The 2001 Edsa Dos set the precedent

More coup talk from the PDI Editorial, reminding us na even before Arroyo had her GLORIAGATE scandal, there was already a coup attempt against the administration.

Not least, we also realize, or are forcefully reminded of, an important fact lost in the turbulent wake of the Garci scandal and President Macapagal-Arroyo’s resulting crisis of legitimacy. The first attempt to launch a military takeover and replace the unpopular, controversial Arroyo administration took place even before the May 2004 elections. Those who speak of alleged election fraud as though it were the administration’s original sin play into the hands of those who wish to justify military intervention—regardless of the justification.

Two and a half years after the Magdalo mutiny, a group of Marines, Scout Rangers, and police officers from the Special Action Force launched another attempt to intervene in the country’s politics.

Napaka short naman ng memory nyo. Arroyo's #1 problem was always her legitimacy. She never had it in 2004, and she never got it in 2001 either, after leading a civilian-military coup ("Edsa Dos") to oust a legit president. I don't recall na may dictatorship (o walang demokrasya) sa panahon ni Erap to justify people power.

And her illegitimacy problem is the biggest reason why there are good (and bad) people trying to challenge her illegitimate authority and remove her from power. We saw that first in 2003, and I'm sure we will see more of it while the fake president is still in power. We already saw Danilo Lim try to "do an Angelo Reyes", hindi ba, at mas legit ang dahilan ni Lim kaysa kay Reyes since ninakaw ni Arroyo ang presidency.

Katulad ng sinabi ni Susan Roces, GMA not only stole the presidency once, but twice.

The Lopez report, which investigated the series of events last February, provides a candid and revealing look at the planned “withdrawal of support,” and the role played by former coup plotters like Scout Ranger Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and Marine Col. Ariel Querubin.

In the sometimes stilted language common to military documents, the report concludes that the “congruence of the event among the Philippine Marines and the Philippine Army Rangers reveals that it was not borne [sic] out of spontaneity but a deliberate and planned action.” It also names Lim and Querubin as “the principal perpetrators of the foiled destabilization action.” Not least, it picks up the theme first sounded by the Magdalo mutineers in 2003, and repeated in San Juan’s affidavit last week: that the plotters were driven by legitimate grievances to try and “eventually install a new administration.”

But those grievances (now of a higher magnitude, because of the allegations of election fraud) were mere rationalizations for officers who were already disposed to intervene. In the report’s own words: “The grievances raised were merely utilized as a vehicle to conceal the real intent if not to arouse passion and fuel the emotions in adopting insubordinate, seditious and disloyal attitude.”

Lahat naman may "legitimate grievances" eh. Pati yung "withdrawal of support" ni Angelo Reyes, General Espinosa, Victor Corpus, Reynaldo Berroyo, Wycoco and company kay Erap nung Edsa Dos ganyan rin.

And look at the result of Edsa Dos: The corrupt Gloria Macapagal and Jose Pidal.

(At least there are many people who supported Edsa Dos that are trying to correct the mistake that is Arroyo.)

See, that's what happens when you install a president via a coup, instead of letting the people decide who should lead them thru the election process.

We've worked hard to recover from the coup years of the late eighties. Depoliticized na ang military nung panahon ni ramos at erap. Pero nahatak muli sa pulitika ang militar noong 2001. Sad.

The 2001 Edsa Dos leftist-rightist coup has set the precedent for overthrowing legitimately elected governments via unconstitutional means, for better or for worse. The genie is out of the bottle.