Gloria's State of National Emergency is turning to be one big embarassment, in fact, a joke of international proportions. The basis for the proclamation, PP 1017, is so vague and contradictory, that it seems certain the Government's case would be doomed in the Supreme Court. The legality of the declaration is being challenged from all fronts, especially from lawyers and law schools, who are one in saying that the declaration runs counter to the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights, as we all know, gives the highest priority to the exercise of freedom of speech, as well as the right to peacably assemble. Even under a Martial rule, this bill ensures that civil rights are protected.
The "clear and present danger" harped repeatedly by Gloria seems to exist only in her imagination. Ergo, her paranoia requires her to do everything and anything to perpetuate herself in power. The supposed plot to oust the government, through the unholy and unthinkable alliance among leftists rebels and disgruntled members of the military, and God forbid, the MILF (I think they left this one out, as this absurdity would reach levels unheard of before), is really beyond belief. I do not believe that there were instances in the past where groups of extremely different persuasions, poles apart in fact, whose principles and objectives run directly against the other, had once and for all laid down their differences to oust an incumbent they both hated. They exist to exterminate each other, for crying out loud! Granting that this is true and they succeed, how would they share the spoils of war?
Putting a leftist party-list congressman behind bars on the basis of a warrant issued in 1985 is so ridiculous, the goverment would have no choice but to release him eventually. Because there is no solid single evidence to charge them against, as well as the arbitrariness of the whole situation, the other charged party list representatives continue to resist arrest and remain holed out in Congress. In fact, they have become celebrities of sorts: Everytime a camera trains on them, they inevitably raise and clench their fist in defiance. Teddy Casino has even gone a step further and declared it an honor to be labelled an enemy of this administration.
The first casualties under this scenario have always been the media. The recent raid on the offices of the Daily Tribune, which is perceived to be highly critical of the administration, as well as the deployment of PNP forces within the vicinity of TV stations, on top of the ominous warnings from the PNP Chief Lomibao, are obviously intended to intimidate media practitioners to be "Gloria-friendly".
The big joke is that the Tribune is still out in print, and even more critical than ever. TV stations continue to broadcast the issue, and everyone is not afraid to go to the streets to defy the no rally order. Business groups, civil organizations and international watch dogs, are joining the band wagon calling for Gloria to scrap this infamous declaration.
The currency and stock markets did advance on Monday following the peaceful resolution of the standoff in the Marines headquarters last Sunday. Financial markets have grown weary over these disturbances and have wisely learned from the past. If the rallies turn out be peaceful, if coup attempts do not result in loss of life or property, the market just shrugs it off. But now, it becomes imperative that she lifts it, prolonging it more than necessary means there really is something to fear in this country, that is, we're seeing the makings of a dictatorship. That could only mean capital flight. She has a Ph.D in economics. She knows the consequences once this happens.
The "clear and present danger" harped repeatedly by Gloria seems to exist only in her imagination. Ergo, her paranoia requires her to do everything and anything to perpetuate herself in power. The supposed plot to oust the government, through the unholy and unthinkable alliance among leftists rebels and disgruntled members of the military, and God forbid, the MILF (I think they left this one out, as this absurdity would reach levels unheard of before), is really beyond belief. I do not believe that there were instances in the past where groups of extremely different persuasions, poles apart in fact, whose principles and objectives run directly against the other, had once and for all laid down their differences to oust an incumbent they both hated. They exist to exterminate each other, for crying out loud! Granting that this is true and they succeed, how would they share the spoils of war?
Putting a leftist party-list congressman behind bars on the basis of a warrant issued in 1985 is so ridiculous, the goverment would have no choice but to release him eventually. Because there is no solid single evidence to charge them against, as well as the arbitrariness of the whole situation, the other charged party list representatives continue to resist arrest and remain holed out in Congress. In fact, they have become celebrities of sorts: Everytime a camera trains on them, they inevitably raise and clench their fist in defiance. Teddy Casino has even gone a step further and declared it an honor to be labelled an enemy of this administration.
The first casualties under this scenario have always been the media. The recent raid on the offices of the Daily Tribune, which is perceived to be highly critical of the administration, as well as the deployment of PNP forces within the vicinity of TV stations, on top of the ominous warnings from the PNP Chief Lomibao, are obviously intended to intimidate media practitioners to be "Gloria-friendly".
The big joke is that the Tribune is still out in print, and even more critical than ever. TV stations continue to broadcast the issue, and everyone is not afraid to go to the streets to defy the no rally order. Business groups, civil organizations and international watch dogs, are joining the band wagon calling for Gloria to scrap this infamous declaration.
The currency and stock markets did advance on Monday following the peaceful resolution of the standoff in the Marines headquarters last Sunday. Financial markets have grown weary over these disturbances and have wisely learned from the past. If the rallies turn out be peaceful, if coup attempts do not result in loss of life or property, the market just shrugs it off. But now, it becomes imperative that she lifts it, prolonging it more than necessary means there really is something to fear in this country, that is, we're seeing the makings of a dictatorship. That could only mean capital flight. She has a Ph.D in economics. She knows the consequences once this happens.
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