The perceived insistence of the House of Representatives to convene a Constitutional Assembly to amend the Constitution has drawn thousands of Filipinos in the streets not only in Metro Manila but also in major cities of the archipelago.
The recent rally participated in by members of cause-oriented groups, church and civic organizations serves as a reminder and at the same time a warning to the Arroyo administration that manipulating the Constitution for selfish ends or evil intent is totally unacceptable. Many are not cowed saying that a revolution with a bang could break out if worse comes to worst.
Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, also a former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces warned that soldiers might join the rally. That was quickly doused by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. saying that the military is apolitical.
There were stories saying that some soldiers from different armed services and presumably clandestine military brotherhoods like Rebulosyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (RAM), Philippine Guardians Brotherhood, Inc., (PGBI) and Retired and Active Wildcat Association Inc., (RAWAI) to name some joined the rally in cognito. Whether this is true or not, the military is very much aware of a Constitutional provision which says “Civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military. The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the people and the State. . . . “(Section 3, Article II; Declaration of Principles and State Policies)
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the people and the State.”
That is broad but it can be freely interpreted as “The Armed Forces can intervene to protect the people from abuse and usurpation of power, gang-raping of the Constitution and further debasement or dehumanization of the citizenry.” The military cannot just stand with folded arms when protests turn violent or bloody. It must "intervene" to restore order and civility.
At present, no one can definitely say that the military totally goes with the political flow of events in the country. For sure, it is closely watching the events and what unfolds.
Unlike in 1986, there is no “Sec. Juan Ponce Enrile, Gen. Fidel Ramos and Cardinal Sin” today. However, if the Arroyo administration is determined to pursue the Constitutional Assembly (Con Ass) sans the participation of the Senate to anachronistically amend the fundamental law, the people is also determined to say NO to Con Ass. If Filipinos clog the streets of Manila, loyalties and alignments will eventually shift.
Right now, the influential Catholic Church for the first time since EDSA II has urged the faithful to join rallies and air their protest in a peaceful and nonviolent manner. Businessmen and business organizations are not hiding their strong opposition to the Con Ass. The Catholic Church and the business sector, it is remembered, played gigantic roles in dislodging two unpopular presidents.
If prolonged deafening protests threaten the security of the State, weaken further the already-weak economy and blot further the image of the country abroad, I believe that the military will prove itself to be the protector of the people and the State. Twenty three years ago, millions of ordinary and unarmed people shielded the military from a possible annihilation from the hands of a dictator. The Armed Forces have not forgotten that heroism and goodwill from the entity they ought to protect.
In the event of a military coup, this time, there are no US Bases in the Philippines and a Ronald Reagan, a friend of the president. There is Pres. Barack Obama who in the past “was too busy to meet with Pres. Arroyo”. The US, for sure, through the Alston Report is aware of the poor human rights record of the country and stories of shameless graft and corruption from top to bottom. In case the president is deposed, we do not expect a US helicopter to land atop Malacanang to save her from the Filipino wrath.
Assuming that a military coup is staged, how long will the country be under a military junta or dictatorship? Will the military still be willing to transfer the power to civilian authorities when in the past, under civilian rule, graft and corruption flourished from all sides? Although they had the opportunity to keep power after EDSA I and II, the military was not interested to take care of the country - - - but for the third time?
I hope that the Arroyo government is enlightened to do the right thing by not insisting to amend the Constitution for the people have spoken a clear and loud NO to Con Ass. Vox populi suprema lex. Let us have elections next year as scheduled and may Mrs. Arroyo heed the call for her to retire . . .
. . . and face a barrage of possible legal actions due to her negligience and excesses if sin is too strong a word!-30-
The recent rally participated in by members of cause-oriented groups, church and civic organizations serves as a reminder and at the same time a warning to the Arroyo administration that manipulating the Constitution for selfish ends or evil intent is totally unacceptable. Many are not cowed saying that a revolution with a bang could break out if worse comes to worst.
Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, also a former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces warned that soldiers might join the rally. That was quickly doused by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. saying that the military is apolitical.
There were stories saying that some soldiers from different armed services and presumably clandestine military brotherhoods like Rebulosyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (RAM), Philippine Guardians Brotherhood, Inc., (PGBI) and Retired and Active Wildcat Association Inc., (RAWAI) to name some joined the rally in cognito. Whether this is true or not, the military is very much aware of a Constitutional provision which says “Civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military. The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the people and the State. . . . “(Section 3, Article II; Declaration of Principles and State Policies)
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the people and the State.”
That is broad but it can be freely interpreted as “The Armed Forces can intervene to protect the people from abuse and usurpation of power, gang-raping of the Constitution and further debasement or dehumanization of the citizenry.” The military cannot just stand with folded arms when protests turn violent or bloody. It must "intervene" to restore order and civility.
At present, no one can definitely say that the military totally goes with the political flow of events in the country. For sure, it is closely watching the events and what unfolds.
Unlike in 1986, there is no “Sec. Juan Ponce Enrile, Gen. Fidel Ramos and Cardinal Sin” today. However, if the Arroyo administration is determined to pursue the Constitutional Assembly (Con Ass) sans the participation of the Senate to anachronistically amend the fundamental law, the people is also determined to say NO to Con Ass. If Filipinos clog the streets of Manila, loyalties and alignments will eventually shift.
Right now, the influential Catholic Church for the first time since EDSA II has urged the faithful to join rallies and air their protest in a peaceful and nonviolent manner. Businessmen and business organizations are not hiding their strong opposition to the Con Ass. The Catholic Church and the business sector, it is remembered, played gigantic roles in dislodging two unpopular presidents.
If prolonged deafening protests threaten the security of the State, weaken further the already-weak economy and blot further the image of the country abroad, I believe that the military will prove itself to be the protector of the people and the State. Twenty three years ago, millions of ordinary and unarmed people shielded the military from a possible annihilation from the hands of a dictator. The Armed Forces have not forgotten that heroism and goodwill from the entity they ought to protect.
In the event of a military coup, this time, there are no US Bases in the Philippines and a Ronald Reagan, a friend of the president. There is Pres. Barack Obama who in the past “was too busy to meet with Pres. Arroyo”. The US, for sure, through the Alston Report is aware of the poor human rights record of the country and stories of shameless graft and corruption from top to bottom. In case the president is deposed, we do not expect a US helicopter to land atop Malacanang to save her from the Filipino wrath.
Assuming that a military coup is staged, how long will the country be under a military junta or dictatorship? Will the military still be willing to transfer the power to civilian authorities when in the past, under civilian rule, graft and corruption flourished from all sides? Although they had the opportunity to keep power after EDSA I and II, the military was not interested to take care of the country - - - but for the third time?
I hope that the Arroyo government is enlightened to do the right thing by not insisting to amend the Constitution for the people have spoken a clear and loud NO to Con Ass. Vox populi suprema lex. Let us have elections next year as scheduled and may Mrs. Arroyo heed the call for her to retire . . .
. . . and face a barrage of possible legal actions due to her negligience and excesses if sin is too strong a word!-30-
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