GLORIAGATE daily dish for Sept 21, 33rd anniversary of Martial Law

- GMA to slap sedition raps vs Cory, Drilon, ex-AFP
DOJ CHIEF CLAIMS COUP PLOT BY OPPOSITION TO TOPPLE REGIME UNCOVERED

They are not as confident as they claim to be.

Days after proclaiming she is “politically stronger” today after the impeachment complaints were killed, and a day after laughing off threats aired by retired generals, President Arroyo, through her Justice Secretary, Raul Gonzalez, warned former President Corazon Aquino, Senate President Franklin Drilon and Susan Roces, as well as several retired military and police generals against implementing their alleged plot to establish a civilian-military government, threatening them with the application of the full force of the law, in the event their move materializes.

Malacañang also yesterday warned the general public not to join the big rally that is being organized by the political opposition in Makati City today, triggered by the recent moves by the House of Representatives that killed the three impeachment complaints.

During a chance interview, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez admitted that the Palace and its security aides are closely monitoring the opposition leaders' moves, with their focus on Susan Roces, widow of opposition standard-bearer Fernando Poe, Jr. and Aquino.

“We don't know what the street marchers will do... it's difficult to divine what is in the minds of these people, what they would do as the street marches go on,” he said.

Gonzalez asked the people not to join rallies as he reminded them of last year's violent dispersal by the police and military forces of the peasants and farmers and workers at the Hacienda Luisita which he said resulted in many deaths and injuries.

The Justice secretary said this could easily happen in the rally today which will be held in the country's central financial district.

At the same time, Gonzalez claimed to have uncovered plots by Aquino, Drilon, retired military and police generals namely Cmdr. Ismael Aparri and former Armed Forces of the Philipines (AFP) Chiefs of Staff Renato de Villa and Fortunato Abat to establish a civilian-military caretaker council that would lead to the ouster of Mrs. Arroyo.

He stressed that the President's patience should not be tested, as she would not hesitate to slap these opposition personalities with sedition charges, if such is needed to preserve her presidency.

- De Quiros on Marcos, Arroyo and Martial Law:

TODAY is the anniversary of martial law -- a fact that has taken on exceptional importance notwithstanding that it isn’t the 25th or 50th but the 33rd. I know that because I’ve gotten a number of invitations from schools, media groups and NGOs to compare martial law and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s rule. That very formulation suggests people see a basis of comparison between the two. I doubt I was invited to show the contrast between them.

There is much ground for comparison.

READ. THE. WHOLE. THING.

- From Neal Cruz:

HOW can the sending of FBI files to the Philippines by Leandro Aragoncillo and Michael Ray Aquino be “espionage” when the information they contain is about the Philippines? And I don’t understand why the two bothered to send them at all when all that information was already public knowledge here. Just go to any coffee shop frequented by journalists and camp followers from both sides of the political fence and you will hear talk of an “impending coup,” of “disgruntled military officers” and of “troop movements.” In fact, if you listen closely enough, you will hear certain characters say with certainty, as though they are in the know, that the coup would take place in a few days or weeks. These are what the American “spies” heard and reported to Washington -- and what Aragoncillo and Aquino allegedly stole and sent back here.

Tee hee. He also has a good analysis on the venal Venable LLP contract secretly negotiated by the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Bert Gonzalez.

- I don't know what to make of this article by Raymond Burgos.

- Ernesto Maceda on his article today talks re Norberto Gonzalez's "threats" vs the opposition:

Threat. National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales says he knows a lot of damaging information against the opposition if he is made to resign from his job. Is it because the National Security Council and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency bug and monitor all opposition leaders? If he has such info, public interest requires that he reveal it and file appropriate charges.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Rep. Rolex Suplico point out the cancellation of the Venable contract did not wipe out criminal illegality. Santiago insists that the signing of the contract by Bert Gonzales is a violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Law. And the acceptance of money from private donors is a violation of both this law and the Ethical Standards Act.

re the junketeers and "palakpak boys" ni GMA:

Market. The exact number of congressmen who went to the US during the time of GMA's UN appearance is 21. They were given free tickets plus $500 allowance by the House of Representatives. Their hotel bills were picked up by Malacañang and additional shopping money of $3,000 was provided by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Tarlac Rep. Jesli Lapus says he did not push through with his trip. Among those abroad were Malabon Rep. Ricky Sandoval, Quezon City Rep. Vincent “Bongbong” Crisologo and earlier, Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Rodolfo Agbayani.

Like Bulacan Rep. Pedro Pancho, Agbayani got a P250-million tax share from the Casecnan project for the province of Nueva Vizcaya.

and the Protest rally scheduled today:

Protest rally. Another protest rally is set this afternoon on Ayala Avenue, Makati City, organized by Mayor Jejomar Binay, United Opposition (UNO) and the Bukluran ng Katotohanan headed by La Salle Bro. Armin Luistro.

Social Weather Stations reported in its latest August-September survey that the Oust GMA Movement is gaining more public support as 79 percent want her impeached and 51 percent want her deposed through “people power.”

Bukluran is now the broadest united front formation calling for GMA's removal. Bukluran is advocating a two-track scenario, one of which is a caretaker council to oversee credible snap elections. Former President Cory Aquino and her group favor a transition, Noli de Castro succession and snap elections.

Ah, so in the end, snap elections rin ang end result. Good, kasi yan talaga ang dapat na mangyari, IMO.

And I favor Cory Aquino's solution btw. Let VP Noli become "temporary president" habang ino-organize ang snap elections na papalit kay Arroyo.

This is interesting too:

GMA says she's politically stronger. The facts dispute that. The anti-GMA forces are consolidating, the government financial crisis is still accelerating and Enrile says there are only two staunch pro-GMA senators left — Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Lito Lapid. Administration Senators Richard Gordon and Pia Cayetano recently broke ranks and issued critical statements against GMA.

- Jake Macasaet: Pulitika ng mga Obispo