The Battle for Renato’s Corona

Today, we make history.

After former President Joseph Estrada’s impeachment trial in 2000-2001 and the it’s-almost-an-impeachment-trial for (Former) Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez last year, another impeachable official is set to be impeach.

This time, in the person of the highest official of the Judiciary Department - the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Renato Corona. This is a battle whether he will keep his corona as the country’s Chief Justice or not. This is the battle for Renato’s crown.

As an impeachment primer, I watched last night’s Cheche Lazaro Presents: Impeachment on ABS-CBN. In that documentary, it featured the history of impeachment trial from former president Joseph Estrada up to the cases against Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Estrada was not impeached. Instead, he was forced to step down from the office. Merceditas Gutierrez resigned as Ombudsman before the trial started. And, if things go as planned, this is the first time when we will witness afull impeachment trial.

One of the things that left me a huge question mark on the Chief Justice’s - and probably the whole Supreme Court’s - credibility was when Maritess Vitug, author of the controversial book Shadow of Doubt: Probing the Supreme Court, divulged items about the dark, hidden parts (and proceedings) in the Supreme Court. (I seriously want a copy of that book but I can’t find any here in the Laguna-Batangas area.)

After watching Cheche Lazaro’s documentary last night, I know only of one thing: It’s possible. Chief Justice Renato Corona may be guilty of the offense hurled against him.

From the flip-flop decisions of the Supreme Court, the seemingly alliance andspecial favor for Former President Gloria Arroyo, the alleged unexplained wealth, to his controversial last-minute appointment, he has a lot to explain.

I am not saying that he is guilty of the crime. There’s a proper venue to prove (or disprove) that, thanks to our democracy and Constitution - the impeachment court.

Today, we make history. Today is the first day of Chief Justice Renato Corona’s impeachment trial. And these are my personal opinion on the historical trial:

• I hope the Senate and the Senators will be fair enough on this trial. Not only for the filipino people. Not only for Renato corona. But for the truth to come out.


• Unlike the Estrada impeachment trial where Chief Justice Hilario Davide acted as the judge, this time, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile will be the one. It’s gonna be Manong Johnny “Gusto ko Hapy Ka” Enrile! In times like this, we really need an elder, an ancient, a veteran to help us find the truth. I just hope that he will not look like Palpatine/Darth Sidious when he got mad at the hearing for I will surely laugh my ass out (“The Dark Side of The force is strong with you!”).


• During the Estrada trial, one of the most memorable line was Emma Lim’s “Uminom po. Hindi po kinakain yung iced tea” to Estelito Mendoza. I am looking forward to some “light moments” during the trial.


• I am excited for Senator Lito Lapid on the impeachment trial. ‘Nuff said.


• Is it just me or there is really a resemblance between Atty. Estelito Mendoza and former Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas? Is it their forehead? Their hair line? (Not only physically but intelectually. Estelito Mendoza was the brightest defender of Estrada during his trial. and, it may appear that serafin cuevas is Corona’s mightiest super hero on today’s trial.)


• I admire Corona’s coolness earlier at the senate. Despite Prosecutor Niel Tupas’ statement against him, he remain calm. And poker face.


• During the first impeachment trial in the country, Senator Enrile was there. today, he is still here. Will he still be on the third trial if ever?


• If you were aware enough back in 2001 to watch the Estrada trial, you may notice that some of the Senator Judges are still on their seat as a Senator. Or, in some cases, their sons or daughter are present. (Destiny or dynasty?)


• I learned last night that the other term for the Justices of the Supreme Court are the “Gods of Padre Faura”. (If that’s the case, wow! I have a God brod.)

The impeachment trial has started. And there’s more to come.as what I’ve said on Twitter, this is just the season 1 episode 1 of the Corona Drama.

And in the event that the Chief Justice is impeached - or steps down from the office - let us all keep an eye on our President on who he will pick as the next Chief Justice. We do not want an administration who has a sole power/ influence on the Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary Departments.

After all, this is for the people of our country.

Let the truth and justice prevail on this impeachment trial.

Viva Filipinas! Vaya con Dios! Padayon!

P.S. I chose the front page of the Philippine Daily Inquirer because the image includes all of the ingredients on today’s historical trial - The Senator Judges, Chief Justice Renato Corona, the Prosecution Team, and the Defense Team.

Elsewhere:

• Chief Justice on Trial - ABS-CBNnews.com’s page about CJ Corona’s impeachment trial. It includes interactive page on the fast facts, the timeline that lead to the impeachment, and slideshows.


• J4J: Justice for Justice - Interaksyon.com’s special coverage of the impeachment trial.


• Summary of the impeachment complaint versus Chief Justice Corona


• Comic Relief - Know your Senator Judges - Being a Senator. It’s more fun in the Philippines.


• My Twitter Account - I will be posting more impeachment-related stuff here. Please follow me. Yes, I compel you!

A New Day for the Farmers

“Dalawang uri lang naman ang mayroon sa Pilipinas. Ang mga Panginoong may lupa at mga hampas lupa..”

I remember saying those lines to my mistah back in 2008, when I was still in College. I said it perhaps out of frustration. Or anger. Or my losing of faith to the system. We were then with the Calatagan farmers who were about to attend the Holy Mass and to have an audience with the Archbishop before leaving for their long march to Manila (A move inspired perhaps by the Sumilao farmers from Bukidnon.).

Since the advent of my awakening, I have always supported the cause of the poor and the oppressed for justice, freedom, and ownership. You may not see me with a banner or a raised fist in the streets but I believe that there are other ways to support their cause other than protests and rallies.

I studied Land Reform for one semester in 2005 as a required subject in College. The semester ended with all the discussions, cases, principles, and examples but there is only one thing that I can still remember up to this day.

The different programs for land reform in the Philippines have failed. The farmers are still tilling the lands which are not theirs. And powerful landlords still own vast area of land.

But the dark days for landless farmers may soon be over.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court ordered the distribution of about 5, 000 hectares of Hacienda Luisita.

The court sided with the farmers, Department of Agrarian Reform, and the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council, which said that the stock distribution option was not in accordance with the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

(For the benefit of those who are not watching the news, in stock distribution option, the farmers who will choose that would be just a mere stockholder (shareholder) and not a landowner.)

At last, social justice for the farmers. I hope that the Hacienda Luisita case would be a landmark decision, a jumping point for other cases. The struggle of farmers with their lands is not just a problem of Tarlac but of the whole country.

I want to see a new day where there will be no more landless farmers, no more greedy landowners, and no more social injustice brought by land ownership disputes.

Mabuhay ang mga magsasakang pinagkalooban ng lupa! Mabuhay ang mga magsasakang nakikibaka para sa kanilang lupa! Padayon!

Elsewhere:

• Just how BIG is Hacienda Luisita? How many SM Mall of Asia, Makati City, Plaza Miranda, Araneta Coliseum, and Luneta Park can fit in at the vast lands of the hacienda? Click.


• “My Child, we have won”- Virgiinia “Lola Inyang” Paligutan, 80, traveled to Manila from Tarlac to express her gratitude to the Supreme Court for ordering the distribution of Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac to farmworkers.


• SC orders distribution of Hacienda Luisita land - farmers’ union


• WikiLeaks Cables: Hacienda Luisita case affects other landowners  


• The Hacienda Luisita order as Aquino’s golden chance at greatness by Benjamin Pimentel

Hysterical, Historical Day

Yesterday was not just any ordinary Friday. Well personally, aside from the fact that it was my beloved Nanay’s birthday, I have been waiting for the Supreme Court’s decision and whether Gloria Arroyo would (be allowed to) leave the country or not.

But it turned out to be a series of unfortunate events - for our former President.

It started in the morning when the COMELEC en banc filed Electoral Sabotage charges against Arroyo. I knew then that Gloria Arroyo’s days of freedom are numbered.

But with the Supreme Court’s decision denying the motion for reconsideration seeking to lift the TRO on Arroyo’s hold departure order, I thought that it’s over. She can (and would) leave the country.

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I have been glued on Twitter and on news websites all day, waiting for the developments of the Arroyo Saga. But it turned out to be faster than expected.

All of a sudden, the case was filed at the Pasay RTC and the warrant of arrest was immediately released. Next thing we knew, Gloria Arroyo is being arrested. And with that arrest warrant from the RTC, which is independent from the Supreme Court, her wish to go abroad, even with Supreme Court’s approval, went down to the drain.

In less than twenty-four (24) hours, a case was filed, a warrant of arrest was release, and a former President, arrested.

That was fast.

Of course, the critics of the Aquino administration and the defenders of Gloria Arroyo said that the case was railroaded, even calling it a “moro-moro”.

But in my opinion, what transpired in the past days up to the climax yesterday was a damn if you do, damn if you don’t situation for the Aquino Administration. If they didn’t file a case against Gloria, critics would say that the government is slow on doing their jobs. And if they filed a case against Arroyo, as what happened yesterday, they would say that it was railroaded and it did not undergo a due process.

We (or most of us) have all been seeking answers and justice from the numerous controversies of the previous administration. And yesterday’s event proved that justice is working in our country.

It’s just sad to know that most of our Kababayans who are equally seeking for justice are left with a slow and painful turn of the wheels of justice.

Is Gloria Arroyo guilty of the crime? Let’s just leave that to the courts. And let’s hope that truth and justice will prevail.

I have been always fascinated with front pages and covers of broadsheets, magazines, tabloids, and other publications. I consider it as an exceptional art and as a part of history as well.

I am posting this front page of the Philippine Daily Inquirer in commemoration of yesterday’s hysterical and historical series of events. And because we may not be able to see Gloria Arroyo’s mugshot. As of writing, Attorney Ferdinand Topacio requested the media not to release Gloria Arroyo’s mugshot because she is, er, a woman.

Gloria Arroyo is now under arrest. Let the truth come out and justice, served.Viva Filipinas! Padayon!

Elsewhere:

• Gloria Arroyo now under arrest - Sa wakas!


• Timeline: Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s arrest - the sequence of events of the dramatic and tension-filled day that led to Gloria Arroyo’s arrest.


• Rushed - Professor Winnie Monsod’s take on yesterday’s events.


• Fingerprints, mugshot of Arroyo to be taken today (PNP) - I wonder how her mugshot would look like with her Minerva vest on.

Disappointing

Once again, a group of superheroes more powerful than the Justice Leagueand The Avengers rescued the Arroyos from destruction and persecution. And I am talking about the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court.

The celebration of the opposing side was short-lived. Just a few weeks ago, the Department of Justice rejected the petition of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to travel abroad.

Personally, I was not surprised by the Supreme Court’s decision to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the travel ban. Law experts have warned a few days ago that the arguments for not allowing Gloria Arroyo to travel abroad are weak. And based on their previous decisions, I know that the Supreme Court will always save the witch’s ass.

Voting 8-5 on the decision, the Justices who voted to allow Arroyo to leave were: Chief Justice Renato Corona, and Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Presbitero Velasco, Lucas Bersamin, Roberto Abad, Martin Villarama, Jose Perez, and Arturo Brion.

Those who voted against were Associate Justices Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Maria Lourdes Sereno, Antonio Carpio, Bienvenido Reyes, and Jose Catral Mendoza.

The two Justices who did not vote were Teresita Leonarde de Castro and Mariano del Castillo, who are both on leave.

Words cannot describe my dismay for the Supreme Court’s decision. So I will just let this cereal guy meme that I did do it for me.

Elsewhere:

• SC allows Arroyo to travel abroad - Official (Inquirer.net)


• SC stops implementation of of watch list orders vs Arroyos (GMANews.tv)


• High Court OKs Arroyo travel: Source (ABS-CBNnews.com)


• Supreme Court issues TRO vs GMA travel ban (Interaksyon.net)

Nowhere to Hide

The news did not come as a surprise. It is somehow expected on the Administration who repeatedly bashed and blamed the previous Administration on the situation of our country today. Most of us who want the Arroyos prosecuted (and somehow persecuted) were relieved to know that Secretary Leila De Lima of the Department of Justice rejected the petition of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad. Citing Gloria Arroyo’s condition as “not life threatening”, De Lima announced her decision earlier this afternoon.

As expected, Gloria Arroyo’s fat knight in shining armor, her husband Attorney Mike Arroyo, came to the rescue. He separately filed a petition to the Supreme Court to declare De Lima’s orders unconstitutional.

He cited the Article III Section 6 of the 1987 Constitution guaranteeing the “liberty of travel”. But De Lima said that “An individual’s right to travel is not absolute, taken against the interest of the state that the process will be derailed because of the sudden absence of a respondent in a criminal case”.

Attached to the petition filed at the Supreme court are the photos above showing the former President’s condition wearing a 3-kilo collar brace (above) and a minerva vest (below).

With all these drama and circus about Gloria Arroyo, let me share with you my thoughts and other stuff.

• As much as I pity the former President on her condition (provided that is is real), I cannot blame the Aquino Administration for not allowing her to leave the country. She must face the court (and the consequences of her actions). You cannot just leave the country (Plus the face that some of her destination countries have no extradition treaty with the Philippines. We cannot allow another Ramona Bautista here. And her cases are far worst than Ramona’s.)


• Speaking of, I have this feeling that Gloria Arroyo envies Ramona Bautista. Or her critic Panfilo Lacson who also left the country to hide (even before the charges were filed against him).


• Look closely at the second photo, can you feel the agony and sincerity in her eyes? Or is it deceiving?


• Our country has transformed into a nation who love photoshopped memes. First, there was the DPWHere. Then the Hollywood-like sign at Taal Volcano. And now, the Gloria Arroyo creepy memes. Welcome to the Philippines!


• As much as most of us hate her, let us all hope and continue to pray that our former President recover soon. We need her alive! 

Photo Source: TV-5’s Jove Francisco’s Facebook Account

Stop watching fabricated facts on YouTube. Read the news here:

• DOJ to GMA: “No, you can’t go” (Interaksyon.net)


• Ex-President Arroyo, husband, ask SC to declare DOJ watch list order unconstitutional (Inquirer.net)


• Arroyo: Not knowing what ails me is killing me (Manila Standard)