Changing Winds; Changing Views

The Times They Are A-Changin'

Come writers and critics

Who prophesize with your pen

And keep your eyes wide

The chance won't come again

And don't speak too soon

For the wheel's still in spin

And there's no tellin' who

That it's namin'

For the loser now

Will be later to win

For the times they are a-changin'.

Much has obviously changed from the time that Malacanang lackeys in the House of Representatives railroaded the impeachment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. When the people learned of the maneuverinsg that Noynoy Aquino and his allied employed to be transmit the impeachment complaint to the Senate, it was when they finally realized that all the talks about fighting corruption are nothing more than lip service.

Now, we are seeing the political winds changing direction in favor anti-Aquino forces. All of a sudden, the people view Noynoy Aquino and the motivations of his actions with distrust and contempt.

First, the filing of the impeachment complaint is conspicuously done after the Supreme Court handed a final and executory decision to distribute the Hacienda Luisita to the tenant-farmers. Of course we all know that Aquino's family currently owns the single biggest hacienda in the country. Majority of the Filipino people viewed the impeachment of the chief justice as a reprisal for the decision detrimental to the Cojuangcos. No matter how hard Aquino tries to explain himself, the people believe that what he is doing is saving his family's interest. The result? A survey commissioned by the Palace showed that Corona's popularity shot up by 20%, while Noynoy's declined by the same percentage.

Tupas' multi-million house in Loyola Heights

Second, the members of the House prosecution panel aren't exactly the ideal representatives of good governance.

Take for example the panel's head, Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas. Many are wondering how Tupas was able to afford a multi-million house in a posh Quezon City village on a Ps. 25,000 salary? Even Tupas' fellow Ilonggos have lots of story of how the Tupases mishandled provincial funds and abused their powers. In fact, Tupas' father have pending graft cases at the Ombudsman's office.

Then there's Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo who used to head PAG-IBIG. It was during his term when the agency incurred losses running into billions due to questionable deals entered with Globe Asiatique owned by businessman Delfin Lee. Rep. Quimbo certainly has a lot of explaining to do to members of PAG-IBIG.

Lastly, people are now sure that realizing that Noynoy Aquino's priorities (i.e. persecution of political enemies and his love life) are not what the people really wanted and needed.

Because of these, anti-Aquino sentiments on the Internet and media keep on growing each passing day. On an online survey by Inquirer showed that 64.84% are saying Corona won't be convicted. That's almost twice who said the chief justice will be convicted.

Not to be outdone The Philippine Star put up it's own online poll. Those who said that Corona will be convicted initially dominated. But sympathy for the chief justice are now pouring in.

But what surprised me most was when I bumped into someone last Saturday at Jollibee Katipunan. He is a well-known personality who ran but lost in the 2010 elections as representative of a controversial party-list. His party openly supported Aquino but now, he is singing a different tune. Just like majority of Filipinos, he is disappointed wth what Aquino is doing (or not doing).  His parting words to me - "Sige na kung pababagsakin niyo, bilisan niyo na. I support you."

And something in the wind is telling me that more disgruntled sectors will be coming out with their opposition to Aquino.

I think Noynoy and his allies should really listen to Bob Dylan's warning:

Come senators, congressmen

Please heed the call

Don't stand in the doorway

Don't block up the hall

For he that gets hurt

Will be he who has stalled

There's a battle outside

And it is ragin'

It'll soon shake your windows

And rattle your walls

For the times they are a-changin'.