State of emergency, for what?

For Malacanang to have to issue Proclamation Order No. 1017 on the occasion of the February 25th celebration of People Power at EDSA ought to be two simultaneous scenes cast in our political landscape in diametrical contrast. As resulting events ensued, it is not difficult to suspect that it was a premeditated act of the status quo coming as it does on the 20th anniversary of EDSA People Power 1 that toppled a dictatorship. It claimed to have nipped a coup plot on the bud taking in custody a certain General Lim and Colonel Querubin, the latter belying such accusation. How can just one general in our body polity threaten the wits out of our ruling elites? Who is the silly author in Malacanang who weave all these myths?

On that very day, GMA had Randy David, Argee Guevarra, Ronald Llamas arrested after the police dispersed the rallyists at EDSA only to be released later. They were supposed to have been charged of two offenses, namely, inciting to sedition and violation of Proclamation 1017. How can one violate something that has been publicly announced only a few hours earlier? They had the approved permits for the rallies cancelled at the flick of the finger. So they launched their dispersal operations to the peril of the People Power devotees who go to the EDSA Shrine every February of the year to reminisce if not nurture a sense of historical past.

GMA is quick to blame ABS-CBN for the stampede that killed, injured and hurt our poor folks. And yet, for all she cares if a fatal stampede would result as when anti-riot policemen have to run after rallyists, hit them, hurt them, arrest them? Is that not clearly a double-standard of morality, or what else is it but a mere lip-service? Every spokesperson of GMA – be him Defensor, Gonzales, Bunye, Ermita – are but quilty of double-speak that it thus reminds us of Orwellian nightmare in the famous book, 1984.

Bottomline, why declare a state of emergency when there is absent a clear and present danger to the life of the State? What are the threats, immediate, proximate, and defined that have to be quelled? What conditions obtaining necessitate a declaration of an indefinite state of emergency? Is the mere a priori knowledge of one general claiming to break from the chain of command already a threat to the nation? How many public officials did this general kill, buildings he and his men bombed, number of people they took hostage, or killed in the crossfire with government troops? Why can’t Malacanang as much as at least substantiate its claim?

How can they peddle the unbelievable myth that the ultra rightists (the military) can join forces and politically merge with the ultra leftists groups in so short a time after their escape? How exactly does that creature they call coup plot look like apart from mere dogmatic claim of a Gonzales and a GMA? For one, nothing of a gospel truth can just be uttered in public without the benefit of a public scrutiny. Is this why Gonzales when asked throbbing questions in the press conference can only utter arrogant, hostile, and irrational replies to the media reporter? They had us believe of the conspiracy theory – its myth, its folly, its beauty.

Just what series of actions are they talking about that obstruct government, hinder growth of the economy, and sabotage people’s confidence? What kind of an official claim is that which is not amply backed up by verifiable facts or events as they indeed happened? No president in his or her right mind ought declare a state of emergency without being able to justifiably explain, reasonably prove, and convincingly argue that only a declaration of that nature would avert, quell, or thwart what otherwise is clear and present danger. But is there such a thing? Is not implicating Gringo and his mistahs an old tale revisited over and over?

It challenges reflection to know that GMA advisers seem too lazy to keep themselves abreast of the times. Why did President Sam Nujoma declare a state of emergency, President Alejandro Toledo, President Bush, President Jacques Chirac and the like? The answers vary from unprecedented violence, arson, unrest, armed clashes and the like. What are the common retaliatory acts of the State? It can impose curfew, it can arrest without warrants, it can jail violators and all that. DOJ secretary falsely claimed that the state of emergency is issued as so provided in the Constitution in the economic context. You must be kidding us. GMA is no Bush who declared state of emergency to track Hurricane Katrina and streamline disaster relief efforts. GMA’s Proclamation 1017 is unmistakably political – a survival kit, no less.

Chances are, P.O. 1017 is a pre-requisite for the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus and the declaration of martial law – with or without – any factual, moral, or legal basis.

talk about gettung hung over...