Philippine politics « Victor Villanueva

Posts tagged with Philippine politics

January 5, 2012

Taking the side of neither bully in the schoolyard *

[This is a statement I wrote for the Civil Law Student Council of UST with regard to the political noise of the Chief Justice's impeachment trial]

Our involvement with the issue of the Chief Justice’s impeachment must not degenerate into taking sides from among the warring political factions of the government, for we must remember that what truly matters is the people’s welfare. Beyond all the cacophony of this political circus, the truth remains that both contending ruling cliques have their own vested agenda. The Aquino and the Arroyo groups have taken advantage and exploited this feud in order to portray themselves as heroes and saints while neither of them genuinely address the basic pursuit of social justice in the country.

To take side with either bully of the schoolyard is not a choice, it is a false dichotomy.

On one hand, if we are truly for judicial integrity and independence, we should welcome the opportunity for the Chief Justice to defend himself against allegations of partiality in an impeachment trial. We should caution against those who portray the impeachment of the Chief Justice as an attack against the Judiciary as an institution and paint several personalities as martyrs. Impeachment per se is not a breach of judicial independence. Impeachment is a mechanism for Congress to fulfill its check and balance function as representatives of the people. It is not a mere surplusage in our Constitution. Our Supreme Court Justices, highly esteemed by some of us as they may be, are not infallible demigods who are immune from scrutiny and criticism, and they remain to be public officials who are accountable to the people.

We should also welcome the impeachment as a step in holding accountable the past administration of former President Arroyo, for it is undeniable that while the Chief Justice is in power, the integrity and impartiality of all Supreme Court decisions with regard the Chief Justice’s former principal, to whom he has served as chief of staff and legal counsel, will be put into question. Judging the pattern of decisions and opinions of the Chief Justice, indeed his impartiality is in doubt.

On the other hand, we should also caution our support for such pursuit of judicial integrity by refusing to throw all our weight behind the Aquino clique, for it is readily apparent that this is a machination to consolidate all branches of government at his disposal, after a consistent pattern of Supreme Court decisions that run against the present administration’s interests, the final straw being that of the decision regarding Hacienda Luisita. Removing an Arroyo-appointed Chief Justice opens the golden opportunity for President Aquino to install his own. In that regard, we should also remain vigilant in the common pursuit of a Supreme Court that is truly an independent entity capable of dispensing legal matters with fairness and justice.

At the end of the day, while we are being made to watch this political circus the prevailing fact remains, President Aquino has no clear program of action to resolve the root causes of massive poverty and injustice in the Philippines but a rehash the same old bankrupt economic framework and political policies of his predecessors, including former President Arroyo. All President Aquino has to show for, laudable as it may be, is a smokescreen of anti-corruption rhetoric. Such is merely a staged showdown between his administration and Arroyo’s which does not address the basic problems of the people. After all, in the final analysis, how different are the two cliques from each other?

* with reference to former President Arroyo’s infamous line in response to critics: “I’m tired of chasing the bullies around the schoolyard!”

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February 27, 2011

25th Anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution

It has been two days, but I still feel the need to post this belated entry about the 25th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.

One thing that is apparent in the public opinion is either disinterest, especially among the youth many of whom had not been born during those times (watch this video of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism to see how random ordinary students fared when asked about the 1986 Revolution) or disillusionment. The disappointment is real because indeed, the socio-economic and political conditions that spawned the uprising is the same. Twenty-five years later, we are almost no better than we were before (of course, I’m not saying this as a matter of experience, having been born after 1986).

Another thing that is readily apparent in all the government-sponsored revelries is the malicious and conscious effort of the ruling class to reduce the commemoration of the revolution into a middle class pageantry instead of recognizing the militant and collective execution of the uprising causing the overthrow of the dictator. In all irony, the message of the government in all the Presiden’t speeches and the mainstream mass media in many of their news stories is that there is no need for another popular uprising, and that the very acts that constituted the revolution, the militant and collective mobilizations of citizens into the streets, are now irrelevant. The revolution for social change, according to them, can now be executed through the government and through charity and tamed voluntary work.

Tonyo Cruz in his article at the Asian Correspondents made a similar observation.

The traditional politicians know People Power is a most potent tool in the people’s arsenal, along with strikes, boycotts, demonstrations and other mass actions. That is why they routinely tell us that People Power is passe, archaic, outdated. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had every reason to berate People Power. She knew full well that she was a legitimate target, considering the level of hatred her misrule had inspired among the public.

…The traditional political elite and their mass media cannot even make their minds on how to tell and retell the story of EDSA and the long fight against Marcos. The focus are on icons and shrines, on names and faces of media-manufactured personalities, as if the uprising could have succeeded with only them acting by their their lonesome. The official list of state-canonized EDSA heroes is relatively short and is a continuing insult to the PEOPLE who comprised People Power from 1972 until 1986, and from 1998-2001.

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Filipinos Deserve the Politicians They Elect?

This commentary was originally published at Philippine Online Chronicle‘s Blog Watch* special section on the upcoming 2010 national elections.*

I take offense when some individuals insist that the Filipino people deserve the corrupt government and the inept public officials they elect. In light of the recent calamities that struck the nation, some people have the gall to gag people from blaming their government. It is insulting. Nakakaawa na nga ang sitwasyon ng masa, sinisisi pa sila. Pinning the blame on the people is the kind of mentality that lets crooks in government get away with corruption and ineptitude. In other words, it’s a scapegoat. It’s unfortunate that some people buy it and promote it without shame.

Truly, the Filipino people do not deserve being bled dry by their inutile government. The Filipino people do not deserve being denied of adequate social services. True, it is the people who elect the politicians. But the claim on the direct relationship totally disregards the prevailing conditions of the democratic system in the Philippines, and in many places in the world for that matter.

All along, it’s akin to providing a sick man with heart disease only establishments in a fastfood-exclusive food court to choose from for his meals. (Reminds me of a government hospital along East Avenue). He cannot be faulted for choosing a Big Mac or a two piece ChickenJoy meal–the system denies him any alternative, else he induce famish upon himself. It may answer his immediate needs from hunger, but the fact is, any choice he makes in the food court will eventually harm him, some faster and more harmful than others, and will even profit and make money from his plight. What can he do? These choices, and the entire food court establishment is maintained by well-oiled machineries of propaganda and intense commercial advertising campaigns which make the establishment and the choices look very appealing–enough to induce one to consume and feel fulfillment from the consumptions, without providing the consumer, or in this case the sick man, with the space to realize the long-term effects.

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August 1, 2009

Corazon Aquino (1933-2009)

My mother told me a few nights before former President Corazon Aquino died, that if it weren’t for “Tita Cory”, I wouldn’t be here. It was a long shot at connecting unexpected turn of events, but nonetheless not unworthy of remembering, as the nation now reflects on how the former President touched the lives of Filipinos and changed the course of the country’s history.

Upon assuming the leadership of the nation after the People Power Revolution, Tita Cory appointed Rogaciano Mercado to the Ministry of Public Works (now DPWH). Together with Minister Mercado was my mother who became his chief assistant secretary, appointed likewise by President Aquino. Through the prodding of a co-worker, who became an erstwhile matchmaker, she was introduced to a budding engineer who was then applying for promotion. And that’s how the relationship began.

Months later, Minister Mercado was dismissed by the President, but the relationship of my mother and father remained, even as my mom left the Ministry as well.

After watching some of her speeches and reviewing several articles written about her and her presidency, I wouldn’t say that I am a fan of Cory Aquino’s politics and ideologies. She was however, up to her last years, undoubtedly a woman of moral integrity and leadership. The past years saw how the former President marched and rallied with the people, despite her failing health, to denounce attempts at changing the Constitution and to denounce President Gloria Arroyo for the corruption that continues to plague her administration. At a time when the country is besieged by a morally bankrupt leader who is assuming the role of Cory’s fascist predecessor, Tita Cory’s presence, and the moral leadership she largely stood for, is something that will be missed. Rest in peace, President Cory.

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May 15, 2009

Kabataan calls for vigilance vs. No-El scenario

“No-El would entail term extension for Arroyo”

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Mong Palatino today called on all Pinoy youth to practice “vigilance at all costs” as Comelec chairman Jose Melo expressed worries of a No-El scenario in 2010.

Palatino said that a No-El scenario would benefit only Malacanang as it would entail “virtual term extension for Pres. Arroyo and her administration”.

“We expect the Comelec to make good its promise of revealing the results of the bidding process for poll automation over the weekend. Continuous delay of bidding developments would make the process more vulnerable to No-El tactics by parties with term extension motives,” Palatino said.

Even before Melo expressed his fears, Palatino had already earlier warned of a No-El scenario caused by bidding delays, saying that the Comelec might not have enough time to pilot test automated machines which could possibly lead to election irregularities tantamount to a failure of elections scenario.

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May 10, 2009

Kabataan launches countdown before 2010 elections

365 days to go

“Kabataan, tayo ang pagbabago.”

This was the message of Kabataan Party-list together with other youth and student groups as they launched a “˜youth countdown to 2010′ today.

Kabataan Party-list kicked off the countdown with a Voters’ Registration and Education campaign dubbed, “˜We Are Change‘.

Other sponsors of the effort were the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND-UP), College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), Student Christian Movement, League of Filipino Students, Kabataang Artista para sa Tunay na Kalayaan, Anakbayan and Youth ACT Now (Youth for Truth and Accountability Now).

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Mong Palatino said, “We are aware of numerous initiatives by various sectors to launch voters’ awareness and education projects and we express our desire to cooperate with them. “˜We Are Change,’ however, signifies the forging of youth unity for youth empowerment and active participation for change in 2010 and beyond. This is our very own countdown to change, initiated by the youth. Kabataan, tayo ang pagbabago.”

Palatino said that the We Are Change campaign aims to reach the 11 million first-time voters for 2010.

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April 21, 2009

MAKABAYAN Launching

I’m reposting below a news release with regard to the launching of MAKABAYAN (Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan) coalition party last week, of which Kabataang Pinoy is a part of.

Progressives launch new coalition party

Heeding the clamor for better and transparent governance, partylists and people’s organizations in the Philippines formed the Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan (MAKABAYAN, Patriotic Coalition of the People) last April 16, 2009 at the University of the Philippines Bahay ng Alumni in Quezon City, Metro Manila.

MAKABAYAN is a patriotic and pro-people political coalition aiming to pursue wide-ranging reforms in the 2010 Philippine national elections and beyond.

Consistent partylist electoral winners Bayan Muna (People First), Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) and Gabriela Women’s Party and new partylist groups Kabataang Pinoy (Filipino Youth), Courage Party (of government employees) and ACT Teachers Party, all in command of a network of highly skilled and motivated organizers and supporters nationwide, formed the core of the coalition.

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April 19, 2009

Kabataang Pinoy, Tayo ang Pagbabago!

Kabataang Pinoy aspires for a Filipino youth that devotes its intellect, energy and courage to building a better future.

Kabataang Pinoy envisions a new society devoid of corruption, inequality and social injustice.

Kabataang Pinoy encourages the youth to work collectively with other sectors to build a bright future. It upholds, promotes and defends the interest of the youth to be able to harness its fullest potential as a sector. It works to unite the Filipino youth to campaign for social, political, economic, cultural and environmental justice in the Philippines, and enjoins youth from all walks of life to foster active participation in good governance, nation-building, and social change.

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