Gloriagate Roundup: Bishops being targetted for Arrest

-- Palace sees ‘snakes,’ bishops bare arrest threat

Stooping down to name-calling, Malacañang yesterday stepped up its crackdown on the mass media critical of President Arroyo by charging that there are “snakes” in television, radio and news-paper networks whose sole agenda is to destabilize the Arroyo presidency.

At the same time, a church official disclosed that arrests are eyed for some bishops critical of President Arroyo.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita refused to name names but, at the same time, issued a veiled threat to make these networks toe the government line through what he termed as “new” guidelines for so-called “responsible” reportage from the National Telecommunica-tions Commission.

The crackdown, which began right after President Arroyo’s recent declaration of a state of emergency, now apparently covers not only the critical mass media but also the Roman Catholic Church, particularly its members who continue to call for the resignation of the Chief Executive over alleged corruption and poll fraud.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz also yesterday said he had received information that he is being targeted for arrest, along with Bishops Julio Labayen, Deogracias Iñiguez and Antonio Tobias.

Cruz has also repeatedly scored Malacañang for its tolerance of jueteng and gambling.

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Maceda on Magsaysay:

Renaissance. The heretofore low profile Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. has suddenly blossomed into a major player in today’s event. He was first seen at the San Carlos Seminary during the Sammy Ong-Vidal Doble episode. Last Friday, he joined the Ayala march. On Sunday he was at Fort Bonifacio during the Marines’ standoff. He has now released his report on the fertilizer scam, holding GMA accountable and recommending plunder charges against Department of Agriculture officials headed by former Secretary Cito Lorenzo and former Undersecretary Joc-Joc Bolante.

Sen. Jun Magsaysay has finally arrived.

He also reports na:

Palace insiders say they admit privately that it was a big mistake to raid the Tribune. They also admit it was a bad call to arrest Gen. Danny Lim and a bigger error to relieve Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda as Marine commandant. They are even conceding that the arrest of party-list Rep. Crispin Beltran on the basis of a 21-year-old warrant of arrest was bad, public-relations wise.

Four or five Cabinet members are very unhappy.

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Ninez and the Tribune getting letters of support here here here here here here and here.

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Ducky Paredes: Strange Stories

JB Baylon: A likely Story

Malaya Editorial: Gloria has no other option

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Follow up on the Tribune raid:

Director General Arturo Lomibao of the Philippine National Police (PNP) candidly admitted at the Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC) that the decision to take over The Daily Tribune was a unanimous decision of the security cluster of the Cabinet. The security cluster is headed by the little President, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, a former general. It has as members Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, Armed Forces chief of staff Generoso Senga and Lomibao.

What does that make of Palace chief of staff Michael Defensor and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez who said the raid was not cleared with them?

All the indications point to the conclusion that the war freaks in the Cabinet have the upper hand. The doves from the economic cluster have been caged too.