Sure, we lost. Again. But that really doesn't matter, losing didn't come as a surprise to us. None of the Complainants, Endorsers or Representatives were under any illusion of winning because we knew we were going against a woman backed by power, money and paranoia. We didn't have the money to stuff into brown envelopes that were distributed out of sight in the lounge behind the Speaker's rostrum. We were in no position to promise these men and women of the Majority an appointment to the Court of Appeals, the write off of huge gambling debts, cushy positions in government, or massive support of their wives or husbands in the 2007 elections.
We respect and admire the men and women of the Lower House that decided to choose selflessness over selfishness, the hard right over the easy wrong. They did this for us, we believe that. Here they are:
1. Rep. Henedina Abad
2. Rep. Nereus Acosta
3. Rep. Benjamin Agarao
4. Rep. Mario Aguja
5. Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara
6. Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio
7. Rep. Agapito Aquino
8. Rep. Benigno Aquino III
9. Rep. Teddy Casiño
10. Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano
11. Rep. Justin Marc Chipeco
12. Rep. Francis Escudero
13. Rep. Roilo Golez
14. Rep. Teofisto Guingona III
15. Rep. Mujiv Hataman
16. Rep. Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel
17. Rep. Ruy Elias Lopez
18. Rep. Renato Magtubo
19. Rep. Manuel Mamba
20. Rep. Imee Marcos
21. Rep. Rafael Mariano
22. Rep. Liza Maza
23. Rep. Florencio Noel
24. Rep. Saturnino Ocampo
25. Rep. Rodolfo Plaza
26. Rep. Gilbert Remulla
27. Rep. Etta Rosales
28. Rep. Rolex Suplico
29. Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III
30. Rep. Joel Villanueva
31. Rep. Joel Virador
32. Rep. Ronaldo Zamora
The much maligned Impeachment Legal Team must also be thanked. They did their best, and continue to work, gathering even more evidence against Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
As for the Majority, there is no need to list them. They are best forgotten. Remember those who supported us instead.
But I will at least say something about the Reps that didn't show up. They should remain absent, there should be no room in the House for cowards. Forgive me, I truly have no more patience for reasons like "kawawa naman ang constituents ko", or "am being pressured by my family", etcetera etcetera etcetera. We gave 13 of them caps that had "bayani" printed on them after last year's impeachment loss. I hope they have the "delicadeza" not to wear them.
Here are some of the sidelights to last night's nominal vote:
- Nini Quezon Avancena held all of us up by refusing to leave and staying till the last vote was counted. She is all of 85 years young, and despite the uncomfortable seats and the 16 hour wait, she showed no signs of weakness or exhaustion. When she first arrived, I had been seething about the Majority's not keeping to their promise of assuring us seats in the Plenary Hall. Tita Nini said, never mind, let's just go up there and find room. She was not about to be intimidated into waiting around the Minority Office. Tita Nini provided us all the strength we needed.
- The galleries were overflowing with people that had been bussed in by Majority Congs, mainly by Marcoleta. They arrived at 9am to make sure we'd have no space. Speaking to RG Cruz, I surmised that none of them knew what they were doing there in the first place. So he went around to get their comments. He returned to report that my suspicions were right - they had no idea about why they were being made to attend.
- Some of you may have heard about Mikey Arroyo's attempt at reconciliation last night by apporoaching us in the gallery. I was the only one that didn't turn away when he came over, Dinky was napping beside me (it was 4am) and Ging Deles was busy with her phone. He said something like, "Tita, come on naman, let's forget this" (I would like to point out that I am not his aunt, and have never had occasion to even be introduced to this boy). Having been raised to give due respect, I politely declined and said, "Kid, I can't do this, sorry. You should have inhibited yourself. Why can't you let this go through so we can be out of your hair? Sorry, I can't shake your hand." And so he walked away to play up the media. For me, there can never be reconciliation without justice.
- Rolex Suplico mentioned brown envelopes that were being distributed to Majority Reps throughout the night. He said they contained the CDF all Reps are entitled to. But none of the pro-Impeach Reps have gotten their allotments. We all saw the Congs saunter into the lounge behind the Speaker's rostrum throughout the night, ostensibly to receive their "pay off". One of them even waved his envelope in Neric Acosta's face. For shame!
- We saw Gabby Claudio lurking around the rostrum, probably sent by Gloria to make sure every Majority Rep remembered on which side their bread was buttered. Guess that was also why Andaya was hanging around.
- We spotted Raul Gonzales on the plenary floor. EEK!
- Cong. Roman tried the dramatic approach by asking to explain his vote early due to a bad heart. We sympathize with his medical condition but are not moved by his plea to be understood for changing his vote. His wife needs his CDF to run for Congress in his place.
- Cong. Susano seemed to be wracked by guilt. She actually greeted those of us who were left in the gallery during her explanation, after which she came over and actually apologized! She even brought over chocolates as a peace offering, which we gave to the media instead. I'm sorry, three chocolate bars and an apology don't erase the fact that she voted to supress the truth.
- While explaining his vote, Nograles said there would be no more chance of another Impeachment against GMA because the Congress would be defunct by 30 June 2007. Watch out, boys and girls - the bogus People's Initiative and Cha Cha are looming. Do you really want Charter Change under GMA and suffer this very group of people in government forever? You just witnessed what a parliamentary government composed of these bozos would be like. Shudder.
And so, the Impeachment was murdered in the House. More importantly, this killing only proves that justice does not reign in the House of Representatives and all constitutional means to redress of our grievances against this administration have been blocked. We remain ready to file another Complaint. But for as long as the terrible apathy that has diseased our nation continues to fester, we are in for an even harder fight.
10 comments:
One more reason why I prefer a Government based on strong party system, where all the party whips demand that all members present during a very important business; that everyone contribute to the resolution of the issue. Win or loss, the public get to know where their representatives stand and can make a proper decision on the next election. And sometimes if the government will allow the 'vote of concience' on some very controvertial issue, with all lawmakers present, chances are the 'numbers' game could be reversed.
Vic,
Sad to say, conscience is what this administration doesn't have. And party strength is decided by how deep one's pocket is and not of morals.
The lack of strong party systems can contribute to a weak parliament, should Cha Cha prosper. Having lived in Canada and observed their parliamentary gov't, that's clear. But how will these politicians unify into at least two major political parties? Coalitions are born here everyday, and they break up just about as often. We've a long way to go.
Less than a year until the next elections. Lamenting the lack of interest of the masses can only go so far; the pro-impeachment personages have to get their hands (and blouses and skirts and pants and shoes) dirty to really get the population to understand what is at stake. Already proven that 32 will not cut it.
the "lack of substance" abuse in the impeachment try is pretty much a sign that the dishonorable members of the house of reprehensibles are committing too much substance abuse.
Some of you may have heard about Mikey Arroyo's attempt at reconciliation last night by apporoaching us in the gallery. I was the only one that didn't turn away when he came over, Dinky was napping beside me (it was 4am) and Ging Deles was busy with her phone. He said something like, "Tita, come on naman, let's forget this" (I would like to point out that I am not his aunt, and have never had occasion to even be introduced to this boy). Having been raised to give due respect, I politely declined and said, "Kid, I can't do this, sorry. You should have inhibited yourself. Why can't you let this go through so we can be out of your hair? Sorry, I can't shake your hand." And so he walked away to play up the media. For me, there can never be reconciliation without justice.
Resignation for the disgraced Arroyo and calling for new elections is the best way to start the heaing of this divided land. It's the right thing to do. the only honorable thing left for Arroyo to do.
Even some of those who support her believe she stole the elections and is very divisive, but they prefer arroyo because they fear the opposition even more -- which is the kind of attitude that allowed Arroyo to get away with it in the first place.
She's incapable of reconciling this country because she's the biggest reason this country is so divided. And she lacks the credibility and trust of the people, since she did everything but from the day she took office in 2001, even though we heard lot's of similar "heal the land" and "reconciliation" talk from her.
Her 2001-2004 term was a blown opportunity to unite this country, institute reforms, and reduce corruption... Edsa Dos was a blown opportunity. Because she had other priorities at that time.
Her first term will most be remembered for Lacson, lacson, lacson, smearing Roco, lacson, lacson, fabricating documents vs. FPJ's citizenship, lacson, and more lacson. Destroying political rivals, and prioritizing her 2004 election run, yan ang priorities nya back then, in a nutshell.
Her 2001-2004 term was a blown opportunity for true peace and unity, instituting economic reforms, and reducing corruption... Edsa Dos was a blown opportunity. Because she had other priorities at that time.
Her first term will most be remembered for Lacson, lacson, lacson, smearing Roco, lacson, lacson, fabricating documents vs. FPJ's citizenship, lacson, and more lacson. Destroying political rivals, and prioritizing her 2004 election run, yan ang priorities nya back then, in a nutshell.
Kaya nga umutang ng umutang ng malaki sa labas from 2001-2004, para mapondohan ang 2004 campaign expenses niya.
Granting that what Macapagal-Arroyo can only admit is a fiscal problem, just the same she hides the fact that compared to past presidents, she has borrowed the most. Her borrowings alone from 2001-2003 (three years) amounted to more than the combined borrowings of Presidents Ramos and Estrada (or a total of nine years), with debts accumulated at P1.2 billion daily.9 The heavy debt of the government has thereby brought about its current huge fiscal crisis, with budget deficit nearing P200 billion.
Eto pa. Read this too.
Not surprisingly, most of the credit downgrades came during her first three years in office (2001-2004).
Then after the elections, tinaasan ni arroyo ang buwis natin para TAYO ang magbabayad sa election campaign expenses at dagdag bawas operations ng Arroyo admin, at para tumaas ulit ang credit rating natin. Brilliant!
This is not the time for charter change simply because the proposals are not favorable to the Filipino people.
Whether at any time, the same proposals would be detrimental to the Philippines!
Agreeing on something is a very hard thing to do. We even had that experienced during the drafting of our Amendment to our constitution, The Constitution Act of l982, during the tenure of Pierre Trudeau. Most provinces have some arguments on some points and if you let the debate continue forever, we still will be under the l867 constitutions which was framed somewhere else. So, what the Government did, or the particular administration of Trudeau was to include in section 33 the “Notwithstanding Clause”. The section allows the federal govt. or the provincial or territorial govt. to Temporarily override a certain part of the law and be exempted from judicial review for the period of five years. This section can only involve the provision on fundamental freedoms, legal rights and equality rights.All other rights are inalienable and can not be subjugated. The Province of Quebec used the “clause” to override the Federal language law, and so other provinces for other laws.
But the fear that many, that the “clause” will be subject to outright abuse didn’t materialize at all, because of the overall strength and wisdom of the Charter. Had we not compromised, maybe until now we still be debating, arguing instead of having a charter which is Uniquely Canadian and now being embraced by most as perhaps a model for most Democratic Governments.
As we go, there is a plan to amend the ‘clause’.
But the Idea of the clause in the first place is to Assert the Power of Parliament and the Lawmakers and not be subjected to the whim of Judiciary, but by the voters. Like in the old British Way, if the Parliamentarians become tyrannical, Revolt.
jeleve, am curious as to what you think we have gained from Gloria's bogus presidency. I think we have gained No.1 cheater status in the world (count her, nurses, athletes), an oil spill of gigantic proportions (dig deep into the players involved and understand her reticence), and jueteng is the best national pasttime, among other things.
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