A specter is haunting the Philippines - the specter of former president Marcos. The yellow zombies that are now in power, the economic oligarchs and the opportunist leftists have entered an unholy alliance but not to exorcise Marcos' ghost. They intend to ruthlessly use Marcos, or should I say what remains of him, to protect their interests and to get whatever their bidding is.
Isn't it suspicious that issue of whether the late president should be buried at Libingan ng mga Bayani suddenly hits the headlines? The timing is perfect. Noynoy Aquino is hell-bent in postponing the elections in Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. Noynoy couldn't contain the itch to get rid of the electoral process and exercise his supposed legitimate power to appoint. Noynoy's appointees will hold office for more or less 2 years until 2013.
To postpone the ARMM elections, an enacting law is needed. Such law is to provide so-called legal basis for the sitting president's desire to postpone the elections. Incidentally, Senate committee on local autonomy has the jurisdiction on the issue and the said committee is chaired by no other Sen. Bongbong Marcos, son of the late president.
I can't help but suspect that Malacanang intended to use the issue of Marcos burial as political leverage to convince Sen. Marcos to approve the bill postponing the ARMM elections. Some keen political observers call it serious ARMM-twisting.
Last night, the Senate forced on the measure and voted to approve the bill postponing the ARMM elections, so I guess all my suspicions are rendered moot and academic.
I also would like to take issue with the statement that Etta Rosales of Commission on Human Rights made. The irrepressible Etta considered the idea of allowing Marcos to be buried with full military honors as recommended by Vice President Binay an insult to among others, Cory Aquino who to her, symbolized human rights and democratic rule.
Perhaps being in power has intoxicated Etta blurring her more recent memories. Cory Aquino, symbol of human rights and democratic rule? Total crap!
Wasn't it during Cory's watch that 22 peasants were massacred right at the doorsteps of Malacanang? Wasn't it Cory's regime that adopted the policy of low intensity conflict that resulted to hamletting of rural communities suspected of being sympathetic to communist rebels and their cause?
Wasn't it Cory who encouraged the formation of vigilante and para-military groups like CAFGU, Alsa Masa, Tadtad and the likes that resulted to death of numerous civilians?
Etta needs to refresh her memory and review the long list of involuntary disappearances during Cory's presidency.
Speaking of democratic rule, why don't we just follow the rule laid down by Cory herself regarding burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani. As per Cory Aquino's executive order among those qualified to be laid to rest at the Libingan ng mga Bayani are those who served as president of the Republic and soldiers.
Marcos might be the worst president we had so far. I even agree that he stole billions from the national coffer. Call Marcos anything you want but the fact still remains that he served as president of this Republic. Marcos might have lavished his exploits as freedom fighter and duped us with his war medals. But no one will disagree that he served the Commonwealth government as a soldier.
As the melodramatic plot of yesterday's-oppressed-today's oppressor continues, the remains of the late strongman is waiting for its rightful final resting place. There, it silently waits for politicking to end. Patiently it waits for the end of this mundane practice of invoking the dead in our politics.
Isn't it suspicious that issue of whether the late president should be buried at Libingan ng mga Bayani suddenly hits the headlines? The timing is perfect. Noynoy Aquino is hell-bent in postponing the elections in Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. Noynoy couldn't contain the itch to get rid of the electoral process and exercise his supposed legitimate power to appoint. Noynoy's appointees will hold office for more or less 2 years until 2013.
To postpone the ARMM elections, an enacting law is needed. Such law is to provide so-called legal basis for the sitting president's desire to postpone the elections. Incidentally, Senate committee on local autonomy has the jurisdiction on the issue and the said committee is chaired by no other Sen. Bongbong Marcos, son of the late president.
I can't help but suspect that Malacanang intended to use the issue of Marcos burial as political leverage to convince Sen. Marcos to approve the bill postponing the ARMM elections. Some keen political observers call it serious ARMM-twisting.
Last night, the Senate forced on the measure and voted to approve the bill postponing the ARMM elections, so I guess all my suspicions are rendered moot and academic.
I also would like to take issue with the statement that Etta Rosales of Commission on Human Rights made. The irrepressible Etta considered the idea of allowing Marcos to be buried with full military honors as recommended by Vice President Binay an insult to among others, Cory Aquino who to her, symbolized human rights and democratic rule.
Perhaps being in power has intoxicated Etta blurring her more recent memories. Cory Aquino, symbol of human rights and democratic rule? Total crap!
Wasn't it during Cory's watch that 22 peasants were massacred right at the doorsteps of Malacanang? Wasn't it Cory's regime that adopted the policy of low intensity conflict that resulted to hamletting of rural communities suspected of being sympathetic to communist rebels and their cause?
Wasn't it Cory who encouraged the formation of vigilante and para-military groups like CAFGU, Alsa Masa, Tadtad and the likes that resulted to death of numerous civilians?
Etta needs to refresh her memory and review the long list of involuntary disappearances during Cory's presidency.
Speaking of democratic rule, why don't we just follow the rule laid down by Cory herself regarding burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani. As per Cory Aquino's executive order among those qualified to be laid to rest at the Libingan ng mga Bayani are those who served as president of the Republic and soldiers.
Marcos might be the worst president we had so far. I even agree that he stole billions from the national coffer. Call Marcos anything you want but the fact still remains that he served as president of this Republic. Marcos might have lavished his exploits as freedom fighter and duped us with his war medals. But no one will disagree that he served the Commonwealth government as a soldier.
As the melodramatic plot of yesterday's-oppressed-today's oppressor continues, the remains of the late strongman is waiting for its rightful final resting place. There, it silently waits for politicking to end. Patiently it waits for the end of this mundane practice of invoking the dead in our politics.
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