Now, that the specter of a failure of elections is becoming more and more real, the senate presidency becomes a crucial position.
Under the law on succession, in case of a vacancy in the presidency, the vice president takes over. If the VP is unable to assume the presidency, next in line is the senate president and then the speaker of the House of Representatives. If the there is no one qualified, Congress shall pass a law to provide who shall serve as acting president until the president or vice president shall have been elected and qualified.
But what if no winner is declared for the national positions by June 30, 2010., when Gloria Arroyo’s stolen presidency ends? There would be no Congress to pass the law. The remaining 12 senators would not consitute a quorum to elect a senate president to replace the current senate president, Juan Ponce Enrile,who is running for re-election,
There would a political vacuum and that’s very dangerous. Enrile had mentioned the possibility of a military takeover.
Lito Banayo, in his column in Malaya last Wednesday, mentioned a plot to depose Enrile and install a pro-Gloria senate president who would serve as acting president. Joker Arroyo? Edgardo Angara? Manny Villar? (Come to think of it,Villar’s term for senator is still up to 2013. If he loses the presidency, he goes back to the Senate.)
Part of Banayo’s column:
“So … your Doña will choose a new Senate President?” I said. (The Senate is a continuing body. Juan Ponce Enrile is now third in the line of succession, but he may not have been proclaimed a re-elected senator by then.)
“Yes, po”, suddenly sounding deferential, “pero balita ko po naayos na ni Manny Villar ang mga boto.”
I did quick mental calculations, and drew some kind of matrix on a paper napkin. SP-JPE was elected on the basis of a coalition of two Liberals, namely Mar and Pong Biazon, plus Ping and Jamby, plus NPC’s Chiz and Loren, plus the administration’s Edong, Migs, and Bong, plus PMP’s Jinggoy, quasi-independent Dick Gordon, plus Gringo and JPE himself. Noynoy wanted to join his fellow LP’s, but in deference to his ailing mother whose term JPE at the time wanted to cut short, he decided to abstain. When the majority of 13 had been cobbled, Miriam rhymed in even if she had recused herself earlier, and so did Lapid, both of whom the new majority tolerated just to fortify their flanks. A motley group indeed.
On the other side, the Villar corner, remained the siblings Cayetano, plus Joker, plus Nene, plus Kiko, a Liberal Party member who identified better with the Wednesday Dining Society. The scorecard: 15-6-2 (One abstention in the case of Noynoy plus Trillanes in the brig).
But things have changed. Loren is now with Villar, although presumably Kiko will at last be loyal to the LP, which somehow neutralizes Loren’s volte face.
Which makes a fulcrum out of Bong and Lapid, both running under the PaLaKa ticket, plus Miriam who’s also with Villar, plus Jinggoy, plus Dick who’s also running for president, plus Edong and Migs.
Okay. Bong, Lito, Jinggoy, Miriam, Dick, Edong and Migs removed from JPE is 15 minus 7 equals 8. Those seven, added to the Cayetanos, plus Joker and Nene, plus Loren, and Villar, mismo, equals — 14! The magic number. And even if Noynoy this time wants to cast a vote for the status quo, so what?
But will Migs bite, and be with Nene in the same tent? What about Dick, who styles himself as too much of an independent?
“I do not know the “who” specifics. I just know there is a plot, and I was told that it’s a go. So apparently, Villar and my Doña have the numbers all sewn up,” he stated. “As you can see, my Doña wants to appoint the next Chief Justice. She is covering all the bases. Honestly, this is way too much,” he added.
“Oh, and by the way, Ping might not even be able to vote for JPE. You know…Dacer-Corbito”, he further said.
Suddenly I recalled what I saw in Friday night’s late newscast. It was reported that Carina Dacer, one of Bubby’s heiresses, was preparing to add Erap in the Dacer-Corbito charge sheet. But, they would rather watch what happens in the “trial” of Ping Lacson.
Aha! Twisting the rope into a noose! That just might explain why Jinggoy was included in the “swing” list. If Erap’s freedom is on the line, can the son be far away from becoming an acquiescent instrument to the plot?
“But who will be selected as the next SP?” I half-knowingly asked, “and the deed must be consummated by February 5.”
It has to be one who could stay as senator till 2013, which means Joker? Edong? Or Villar, mismo! Bingo!
Who, of course, is just between La Doña and El Villar to transact, with Erap’s head on the dock.
Now, if you were the Doña, who would you trust more — lawyers Joker and Edong who can be wily and wilier, or someone who has already thrown in billions towards an election where the votes may not even be counted?
All the people are waiting is Election 2010.
And now they are making “excuses” why we should wait a bit more.
And maybe we should.
Afterall, we are just a flock of sheep willing to be herded wherever they want us to be.
Ellen,
I have a suspicion that there was a pre-plot to this plot when Erap visited Gloria to attend (daw) an NSC meeting: it is likely that Gloria assured Erap that the Comelec would be approving his application to be candidate for president.
In such a scenario (and you can never say that it didn’t happen), Erapians will owe it big time to Gloria for allowing Erap to run. What an ironical twist, eh?
I believe it is imperative more than ever to ask Erap (you should ask him next time you meet him) that if he becomes president, what will he do about people’s clamour that Arroyo face corruption accusations? Will he pardon her and say “Let’s move on na lang!”
Sanamagan! There’s no word of surrender in Gloria’s vocabulary!
Erap must use his coconut shell at this point, naibebenta sya ni Gloria masaya pa sya because he just wanted to be king again.
Naku Chi, we must not trust that putot ever, not even if her supporters say she’s dying — could be just a ploy to gain sympathy.
The woman is a living and walking trickster!
comelec employees have to use their coconut shells as they continue with implementation of automated elections, and especially when May2010 arrives. teachers have to use their coconut shells as they watch the polls.
As to “asking Erap if he will pardon Gloria.” Voters should assume that Erap will return the pardon-pardon-favor, then voters should use their coconut shells to decide if Erap is May2010 choice.
“Will he pardon her and say “Let’s move on na lang!”” – AdeBrux
Anna, I’ve mentioned this in another thread… that Erap in a chance interview was asked if he becomes president again, will he pardon Gloria is ever she is convicted, his answer was that he will reciprocate… meaning since he was pardoned by gloria, he will do the same to her too. :O
@AdeBrux,
that NSC meeting was kinda suspect talaga, 2x si Estrada sa Malacanang right?
My Palace-by-the-River mole told me that when Erap was in that National Security meeting in Malcananang, Gloria asked Erap give up the race and endorse Villar…In Gloria’s recent trip to Hong Kong, she asked several politicians and businessmen to support Villar’s candidacy. I wonder if Gibo Teodoro sees the writing on the wall?
A reason why mainstream media is important is that a lot of bolahan gets committed with “my friend said ang kuwento noong kaibigan niya ay Boladas lang ang sabi noong crony ni NoyNoy.”
Chabs,
Is that right? Oh wow! Wow and wow! Double traydor…
Will ask my mole too and you know who he is — starts with B.
Ang article ni Lito Banayo ay hindi nalalayo sa conspiracy theory-cum-ISAFP script-drama ko. NSC, my ass.
Mike,
In other words, if Erap is elected, we can expect to see a laughing hyena on her way to the bank?
Santa Maria!
Reynz,
Has been there twice already? Oh gee!
I know that Gloria visited him in prison. Had I been Erap, I wouldn’t have allowed her anywhere near during the time when he was in prison or would have said, “Fine, I’ll let her visit on the condition that she stays!” 🙂
Poor Teodoro! He’s being pooed on the head several times over and he doesn’t even see it.
I told y’all — he’s incompetent!
Chabs,
My mole in tongress whose kumpadre is Gloria’s political ally said that the bitch has the same order…support Villar. If Gibo lets this, I deduct that he knows about the (whatever) plan and playing along with everyone involve that includes himself.
Ayaw sumuko! Ang daming baraha, do or die na talaga tong si Gloria.
Ayaw sumuko! Ang daming baraha, do or die na talaga tong si Gloria.
Well, Igan Perl…nalalapit na ang kanyang maliligayang araw, tutal nagtiis tayo ng almost 10-years e pagbigyan na nating humirit kasi nga nasa ating lahat ang huling halakhak!
Year of the Tiger ngayon kaya sure may pagkalalagyan din ang mga kurap at sinungaling na yan.
Erap will reciprocate? Does that mean kulong muna bago pardon?