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Why the “Lefts” In Congress Signed the Impeachment Against CJ Corona
“The Bayan congressmen signed the impeachment complaint. One Bayan congressman, a very able lawyer — Neri Colmenares, was nominated to be one of the prosecutors in the Senate impeachment trial. There is no way P-Noy or his allies in Congress could coerce Bayan congressmen to sign the impeachment complaint.”
This is how opinion makers work; to support their side, they want us to believe that the “left” in congress signed the impeachment against CJC in pursuit of justice.
Nevertheless, the knowledgeable read between the lines, the gullible swallows it “hook, line, and sinker.”
But really, what are the motives of the “left” in joining the bandwagon in impeaching CJC? I honestly believe these “Bayan” representatives did it NOT in pursuit of justice for our benefits. Rather it’s in line with their pursuit to overthrow our government.
However, the media, through its opinion makers, would like us to believe that the “left” is doing it for JUSTICE and for our economic growth and political stability. Media is painting us a picture glorifying the “lefts” as one of the saviors in bringing out justice to our country.
I wonder where media, specifically these opinion makers, would be if ever the “left” takes over our country. A system of government where press freedom is a dream.
Communist doctrines show us that the “left” thrives when there is chaos and disunity. And this is what they are trying to do, foment unrest. Ride with the emotion of the people and instigate mob unrest. The sad part of it is that our system of government allows and helps the “left” to pursue their objective in overthrowing our government.
This is the weakness of the 1987 Constitution.
So sad, our system of government takes money from us [taxes] then gives it to the “left” [as CDF] who in turn uses the money to support their movements in overthrowing our government. This is what the 1987 Constitution brings to our country, allows the “left” to maintain their forces and organizations in overthrowing our government.
There is saying that “too many cooks spoil the broth.” And this is what’s happening in adopting Bicameral Legislative System of governance, added to this is the adoption of the “Party List System.”
This is one of the reasons why we could not achieve unity, economic growth and political stability everyone is going in different directions pursuing only their own vested interests. And in this kind of situation where, chaos, unrest and disunity prevail the country becomes a very fertile ground for communism.
And this is why the “lefts” in Congress join the bandwagon in the perceived fight for justice between the Executive and Judicial Branch of our government. To stoke the fire of havoc.
Let us view the emerging scenario objectively in different point of views to see that, NOW IS THE TIME TO CHANGE…!
The Impeachment of CJ Renato Corona – How It Started
Clearly, the fight between Pnoy and CJ Corona, is not between the Executive and Judiciary, nor between Pnoy and GMA…the real bone of contention here is Hacienda Luisita!
March 2010: First Blood
GMA appointed Justice Renato Corona as Chief Justice to replace CJ Reynato Puno.
This was concurred by nine justices in the premise that the judiciary is not covered by Article VII, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution, which prevents an outgoing president from making appointments to government posts two months before the elections.
Presidential candidate Aquino said he would not recognize the midnight appointment of CJ Corona.
This is the reason why he did not take his oath of office with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court as mandated by the 1986 constitution.
June 2010: “Watch Me”
The Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura [UMA] asked CJ Corona to recall the TRO issued by the SC in June 2006. The TRO stops the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council and Department of Agrarian Reform [DAR] from revoking the stock distribution option offered by the Cojuangco-Aquino family. The TRO also stops DAR from distributing the 6,453-hectare sugar plantation to the farmers beneficiaries.
“We humbly submit to your Honorable Office our appeal asking the Supreme Court to act with dispatch and resolve the controversial agrarian case of Hacienda Luisita in favor of agrarian reform beneficiaries,” read the letter of the UMA.
CJ Corona orders the review of the Hacienda Luisita Labor Case.
July 2010: The Soup Thickens
On July 30 2010 President Aquino created the Philippine Truth Commission [PTC] under Executive Order No. 1 (EO 1). The PTC is tasked to investigate corruption scandals in the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is headed by retired Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide Jr.
Lagman et. al. filed petition with the Supreme Court, against EO 1, citing the PTC as a duplication of the quasi-judicial powers of the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice, hence the PTC is an “exercise in futility.”
With a 10-5 vote the Supreme Court declared the PTC is “illegal” and ruled with finality on July 26, 2011 the unconstitutionality of PTC. Majority of the justices held that EO 1 violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution because it singles out the investigation of the reported graft and corruption in the PGMA administration. [4 of the dissenting justices are GMA appointees]
Thus, SC declared “unconstitutional” and nullifies with finality the creation of the Philippine Truth Commission.
The SC ruling matched the opinions of Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Joker Arroyo that the PTC is a veiled attempt to circumvent the rules of the land to get back at PGMA.
November 2011: Goodbye Hacienda
The Supreme Court, through its resolution G.R. No. 171101, has ordered Hacienda Luisita Inc. [HLI] to distribute the 5,000 hectares of Hacienda Luisita, to the farmer beneficiaries who have tilled the land for decades.
In addition, the Supreme Court directed HLI to pay farmers a total of P1.3 billion for the sale of three large parcels of land.
- P500 million it received from Luisita Realty Inc. for the sale of 200 hectares of land in 1996;
- P750 million for the sale of the Luisita Industrial Park; and
- P80,511,500 for the sale of the 80.51-hectare lot for the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway road network.
November 15, 2011: The Last Nail In the Coffin
SC, in an 8-5 vote, issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the watch list order (WLO) issued against GMA and her husband Jose Miguel T. Arroyo, and others who are facing investigation on the alleged poll fraud in the 2004 and 2007 elections in Mindanao.
December 2011: Impeach Corona
December 12, 2011, it took 2 hours for 188 congressmen/women to sign the impeachment complaint against CJ Corona.
According to SC Spokesman Marquez, what congress did was against Section 2, Rule II of the Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings. The rule dictates that:
“Impeachment shall be initiated by the filing and subsequent referral to the Committee on Justice of: (a) a verified complaint for impeachment filed by any Member of the House of Representatives; or (b) a verified complaint filed by any citizen upon a resolution of endorsement by any Member thereof; or (c) a verified complaint or resolution of impeachment filed by at least one-third (1/3) of all Members of the House.”
- Corona allegedly betrayed the public trust through his track record marked by partiality and subservience in cases involving the Arroyo administration from the time of his appointment as Supreme Court justice and until his dubious appointment as a “midnight” chief justice to the present.
- Corona allegedly committed culpable violation of the constitution and/or betrayed the public trust when he failed to disclose to the public his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth as required under Sec. 17, Article XI of the 1987 Constitution.
- Corona allegedly committed culpable violations of the Constitution and betrayed the public trust by failing to meet and observe the stringent standards under Article VIII, section 7 (3) of the Constitution that provides that “[a] member of the judiciary must be a person of proven competence, integrity, probity, and independence.”
- Corona supposedly betrayed the public trust and/or committed culpable violation of the constitution when it blatantly disregarded the principle of separation of powers by issuing a “status quo ante” order against the House of Representatives in the case concerning the impeachment of then- Ombudsman Merceditas Navarro-Gutierrez.
- Corona allegedly committed culpable violations of the Constitution through wanton arbitrariness and partiality in consistently disregarding the principle of res judicata and in deciding in favor of gerry-mandering in the cases involving the 16 newly-created cities, and the promotion of Dinagat Island into a province.
- Corona supposedly betrayed the public trust by arrogating unto himself, and to a committee he created, the authority and jurisdiction to improperly investigate a justice of the Supreme Court for the purpose of exculpating him. Such authority and jurisdiction is properly reposed by the constitution in the House of Representatives via impeachment.
- Corona supposedly betrayed the public trust through his partiality in granting a temporary restraining order in favor of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo in order to give them an opportunity to escape prosecution and to frustrate the ends of justice, and in distorting the supreme court decision on the effectivity of the TRO in view of a clear failure to comply with the conditions of the Supreme Court’s own TRO.
- Corona allegedly betrayed the public trust and/or committed graft and corruption when he failed and refused to account for the judiciary development fund (JDF) and special allowance for the judiciary (SAJ) collections.
Ako Ang Simula
Para sa Pilipinas… WALA AKONG IHINALALAL NA SENADOR KAHIT ISA…nuong 2004 at 2010 eleksyon! At iyan ang gagawin ko habang hindi nagiging PARLIAMENTARYO ang systema ng ating gobyerno, sapagkat gusto ko ng kaunlaran at AKO ANG SIMULA NG PAGBA-BAGO!
IT’S ABOUT TIME TO CHANGE!
We have been using this Constitution for almost 25 years now and still we are wallowing in the quagmire of economic stagnation and political instability. The system did not help us attain economic growth and political stability.
We are at the bottom of the race for economic growth and political stability among our Asean neighbor…because our political arena consists of too many politicians, actors, actresses, etc. with their own personal agenda rather than a solid group of people representing their common advocacy through their party’s platform of government thus moving towards the same direction.
All our progressive Asian neighbors are using Parliamentary form of government and we envy and often point to them as an ideal model. But we are so afraid to adapt their form of government!
Presidential form with bicameral legislative bodies works only in rich nations, like the USA, because it can afford the expenses/budgets of the Senate and Congress.
Nevertheless, most rich and developed European nations have Parliamentary form of government. We, a striving nation, CAN NOT AFFORD TO MAINTAIN TWO LEGISLATIVE BODIES!
One legislative body will save us the following and the saving from the budget of the senate could be used in creating job opportunities that would address the problem of unemployment which is one of the main causes of poverty.
In 2008 each senator receives:
- 35,000 = Monthly salary
- 2,000,000 = Monthly fixed budget
- 500,000 = Monthly Maintenance & Operating Expenses
- 500,000 = Monthly Staff & Personal Expenses
- 760,000 = Monthly Foreign Travel Expenses
- 1,000,000 = Committee Chairmanship
- 200,000,000 = Yearly CDF
For the CDF alone we could generate a saving of PhP28.8 billion. At PhP200M/yr CDF of the 24 Senators for six[6] years terms. Imagine the job opportunities this amount could generate.
Besides we have seen elected officials of both the Senate and Congress doing their own gimmicks to earn “pogi” points” notwithstanding the needs of their constituents. They have their own political and financial vested interests, changing their political colors for their own convenience.
This is the time for us to change our system of governance, a system that would stabilize our political environment which in turn would push our economy to grow.
A form of government where we will vote for the Economic and Political Programs of a party rather than the “personalities” of candidates.
Forget the ghosts of GMA or FEM, we have seen what a strong two-party-system in a unicameral body can do in achieving political stability and economic growth (Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, and Malaysia).
A unicameral assembly with a strong two-party-system is what we need if we want to be at par with our more progressive Asian neighbors.
Minority President
Before the last presidential election I asked this:
Aquino, Estrada, Gordon, Teodoro, Villanueva, Villar, if one of them became the president he will be the president of the more or less only 20% of the voting population. How about the remaining 80% who did not vote for him?
Are we going to allow to be ruled by the president of the minority? And if he is the president of the minority, how does he expect to implement his programs/plans of governance?
All of them promise to fight/eradicate corruption;
All of them promise to fight/eradicate poverty;
- ergo our PEOPLE are POOR!
All of them promise economic growth;
- ergo our ECONOMY is STAGNANT!
Nice promises, but not of them give us how he will make good his promises. How he will eradicate corruption, and poverty? What are his plans for economic growth?
Not one of them laid out the plans/steps to achieve his promised goals!
Why? Because for each of his promise, he would need a law to implement his program of government! And if he is the president of the minority, how does he expect to push for the enactment of a law in a house/senate ruled by his opposing legislators? A house and a senate where every member has his own vested interest and/or agenda of power!
So what will happen to our country during his term? NOTHING!
And it would be another six (6) years of agonizing corruption, poverty, and economic stagnation!
This is the weakness of a presidential form of government where multi-party system exists!
And come to think of it,
- WE ENVIED OUR ASIAN NEIGHBORS AND ALWAYS LOOK AT THEM AS MODELS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DISCIPLINE.
But did anyone of us ever think that, our Asian neighbors like, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and South Korea, has a parliamentary form of government!
A form of government where a strong two-party system exist; where the people vote for a party (NOT PERSONALITY!) with progressive platform of government; where political in-fighting is confined within the parliament; where people are disciplined because of the strong political will of government leaders to implement the laws.
- IF WE WANT TO EMULATE THEM, THEN LET US HAVE A PARLIAMENTARY FORM OF GOVERNMENT!
Why should we suffer corruption, poverty and economic stagnation when we can start the change NOW!
- LET US START BY VOTING A PRESIDENT WHO IS WILLING TO SACRIFICE HIS POSITION TO INITIATE THE TRANSFORMATION OF OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT!
Last election I did not vote for any senator and I will do the same now;
- ergo, WE DO NOT NEED THE SENATE!
In fact, one lady senator realized its uselessness and DARED ALL MEMBERS OF THE SENATE TO RESIGN!
- What a shame to realize it just now because it has been there for TWENTY FOUR (24) YEARS!
And now that we are being led by a minority president and an OJT at that, it is about time to change the system of our governance. To achieve economic growth and political stability at par with our Asean neighbors, we have to adopt a Unicameral Legislative form of government.
THE CHANGE STARTS NOW AND IT BEGINS WITH ME!
Why Malacanang Wants CJ Renato Corona To Resign Now?
Well, why do Malacanang wants CJ Corona to resign this early? Is it afraid of a “Walk Out” scenario during the impeachment?
It should be noted that “walk out” strategy triggers both EDSA1 and EDSA2. History tells us what ensued after the famous “PICC Walk Out” led by the wife of Col. Red Kapunan, when their plotted coup was discovered by the military. Col. Red Kapunan is a senior member of the military organization YOU who plotted a coup attempt against then President Marcos.
Then came the “Vellarde Envelop Walk Out” during the impeachment of ex-Pres. Estrada, accentuated by a “crying Legarda.” EDSA2 followed that gives the seat of power to then Vice Pres. GMA.
And in both EDSA, the “church” was a key player in gathering the people.
This will lead us to consider to the not-so-good present relationship between Pnoy and the “church” where the “horatio emparata” against the RH Bill is always being prayed before the start of every mass. And put into the equation the mass on the Christmas party of the Supreme Court, celebrated by the new Archbishop of Manila [Corona shuts up, urges spreading of God’s love].
Further, consider the apprehension of the Senate on a “Walk Out Scenario” during the impeachment. Does Sen. Enrile know “something” [like the secrets he knew in 1986] that we, the Filipino people, don’t know? Is it the reason why he is trying to preempt a “walk out” strategy? [Impeach court won’t tolerate walkout by lawyers]
And who knows, what the forces of VP Binay is doing right now, are they on the “Mobilization Mode?” Their silence is very deafening!
To top it all, the will of the President is not necessarily the will of the majority. His will represents the will of the 15 million who voted for him and definitely not the will of the 21 million Filipinos who do not want him as their president. There are 36 million Filipinos who cast their votes during the last presidential election therefore he is a minority president representing 41% as against the 59% majority who does not want him as president.
So, for Malacanang it is definitely good if CJ Corona will do the “Merci Walk.” But if not and he defies all odds by facing his detractors in the impeachment then employ the “Walk Out” strategy, what happen next is anyone’s guess.
Are we looking to a scenario of a grinning VP Binay in the Office of the President if a “walk out” happens in the impeachment of CJ Corona?
Impeachment of CJ Corona = EDSA4?
Corona shuts up, urges spreading of God’s love.
The developing scenario makes me Think Aloud. Will the impeachment of CJ Corona leads to an EDSA -4?
Good if CJ Corona will do a Merci walk, if not and he defies all odds by facing his detractors then employ the “Walk Out” strategy, what happen next is anyone’s guess.
And this early, the Senate is showing its apprehension on the possible backlash of a “walk out” in the impeachment of CJ Corona [Impeach court won’t tolerate walkout by lawyers]. The senators knew how emotionally Filipinos can get and how effective a “walk out” strategy is.
Especially Sen. Enrile, a key person in the 1986 uprising, who knew that the strategy of the famous “PICC Walk Out” triggers EDSA 1. And it’s still fresh in his mind, how it was used against his group in the “Vellarde envelop Walk Out” that triggers EDSA 2.
Besides, he knew of the fact that the “Church” was very “active” in both EDSA. And the status of the present “relationship” between the “Church” and Pnoy is not that good [RH Bill].
Just recently the new Archbishop of Manila held a mass in the Supreme Court’s Christmas Party. And who knows if the forces of VP Binay are now in “Mobilization Mode.”
Does Sen. Enrile know “something” [like he had in 1986] that we, the Filipino people, don’t know, reason why he is trying to preempt a “walk out” strategy? And he is afraid that a “walk out” strategy of one of the protagonists in the upcoming impeachment trial will lead to another EDSA?
elinonapigkit
I Will Make It Happen 
PALAWAN – Hold On!
Sendong death toll now 1,080; number of missing unreliable
Back in the ‘70s, when it rains and there’s a foreboding storm in the horizon, my grandfather, a Subanon [taga ilog/river dweller], would always assures us by saying, “ayaw kabaka dili moagi kanang bagyoha dinhi sa atua kay mabungkag mana pag igo sa mga bundok” [“do not worry, the storm cannot pass here because it will be shattered by the mountains.”]
True enough, storms come and go in Mindanao without any wrecking disaster. Back then, mighty yakals, apitongs, narras, guijos, etc…towers in the mountains of Mindanao protecting its lowland areas.
And this is what the government should include in their long-term plans of preventing disaster, the protection of those mighty trees and reforestation of denuded mountains. It is just a matter of POLITICAL WILL to put a ban on any form of logging and irresponsible mining.
But the glint of money and personal greed prevails, and unabated logging and irresponsible mining continues making the oligarchs richer and corrupt politicians more powerful.
We have seen the havoc and deaths of unabated logging, and irresponsible mining at Ormoc, the disaster of neglecting our watershed through “Ondoy,” and now the deaths caused by “Sendong.”
Sadly, the usual finger pointing and “pa-pogi” points of our politicians and government leaders. When will our government learn to finally and firmly put a stop on unabated destruction of our mountains?
The deaths in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro is the result of GREED and CORRUPTION in the unabated logging of our mountains…..
GREED of those oligarchs who worship money above all….and
CORRUPTION of government officials who close their eyes to what the loggers do in exchange for “thick envelops”…
WOE to all of them…..!
May they suffer the same fate….!
I pray that Palawan will maintain its POLITICAL WILL in protecting those mighty trees of her mountains and NOT to succumb to lure of money. Palawan please hold on….!