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The Calibrated Creeping Scheme of 2005 |
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 Jess writes " Filipino historians and writers can make a compelling book out of the political events that took place in the Philippines in 2005.
As the political events of 2005 unfolded, and one reads between the lines and factors in the interpretations by pundits of different persuasion, it would lead one to a treasure of insights.
Here is one insight worthy of an episode.
The Philippine’s political events of 2005 had a panoply of colorful and interesting political characters. The politicians’ machinations to get what they want, and the equal schemes put up by their rivals to deny them of their objective, created a war, a spectacle that was amusing and insensate. The juicy morsels of human frailties meshed with human virtues showcased multifaceted human drama which kept the public entertained, while at the same time, providing them a venue to look at themselves, and discern if they deserve such a show from these politicians, who contributed a lot in making their lives miserable. The book can be littered with literary gems or it can be a book that can make the year 2005 an epoch in the annals of Philippine history.
The vortex of all these events was President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The media had not been kind to her since her ascension to power. Without let up, the media kept pounding on her – “The mob rule of imperial Manila installed her; therefore, she’s unworthy of mandate.” Her winning the election of May 2004 didn’t stop the deluge of criticisms because of the enduring claims that she cheated in the election.
Leandro Aragoncillo, a Filipino spy who worked at the office of the U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, had transmitted classified dossier about President Arroyo, the conduit of which was Michael Ray Aquino, a one time deputy of Senator Ping Lacson, when the latter was still PAOCTF’s chief. Aquino fled to the United States when he became one of the suspects in the murder of Bobby Dacer, a PR practitioner and media man during Joseph Estrada’s presidency. Before Aquino distributed sensitive information to leading oppositionists in the Philippines, he altered some of the information to make it appear that the United States is disfavoring Arroyo. Michael Ray Aquino’s hope was, if there would be a change of hands in government, the charges against him would be quashed, and he could come home.
Some oppositionists perceived the “doctored” classified information was a clear sign of the dwindling U.S. support for the Arroyo government. All they needed to do was for the U.S. government to see more concrete manifestations of the people’s rejection of Arroyo’s rule. To hasten Arroyo’s downfall, the opposition’s agenda should have been: calibrated “creeping scenarios” that culminate in the continuing assemblage of “People Power”.
The opposition found the linchpin for their “creeping scenarios”: Archbishop Oscar Cruz, chairman of the Krusadang Bayan Laban sa Jueteng. Jueteng scandal triggered the ouster of the then President Joseph Estrada. The opposition can use that as template. Archbishop Cruz alleged that payoffs to the tune of 10 million pesos each month were channeled into the hands of Juan Miquel “Mikey” Arroyo, the President’s son, and Ignacio “Iggy”Arroyo, her brother in law, by jueteng operators. Sen. Nene Pimentel, an oppositionist, filed a resolution in the Senate calling for a probe.
The august hall of the Senate turned into a circus, providing entertainment to the public as the hearings began. Witnesses with dubious backgrounds plied their wares under oath. Mikey and Iggy Arroyo sued the witnesses, and both took a leave of absence from Congress, while the fend–off guys of Malacanang destroyed the witnesses’ credibility.
Then came the “Hello Garci” tape -- an eavesdrop conversation recorded in a wire tap between a woman’s voice, believed to be President Arroyo’s, and Virgilio Garcillano, a COMELEC commissioner. The woman’s voice seemed worried that her winning votes margin might not reach one million. And a voice that sounded like that of Garcillano assured her that it would. Garcillano was known in the political circle as the “guy that can make the favored candidate win.” The impact of the tape seemed to confirm what many had been thinking: That Gloria Macapagal Arroyo cheated in the election!
Seeing this event as crucial, all hell broke loose. Everybody now wanted to be upfront in anticipation of a new dispensation. Those who did during Joseph Estrada’s downfall were blessed with juicy goodies. For one, Teofisto Guingona, who rushed his “I accuse you” speech against Estrada, was rewarded with the Vice President post; he later became an erstwhile personality due to policy differences. He returned to Arroyo’s fold as Ambassador to China but quickly resigned his ambassadorship. Not to be outdone, Ping Lacson launched his “Be not afraid” movement and distributed free CDs of the “Hello Garci” tape. Senate President and Liberal Party head, Franklin Drilon, made an overture to Vice President Noli de Castro to take over the presidency once Arroyo fell and appoint him as his vice president. In return Drilon assured him of the support of at least 10 cabinet members and Corazon Aquino, stalwart of two “People Power” revolts.
Other elements joined the bandwagon. The remnants of Joseph Estrada’s PMP party, in coalition with other fringe parties of the 2004 election, together with the loser of the last presidential race, some retired AFP generals, the civil society, Bayan Muna and its allied organizations in the left, which are good at conducting lightning street rallies, launched a broad coalition known as Unity for Truth and Justice to form a caretaker government (transition or revolutionary). The Gloria Resign Movement began.
Arroyo didn’t want at first to comment on the “Hello Garci” tape. But speculation was prevalent. People became restive. Pressured, she sought the advice of her idol, Corazon Aquino, who later told her “admit it”. Corazon Aquino faced the possibility of losing her kin’s vast sugar land estate, Hacienda Luisita through Land Reform. Under new dispensation, she might be able to save it. Franklin Drilon also advised the same. He even helped draft the pronouncement. Only later did Arroyo realize that the advice was a trap.
Arroyo admitted she had “lapse of judgment” when she spoke with the Election commissioner. Her reason: she was just protecting her votes. Her admission turned up the heat. The call for her resignation mounted. Corazon Aquino and Franklin Drilon consecutively joined the chorus for her to resign. Then the resignation en-masse of 10 of her cabinet members, who called themselves “Hyatt 10”. Sen. Pimentel predicted Arroyo’s government would fall within 72 hours.
It didn’t. Former President Fidel Ramos came to the rescue. He still has vast influence within the military, and without military’s support any coup attempt would be unsuccessful. The stand of the Catholic Church leadership through CBCP, another influential segment of society, shunned the resignation as an option. Noli De Castro stuck with Arroyo. The League of Municipal Mayors of the Philippines supported her. Impeachment, to which Arroyo was amenable to, didn’t get the required number of votes in the Congress to endorse it to the Senate as required by the constitution. As impeachment failed, Drilon, subtly crept the impeachment proceedings in the Senate. When Miriam Santiago, an allied senator of Arroyo, disclosed a plot to assassinate the President if she didn’t resign, a plan which involved Drilon’s relative, Drilon was nipped in the bud. And the most important of all, the Holy Grail which the opposition sought -- the continuing assemblage of “People Power” never materialized.
The previous two “People Power” uprisings became successful because Marcos and Estrada did not stand their ground for fear of being killed by the mob. They abandoned Malacanang. Their sins were obvious, brazen and palpable, and people were convinced beyond reasonable doubt.
However, with Arroyo, she stood pat and was unyielding. She didn’t resign. She didn’t abandon Malacanang. People have second thoughts about her “sins”. Although her “sins” were hyped to the hilt by the media, the middle class didn’t bite. Hers were tamer, compared to her predecessors’ which were too evident to ignore.
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Posted on Friday, December 30 @ 13:25:05 CST by don |
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Re: The Calibrated Creeping Scheme of 2005 (Score: 1)
by Don (don@tspam.me) on Friday, December 30 @ 13:44:45 CST
(User Info | Send a Message) http://trehb101.com | Jess,
Nice write-up. Welcome to Gutom.org. Hope to get more of like this from you... Happy New Year...
Kind Regards,
Don |
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