The Things I Learned From This Impeachment

          It's been four years since I last did a blog, and guess its time to post another and this time, the things I've learned during the 5 month impeachment process of the Chief Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court.

          Beyond the myriad of legal lingo, the near endless posturing and that lawyers who become high magistrates can never ever have a career as actors, there have been countless learning curves that I have absorbed in the small gray matter inside my thick skull.

          In the last 5 months since the impeachment of Mr. Renato Corona started, the entire process showed me several realizations that can be achieved and certain facts that was not attained.

          At first, I was already tired of listening (again) to the entire process of impeachment with one particular issue that will disturb me for a long time – why does this nation keep putting people of questionable character in power?          

          There have been countless, albeit numerous times that the only thing you hear from the legislative branch is the word, impeachment. I will not give an evil eye at those who attempt to impeach questionable personalities since it is a part and parcel of this democracy, nor criticize Congress for dabbling much of its time in the impeachment processes more than their Constitutional mandate to legislate.

          Don’t we have qualified leaders who have spotless integrity, genuine patriotism to serve with an openly clean conscience who can effectively govern and lead? Is impeachment like our own little happy pill?

          In the last five months since the start of the ordeal of Mr. Corona, these are the basic things that I have learned:

1. If the House of Representative wants to get things down, the weight and varying political persuasions of its nearly 300 members can be swayed to “batten down the hatches” to sign an article(s) of impeachment without the benefit of a long tedious process of a hearing within the House Committee on Justice or the mandatory debates on the House floor. It took us one night of sleep to awaken that the Chief Justice has been impeached;
2. Without the hammering and polishing process done within a collegial body, an impeachment will have all sorts, including far ranging faults and loopholes that could breach the very thin line that protects one person’s Constitutionally guaranteed civil rights, rights to fair justice and be damned in the court of public perception;
3. In the years since I have gained discernment about life and society, I have never heard any members of the Supreme Court speak out in public except when working en banc to render a decision in finality over a case. It is to my own perception that to enter the halls of the Supreme Court, one is like climbing the hills to speak to a guru, where one asks one question, and 15 gurus will speak as one with an answer under the mantle of fairness, integrity and unquestionable wisdom. Issues that have been hounding this young republic’s society are resolved to a uniquely fair solution by 15 august members of judicial system. From thereon, these decisions become bible for future decisions, further enriching the Filipino legal system;
4. However, in the last five months, perceptions of a wise guru in the guise of the Chief Justice collapsed listening to Mr. Corona’s spawning of political vile and rhetoric. The man, despite the perceived “holier than though” aura is like any other man, for he too is a political animal with fangs and claws drawn, ready to slash his accuser. One can not blame Mr. Corona to answer and fight back, for it is his name and integrity is at stake. One spites one justice, spites all fifteen justices, and not to mention the institution representing the whole judiciary;
5. I also learned that passion and intense emotions could distort one reality. An impeachment is not a criminal or administrative process like as if it is practiced within the realm of real courts. An impeachment as defined in our Constitution and as practiced in this country is nothing more, nothing less than a political action. Despite all of the impassionate pleas for fairness and judiciousness, 22 current members of the Senate will look and review into the case on hand, examine the evidences and will render a political decision. What does one insignificant political animal like Mr. Corona do to radicalize the entire Philippine socio-political landscape? What is the real value of Mr. Corona in the balance of things?;
6. Members of Congress are terrible litigation lawyers. They became lawyers to enter politics and not to practice law. To become good law makers, they should have at least earned their day in court by practicing law. Days of seeing lawmakers in the mold and brilliance of a Diokno or Tañada is long gone. It would be a bit relieving to see just a very few good men (and women) in the halls of our Congress amidst the sea of posers and wannabes elected into office;
7. The cart is pushed by the donkey not the other way around. If we are too practice a little bit of judicial process starting with the investigation phase, it is disturbing to see and hear an accusation of a crime committed and later work on the discovery of the evidence of how the crime was made by the suspect. To revise this worn adage, “Innocent until proven guilty” into, “Guilty until proven otherwise,” or in the case of the last five months, ”Guilty, wait, we are still looking for the evidence.” It would have been more convincing from the very start if all the evidence was introduced in a proper fashion in order to establish the guilt and not the other way around. It is fortunate that in the course of impeachment process, Ombudsman and former Supreme Court Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales came forward to present the first and only damning evidence. Her integrity is not besmirched, while her evidence was gathered in a legally acceptable fashion. It is ironic that the damning evidence she presented was done as a witness, albeit, hostile witness of the defense;
8. Do not cross swords with a lady who does not salivate to become Chief Justice;
9. An accused, regardless of the title bestowed and authority upon him or her is like any other person – could be so full of one’s self. One can not dress an idiot into a business suit and pass him off as king of the world, for in time, the whole world will still see that he is still an idiot. To further add in my learning curve, and as I have said before, how does one catch a fish, particularly a smelly fish – by its mouth. As the lady who does not salivate to become Chief Justice presented a set of damning evidence, this resulted into a terribly bruised ego that led to the babbling of testimonies that further nailed the hammer into Mr. Corona’s legal career;
10. Pomp and arrogance will never appeal to a jury, nor crying, or even for that matter, acting like the underdog. Using the strategy of being the poor, the damned and the oppressed before a jury of long practicing and hardened politicians does not work;
11. Testifying before the Senate has severe health hazards and to be seen in a wheelchair is one overused excuse to gain sympathy. Frothing in the mount and having a demon possessed moment could work for the next person to face an impeachment;
12. “Rule of law based on my own set of laws (or interpretation)” is something that leaves a very vile taste in the mouth. When the lowly civil servant gets chastised and kicked out for being callous over their responsibility to declare their net worth, a high ranking official and for that matter, the highest magistrate of the land has an excuse for doing the same and claims innocence. This lame excuse finally blew the fuse of personal restraint. It does not take one to have a knowledge or degree in law to discern that this person is no longer fit to stay in his office. While others rant over the lack of purity and transparency of Mr. Corona’s accusers, if so, then impeach them too and let the one deserving of the public’s trust remain standing;
13. This impeachment process will not be the end of the entire process if we keep getting lemons to lead this country. History keeps repeating itself in very short cycles in this country and we do tend to experience amnesia each time we cast our votes to select the leaders of the land;
14. And finally, as I have learned long ago, after we are done with this impeachment process and Mr. Corona is indeed removed from office, the baby crab mentality for most who chants “rule of law” will find other childlike retorts and blame again the government. Those who blab the most and blame government, who proclaims has the profound prescription to better this society never served in government and is extremely comfortable and good at being bench warming hecklers.

We have seen stranger and weirder things happen in our political landscape and I believe there is more still to come, behind the live halls of events is a backroom where much of the “script” of Philippine politics is still being written by cigar puffing monkeys. ***

Earth Hour in the Philippines

The environment is now the most important cause I promote and in more recent times, there are efforts that show that we, as one, regardless of creed, color and religion, we can all show solidarity in saving the environment.

Nowadays, summer in the Philippines is hotter than usual and its not perhaps just a matter of perception. Each year of my graying life, the temperatures are higher during these times. It's more uncomfortable now in the heat and fact is I'm more happy with rain than sweating it out in the dry heat or worst humid days.

News reports coming out show moving pictures of islands in the Pacific sinking and Greenland, which is a misnomer, (more of pristine white ice) is actually turning green. These are stories and issues that tell us, something is definitely up.

I fear that in our lifetime, my generation that is, we will see a rapid change into an uncertain condition for the whole world and it might not be something everyone can cope with.

On March 29, the Philippines join the whole world for a cause - Earth Hour - and sadly, most media entities are busy with the lame politics that are plaguing the country more than promoting a global effort with a much bigger and wider importance and impact.

Below is a message sent via e-mail from friends at the World Wildlife Fund or WWF (not the wrestling group) promoting Earth Hour and I hope this spreads throughout the Philippines.

For once, this country, this nation and its people can do something more sensible than engage in petty politics, name calling, self promotion and their drive to promote their respective political ambitions - join the cause, be part of a symbolic act - one step at a time towards arresting a real threat for this planet.

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EARTH HOUR in the Philippines - Turn OFF All Lights for an Hour

PHILIPPINE EARTH HOUR
For One Hour, Let's Turn Off ALL Our
Lights and Reduce Power Consumption
------------------------------------

MARCH 29, 2008 - SATURDAY - 8:00-9:00PM

On 29 March 2008 the Philippines will join countries around the world as we literally "turn the lights out" for Earth Hour - an event that will fuel awareness on climate change and prove that when the people of the world work together, they can make a difference in the fight against global warming. Earth Hour will take place throughout the Philippines from 8 to 9 in the evening on Saturday, 29 March 2008. WWF invites you to participate by shutting off lights for 60 minutes, organizing your own "lights-out" event or by forwarding this mail to your friends, workmates and family.

----- HISTORY OF CAMPAIGN -----

Launched in Australia on the 31st of March 2007, Earth Hour moved 2.2 million people and 2100 businesses in Sydney to turn off their lights for one hour. This massive collective effort reduced the city's energy consumption by 10.2% for one hour.

With Sydney icons like the Harbour Bridge and Opera House turning their lights off and unique events such as weddings by candlelight, the world took notice. Inspired by the collective effort of millions of Sydneysiders, many major global cities are joining Earth Hour in 2008, turning a symbolic event into a global movement.

YOUR participation will go a long way in spreading the message that we, as individual droplets working collectively – can create an impetus far more powerful than the mightiest of rivers.

For more information, log on to the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) Earth Hour page at: www.earthhour.org. If you want to learn more about how else you can help make Earth Hour in the Philippines a success, reply to this email or drop us a line at (632) 920-7931, (632) 920-7923, or (632)920-7926

Far From Any Upheaval

(11 February 2008 – Manila) – The Philippines is once again experiencing another political confrontation over an “affirmation” by a witness to the alleged fixing/brokering process of financing and building the government’s envisioned internet broadband backbone.

Last week, Philippine Forest Corporation (a government owned corporation) president Rodolf Noel “Jun” Lozada, Jr., dubbed as the newest star witness on the Natonal Broadband Network controversy was allegedly “abducted” at the airporrt upon returning from Hongkong, later surfacing in the custody and care of the religious, later to finally make statements before media and eventually testifying before the Blue Ribbon Committee of the Senate.

Mr. Lozada, who was previously employed by Alcatel was sought by then Economic Planning Secretary (now Commission on Higher Education head) Romulo Neri to assist in threshing out the highly technical issues involved in the government’s plans to build its own internet broadband backbone.

To cut the story short, Mr. Lozada implicated several key personalities of government for allegedly forging means to benefit from the project that was supposed to received a loan grant from the government of the People’s Republic of China.

The latest revelation and claim made by Lozada once again pinned possible involvement of First Gentleman Miguel Arroyo, resulting in a possible implication of President Gloria Arroyo to the scandal.

Early last week, the same issue also caused a divide between former political allies, the President and former House Speaker Jose de Venecia. The later was “ousted” by members of Congress who were being identified as loyalists to the President.

De Venecia, one of the former staunchest supporters of Mrs. Arroyo immediately issued statements hinting of Mrs. Arroyo’s “impropriety” in office as a reply to his claims that he was being booted out as a political vendetta resulting from the statements and claims made by his son Joey De Venecia who was bidding for the National Broadband Network project.

De Venecia’s son, Joey De Venecia made public late in 2007, bold and glaring allegations that the First Gentleman and former Commission of Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos, Sr. were conducting activities to favor ZTE, a Chinese telecommunications equipment company to win the National Broadband Network project over Joey De Venecia’s Amsterdam Holdings.

The young De Venecia alleged that briberies and kickbacks were being thrown around people who were supposedly tasked to approve the financial and technical details of the project, which was partially confirmed by the testimony of Jun Lozada.

As the story continues to evolve with the endless plans to conduct countless number of hours of hearings at the Senate, certain sectors in Philippine society are once again at arms against Mrs. Arroyo and are calling for snap elections to remove the current administration.

As another scandal unfolds, tall tales of a possible political upheaval to the magnitude of another People Power is being peddled in coffee shops, in columns, in text messages and also being inferred by some sectors of the media as possibly happening.

Mrs. Arroyo’s government since being installed in 2001 has been marred by controversies and scandals that remain as ordinary discussions and have not been elevated to proper forums.

Scandals that have been allegedly “discovered” include possible mis-management of fertilizer funds, to the rigging of the 2004 Nationals elections, to secret bank accounts of the First Gentleman and more recently the internet broadband project.

Since 2005, after the reports that Mrs. Arroyo spoke to a Commissioner of the Commission on Elections during the days of the elections to “allegedly seek assurance” of her votes from Mindanao – the Arroyo government has been subject to attempts to be impeached before the House or Representatives – which has failed to materialize, or even reach the House committee level.

Some vocal and active groups, sectors of Philippine society has been quite active to have Mrs. Arroyo removed and some sectors include young members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who attempted for about three times to call for arms and defy Mrs. Arroyo until she finally decides to step down.


Will there be another People Power? – most probably not!

Conditions are not ripe to have the cauldron of political upheaval to boil to cause another People Power.

Jun Lozadas testimony, dubbed by some sectors as the “most credible” statement to give further truth to the corruption allegedly being done by this administration, is not enough to spark an upheaval.

The key element of the People Power Revolutions of 1986 and 2001 are the middle class of urban Metro Manila who took 20 years to awaken in order to face down former President Ferdinand Marcos and in 2001, to put an end to President Joseph Estrada’s term.

The middle class of this country are apparently fatigued by this process and is perhaps more interested in reaping personal economic and social advances than engage in the almost daily political bickering.

There were two clear conditions that brought the middle class to the streets in both during the Marcos and Estrada upheavals – absolute dissatisfaction over the administration of that time and unfavorable economy conditions.

In both Marcos and Estrada, the scandals and abuses pushed the middle class to reconsider and take up action coupled by sliding economic conditions of that time.

In the current administration, despite the scandals that has become a usual headline and topic, the economic situation remains ideal and favorable to the middle class and partially benefitting other sectors of society.

However, despite the phenomenal growth rate of the country, dollar surplus in the country’s reserves and the strong currency against the U.S. dollar, the economic successes are still barely causing benefit to the low income classes.

In May 1, 2001, the low income classes or the masses who is the country’s, who also supported Estrada whom they considered coming from their own ranks, attempted to re-install Estrada in their self-proclaimed version of People Power but the effort failed, lacking the presence and support of the middle class, the intellectuals and by the wealthy families of the country who at that time accepted having Mrs. Arroyo finish the remaining term of Estrada.

There is an creepy silence coming from most of the middle class since the start of the movement to have Mrs. Arroyo removed from office, accounting to facts that there are no suitable replacements if she was indeed removed – most especially coming from the ranks of current political, military, religious, civil society leaders.

With all the scandals and allegations being thrown at this current administration – the inability to make the accusations stick by providing hard documented proof or presenting credible witnesses who wont retract their statements or disappear makes these charges against Arroyo nothing more than dirty politics or works of hired spin doctors.

Unknown to the people who have been vocal in calling for Mrs. Arroyo’s removal, their actions and public tirades are often being viewed now as comedic, rants of people who are ambitiously hungry for attention and power, and worst lacking the moral authority to inspire the nation for another radical change.

There are no Cory Aquinos or Jaime Cardinal Sin of the Roman Catholic Church to give the credible fuse for change, but instead the public see wannabe leaders of change staging efforts to defy Mrs. Arroyo at business centers or at the comfort of posh hotels, or people whose only motivation is to disrupt the status quo.

Political leaders at the legislative branch have not even demonstrated their leadership qualities to inspire the nation to follow a radical change. These politicos, and now worsened by the new ones or fresh faces are seen as merely publicity hungry,leading the call to oust Mrs. Arroyo as a means to advance in their political career come elections in 2010.

As some say, who doesn’t want to be President? But these proponents for radical change are, well, their means to kick out this government at this time is not completely inspiring or credible at all … for now (or maybe never)

The lack of a palatable and acceptable leadership, who won’t become corrupt once it is in power is another compounding matter that won’t entice the public to go to the streets again.

The other element that pushed for the Marcos and Estrada ouster was the participation of the military who at this particular point is committed to Mrs. Arroyo.

It won’t take junior officers to make the military as a whole swing to favor an un-Constitutional act to remove Mrs. Arroyo.

It is the military’s senior leadership who can make the situation different and unfavorable for the President. This scenario and the military supporting the civilian call to defy & remove this administration will be the only real event to effect another political upheaval, but this scenario is far from happening at this stage.

For that matter, the time is not ripe for change, it is far from happening at this point.

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