The 1987 Constitution: A dictator's worst enemy

I just don't agree na "win-win" ang CHA CHA kay Arroyo

Sabi ni Rizalist:

ELLEN, May punto is mlq3 — na malakas ang katayuan ng Pangulo. Kasi hindi naman niya talagang kailangan ang Chacha kung tutuusin. Hinahayaan lang niya si FVR at JDV na tahakin ang landas na ito, bilang bayad sa kanilang tuloy na pagkakaibigan. Kung magwagi, di mabuti, kung mabigo, eh ano? Tuloy lang ang 1987 charter.

Arbet also calls Aroyo's cha cha a "win-win" for arroyo.

I disagree with both. Kasi, if you're in Arroyo's situation and you want more powers and tools to fight your enemies and prolong your staying power in office, you know the biggest obstacle is the 1987 Constitution -- which was crafted by anti-Marcos, anti-dictator commissioners in a way that will make it difficult for future Marcos wannabes like ARroyo to abuse their power without breaking the law.

To remedy that, you make a new constitution. A new constitution will give Arroyo and her allies a new lease of life. She gets to rewrite the laws of this country and stack the rules in her favor (like the newly proposed 2/3's rule to initiate impeachment, and the No El proposal, and the rewriting of our bill of rights).

Sabi ni DJB na eh ano kung natalo ang cha cha, "di tuloy ang 1987 charter." No harm done to Arroyo, right? Mali. Because I see the CHA CHA as a referendum for Arroyo. A defeat for Cha cha will be seen as a defeat for Arroyo.

AND A VICTORY FOR CHA CHA WILL BE SEEN AS A MAJOR VICTORY FOR ARROYO.

The 1987 Constitution is ARroyo's worst enemy. If you notice, Arroyo is getting weaker and weaker under this old contitution, because her hands are tied most of the time, and it takes a lot of rule-breaking to get away with some of the stuff she's trying to pull (like EO 464, Proc 1017, CPR). And when you are caught breaking the rules, it doesn't look good, let's just say that. ;)

That's why there's a strong effort to change the rules in her favor via the CHA CHA. The Arroyo Constitution, if passed, will make GMA (and her allies) twice as strong and twice as hard to remove. Remember, Marcos lasted 20 years because of the his 1973 Constitution.

So to say na cha cha is a "win win" for Arroyo is just not right (as if it doesn't matter kung manalo o matalo siya sa CHA CHA).

If she loses this fight, I expect her to lose more allies in the House and in the media (or their asking price to continue supporting her will increase). Nobody will respect or fear her anymore. I don't see her surviving much longer under the anti-dictator 1987 constitution.

But if she wins CHA CHA, not only will this give her more powers, but her prestige will rise as well. the big losers here will be those who are opposed to her. And let me tell you something boys and girls, If you think Arroyo is "unstoppable" now, wait till she gets her COMELEC to pass her new constitution.

OFF TOPIC: Sa mga 51 Congressmen na contra sa Cha cha initiative ni Arroyo, wala ang pangalan ni TeddyBoy Locsin at Edmund Reyes.