador.
The above quote by the way, was from wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_Armed_Forces#Role_of_the_military_in_Turkish_politics
Sax, that’s because Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (I’m an admirer of this great man) founded modern Turkey on noble grounds following Turkey’s experiences of defeat after defeat and the discovery of immorality in the Turkish armies.
He ingrained in the minds of his military that he modernised that they were there to protect the people, the Republic, defend the Constitution and that their role should be primarily that.
There was honour in his purpose and nobility in his action. The Turkish military respects him to this day and where there is respect, there is little room for trouble.
I don’t see a Great Attatürk in Pinas at all!
I have a copy of his biography and I suggest Filipinos should get a copy of it — see how a man, a former lowly soldier, out of patriotism, had the vision and acted with determination and vigour to move his country from being backward to being modern.
As an officer Attaturk acted with courage and conviction — and truly, while our officers “perform with bravoura”, they lack the essential qualities of leaders and movers — courage and conviction.
Many writers have stated that in 1986, the roles were changed. Military men were holed up in Camp Carme, awaiting certain annihilation by Fabian Ver. Civilians shielded them with their bodies. And the rest, as worn-out statement goes, is history.
So the military owes the civilians one.
Now, there is an assault on the rights of the very same civilians who protected the military. It is now time to pay back the debt incurred twenty three years ago. The military, now, must come to the rescue of the civilians and the Republic.
In 1986, in less than an hour from Butz Aquino’s “Mga kababayan, tulungan natin si Minister Enrile at General Ramos”, thousands rushed to their rescue. The civilians have been waiting for nine years since Angie Reyes’ treasonable act.
It’s payback time boys.
It’s because we have always been taught to respect civilian authority over the military. . .we can’t be more hawkish than the military, can we? That is very dangerous. Tis the reason why we fought tooth and nail the rebels in 89 and saw comrades died beside us. . .You don’t ever want the military to always interfere in purely political affairs of the State. God forbid it! Wag nyong buyuin na mag coup na naman ang military. Banana republic na ang labas natin nyan. . .Think Burma. .Wag nating ikumpara ang nangyari sa Turkey. .matitino tao doon. . puede namang magbayad na lang ng papatay kay Glotia eh. . .maraming walang trabaho sa Pinas. . .maraming kakagat nyan. . .hehe
Ang obserbasyon ko rito, kaya si Devanadera ang tinanong ni Biazon ay dahil siya ang humarap noon sa press justifying the imposition of ML due to “looming and brewing” rebellion. Ibrado has only to implement the order from his Commander in Chief, the future congresswoman from Pampanga. Taga sunod lang itong military from his civilian bosses to include Norberto Gonzales na malaki ang papel dyan sa Proc 1959 pero bihira nating marinig. Nakita ni Biazon na wala talagang maisagot si Devanadera na akma sa katanungan and it’s where Biazon pinned her down.
I also read somewhere that Devanadera even quoted the statement of Fr. Bernas from his column at the Inquirer (see topic: The disciple disagrees with the master)as one of their justifications. Dyan natin makikitang naghahagilap talaga ng pang depensa ang tropa ng administrasyon para may basehan ang ML. But they’re not careful with their facts and dates. As we know, much later na itong kay Fr. Bernas to be quoted as their basis.
..
Trillanes followed, because Pilipinas… lack of loyalty to Constitution no impediment to getting a gung-ho media-savvy soldier into Pilipinas Senate.
Kung may bayag yan, he will point the gun at Gloria.
When the Magdalos mutinied in Makati, many here will probably recall that I was definitely not supportive of the attempt, reason? I didn’t see the utility of such an armed uprising in a civilian vicinity — they should have trained their guns at Gloria right in Malacanang.
This is not to say, however, that I think those boys didn’t have bayag. It was a military tactical blunder. That’s why Efren Abu, being bolder and more determined, had the better of them. (Efren Abu, my fellow Batangueno, knew that the boys would be subdued by his threats of attacking…and the boys knew Abu would do it.)
(Agree with Sax completely: “It’s payback time boys.”)
Stupidity at its finest, that’s Cerge Remonde!!!
From Philippine Daily Inquirer:
Martial law critics have taken the side of Ampatuans—Palace
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/topstories/topstories/view/20091211-241423/Martial-law-critics-have-taken-the-side-of-AmpatuansPalace
It’s because we have always been taught to respect civilian authority over the military. .
Allow me to intrude here… if I understand rightly, what Sax is saying is for the military to uphold their sworn duty to protect and defend the Constitution and the Republic, to put order back, i.e., civilian authority, in the Republic and not for the military to take over and to form a junta, hence his reference to Great Attatürk’s army’s role in today Turkey…
A dilemma — is our military capable of doing that? I guess so…I’m convinced there are elements in our military who are good thinking and right thinking.
Kung matino lang ang namumuno sa bansa natin, why, the military would even be inconsequential. Relegated in the sidelights, doing it’s mandated task. Remember na lahat ng kaguluhan sa bansa natin ay palaging nag uugat sa maling pamamalakad ng mga naatasang mamuno sa gobyerno. The military is only an instument of national policy in waging war against the enemies of the state. No more, no less. We obey orders, not question them, basically. Sending your men in harm’s way is always a balancing act. Call us robots if u like. Once we start to harbor feelings like we are the saviors of this benighted country, then it’s a clear signal for us to shed the uniform and join politics. That’s how it should be. For Asspweron and his likes, I have only contempt and scorn. . .they will get what they rightfully deserve. That’s for sure. In this world or beyond, karma will catch up with them. . .
Kung matino lang ang namumuno sa bansa natin, why, the military would even be inconsequential.
No question about it…
Anna, problem is when they have their first taste of power, they might forget why they are there in the first place. There are a lot of them military men during their younger days.. were very charismatic and full of idealism. Take the case of RAM, their leaders, especially Gringo. Look what they are now. No different from the trapos we see everyday on the news.
Anyway, I believe that our military today does not have the qualified leadership, i.e., officers with courage and conviction, to launch an offensive that would topple Gloria and bring order to a divided and fragmented nation — and then to hand back authority to civvies. They know whereof they stand and so, highly unlikely it will happen.
I know Mike — it’s a dilemma.
Anna:
Regardless of what the legal experts say and all of us say here in this blog, that includes me, that Gloria is a fake president and all that, I get Sax’s point. That protector clause in the constitution should never be interpreted to mean that the military should EVER intervene in political problems. We have a problem with Pandak’s legitimacy. Agree. Why can’t we hold the proper agencies accountable for it? We must not allow the military to interfere everytime we ELECT our president. Agree she was not elected as one but she was duly elected as VP, the rightful successor to Erap. Look at what happened because the military intervened in 2001. We have this PESTE in our midst. That’s why I’m so disappointed with Erap for not fighting for his presidency. Sana walang IMPAKTA ngayon na reyna ng kadiliman sa ating bansa. . .what we need is to reform the whole govt apparatus. . .pag pinaupo nyo military dyan baka masarapan sila at di na rin bumaba. . .ay patay na tayong lahat nyan. . .
Mga kaibigan, hinay hinay lang sa paghahambing sa ating Pinoy sa taga ibang bansa. Kanya kanyang history ang bawat bansa kaya kanya kanya ding paraan ng pagharap sa problema. Lugmok na nga mga Pinoy, ipamumukha pa na ang tatanga ng Pinoy at hindi gayahin ang isang bansa.
Naniniwala pa rin ako na may kakayahan ang mga PInoy. Ang 1986 revolt, kahit maraming galit dito, purong Pinoy, walang pinang gayahan. Itong si GMA, may katapusan din yan. Mas maganda nga na tapusin si GMA sa tanging Pinoy way. Hindi ko alam ko ano yan, pero may tiwala pa rin ako sa kakayahan ng kapwa ko PInoy.
WE may disagree on the ways how to end these problems but I prefer that that we end them the Pinoy way.
It’s a double-edged sword… because today, we don’t have officers in the military with sterling qualities.
We must not allow the military to interfere everytime we made a mistake in ELECTING a president.
ay peste. . make
Henry,
Your view of the military role in a democratic republican setting is at its finest — truly laudable and I have no argument with that. That’s how it should be.
I wouldn’t wish for a martial state no more than anybody else here. But sometimes, we all get carried away, perhaps out of frustration… Thankfully, we have a military man in our midst — you — who tells us like it is and how it should be.
We must not allow the military to interfere everytime we made a mistake in ELECTING a president.
That said, Henry, by the same token, we Filipinos, whatever the political or religious colour, should NOT ALLOW any civvy politician to usurp power by using the military EVER AGAIN…
In the news:
Martial law critics have taken the side of Ampatuans—Palace
Attributed to Cerge Remonde, marahil marami ang matatawa na lamang kapag nabasa ito. It’s not necessarily mean that because there are those who are critical of the imposition of martial law, they are condoning the acts of the Ampatuans. Except those who are saying that no matter what, they will not severe their friendship with the Ampatuans, who among us will side with the people who are behind the carnage in Maguindanao. Look at their unbelievable wealth they amassed while in government service yet their surroundings and their constituencies are living in squalor. We donot have to be a legal luminary to know what`s written in the Constitution as basis in the proclamation of martial law. And it is in this regard that we are among those who believe that Proc 1959 has no legal basis. Ganun lang. It`s ridiculous to aver it`s taking the side of the Ampatuans.
What was done to Erap must not ever ever happen again…
If Erap wins in the next election, we must not allow any civilian politician, business group, religious group or whoever/whatever to topple him by using the military.
Martial law critics have taken the side of Ampatuans—Palace
Palace is using the worn out tactic — best defence is offence, i.e., reverse the table…. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Only idiots will believe them!
Nabasa ko nga yang sinabi ni Remonde! Mukhang nasa ibang dimension nga ang mga tao ni GMA. Sino kaya ang sumasalo sa mga yagbols ng Ampatuan?
Nasusuka ako sa pagmumukha at pinagsasabi nyang si Remonde.
DAhil siguro ang papangit ng mga ugali kaya sa paningin ko sukdulan ang kapangitan sina GMA, Remonde, Ermita, Nograles at iba pang tuta. Although cute para sa akin si Devanadera.
An opinion…
In my view, what this administration is doing is too CLOUD the real story of the Maguindanao Massacre, by imposing Martial Law to divert the people’s attention to confusion. The idea is to do clean-up anything related to 2004 and 2007 elections and at the same time give room for those responsible for the massacre, being an ally of mischief and a possible witness to election fraud, with a more dependable position to escape obligation, i.e. rebellion as oppose to murder.
Only, this administration may have overlook the fact that the more they do so to clean themselves up, the more they bury themselves in dirt. The danger of doing so will lead them to push the limit to a point of subverting the truth, even the peoples future and freedom, using everything at their disposal being the “ruling authority”.
More than they believe, most people already know and i don’t think they will be that forgiving this time around if ignored as oppose to the 1986 EDSA revolution experience, because of hopelessness and anger.
Many had died in the massacre. Most of them are civilians and journalist. It’s better for this administration to take the side of the people than pursue something else.
There is a deafening silence from GMA partmates in Congress if they are really toeing party lines with regards to the proclamation of ML come voting time.
We only heard Speaker Nograles who is defending the proclamation which comes natural being an annointed speaker in replacing JDV. We heard Edcel Lagman, a GMA ally, but he`s against it and in fact is calling fellow solons to set aside party affiliations and partisanship in voting on martial law.
“This concerns national interest and compliance with the stringent requirements of the Constitution on the proclamation of martial law and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus,” he said.
Excerpts from Rod Kapunan’s Strategizing martial law:
If Arroyo succeeds in this trial balloon she has floated, most likely she will impose a nationwide martial law, and all that is awaited now is a good alibi to give it a semblance of justification. The door will be wide open for her to extend the period beyond May 2010 just to ensure the victory of a protégé willing to take on the role of a transition president. If that option is not enough, by the powers vested in her as martial law administrator, she could scrap altogether the flawed Constitution, abolish the rambunctious Congress, and proceed to daft a new one. With the Supreme Court tacked firmly on her side, the so-called constitutional hiatus could easily be bridged by her issuance of decrees, proclamations and orders until the kind of government she wants is put in place.
I disagree with Rod Kapunan. And not only do I expect that Pinas Congress does not revoke Maguindanao martial law does not get revoked by Pinas Congress, I also see GMA still in government-service in June-2010.
GMA-talsik diyan! Into elected representative 2nd-district-Pampanga, heh heh heh.
And what is going on??? The US dollar is buying less pesos.
Nasa St. Luke’s ang bitch, ano naman kaya ng niluluto…martial law sa buong Pinas marahil.
Kunwari pa ay regular check up daw bago bumiyahe ng Denmark for the climate change conference. Bakit, kailangan ba ang kababuyan n’ya dun?!
Hindi raw alam kung babalik kaagad sa Pinas si Gloria tapos ng Denmark trip. Of course, kahit hindi sabihin ay dahilan lang ang conference pero tuloy sa Dubai at Europa at bibisitahin ang nakaw na yaman, nababawasan kasi. Hayup na animal ang bitch na unana!
Hindi na sana makabalik sa Pinas.
Malacanang has his own definition of rebellion. Gloria’s clowns are just fooling the Congress with their script. Devanadera and Gonzales are not doing their homework in defense of martial law declaration in Maguindanao. They just relied on manufactured report/s and sometimes they sing different tunes. Ginagago nila ang taumbayan.
Malakas ang loob ni Locsin dahil sa maguindanao na declare ang martial-law…eh ano kaya kung sa luzon i declare ang martial-law. Dapat maging balance siya otherwise discrimination yan dahil payag lang siya dahil sa Mindanao.
Isa pa the day na nag declare ng martial-law dapat na control na ng army kita nga ninyo na ambush pa. Anong laban ng 1,000 na private army ni Ampu sa mga sundalo natin. Eh mas malakas pa nga diyan ang MILF pero natalo ni Erap ang kampo without declaring martial-law.
Nasa St. Luke’s ang bitch. Chi
Baka may leak ang kanyang pekeng boobs.
Diego, dapat sa vulcanizing shop siya pumunta. 😛
Yes, Ka Diego. Baka pati yung sa groin e nag-leak na, hehehe!
“As publisher of the Philippines’ Free Press, Locsin’s father was among those detained by President Marcos when martial law was declared in September 1972.”
Perhaps the son developed the Stockholm syndrome?
Anna, re #25. I’m currently reading “Ataturk- the Rebirth of a Nation”. It was lent to me by Linggoy Alcuaz. He is taking it back now and I’m still on page 74 of a 530 page book.
Yes, he is a Leader.When we visited his museum in Ankara during the state visit of FVR in 1995, we just glossed over his memorabilia. Didn’t have time to really absorb the substance of the man. I’m catching up.
Read this from ML Quezon III blog:
The night before Congress was due to convene, Executive Secretary Ermita filed an amendments to the flimsy report of the President, deleting the sentence “More importantly, a separatist group based in Maguindanao has joined forces with the Ampatuans for this purpose.”
It might give the impression, Ermita said, that they meant groups other than the Ampatuans themselves.
Which only goes to show that martial law was a public-relations exercise, not a well-thought out means to achieve either justice or an authentic rule of law.
***
Maliwanag na minadali kaya nagkakanda mali-mali. At pwede palang maglagay pa ng amendments sa justification. Kung sa classroom, kapag nai-submit na ang test paper, hindi na pwedeng bawiin at baguhin ang answer.
I’m with you in this Henry:#42 “.pag pinaupo nyo military dyan baka masarapan sila at di na rin bumaba. . .a”
Despite my being friends with many of the officers who went against Gloria, I see the danger there.
But I’m clear with accountability. Patriotic officers will not dare break the chain of command if the commander in chief is adhering to the Constitution.
That’s why it’s good that Anna made the point that the military should also not interfere in electing a president. #45
The Commander in chief breaks her oath of upholding the Constitution, then she loses the right to demand allegiance from her soldiers. I know this is simplistic but to me the bottomline of leadership is upholding and implementing the law.
I see the agony of Gen. Ibrado in this martial law in Maguindanao. I understand he was against it from the very beginning.
That’s why I’d like him to stay put. If he resigns, he turns over the reins to Gen. Bangit. God save this country.
It cuts both ways. Hindi ba’t civilian ang nasarapan? Marcos and Goyang?
Anti-militar din ako noong una, which is endemic among 70s students of UP. But the story of the Turkish military, and their idealism truly makes me wish it could happen in the Philippines.
It would require a man to be impervious to the lure of money. Si Trillanes kaya? Si Danny Lim? One will never know, because history is written by the winners (Angie Reyes).
I’m sure it’s not Gringo though.
“.pag pinaupo nyo military dyan baka masarapan sila at di na rin bumaba. . .a” -Henry
Ayaw na ngang bumaba ni Ermita, Asspweron at mga alagad kaya pinipilit nila na huwag bumaba sa nakaw na trono si Gloria.
Nasasarapan sila pare-pareho.
I agee with what you are saying guys. I can very well see where you’re coming from and I can emphatize with all the frustrations in this thread. But I am not wont to endorse a military uprising at this stage where it’s so easy to declare martial law. It’s not something that we can just take back and say, ” Ay mali! Erase, erase. .” .Once the die is cast, there is that real danger that the ones who wield power will never ever look back. . .As it is right now, emotions are soaring high that people’s opinions are easily swayed and there lies the danger when good judgement and prudence are clouded by anger. Pasasaan ba at matatapos din yang pesteng pandak na yan. I spent alot of my good years in the service and I have had my share of life’s ups and downs but never did it cross my mind that there is no God. Amid the crisis that we are in right now, I’m sure God is not deaf and blind to the sufferings of his people. . . One very clear reason that I have realized is that we should never ever take anything for granted again, i.e. our freedom, to vote, free speech, democracy, all things that we hold dear. . .one pandak is enough. . .nunquam iterum. . .never again.. .
Nine years nang sinasabi yan. Twenty years, in the case of Macoy. Para kang Chiz Escudero. What’s two years. Ilan ba ang namamatay sa gutom in two years, or in six months? And for what? Para bilhin ni Money ang botante?
Diyos na naman? Kaya tayo hindi binabasbasan dahil tamad tayo. Yung trabaho natin, gusto natin Diyos ang gagawa. Akalain mo, uutusan mo ang Boss o Tatay mo?
Yang 57 na namatay? Mamamatay ba yan kung noon pa’y itinutok ang baril kay Goyang?
Hindi ka nagbabasa henry. Ang Turkish military, pumasok, nag-restore ng order, tapos lumabas. Ganoon lang. Walang tumagal sa poder. Ngayon, kung sinasabi mong walang militar na hindi malalasing sa kapangyarihan, ay wala kang tiwala sa kabaro mo.
Nagtiwala ako sa civilian. Puro gago. Pati yung mga dino-Diyos ng aktibista – the Joke, Nene, Alex Magno, etc. Ano ba naman ang sumubok ng panibagong balasa? Baka may militar na hindi malasing sa kapangyarihan.
Henry, if I may add: Freedom from coup!.
If the military moves in to oust Goyang, take over the Comelec, and ensure true, honest and fair elections in May 2010, is that a coup? Or is it an act of true fealty to the Constitution and the sovereign people?
And if they don’t, is that in fulfillment of their duty? Or a dereliction thereof?
Puro tayo formulaic democracy this, democracy that. Idinawit pa ang Diyos na nananahimik sa itaas. There is no true democracy while we tolerate warlords and Comelec buying.
Sax:
20 years ang martial law ni Macoy, nakalimutan mo? It’s so easy for u to say na sundin ang turkish model. Pinoy pa! Walang tiwala sa kabaro? Di lang yun! Wala akong tiwala sa sino mang namumuno sa ilalim ng batas militar. Di kita kukwestiyunin sa kaalaman mo sa batas. Huwag mo ring tawaran pinag aralan ko ng apat na taon sa academy. . .you have no idea how it is to wield power that spews from the barrel of the gun. . .Kung pareho kami lahat ng sundalo na iniisip mo, matagal ng civil war ang Pinas. . .stick to lawyering pal. . .
Hindi ko tinatawaran ang military knowledge mo henry. Nguni’t ang pinag-uusapan natin ay human nature – kung lahat ng tao ay nalalasing sa kapangyarihan, o mayroong nakakaiwas sa tukso. Sa larangang yan (human nature), sa palagay ko’y tabla lahat, mapa-abogado, sundalo o computer programmer.
Ellen,
Nabaligtad na ang mundo… hahahahah! :-):-):-)
physical check up ni putot? pinacheck up niya ang kanyang utak at puso..baka may leak..kailangan ng palitan..hindi na siya makatulog at wala na segurong bisa ang alak..at gabi gabi binibisita siya ng 57 na multo..mamatay rin yon..at it will be a dreadful death for her and hopefully soon it will be done..anong saya ng pasko sa atin..
From where I sit, I can only say that both of you are right…
One thing I can say though is that Henry is not the only one in the military who has this kind of stand, there are many of them… they know what power the barrel of a gun wields.
(Btw, Henry, you mentionned that you were part of the team that captured Popoy Lagman… Billy’s N2 at that time who led the operation said exactly what you said… about how it was to wield power with the barrel of a gun and that the military should not be trusted with power at the top, i.e., junta.)
Ngayon tungkol kay Macoy? Sino ba ang nalasing sa poder?
Was it Gen Espino, Gen Yan, Gen Ileto? Or was it Macoy, JPE, Romualdez, Jackie Enrile, Bongbong, et al?
Sino ang mas lasing ngayon? Esperon (utusan lang yan)? Or yung Baboy?
Mukhang mas madaling malasing ang mga compañeros ko kaysa kabaro mo.
“One very clear reason that I have realized is that we should never ever take anything for granted again, i.e. our freedom, to vote, free speech, democracy, all things that we hold dear. . .one pandak is enough. . .nunquam iterum. . .never again.. .” – henry90
__________________________________
With all due respect,it is quite ironic that majority of our people have freedom but they don’t have food on the table,they are free to vote but it is more honorable for them to accept dole outs from politicians than to sell their bodies or steal.
Freedom of speech? Majority of our countrymen especially in Mindanao are not talking and just suffering in silence (good for us we can blog).
Democracy?What we have is a government of,for,and by the corrupt and the incompetent, never of,for and by the people.
Stop calling Gloria “pandak”, it makes the military look like Lilliputians.
Stop calling Gloria “pandak”, it makes the military look like Lilliputians.
Hahahahaha!
whew… is the looming and brewing rebellion over yet? happy holidays to ellenville…
I don’t know kung may nagposte na nito, but just in case wala, somebody sent me this as copied from RaisaRobles.com:
Yikes! President Arroyo imposed martial law by citing the wrong Republic Act establishing a village school
Citing the wrong law as the legal basis shows that this martial law is so sloppily put together. I fear the suspected murderers can get away with murder by exploiting precisely this sloppiness.
In this instance, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Proclamation 1959 using the following as her basis for declaring Martial Law:
Rhe Constitution and Republic Act 6986.
But RA 6986 happens to be “An Act establishing a high school in Barangay Dulop, municipality of Dumingag, province of Zamboanga del Sur, to be known as the Dulop High School, and appropriating funds therefore.”
Read more: http://raissarobles.com/2009/12/05/yikespresident-arroyo-imposed-martial-law-using-a-law-establishing-a-village-high-school-as-one-of-her-basis/
martial law issue is no longer relevant. the issue now is how to revoke it ASAP. it has been declared and the damage has been done . why do many dwell on the past instead of addressing the current issue? is it because Gloria based her decision only from the past or she has no clear grasp of the reality?
this type of decision making is very typical of a Philippine politician.. eh kasi .. eh kasi.. what? Is the general population the same in terms of this type of decision making ?
Why can’t this country think of the future? what is wrong with our educational system? and the basic economic supply and demand of employment ? and our national security? The fact is , we are now an overpopulated country. Employment demand exceeds supply. If people are unemployed or underemployed, this country will never get to where it should be heading. We need investments and investors to employ our local people. Why is it investors are hesitant to come to our country? My guess, our national security and their security are not guaranteed. Therefore, it is common sense to understand supply and demand between a given population and the policemen required. Peaceful populations require force ratios of somewhere between one and four police officers per thousand residents. The United States and many countries in Europe and Australia have about 2.3 sworn police officers per thousand residents. Larger cities tend to have higher ratios of police to population.
Because of looming and brewing rebellion within, our leaders are becoming too selfish. They cannot think of how to create employment. In security alone, employment can be generated by training many men in this country to become competent police forces in proportion to our growing population. Many men in this country are in jail and being trained how dance… sumikat pa naman.. ay sus..
May bukas pa ba para sa mga Pilipino?
MPR,may bukas pa ba ang mga Pinoy?marahil ay malabo, maraming dahilan na magiging sanhi na isang maulap at makulimlim ang bukas magigisnan ng atin mga kababayanan, dahil maraming bulag at bingi ang ating bansa.Kulang ang pagmamahal sa bayan kanilang lupang tinuban.
Joeseg re #80. Yes, that was mentioned in the previous posts. Devanadera has admitted that it was a typographical error. The specific provision is quoted in the Proclamation. It won’t affect the legality of the document.It’s a reflection of sloppiness.
From Bert:
In the Congressional session discussing the declaration of Martial Law in Maguidanao, Mr. Locsin is just trying to win points so he will achieve his dream of becoming a Supreme Court Justice. He also did not run for senator in next year’s elections because he might not even win and being a Supreme Court Justice beats everything in the Philippines except being the President.
Bilib pa naman ako kay Teddy Locsin noon at sayang ang talino nya, hindi man lang sya naging kandidato pagka senador. Naunahan pa siya nina Jinggoy, Bong Revilla at Lito Lapid. My belief in him slowly diminished when I saw him flipflopping during the succeeding impeachment cases vs. GMA. First time, he was very vocal for GMA’s impeachment, but later on, he changed side and emerged being pro-GMA.
Kung ang target ni Locsin is to be appointed to the Supreme Court, bakit hindi na lang siya mag-all out defending GMA in everyway. Better still, palitan nya si Remonde as Press Secretary. Baka sakaling may mababakante sa SC due to retirement, maigi na yung nasa Malakanyang na sya at baka may tsansa pang maisingit before May 2010.
Joe,
Kaya hindi ako impressed dyan kay Teddy Locsin dahil sa impeachment flipflops niya. Asar ako sa kanya!
Palitan na lang si Remonde. Oo nga, para kumpleto na ang kanyang flipflop. Humahabol ba sa bakanteng SC justice? Tsk, tsk…nasaan na ang Teddy Locsin ni Tita Cory?
Teddy Locsin?
‘Yung mas masahol pa sa yumaong Joe Quirrrrrino kung magsalita?
Para silang see saw ni Brenda sa pagtuligsa at pagtatanggol kay ngoyang, hindi n’yo ba napansin?
Ang galing blending nila at harmony.
Kapag ganyan lahat ang mga mambabatas natin wala na talagang tinatanaw na magandang bukas ang Pilipinas.
Tsk. tsk. tsk.
Para silang kambal na hunyango!