What the Opposition must do to win in 2007

(scroll down for updates)

Dear Mr. Binay, Mr. Drilon and others,

Since palapit na ang May 2007 midterm elections, I guess it's time na to write down all my ideas on how the Arroyo Opposition can win the elections and gain seats in the House and the Senate.

This election is all about accountability, fighting corruption, good governance, and having an honest and credible government. Main themes:

1) Throw Arroyo and her crooks out of power.

2) Arrest Garcillano.

3) Thorough COMELEC housecleaning para hindi na mangyari ulit ang 2004 Garci elections.

4) Reform and depoliticize the military.

5) A thorough investigation on the extra-judicial killings in the country. No sacred cows here, including Gen. Butch Palparan.

6) Abolish ISAFP, then create a new depoliticized Intelligence agency.

anyway, iba ang strategy para sa Senate election campaign at sa House. National issues sa Senate races, at dapat nationally known ang mga candidates mo.

Sa House races naman, more on local issues, pero pwedeng i-nationalize ang mga House races. The Democrats did that in 2006 on the Iraq issue, and the beat the Republicans badly in their own midterm elections.

Unahin muna natin yung Senate Strategy para sa Arroyo Opposition.

1) Make Arroyo and Gov't Corruption the main issue.
2) Election Reforms. Accountability.
3) No, No, No to Arroyo CHA CHA.

Para sa akin, malaking issue yung corruption, abuse of power, at illegitimacy ni Arroyo, at yan ang pinaka-effective na national issue para sa opposition.

Pangalawa ay ang Election reforms. Deliver high profile arrests like Garcillano and Bolante once Arroyo is removed from power. Do a thorough housecleaning sa COMELEC at AFP and every department including PHILHEALTH, DOH, DPWH (road user's tax) and the Agriculture dept. Find out every COMELEC and military dagdag bawas operator involved in GLORIAGATE and those who helped in the coverup at bigyan sila ng mabigat na parusa para hindi na maulit pa ang pinaka-malaking nakawan since 1986. I want Real Reforms. And I want Credible investigations na hindi mauuwi sa Whitewash.

Pangatlo ay ang Charter Change. The Senate candidates should run against Arroyo's Cha Cha proposal. Most people are against Arroyo's CHA CHA push, and think that the issue is too toxic, too divisive to take up right now. As a national issue, running against CHA CHA is a winner for the opposition senate candidates.

One of the reasons why is because of Arroyo herself. She has used CHA CHA issue in a very divisive manner to divide the public and more importantly, to divert people's attention from her GLORIAGATE legitimacy scandal from the beginning.

And it's worked so far. Kaya hanggang ngayon, ayaw pa rin nilang tigilan tayo sa CHA CHA (kahit na sa People's Initiative or sa CON ASS), despite their claims na ayaw na raw nila ito ituloy.

The Administration has also used CHA CHA to push for the abolition of the Senate, one of the few remaining bodies that remains independent from Arroyo's clutches. Dahil siguro banas na banas ang administration sa mga Fertilizer funds at 2004 dagdag bawas investigation ng Senado. The Admin continues to apply EO 464 whenever it sees fit.

I believe the only time we can have a serious CHA CHA discussion is after 2010, when GMA says she plans to leave office raw. She also once said na she's not going to run in 2004. and she promised on Rizal's grave na we'll have clean presidential elections in 04.

(I also think na CHA CHA might have been acceptable to the opposition and other anti-GMA groups if it focused only on economic reforms, which benefits every Filipino and the economy, not the pols. But since Arroyo and her allies wanted to change the ENTIRE constitution and our system of government, which we know will only benefit these incumbent politicians in power, there's resistance to this move. It also doesn't help that those pushing for it have zero credibility with the public.)

MORE LATER: House Strategy para sa Opposition.