Viewing events with caution

It is not quite difficult to understand how Malacañang has practically done everything it can to sweep under the rugs the Garci electoral scam and all cover-up efforts are deemed to have succeeded. If not for the discovery of these controversial audio tapes – by accident – GMA would not have been faced with a crisis of apparently irreversible consequences. It is so because, the perceived electoral cheating in the May 2004 elections evolved as the rallying point of all groups in the broad opposition – be it leftist, rightist, or centrist extremists – that cry for the ouster of GMA after all sorts of exit-GMA scenarios have likewise been tried.

Malacanang, Inc. is not without ‘defenses’ at its arsenal to stem the tide of mounting public clamor for GMA to resign for having lost the moral ascendancy to govern. In short, despite oft-repeated claim of having won ‘fair and square’, GMA is perceived to have cheated her way to the presidency by a grand scale conspiracy involving the PNP, AFP, COMELEC itself and other such agencies. It shall be the duty of historians to document events as they actually happened. Having said that, there are events in recent days that merit reflection, not the least on their credibility as it is on their consequence. Consider the following cases in point.

First, Proclamation 1017 – without sign or warning – was issued on 24 February 2006 to steal the thunder from the crowd at EDSA commemorating the 20th anniversary celebration of People Power Revolt. With a lightning ‘state of emergency’ declared, all attendees at EDSA were swept away by the police resulting in the immediate arrests of Randy David, Argee Guevarra, Ronald Llamas. In another place, Cong. Crispin Beltran was arrested and Congressmen Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casiño slipped out of sight from the chasing police. Now, practically all the party-list representatives in Congress are listed in the “order of battle” of those wanted by the State for alleged acts of rebellion, sedition, even maybe terrorism whenever possible. Cong. Virador was caught in Davao. In this scheme and scene, it is made to appear that the communist bloc in Congress has just been totally wiped out – with the Speaker’s usual nonchalance. That is just the greatest indignity that can be accorded his honorable colleagues.

Second, anti-government newspaper Tribune has been raided and being secured by the PNP for what blabbermouth Defensor terms as ‘strong police presence’ – a euphemism for harassment – to preempt any destabilization move, however merely alleged. The lady editor did not seem to be intimidated but this ‘kill the chickens to scare the monkeys’ strategy shall soon send shark-attacks effect in our political beach. By intimidating Tribune, the statement is made clear to other newspaper outfits and to the entire tri-media environment for that matter. Press freedom, under these conditions, is now under siege. Reports have it that practically all TV stations are now being secured by the PNP when they are not public utilities to be the proper subject of government take-over – with or without need. In other existing democracies, the right to private ownership is at all times – inviolable.

Third, the claims made by the AFP of coup plot by General Lim and Querubin having been nipped in the bud appear unbelievable given the kind of statements having been heard from Col. Querubin in the 6-hour stand-off at Philippine Marines headquarters. For keen observers of trends, the statements made are of the nature of ‘neither-here-nor-there’ – a euphemism for nonsense. It just does not make sense to the more discerning intellect what he has really planned the Fort Bonifacio incident to be except maybe to expose the known opposition for “casing” or surveillance by rabid intelligence agents operating incognito. It would no doubt make it easy for Malacañang to plan against Cory, Loren, Ping, Guingona, Noynoy, son of Guingona, Imee, et al. Viewed differently, it was a trap laid down clean by the AFP. The snafu is made to appear as a scene where there is a problem with the Philippine Marines in so far as following the chain-of-command is concerned when in truth there was none – as publicly stated. How is that for a crack at reality-TV – the newest or craziest trend in TV watching?

Fourth, it cannot be underestimated that the AFP can likewise launch its media offensive through its pool of skilled propagandists or what is better known as psy-war experts. Fact is, they have led us to believe the mere tale of General Lim having involved himself and his men in a coup attempt – without at all a proof. The reports were erected on a mere say-so of the Chief of Staff and they expect us to accept the tales as gospel truths. I am afraid AFP now resorts to choose-only-the-pictures-you-like in going about releasing reports they want the public to believe if not downright story-telling-a-lie sort of thing.

Lastly, the ISAFP and all lower intelligence units of the AFP or the PNP should not claim monopoly of all information taken in the course of intelligence work especially so that they not only lack the equipment, facility, tools, instrumentation and budgetary resources but are manned by intelligence agents who, by other scientific measurements, lack the required IQ not to say the minimum requirement of a relevant university education. Run a survey on demographic profile of the men and women who constitute ISAFP and tell us how does that compare with its counterpart in Asia, US, or Europe.