Demagagosphere

DEMAGAGOSPHERE n. isang lugar kung saan ginagago ang mga taong bayan.(A place where they try to fool all the people all the time).

At yung lugar na yon ay sa AM radio, according Dean Jorge Bocobo.

Just tune into the earliest interview of the day with Palace Media Czar Ignacio Bunye and carefully note his main talking points. Then throughout the day if you tune into various captive stations you will hear a surprisingly uniform (at times, verbatim!) chorus of echoes from the voices in the demagagosphere.

Read the whole thing. Nakakatakot naman ito. I know NET25/DZEC of the INC is part of that group.

Si Edwin Lacierda ang nag-imbento ng term na "demagagosphere", btw.

John Nery of Newstand says there's a need to monitor and challenge the AM radio stations Malacanang propaganda. And I agree.

UPDATE: My bad. Si DJB pala ang nag-imbento ng "demagagosphere" term.

Jessica Zafra finally has a blog

Ito o.

Akala ko ba ayaw niyang mag-blog, at ise-save niya raw ang lahat ng isusulat niya sa isang libro?

A promise to the Filipino people

Ito dapat ang i-promise natin sa mga Filipino voters. Very simple and doable po ito.

1) New Elections ASAP after Arroyo is gone. Let the voters decide kung sino ang gusto nilang mamuno na presidente, hindi si GMA, FVR, de Venecia, Abalos and of course, si Mr. Virgilio Garcillano.

2) Remove all the COMELEC commissioners and replace them with credible ones who are easily confirmable sa Senate.

3) Punish all those who are responsible for GLORIAGATE. If any official is involved in the actual GLORAGATE operations or were involved in the coverup, then dapat tanggalin sila sa pwesto.

Long term goal is to institute major reforms in the COMELEC so that a repeat of 2004 election fiasco will not happen in any future (like the cha-cha referendum and the 2007 elections.) Of course it's not going to happen overnight, but rest assured Filipino voters that all those responsible for the GLORIAGATE cheating scandal will be punished.

More here.

From PCIJ, on the search for options:

Special Elections Under Senate President — This scenario was presented by Gus Lagman of Namfrel who explained that in the event the President and Vice President are ousted or resign, the Senate President takes over and special elections have to be held within 49 to 70 days after the resignation, as provided for in the constitution. But many Filipinos have become skeptical of another round of elections given the track record of the Commission on Elections. Hence, under this scenario, the campaign for special election would have to come with:

- the replacement of Comelec chair Benjamin Abalos and the appointment of credible and trustworthy commissioners to fill the vacancy that will be created by the expiration of the terms of two more commissioners in February;
- the possibility of automated elections
- putting together a broadly acceptable political platform
- putting together a framework for the first 100 Days

I don't think Noli should resign or be ousted. AFAIK, hindi naman siya nandaya. So we will hold elections for the position of president lang.

As for the possibility of automated elections, that's cool kung pwede nga yan. But it's not necessary since we're voting only for the presidency, so mabilis ang bilangan dito -- unlike in the past where kasama rin pagboto sa VP, 12 Senators, Congressman, Governor, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Councilor etc. etc.

Probably within 2-3 days tapos na ang bilangan. And if anybody is dumb enough to cheat in this election, mas mabilis silang mahuli.

Isa pang suggestion: Let's invite the UN to monitor the elections.

Let's make it as transparent as possible.

More from JB BAYLON.

About Noli de Castro

I'm in agreement with Conrad de Quiros about Noli.

But more than that, Cory apologizes for the wrong thing for the wrong reasons. What does it mean when someone says it was easy to replace Erap with GMA but not GMA with Noli? It means, firstly, that ousting a tyrant-or worse, a usurper-is not a matter of necessity but of choice, depending on whether there is a "suitable replacement" or not. It means, secondly, thinking in terms of personalities rather than principles-depending on whether the successor is friend or foe. And it means, thirdly, thinking like a powerbroker, decreeing who is to come and who is to go...

I personally have no problems accepting De Castro if that is what the Constitution says should happen. But as I've been saying again and again, when GMA goes, it won't be a case of the presidency being vacated, it will be a case of the presidency never having been occupied. GMA is not the president, she never won the elections. The alternative is clear as black and white: GMA is not the elected president, let us have an elected president. The last elections were a sham, let us have real elections. The alternative is not someone a group of powerbrokers may demand, it is someone only the voters may decree. The one element that has been absent all this time is the people. It's time we brought them back into the picture.

I too have no problems with a Noli de Castro presidency, kung siya talaga ang nararapat, just like I don't have any problems kung si FPJ ang nahalal na presidente. Sure I don't really like these guys, but kung sila ang nahalal ng taong bayan bilang presidente (o sila ang karapat-dapat na constitutional successor), tanggap ko ang decision ng mga voters.

Look, dati... anti-Erap rin ako. I hated him and campaigned strongly against him in 1998. Gusto ko talagang manalo si Raul Roco. Pero nung lumabas yung resulta na nanalo si Erap sa pinakamalinis na presidential election (probably in Philippine history), I accepted him as my president, even though ayaw ko talaga sa kanya sa umpisa -- dahil siya ang halal ng taong bayan. It was tough to see Roco lose, but I "moved on" from there because, malinis ang halalan.

But like de Quiros said re the Noli case,

this won't be a case of the presidency being vacated, it will be a case of the presidency never having been occupied. GMA is not the president, she never won the elections. The alternative is clear as black and white: GMA is not the elected president, let us have an elected president.

And here's what I wrote back in September:

Isa pa, there are some who think na si Noli raw ang dapat pumalit kay GMA, kasi siya ang "constitutional successor." In the first place, kung lumabas ang GLORIAGATE tapes 2 weeks after GMA was proclaimed last year, would these people still be saying na si Noli de Castro ang dapat na pumalit, even though nandiyan pa rin yung challenger na si FPJ?

Di parang sinabi mo na rin na yung deputy Ukrainian prime minister ang dapat pumalit kay Yanukovych nung nalaman na may dayaan sa election nila.

Or it's like saying Marcos should have been replaced by Arturo Tolentino (o yung sumunod pa sa kanya, ala Drilon) dahil siya rin ang "constitutional successor" ni Marcos. LMAO!

At kung nahuli kaagad na nandaya si GMA sa election, it doesn't mean na automatic na magiging presidente si FPJ. We will have to do an "election rerun," katulad nung nangyari sa Ukraine, where Yushchenko eventually won. Ganyan kasi ang solusyon kapag may dayaan sa eleksyon in most parts of the world.

So ang trabaho lang talaga ni VP Noli is to become "acting president" once Arroyo is out... at ino-organize pa ang bagong elections.

Arroyo admin and it's media paint rosy picture on economy

But we've heard that all before, during the election campaign when the Arroyo admin and it's media were painting a rosy picture of the economy and they said na we should elect her or else babagsak ang ekonomiya.

Only later did must people found out after the elections the true nature of our situation -- we're headed towards an Argentina-like crisis.

I wasn't surprised about it, since matagal na itong wina-warning ng opposition papers like Malaya and the Tribune.

So you ask, why didn't she do any reforms during 2001-2004? Well, here's the dirty secret most pro-Arroyo newspapers didn't want you to know.

The economy is in worse shape now than it was 4 years ago. People lost more jobs during GMA's first three years compared to the previous admin's first three. Mas marami ring businesses ang nag-sera because of the bad economy under GMA (the latest to move out is toshiba) compared to 4 years ago.

May financial crisis tayo, and it is mainly because of GMA. She spent most of her time in 2001-2004 going after political enemies like Lacson and getting ready for the 2004 elections instead of instituting economic reforms and seriously reducing corruption.

She borrowed heavily overseas too to finance her re-election campaign, at dito lumobo ng todo ang utang natin. She borrowed more than the previous 3 presidents combined (erap, cory, ramos).

at tinaasan niya later ang buwis natin after the elections, para tayong mga filipino ang magbabayad sa inutang niya... sa "re-election expenses" ng presidential campaign niya...

The economic situation is a mess right now, and people are living in uncertain times... if you think that we are better off now than we were 4 years ago, then you're deluding yourself.

(unless of course, connected kayo sa arroyo admin. Kasi Ang alam ko lang na umasenso at yumaman under GMA ay yung mga corrupt na military officials like carlos garcia, mga kamaganak ni GMA, at mga cronies nito.)

Of course prices were higher now since when did a sitting chief executive significantly raised revenue in Philippine history. Its unpopular but she did it to alleviate our fiscal problems.

So why did she wait until after the elections to make those "reforms"? Why didn't she do it back then in 2001 when the fiscal and economic problems were still managable? bakit hinintay pa niya hanggang lumala ito bago siya kumilos? hindi ba ang mandate niya sa edsa dos ay "repormahin ang ekonomiya" at "bawasan ang corruption"?

So why did she spend most of her time in 2001-2004 going after lacson and planning her "re-election" campaign instead of fulfilling her edsa dos "mandate"?

Unless of course, hindi naman talaga malala ang financial crisis under erap, at lumala lang ito during GMA's time because of her heavy borrowing (na hindi naman natin kayang bayaran) para lang may panggastos siya sa 2004 elections... using our taxpayer money for Philhealth cards to buy off voters, the walking ads, million peso talent fees nina kris aquino and adik nora.

More here:

And who's always gonna pay for it in the end when a person like her uses our taxpayer money and borrows heavily from overseas to fund her "re-election" campaign in 2004 and pay off her dagdag-bawas operators in the COMELEC, Military and the Police?

Why us taxpayers of course, kaya nga biglang tinaasan ang buwis natin after the elections eh.

Thru our increased taxes, tayo ang nagbabayad sa economic mismanagement ni Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at sa pera na ginastos niya (using schemes like the "re-enacted budget") for her 2004 "reelection bid".

I urge you to read the link on the "re-enacted budget."

Read this list too on how her admin wasted and misused our taxmoney to obstruct justice and buy off our Tongressmen in an effort to kill the GLORIAGATE scanda.

Arroyo and his media can use all the statistics they want, but nobody is going to believe them anymore.

UPDATE: Negosyo umaasenso? Tamang ilusyon 'yan!

Malaking ilusyon ang pagbibida ng pamahalaang Arroyo at ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) na patuloy na gumaganda ang takbo ng negosyo sa Pilipinas dahil sa pagtatag ng kumpiyansa ng mga mamumuhunan sa kasalukuyang administrasyon.

Ang totoo umano, masamang-masama na ang lagay ng mga negosyo at kumpanya sa Pilipinas.

Isang patunay ay ang bubulagang sunud-sunod na labor strikes sa darating na mga araw upang ilantad ang tunay na sitwasyon.

Ayon kay Elmer Labog, national chairman ng KMU, base sa inilabas na datos ng National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB), tumaas nang 32% ang naitalang mga pagwewelga ng mga manggagawa sa bansa at 80% ng kabuuang labor force ang naapektuhan nito.

Higit umanong mataas ito kumpara noong nakaraang taon at inaasahang dadagsa pa ang mga strikes sa hinaharap bunga ng sumasamang kondisyon.

"I plead guilty to the fact that I thought that GMA would be a better alternative to Estrada."

Candid admission from Cory Aquino.

-- Conrado de Quiros comments. Even though I did not support Edsa dos, I have no problems with CDQ about his statement here:

Taking part in the struggle to oust Erap was something to be proud of, even if it produced the nasty result of putting GMA in power. We are not prescient like God, we are fallible like Adam. We cannot know the future. We were right to fight Erap in the same way that we were right to fight Marcos. But we were wrong to allow GMA to become what she is today.

Even though I may not always agree with him on every issue, the guy is at least consistent and principled, at hindi selective ang "moral compass" nya, unlike some pro-arroyo supporters we know. ;)

And De Quiros makes another good point.

But more than that, Cory apologizes for the wrong thing for the wrong reasons. What does it mean when someone says it was easy to replace Erap with GMA but not GMA with Noli? It means, firstly, that ousting a tyrant-or worse, a usurper-is not a matter of necessity but of choice, depending on whether there is a "suitable replacement" or not. It means, secondly, thinking in terms of personalities rather than principles-depending on whether the successor is friend or foe. And it means, thirdly, thinking like a powerbroker, decreeing who is to come and who is to go.

WORD!

And finally this:

I personally have no problems accepting De Castro if that is what the Constitution says should happen. But as I've been saying again and again, when GMA goes, it won't be a case of the presidency being vacated, it will be a case of the presidency never having been occupied. GMA is not the president, she never won the elections. The alternative is clear as black and white: GMA is not the elected president, let us have an elected president. The last elections were a sham, let us have real elections. The alternative is not someone a group of powerbrokers may demand, it is someone only the voters may decree. The one element that has been absent all this time is the people. It's time we brought them back into the picture.

I feel the same way.

-- Ducky Paredes comments.

Tordesillas: FVR's support for Arroyo unprincipled

I find the justification of former President Ramos of his support for Gloria Arroyo unprincipled.

In a speech before three major business groups last week, former President Ramos explained his support for Gloria Arroyo: "If I have been supportive of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, it is only secondary and incidental since there is no other better alternative right now."

The problem with Ramos is that he wants to be the alternative.

Ramos’ problem is that Arroyo does not want to be out of power to protect herself for the crimes she has committed. And he is not acceptable to the opposition.

That is why Ramos is pushing for charter change. He has said it time and again that he is not interested to be prime minister under a parliamentary form of government but nobody believes him. People put more weight to his body language than his words.

Last July 7, the day before he came to Arroyo’s rescue while her decent allies were abandoning her, Ramos presented before a Rotary Club meeting a "graceful exit" for Arroyo. He proposed the establishment "as soon as possible" of a High Commission composed of seven respected leaders to examine constitutional, judicial, economic and social reforms.

Simultaneous to the High Commission, Congress should transform themselves into a Constituent Assembly to study major amendments to the Constitution.

In Ramos timetable, by Nov. 1 (which is next week), the Con Ass should be able to come up with major amendments particularly a shift to parliamentary system of government. By Dec. 1, the High Commission should be ready to submit its recommendations to the Con Ass. By Jan. 1, 2006, a new Constitution should be ready to be submitted to a plebiscite to be held 45 days after or not later than Feb. 14, 2006. By March 1, the new Constitution should be in place.

Elections would be scheduled on May 15 and there should be a new leader by June 30, 2006.

Arroyo was aware of this when she welcomed Ramos with open arms in Malacañang on July 8. In fact, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who is identified with Ramos, said that Arroyo was considering the proposal.

Aside from the fact that FVR’s timetable is already outdated, Malacañang is now singing a different tune. More than a week ago, Rep. Ronaldo Puno, president of Arroyo’s Kampi, questioned House Speaker Jose De Venecia’s eagerness to include in the agenda of the proposed Con Ass the abbreviation of Arroyo’s term. They succeeded in including in the proposed amendments that "the incumbent shall serve as prime minister and concurrently as President under the new Constitution until her term expires on June 30, 2010."

Still, Puno is making intelligible noise about the Committee report 1065 recommending the convening of Congress into Con Ass being unclear about post-2010. Does he want assurance that Arroyo is not barred from remaining in power beyond 2010?

But one thing is clear: GMA has put one over FVR. That must have pricked his wily pride. That’s why he is again making slight jabs while saying that he is still supporting her.

I said FVR support of Arroyo is unprincipled because he wants us to forget the basic issue that Arroyo is an illegitimate occupant of Malacañang. She didn’t win the 2004 elections. Therefore, she has no right to be president even for a minute. Add to that are the many crimes that she has committed to cover up the illegitimacy of her presidency.

To give Arroyo a graceful exit is to tell the world that in the Philippines, crime pays.

From Ellen Tordesillas.

I agree. Here's what I think of FVR's scheme.

GMA naghugas kamay, E-VAT isinisi sa Hyatt 10

Heh.

Nabatid sa impormante na sinabi umano ni Arroyo sa mga opisyales ng iba’t ibang sektor ng lipunan na kanyang pinulong na wala umano itong kasalanan sa pagpapataw ng EVAT sa langis at kuryente.

Direktang itinuro umano ni Arroyo ang kanyang mga dating gabinete, partikular na ang mga miyembro ng tinaguriang Hyatt 10 na kumalas sa kanya tulad ni dating Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.

"Wala raw siyang kinalaman sa EVAT sa energy at power sector. ‘Yung mga dati daw niyang Gabinete ang sisihin dahil sila daw ang nagtulak sa buwis na iyan," ang dismayadong pahayag ng impormante.

Nang makarating ito sa mga miyembro ng oposisyon, lalong nagpuyos ang galit ng mga ito dahil ngayon pa lamang ay naghuhugas na umano ng kamay si Arroyo dahil alam niyang lalong magagalit sa kanya ang taumbayan kapag naipatupad na ang EVAT sa November 1.

Kapal.

"Domino effect" sa paghugas kamay?

Roxas, hugas-kamay din sa E-VAT law

(Rey Marfil)


Nagkaroon ng "domino effect" ang paghugas-kamay ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sa implementasyon ng Expanded Valued-Added Tax (EVAT) Law matapos kopyahin ng sariling kaalyado sa Mataas na Kapulungan ng Kongreso na bumoto ng pabor sa bagong buwis ang pag-iwas pusoy nito.

Upang hindi mapulaan ng publiko kapag nagsimulang ipatupad sa Nobyembre 1 ang EVAT, ginawang palusot ni Sen. Manuel Roxas III, chairman ng Senate committee on trade and commerce, ang pagtakda ng public hearing upang i-monitor ang paggasta ni Arroyo sa makokolektang buwis.

Si Roxas, dating kalihim ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), ay kabilang sa 16 na miyembro ng Upper House na bumoto ng pabor sa EVAT Law habang siyam ang kumontra, sa pangunguna ng opposition bloc, kabilang si Sen. Joker Arroyo.

Ipinatawag ni Roxas ngayong umaga ang iba’t ibang lider ng consumer group upang talakayin ang paghahanda sa magiging epekto ng EVAT, kaakibat ang pangambang lu lustayin ng gobyerno ang makokolektang buwis at maling paraan ng paggamit nito.

Palace urges PNP to file raps vs. rally leaders for hurting policemen

Hao siao ito. From the tribune:

Malacañang yesterday encouraged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to make true its promise to file charges against personalities who headed mass protests in Manila last Oct. 14 which injured several policemen.

During a phone interview, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said it is but proper and right for the PNP to file charges against the sus-pected leaders of the protest action since somebody has to be liable for the harm done on the the responding cops.

The PNP revealed plans to charge before the Manila Regional Trial Court 20 personalities suspected of leading Friday's rallies in various key areas in Manila which include party-list Representatives Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casino and Liza Masa and actors Rez Cortez and Pen Medina.

Also to be charged are the leaders of various militant and cause-oriented groups that joined the protests.

Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo said the PNP is only taking the necessary action, emphasizing that nobody could blame the police authorities for doing such thing.

Fine. Go ahead then and arrest these rally leaders and Arroyo critics.

But at the same time, the opposition should file charges against the leaders and implementors of the unconstitutional "no permit, no rally" rule and the martial law-like "Calibrated Pre-emptive response", because even more anti-Arroyo protesters got mauled, beaten up, and injured by Arroyo's police on Oct. 5, Oct. 14 and Oct 21.

The Arroyo admin say that the protesters "provoked" them into using violent means of dispersal, but as we found out recently, attending these anti-Arroyo rallies and marching peacefully is provocation enough for Arroyo's thugs kung walang permit yung rally na yan from pro-Arroyo Manila Mayor and uber-sipsip Lito Atienza. And what's worse is that military dirty tricksters were recently caught infiltrating the anti-Arroyo rallies with the intention to initiate trouble to "provoke" the police to "retaliate".

Those to be charged for violent dispersal should include all Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, PNP Director General Arturo Lomibao, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and Chief Supt. Pedro Bulaong, MPD chief National Capital Region Police Office Director Vidal Querol, and all those who were caught beating up on the peaceful protesters.



This guy should definitely file charges vs. those who masterminded the violent dispersals.

Foreigners inside RP not allowed to criticize Arroyo admin anymore?

Kinakabahan si Bob Martin of Mindanao blog.

UPDATE: More here from Dean Jorge Bocobo.

PCIJ on Blogging

Lots of stuff from PCIJ yesterday:

-- Journalists as bloggers: The Forum

-- Blogging and the mainstream media by Ricky Carandang of ANC, John Nery of PDI and the divine Ellen Tordesillas of Malaya.

-- Blogging 101 by speaker ABE Olandres

Arroyo's supporters continue to allow GMA's lying, cheating and stealing

Because they are afraid of the possibility na makuha ng opposition ang presidency via credible elections, they tolerate GMA's corruption and incompetence and give tacit approval to GMA's cheating strategy in 2004 para lang hindi manalo si FPJ or si Ping.

Ganyan ka hypokrito ang mga natitirang civil society supporters ni GMA.

If they're not willing to ask for GMA's resignation, then it's obvious na they're not really serious about fighting corruption at criminality. They just used that as an excuse to remove an elected official they don't like.

If pro-arroyo diehards like gekokujo of Pinoyexchange want to keep the more corrupt and definitely illegitimate Arroyo out of jail, then there's no point in keeping erap in jail too.

Just set the guy free and apologize to him for edsa dos and for being too damn hypocritical.

Questions for INC's Ka Erdie Manalo and El Shaddai's Bro. Mike Velarde

From Randy David:

Ka Erdie and Brother Mike say they are compelled to break their silence on the issues facing the country. It is encouraging that their joint statement does not counsel the public to just move on as if nothing happened. Since a lot of people depend on their moral wisdom, one hopes they may also break their silence on such questions as the following: (1) Are the allegations brought out by the Garci Tapes worth investigating? (2) Is the dismissal of the impeachment complaint against Ms Arroyo on technical grounds morally defensible? (3) Is it necessary to inquire into widespread allegations of the misuse of public funds in the 2004 elections? (4) Is Ms Arroyo immune from moral accountability for the way she exercises the powers and prerogatives of her office? (5) Do the people have a moral basis to question the right of Ms Arroyo to remain in office and to air their grievances in the streets?

Magaganda yung mga tanong na yan, and your flocks need moral guidance, sirs.

Sana sagutin nila ito imbis na iwasan.

Goodbye Mindanao?

UPDATED: This is BIG NEWS, if you ask me.

I'm curious to know what Wretchard thinks of this. He was part of the RP negotiating team in the last peace agreement with the MNLF. Is this good deal or a bad deal? Did we gave away the store?

And at first glance, it looks like the MILF can impose Sharia (sacred Islamic law) on the areas they control. Am I reading this right?

From the tribune:

Gloria carves out M’dnao for MILF

Bangsamoro people readies independent state; accord grants MILF its own military, police

By Gerry Baldo
Sunday, 10 23, 2005

The Philippines will no longer be one country, one flag and one Armed Forces of the Philippines — not after President Arroyo and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front mutually agreed, through a signed document, a copy of which was obtained by the Tribune, to partition Mindanao with areas designated as ancestral lands and homelands to be independently governed by the MILF, under the term “BangsaMoro People.”

The juridical entity will have sovereign executive, legislative and judicial powers and even non-Muslims, , i.e. Christians and indigenous people, will be categorized as the BangsaMoro People, governed by the juridical entity.

Not only will the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanano be under the control of the MILF as a juridical entity, but the Philippine territories will also be redefined for the official portioning, as agreed between the government and the MILF.

Territories to be given to the BangsaMoro People will include “traditional dominions and proprietary rights of the Moro sultanates (datuships, principalities, chiefdoms) and the Moro Province geographic areas will encompass Sulu, Zamboanga, Cotabato, Davao, Lanao, Bukidnon and Agusan, apart from the pinpointed territories in the Minsupala (Mindanano-Sulu Palawan) areas.

Moreover, the same juridical entity known as the BangsaMoro juridical entity will be a virtual independent and sovereign country, having been given the green light and empowered by President Arroyo to “build, develop and maintain institutions (such as civil service, electoral, financial and banking, education, legislation, legal, economic (systems)” as well as a “judicial system and correctional institutions.

The BangsaMoro people state has also been empowered to establish its own “police and internal security force.”

The agreement states that the existing military camps within the BangsaMoro people's homeland will be given back to the juridical entity.

The establishment and control of “the police and internal security are necessary to safeguard the peace and order situation.”

Even more telling is the agreement stating that “during the transition period, (central powers) will be devolved and Philippine laws will continue to operate as may be relevant, pending enactment of laws by the legislative body of the BangsaMoro juridical entity.”

It was pointed out to the Tribune that this is an affirmation by the Arroyo government of the BangsaMoro juridical entity's path toward an independent and sovereign state.

The MILF ancestral domain, as reflected in the documents, includes among others, civil and military reservations, settlements, parks, forest reserves, swamps and wetlands, rivers, lakes, falls, inland bodies of waters, bays, straits and channels (within the Mindanao-Sulu-Palawan region as part of the BangsaMoro people homeland) and sedimentary basins and mangrove swamps.

The takeover of military reservations includes the return to the MILF of the military camps recaptured by the AFP in 2000, such as Camp Abubakar and other satellite camps, as well as the Buliok complex.

The agreement calls for the “Restoration of sovereign/proprietary rights over the BangsaMoro people's homeland and the reparation for infringement (by the Philippine government) therein; Amendment/repeal provisions in public land laws, cadastral and mining acts discriminatory to BangsaMoro proprietary rights and interest by the GRP (Government of the Philippines Panel).

Under the terms of agreement, power and authority of the central government will be devolved to the BangsaMoro People as a “juridical entity” which can enact even tax laws as well as establish a separate and independent banking system “that is suitable for the BangsaMoro homeland.”

Under the current Constitution, it is only Congress that can initiate tax laws and other laws covering the entire Philippines. The banking system is also under the control and supervision of the central bank, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

But under the GRP-MILF agreement, the present Local Government Units (LGU) officials will be made to finish their term (three years). “Thereafter, the BangsaMoro juridical entity will take over the financial aspect which shall involved setting up of a tax base and revenue collection.”

Moreover, it wants to be internationally recognized.

Former senator and opposition leader Francisco Tatad yesterday pointed out that the Arroyo government is now partitioning the country without the people knowing it as shown by the initial agreement signed by the GRP and the MILF.

During the weekly Kapihan sa Sulo media forum in Quezon City, Tatad said the Arroyo government on Sept. 16, in Kuala Lumpur, came up with an initial agreement with the MILF Peace Panel to create a BangsaMoro juridical entity.

Tatad explained that the creation of the BangsaMoro juridical entity is separate and distinct from the current Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao.

“They have defined executive, legislative and judicial powers. And they would also be allowed to collect their own taxes,” Tatad said referring to the MILF.

“Are we now cutting parts of the country for the MILF?” Tatad said, adding the agreement, which was signed by one Prof. Rudy Rodil, chairman GRP technical working group and lawyer Musib Buat, chairmen of the MILF technical working group, is against the Constitution.

“This must be discussed because it involves the territorial integrity of the country,” Tatad said.

The agreement, signed by the chairmen of the technical working groups of GRP and MILF panels, said “the parties agree to empower the BangsaMoro juridical entity to legislate and administer revenue-generating measures through taxation, public borrowings (foreign and domestic), licensing and income from government investments.”

The parties also agreed that “the grant of authority to the BangsaMoro juridical entity in creating its own tax base, rates, customs duties and collections shall be provided in the comprehensive compact.”

Another contentious issue, according to Tatad, was the provision that “the parties agree on the establishment of government institutions in the BangsaMoro homeland during the transition period with defined executive, legislative and judicial powers and functions.”

The agreement also provided that the “parties agree that the BangsaMoro juridical entity should be provided powers over budgeting and allocation of funds for governmental functions, development and public services. Such powers, which will be spelled out in detail in the comprehensive compact, will include financial control for government accounting and auditing systems and standards suitable to the BangsaMoro juridical entity.”

“By what authority have these commitments been made? By what authority is Mrs. Arroyo acting to allow her agents to make these commitments? Tatad asked.

Tatad pointed out that the Constitution mandates the creation of an autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao and that ARMM was created by an Organic Act enacted by Congress.

“What kind of juridical entity is contemplated for the MILF?” he asked.

In another document signed by Manuel Ibañez, for the GRP and Prof. Habib Macaayong, for the MILF, “historically, during the Sultanate period, the BangsaMoro people were already imposing tariffs and customs vis a vis commercial trade. The BangsaMoro Juridical entity has the authority to impose tariff on inter-island goods, among other tax impositions.

There will be a transfer of power and authority from the central government to the BangsaMoro Juridical entity, to be contained in the “comprehensive contract.”

MORE: U.S. says peace deal in Manila may pressure JI

UPDATE: More here from Bob Martin of Mindanao blog

The MNLF, on the other hand, doesn't like the RP-MILF deal.

MNLF hits gov't-MILF deal

First posted 06:51am (Mla time) Oct 17, 2005
Inquirer News Service

Editor's Note: Published on page A3 of the Oct. 17, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

COTABATO CITY -- Former ARMM Governor Parouk Hussin, who is a ranking official of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), said on Saturday the Arroyo administration had insulted and effectively dumped the group as an ally when the government entered into an agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) allowing the latter to draft the charter of an expanded Muslim region in the southern Philippines.

Hussin, also the MNLF foreign minister, told the Inquirer by phone that the government did not consult the group before it entered into the agreement with the MILF.

Hussin said the agreement was also an insult to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) which had brokered the 1996 peace agreement between the government and the MNLF.

"It's a dirty game. I don't know how they can play with the Bangsamoro people," Hussin said.

Read the whole thing.

Ummmmm, not a good sign... And if the other Muslim group controlling the ARMM, the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front), didn't like the deal, what more about the Christians living in Mindanao?

UPDATE: Muslims compose 5 percent of the total population in the Philippines. In Mindanao, they comprise around 20.4 percent (according to the 2000 Census)

UPDATE: Here's Bob Martin's reaction to the article. He thinks it's not a good idea and might lead to war.

OK, so according to the Tribune, a virtual Terrorist group will take over the governance of Mindanao. If this is true, I am shocked. Don’t take me wrong, I am not saying that it is not true. The Journal is not one of the major newspapers, so I just think that we need to step back and keep a close eye on this situation

And this:

It was pointed out to the Tribune that this is an affirmation by the Arroyo government of the BangsaMoro juridical entity’s path toward an independent and sovereign state.

An Independent and Sovereign State? Well, to me that means a new country, right? I find this fascinating, because the truth is that many of the places that are mentioned as being part of the agreement have only a small population of Muslims. Here in Davao, I would be surprised if the City has 10% Muslim population. Bukidnon? The Muslim population there is tiny. Same in Agusan. To be honest, the information that is being revealed here is virtually unknown by the people here in Davao. I had heard that a peace treaty was nearing completion, but had no idea that the Philippine government was pretty much abandoning Mindanao. When I told my wife about this, the first thing she said was “there will be war in Mindanao”. I have to agree with her. If the information that was revealed in the news article is correct and factual, it will lead to war in Mindanao.

Read the whole thing. And Bob, people don't know about it because it's a secret deal made by the Arroyo admin and the MILF, done without consulting with other Mindanaoans (Christian and MNLF) that will be affected by this.

UPDATE: Here's my take on the situation.

The most important thing for the US right now is the War on Terrorism. And the most important thing for Mrs. Arroyo is her political survival.

The US have been pushing (begging even) Mrs. Arroyo to pass the anti-terrorism bill since 2003, but for one reason or another, her administration and it's allies doesn't have the time for it. ;)

Until now.

After dumping the US and it's allies in Iraq by surrendering to the terrorists (pulling out of Iraq prematurely ala Spain) and playing the China Card, now she desperately needs the US government's support again (just like in 2001) to prop up her illegitimate government.

And the US administration seems willing to cover her back, as long as does what the US wants her admin to do -- pass the anti-terror bill and get a peace deal done with the MILF ASAP

Now I'm not against the "anti-terror" bill per se, and I want a peace deal for Mindanao between the gov't and the MILF.

BUT I'm against an "anti-opposition" bill masquerading as an "anti-terror" bill. I don't trust the fake president and I don't want to see this so-called "anti-terror" bill be used against her GLORIAGATE critics and the political opposition. The fake president probably got an assurance from the US government that they will support her politically if the bill is passed. So Arroyo finally woke up and saw this as an opportunity to strengthen herself by trying to pass a bill that looks more tailor-made to fight the political opposition and to crush dissent than it is to fight the JI.

As for the peace deal that was leaked to the Tribune, I have only this to say. I hope Mrs. Arroyo that you know what you are doing and that this is not some desperate attempt by your administration to rush a poorly thought out "peace deal" at any cost (by giving away almost all of Mindanao to the MILF) just to get the US to prop up your illegal rule ala Marcos. (if the US supports Arroyo, then they have gone back to the old policy of choosing "stability" over "democracy". and we know how that turned out in the mideast, ano?)

UPDATE: Eduardo Ermita says the agreement is still a draft.

The fake president has no right to raise our taxes

kapal niya. We should boycott paying taxes until she leaves office. Besides alam naman natin kung saan sinasayang ni Arroyo yung pera natin eh.

Arroyo's military infiltrates anti-GMA rally

Two days ago, the military warned that the Communists might infiltrate the anti-Arroyo rally staged yesterday.

THE Armed Forces yesterday raised anew the Red bogey as multi-sectoral groups are set to march to Mendiola, Manila, today, warning that the New People’s Army might infiltrate and sabotage the assembly as it did at Plaza Miranda in 1971.

"The matter of their (crowd) being infiltrated by elements from the New People’s Army is very probable," said Army chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, noting the ranks of the rallyists are "very porous."

Esperon warned protesters against "saboteurs" who he said could fire at either the policemen or protesters.

The military and the police establishments have been raising the issue of possible NPA infiltration whenever large-scale anti-Arroyo rallies are in the works, apparently to scare the people away from the mass actions.

They've used the "infiltration" excuse in the past to justify violent dispersals.

But yesterday, kabaligtaran ang nangyari, it was Arroyo's military that infiltrated the rallies, probably to cause trouble by sabotaging the rallies and "provoke" the police to retaliate against the rallyists. Read the part about these military infiltrators carrying guns. Arroyo's police would probably blame the rallyist re carrying firearms kung hindi nahuli ang mga infiltrators na ito:

THE Armed Forces the other day warned that the New People’s Army might infiltrate the ranks of protesters. It was the other way around yesterday with protesters catching two soldiers in Quezon City and a suspected civilian intelligence agent in Manila.

Militants participating in the "Lakbayan" said Marines Sgt. Ferdinand Alcantara and Army Lt. Eliseo Madrid infiltrated their march on Elliptical Road in Quezon City before they left for Mendiola, Manila.

Alcantara, who yielded a cal. 45 pistol, was beaten up before he was turned over to the police.

Madrid was found carrying a .45 Llama pistol.

Dirty tricks ito ng mga pulis para mabintang na naman ang mga rallyista kung magkagulo na naman.

And read this part re another Arroyo infiltrator spying on the rallyists and taking pictures, to be used probably kung isa-isa nang dadamputin ng mga pulis at mga rally leaders at organizers, kapag nai-deklara na yung "state of emergency" ni Arroyo. Tuloy, nabugbog si gago.

In Manila, a man was mauled by protesters after he was spotted taking pictures of protesters on Morayta street.

Bienvenido Arabiano Tan refused to answer questions from the media while he was being turned over to the police.

Police officials said Tan was a civilian.

His ID card showed he is a resident of Tomas Mapua street., Sta. Cruz, Manila, and a "marketing executive" but the name of the company he was working for was not stated in the ID.

A policeman said Tan is not a member of the police force but he could be among civilians tapped as intelligence agents.

In Quezon City, rally marshals of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Southern Tagalog said they suspected Alcantara was an infiltrator because he had been following them.

Carl Ala, KMP information officer, said protesters ganged up on Alcantara after he became hostile to those who confronted him.

Ala said aside from the .45 pistol, they found from Alcantara’s bag a mission order from the Marines stating his assignment was the surveillance of suspected Jemaah Islamiah terrorists.

Ala said he received reports that intelligence agents have been ordered to infiltrate the rally "para manggulo."

"Kaya nga mahigpit ang atas sa mga marshal na higpitan ang pagbabantay baka mapasukan kami ng mga infiltrators," he said.

Quezon City police are determining the charges to be filed against Alcantara as Batas Pambansa 880, or the pubic assembly act, prohibits carrying of guns in rallies.

Alcantara refused to answer questions from reporters.

UPDATE: The military infiltrators are idiots. Kung ayaw nyong maging obvious, dapat hindi kayo nagdala ng baril sa rally.

More on Fidel Ramos

From PCIJ: Trail of Power Mess Leads to Ramos

And this too.

And from Ninez. You don't have to agree with everything she says about Erap, but Ninez's article is spot on re Fidel Tabako Ramos.

To this day, Fidel Ramos, a virtual political has-been, continues to style himself as a “savior” of society without whose support an entire government would collapse.

He has had his time — all six years of power and position in Malacañang — to do what he, as the then sitting President, wanted to do, including handing out sovereign guarantees to the independent power producers and getting the Filipino people to pay for higher electric power that has never been generated or consumed, along with technically malversing the funds earmarked for the military's modernization by illegally transferring these tens of millions from a non-transferable special fund to the general fund, for him to freely dip his fingers into.

His time was over, and the Filipino people, in the cleanest presidential election ever, placed Joseph Estrada in Malacañang.

Ramos, refusing to stay in the background, not only assailed the sitting President for not following his policies. He always put him down. He was so unstatesmanlike, even to the point of publicly giving Estrada an ultimatum to reform and follow the Ramos dictates, or else he gets ousted.

Ramos was, at the time, already in cahoots with the coup plotters led by Gloria Arroyo to mount a coup against the constitutional President...

But there Ramos was again, feeling powerful with his anointed government in place, and having the clout to get his people appointed in high government positions.

But no matter how he and Aquino tried to sell Gloria as the better President, and no matter how they demonized Estrada, it was Estrada whom the masses wanted, and identified with. And as the years rolled, there was no longer any denying that Estrada, for all their demonization, for all the elite's mockery of him as a leader, not only was a better President, but that he also had a top-notch Cabinet that was moreover clean.

To this day, close to five years after his ouster, and with Gloria in Malacañang, there has not been any document that shows any irregularity committed by Estrada and his team. There were never any sovereign guarantees granted...

Today, Ramos, perhaps sensing the shift in the political winds, now claims that the support he extended Gloria in July, for which he reveled in, as he portrayed himself as her savior when she was near being toppled, is merely secondary due to the absence of alternatives, and that she has to reform herself first.

Who is he to say who should be the alternative? He is not the people. He is a nobody.

He was again pushing Charter changes, where Gloria could be made to cut her term and where he can install himself, or his surrogate, Jose de Venecia, as the prime minister. Gloria should go, but why should it be through Charter change?

He speaks of Charter change and the parliamentary system as the solution to the national problems when it is no solution at all, but a means for him to gain power and influence all over again.

Why should a parliamentary system be the solution? It will be the same congressmen on the take in parliament, the same corruption, the same violations of the law, and the same leader for years or end because even under a no-confidence vote rule, there would be none passed. The murder of the impeachment against Gloria by congressmen proved it.

Ramos is too full of himself. He should be cut down to size — and that's size is small.

Malaya Editorial: Ramos in a bind

Every time, President Fidel Ramos opens his mouth, everybody’s wondering what hidden agenda he is pushing. Speaking before a group of businessmen the other day, he called on President Arroyo to agree to cut short her term so a shift to a parliamentary system can be installed in 2007.

The immediate reaction is that Eddie is up to another of his tricks, spewing words of high patriotism while his hands are manipulating the players on the political board so they can arrange for his accession as prime minister. It’s a result of Ramos’ bad rep as a manipulator and as a psy-war expert, which is unfortunate because Ramos is much less devious than you-know-who. Compared to her, Ramos was a regular straight-shooter when he was in Malacañang.

On July 8, Gloria Arroyo was tottering on the edge after 10 Cabinet members and key revenue officials called for her resignation, a call supported by President Corazon Aquino.

Ramos’ dramatic intervention carried the day. Scarce notice was paid to a formula for ending the leadership crisis he presented to the Manila Rotary Club a few days before. The Ramos proposal calls for the formation of a council of elders that will effectively take over the reins from Gloria, charter change to carry out the change to the parliamentary system and general elections in 2007.

The formula was reiterated by Ramos during his July 8 press conference where he threw his support behind Gloria. Palace officials, who very well knew they barely scraped by that time, said in so many words that Gloria was amenable to Ramos’ proposal.

Now, the word from the Palace is that cutting Gloria’s term is an issue that can be discussed later. She is too busy running the government to discuss Ramos’ formula to end the leadership crisis.

That’s gratitude for you, Gloria-style.

Ramos probably is too grizzled a player to have entertained the illusion that that debt of gratitude will allow him to dictate on Gloria. But it is this very keen sense of politics of Ramos that should make the Palace listen to what he is saying.

Ramos personifies the belief that whatever the sins and crimes of Gloria, there is no alternative to her at the moment. The ranks of these hesitant Gloria supporters are thinning day by day. The reason is not difficult to see. Reforms have taken a backseat to Gloria’s survival at all cost.

So the dwindling supporters of Gloria, Ramos included, are in a bind. They are propping up a discredited administration because there is perceived to be no alternative. This perception, however, has made Gloria even more intransigent.

A lose-lose situation. Ramos should know when to fold and call for a new deck.

At may secret deal ba si Ramos at GMA?

Iglesia Ni Cristo orders its newscasters not to hit Arroyo

I'm not surprised if this is true. I've stopped watching NET25 since the middle of last year pa.

And I wonder if MAVERICK, who works for NET25 as news commentator and sometimes posts in this forum, got that memo too?

INC orders its newscasters not to hit Arroyo—Inquirer source

Oct 22, 2005
Updated 00:37am (Mla time)
Juliet Labog-Javellana
Inquirer News Service

THE POLITICALLY influential Iglesia Ni Cristo has directed its broadcasters to refrain from hitting the Arroyo administration, sources trusted by the Inquirer said yesterday.

The Inquirer learned about the directive the same day the INC and the Catholic charismatic group El Shaddai launched a joint appeal, in newspaper advertisements, to both the administration and the opposition to end their political squabbles, saying these were hurting the economy.

The reported directive came on the heels of an administration move to crack down on protests and criticisms against President Macapagal-Arroyo, whom the INC had backed in the 2004 presidential election.

The sources, who asked not to be identified, also said Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Generoso Senga recently paid a visit to the INC temple in Quezon City.

Senga talked with some INC officials but the sources did not identify these officials or say what they and Senga talked about.

News about the INC directive coincided with the surprise "absence'' of the hard-hitting tandem of Nixon Kua and Ros Olgado in their morning program "Mata ng Agila'' over dzEC, the AM radio owned by the INC.

Kua, who once headed the Philippine Tourism Authority during the administration of ousted President Joseph Estrada, and Olgado, a veteran journalist, refused to comment on the reported directive to INC broadcasters to go slow on their commentaries and reportage about the Arroyo administration.

"I am on an indefinite leave for personal reasons,'' was all Kua would say.

Olgado, on his part, said: "I'm just on vacation.''

Sources said the Olgado-Kua tandem had been making critical commentaries about the administration even during the impeachment process against Ms Arroyo but that they were never told off until now.

"No one can stop you from saying sorry, pero huli ka pa rin."

Preach it, Ermita, preach it!

Media Repression

From Ernesto Maceda:

Media repression. The Department of Justice secretary has banned Manila Times reporter Jomar Canlas from entering his office. Gonzalez got mad when Canlas reported a conversation between Gonzalez and Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio on the negotiations for the testimony of Atong Ang by deposition in exchange for non-extradition.

This proves that the Ombudsman is not an independent agency anymore. The Ombudsman has been reportedly pressured by Malacañang to sit on the charges of graft against the chairman and members of the Comelec in connection with the anomalous procurement of computer counting machines.

Former Sen. Rene Saguisag said banning a media representative from the office of a public official is illegal and a “suppression of the freedom of expression.”

A Malacañang aide has threatened Ellen Tordesillas, cancer — stricken Malaya columnist with removal from her paper for writing about Ana, the beautiful widow (not divorcee) in San Francisco whom she reports is the current apple of FG's roving eyes.

Malacañang boys have started to buy out copies of the Tribune and also, the International Herald Tribune reporting stories unfavorable to GMA.

GMA has also been known to call and dress down ABS-CBN and GMA-7 executives when unfavorable commentaries or interviews are aired.

It's all part of undeclared martial law.

Naku! Sino kaya ang pinapagalitan ni GMA na GMA7 at ABS-CBN execs? Sila Dong Puno at Mike Enriquez ba? Yung mga Lopezes at si Manny Pangilinan, minumura rin kaya ni Arroyo sa telepono?