The security of the airports in Manila and Davao was breached by an expert who brought into the aircraft bomb components smuggled and went through security procedures undetected in both airports. This was to test the effectivity and efficiency of our airport security system.

True, the security system at both airports was breached bringing to light the glaring defects in our security systems. That placed in doubt all our security efforts, whether at the airport, seaport, and land transportation facilities. The publicity of the breach alarmed the nation and the uproar was heard around the world.

Viewing the effect of the breach on the nation: Who breached the security? Who is to blame?

Not the breacher.

Not the security personnel at the airports.

But the publicity of the breach that scandalized the nation’s security.

An executive session could have been conducted quietly to discuss the result of the test and undertake measures to correct the security deficiencies. Print media may participate in the session with the caveat of no publicity whatsoever.

I dared to heed the longing cry of 85 million Filipinos for a man who would lead them out of the tyranny of corruption and deceit and incompetence of the present Administration. I have waited for Jose Rizal’s youth of the land and hope of the Fatherland.

But where are they in this hour of need..

I find it a shame that given the ills and misrule that bedevil our country, none of our young generation of leaders would step forward and take the lead to do something.

We of the old generation shed tears and blood to gain for our country honor, freedom and dignity. All the young to whom we have bequeathed these gifts are called upon to do is to stand in active vigilance that they may not be robbed of these gifts. But where are they?

Do you just stay in the sidelines unmindful of the plaintive plea of our people for a change, making sport of those others who out of genuine sense of patriotism have chosen to act?

I have not given up all hope for our young. In time, goodness and love of country will again pulsate in their hearts. They will waken and act according to what their hearts dictate, not in the manner convenient or fear of what the keepers of power unlawfully tell them to.

In time. It will come, the dawn

Mabuhay ang kabataan ng bayan!.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

A concomitant will to act by concerned states is needed to carry out  their responsibility to protect the larger affected humanity.

The UN Security Council has called for a ceasefire between the Israeli military and the Hezbollah guerillas to protect the innocent  non-combatants from the ravages of the war. Israel has agreed to fulfill its part of the conditions imposed by the Security Council Resolution 1701 calling for the ceasefire.

On the part of Lebanon, it will need a courageous political will to disarm and dismantle the Hezbollahs that have been holding the Lebanese government hostage in this proxy war with Israel.

The situation in that part of the Middle East bears watching as it remains fluid especially in the wake of the Lebanese government’s uncertain ability to control the Syrian/Iranian-supported Hezbollah. The Lebanese government will certainly find it difficult to have the political will to resolve a politically sensitive problem posed by the Hezbollah.

Because of the uncertain situation, our OFWs in Lebanon will continue to risk the danger of being harmed in case violence erupts notwithstanding the declared ceasefire. It is about time to set up and empower a national contingency system in the likes of the National Peace and Order Council and the National Disaster Coordinating Council to insure that international disorders do not adversely affect the safety and security of Filipinos abroad as well as our relations with concerned States with whom we have diplomatic ties and negotiate with other States for the employment of the affected Filipino workers.

Check and balance has turned into a contest for superiority between the Executive and the Legislative with Justice in a blind holding the Balance caring less whither it will tip to reconciliation or

revolution.

In a biblical way, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Both branches exchange blow with counterblow, force with counterforce. The legislators threatens to cite the bureaucrats with contempt; the executives dangles the porks and perks of Damocles. And blindfolded justice meanwhile dozes and awaits for a motion to awake it instead of intervening pronto to diffuse a raging revolutionary situation and save democracy.

Truth lies in state in the mortuary of Congress.

Like in the first case, democratic numbers killed it.

The killing was legalized by the participation of the minority in a well-paid majority-staged democratic voting.

The minority refused to learn its lesson. They legalized the killing of the 2nd impeachment at the committee level again by voting knowing that they didn’t have the numbers to uphold and pursue the truth content of their impeachment complaint.

There is now doubt whether the minority is sincere in pursuing the truth behind impeachment. The final show whether Congress will stage a true or made-up democracy will be when the Justice Committee submits its report to the plenary. Knowing that their numbers would stand to lose, their participation in voting to kill the impeachment will just be part of the show that there is still democracy in the sessions of Congress.

As implied by the majority, the plenary will turn out to be a necro where the speakers from the minority and majority will eulogize the goodness of Truth before Philippine Democracy buries it.

God bless the Philippines. God bless us all.

The global outcry against terrorism created by the 9-11 disaster in New York has created a paranoia all over the world that terror lurks everywhere. The Philippines, even before the 9-11 incident, had its own experience, but the global paranoia was so contagious that our politicians started releasing unbridled statements against the counterinsurgency and intelligence operations of the military and the police forces.

The members of Congress, especially, have shown no qualms in blowing up to the detriment of the security and stability of the nation the alleged failures of the very institutions that have the Constitutional responsibility of protecting the people and the State. It seems that Congress has forgotten its implied responsibility as a national institution that its members have the collective duty to stabilize and unify the nation. Opening their mouths in public against these forces to the point of ridiculing them surely adds to their political mileage but without realizing that they are actually dividing the nation and creating distrust against the military and police forces.

Instead of criticizing openly the operational deficiencies of the military and the police, they should call the responsible officials to an executive session for a man-to-man assessment of their operational needs and resources to improve their peace and order operations in the country.

Let’s face it! Despite the meager resources in men, money and sophisticated equipment, our military and police operations can compare creditably with those of better equipped foreign military and police forces. The Israeli military and Mossad operations could not prevent the almost daily incursions of Palestinian bombers and unrelented bombings inside Israeli territory. Despite the sophistications in operational technique and equipment, the US Armed Forces, the FBI and the CIA, the disastrous 9-11 happened, and this got the world community into a war that knows no border and against an enemy that strikes stealthily and violently.

To the credit of Philippine intelligence, 9-11 could have been averted had US intelligence gave proper attention and read correctly Philippine intelligence reports. I read in the papers that a similar debacle of 9-11 intensity could have happened in Singapore had it not been for the correct reading and timely coordination between Singaporean and Philippine intelligence authorities.

In many parts of the world, bombings and other acts of terrorism are happening. We are not exempted, but this is not a reason for our security forces to lean on or a reason for our national leaders to divide the nation against them. Our security forces are doing their best despite their limited resources. Congress should recognize this. Only Congress can improve their capability.

August 16, 2006

Winning the Future for the Filipino People Through Discipline and Authoritative Governance

Prayer for a New Hope

We, dedicated Filipino citizens, imploring the aid of Almighty God, commit ourselves to consolidate our efforts in installing the foundations of a Strong Republic, lead in the search for a strong, decisive, disciplined and visionary leadership that will draw the line of departure from where to move forward for renewal and reform, improve the quality of life of our people, and unify them in the march toward a progressive and prosperous national life.

We believe that Government’s ultimate goal is the enhancement of the well-being and welfare of the people, as well as the preservation of the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

We believe that those who man Government, whether they belong to the national or local leadership or serve in the bureaucracy of the civil and military services, are duty-bound to render unconditional and responsible public service.

We believe that government service is measured only in terms of the satisfaction of the society it serves.

We believe that the governing and the governed equitably share in the purposeful governance of the nation.

We believe that a disciplined citizenry is fundamental in the building of a great Filipino Nation.

We believe that national maladies such as graft and corruption can only be checked by the example and leadership of any sitting President as well as those others in the national and local leadership.

In view of the foregoing, we advocate that radical and wide-ranging reforms have to be instituted to stabilize and strengthen the nation’s security, give a boost to the nation’s economic development, and restore the dignity of our people in the community of nations through this program for national salvation.

I. Premise for change

Situation. Our country has long been in crisis.

Traditional politics has become the major stumbling block in the socio-economic advancement of the country. Social inequities have given rise to insurgencies, criminal and terrorist violence holding hostage our forward development This is the time to take a peaceful but bold step to change and regenerate our society. As Apolinario Mabini advised, in order to build the proper edifice of our social regeneration, it is imperative that we should change boldly and radically not only our institutions but also our manner of behaving and thinking.

In other words, there is a need for a revolutionary transition with a firm but benevolent leadership to develop discipline, institute authoritative governance, and install the foundations of a strong nation.

II. Transition

Vision. A new Philippine Republic is envisioned to be governed by an authoritative government, so structured to expeditiously respond to the needs of the people under a guided and disciplined democracy.

Mission. To establish the foundation of a strong Filipino Nation via reforms that will stabilize and strengthen the nation’s security, boost economic development, and restore the dignity of the Filipino people in the community of nations.

Concept of transition. With the AFP/PNP maintaining a neutral position, civil society or a component thereof intervenes in the governance of the nation as the occasion arises using Sec. 1, Art. II of the present Constitution. The civil society and AFP/PNP then coordinate to form a Transition Government (TG), the former choosing the Head of Government (HG) and the latter the C-in-C from among the civil society and retired military. Both coordinate to carry out tasks of transition.  The HG concentrates in instituting reforms, the C-in-C concentrates in maintaining peace and order. Both oversee the governance of the TG through a Transition Council (TC). Transition shall be undertaken with a clean slate. Backsliders shall promptly be dealt with the full force of revolutionary laws. Governing Council with Head of Gov’t Transition is a cleansing period to reform present institutions of governance and clean the ills of the traditionally corrupt political system. Hopefully, transition will take 1 – 2 or 3 years depending on the accomplishment of the tasks of transition. All those in the Transition Government shall not be eligible to participate in the election for the new Constitutional Government.

Immediate tasks of transition.

1. Abolish the present Constitution and adopt a provisional one. Meanwhile, constitute a Commission to prepare a new constitution to establish the legal basis for a new system of governance for ratification by the people.

2. Abolish Congress except its secretariat that shall codify all laws.

3. Abolish COMELEC, suspend political elections, and declare vacant all national elective positions

including those in Congress.

4. Consider the members of the Supreme Court automatically resigned.

5. Announce the composition of the Transition Government and pertinent Proclamations, General

Orders, Decrees, Letters of Instruction.

6. Announce the new AFP and PNP chain of command.

7. Abolish parliamentary and presidential immunities.

8. Abolish pork.

9. Moratorium on strikes until further orders.

10. National executive offices and LGUs shall continue their functions unless directed otherwise. However, incumbent elected barangay, municipal, provincial or national officials related within the 4th civil degree of consanguinity and affinity are prohibited to serve within the same political geographic entity.

11. Business as usual but with discipline and order,especially in the operation of public utilities.

12. Enhance the development of national discipline through fair, just, and fast enforcement of laws from police action to prosecution and court decision. Due process is meant to facilitate not to delay court action. Unless national security is affected, utmost

transparency shall be allowed in courts especially in cases where the accuser is the “People of the

Philippines”.

13. Facilitate disposition of cases priority to graft and corruption, tax evasion, and violations of laws that pertain to the elections, smuggling and drug trafficking, depredation of the environment, economic sabotage, heinous crimes, and strictly enforce

penalties thereof.

14. Create summary courts to try arrested target personalities / enemies of the State, and malum prohibitum offenses without legal intervention.

15. Freedoms of speech, press, and peaceable assembly shall be exercised without infringing on and adversely affecting internal stability and national security.

16. Consolidate procurement, contracting and major logistics function and responsibility in a general services office to reduce widespread temptation for corruption in government and allot the needed funds for the operation of government offices down to the

bureau or equivalent level of the bureaucracy.

17. Institute price control especially of rice and other staples and basic commodities, including medicines until the economic situation is stabilized.

18. Peg the peso to the dollar to stabilize the export / import business.

19. Improve pricing and quality of local products to be competitive in international trade and commerce.

20. Reform the monetary system to fund and support infrastructure development and facilitate the

industrialization of the country.

21. Moratorium on foreign borrowings but encourage foreign investments to come in to boost the nation’s

economy.

22. Relevel and stabilize wages in the bureaucracy such that no salary is higher than that of the Head of

State / Government.

23. Institute an ID system for national identification and for any other legal purpose.

24. Sell GOCCs to private business.

25. Revert to VAT without exemption and simplify taxation for the easy understanding of the taxpayer. Meanwhile, develop an infrastructure for taxation to minimize manipulation for tax avoidance, reduce the span of tax surveillance to improve tax collection,

and make revenue sharing and allocation with LGUs automatic, equitable and transparent. Employment generation and anti-poverty measures.

26. Maximize orientation of agricultural production, mineral extraction, and manufacturing business toward

export.

27. Increase the building of infrastructures and other necessary public works such as railroads, roads and highways, seaports and airports, and improve their usability and efficiency to encourage domestic and international trade and commerce, to widen employment and to decongest metropolitan areas of the country.

28. Improve agricultural production by installing more irrigation systems, building more farm-to-market roads, mechanizing and improving agricultural production techniques, and facilitating access of farmers to credit institutions with reasonable interests and with the integrity and project of the farmers as collateral.

29. Widen areas for land cultivation by disposing public lands as well as idle, abandoned, and sequestered lands to the landless that are willing to own and make such lands productive. Land reform is meant to improve / increase the productivity of land.

30. Large agriculture farmlands or haciendas shall not be subject to CARP unless they become agriculturally unproductive or are converted to non-agricultural purposes.

31. Improve the tenancy law to raise the share of the tenant above the poverty line, provide facilities for education, at least on the elementary level, of the children and for the health and livelihood of the families of the tenants.

32. Direct the private sector, especially the major industries, to provide within their capability low-cost housing and other community development amenities for their workers and worker-dependents to enhance amicable and mutually cooperative relations between labor and capital and bring about industrial peace in communities where they have a presence.

33. Prioritize community development schemes in poverty-stricken areas and reduce their isolation from the mainstream of the nation’s social life. Address social and educational needs of the poor.

34. Institute socialized medical amenities in the public health system especially for the poor and underprivileged.

35. Institute free or affordable education for the poor and underprivileged in the public school system and improve the quality of education at all levels seeing to it that the emphasis of education and skills training are in accord with the needs of the nation’s

economic development.

36. Return to the basics of citizenship training, and emphasize and instill at all levels of education social consciousness, civic-mindedness, and discipline.

37. Improve incentives for Filipino inventors and artists to encourage and promote the development of Filipino creativity and ingenuity.

38. Prioritize incentives for education, health, and other government-instituted privileges to marginalized families that practice responsible parenthood.

Government administration.

39. Only concerned government offices and instrumentalities shall be used in the distribution of the fruits of government and material assistance from whatever source to beneficiaries regardless of political affiliation.

40. Avoid riding on the back of business. Government is a service organization that insures a good climate for business and investment, and sets the direction of the nation’s economy and development. It regulates, oversees, monitors the proper use of the national patrimony and the proper management and operation of strategic public utilities such as power, water, transportation, and communications especially during emergencies, and sees that business reciprocates its profit-making objective with its social

responsibility.

41. Implement laws without much ado in order not to create restiveness and anxiety among the intended beneficiaries.

42. Formulate laws such that there can only be one interpretation and no other meaning except as formulated.

43. Members of government shall accept full transparency in all aspects of governance to include divestment in trust of their business interests that come in conflict with their official functions.

44. Additional qualifications in the field of education, experience, and/or civil service with full transparency of personal circumstances shall be required of those who seek elective or appointive positions like anyone who enters government service.

45. Appointments to Cabinet and other positions in Government shall be distributed equitably throughout the three major islands of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao taking cognizance of the different ethnic sectors of society.

46. All members of government must be committed unconditionally, body, mind, and spirit, to a disciplined and authoritative governance of the nation. Intensify peace and order campaign.

47. Pursue the peace process with more vigor without being hindered by military action against the violence of the insurgents.

48. Revitalize the major sultanates in Muslim Mindanao And use them in the pursuit of peace and development in the South in coordination cooperation with ARMM.

49. Set up and empower a national contingency organization using such systems as: Peace and Order and Disaster Coordinating system to coordinate efforts against natural and man-made disasters and mitigate the effects of such calamities on persons, properties and communities; Economic Assistance system to mitigate restiveness of those in poverty-stricken and socially isolated depressed areas; National Resources Management system to insure proper management and continuous operation of strategic public utilities such as power, water, transportation, communication especially during national emergencies; and, Foreign Relations Contingency system to insure that international disorders do not adversely affect the safety and security of Filipinos abroad as well as our relations with concerned countries with whom we have diplomatic ties. Enhance equitable foreign relations.

50. Reciprocity and non-interference in internal affairs shall be the main guidelines in pursuing our relations with other countries to enhance respect as equal sovereign nations.

51. While we recognize historical relationships and special ties and participate in international and regional diplomatic conveyances, we shall continue to exert efforts to recast relations toward mutually acceptable direction and redefine linkages and acceptable arrangements in the economic, scientific, cultural, technological, and political and security Fields.

52. A review of the special ties between the Philippines and the United States for mutual defense, military assistance, and economic support is in order to redefine acceptable security and economic arrangements.

53. It will be more beneficial to our people in the Sultanate of Sulu and useful in our relations with Malaysia to treat Sabah as a proprietary issue rather than a sovereignty issue. The Philippine Government shall however help the heirs to secure a just and fair

increase in rent as well as a priority and substantial share in the use of the land and in the exploitation and exploration of the natural resources of Sabah. Address the interests of the active and retired military.

54. Fix the term of office of the CSAFP and CPNP to make them more effective in administering and managing their respective establishments and in maintaining the morale and discipline of their personnel in the interest of the security and stability of the nation. 55. Pursue reforms in the AFP and the PNP having in mind the recommendations of the Davide and Feliciano Commissions.

56. Resolutely deal with corruption in both organizations by imposing appropriate pernalties thereof.

57. Review the PNP Charter with the end in view of determining the effectivity and efficiency of a two-police force system (national and local) in the enforcement of national, special, and local laws and in the maintenance of peace and order.

52. Strengthen the ties of civilian and military / police leaderships by developing a relationship that respects the chain of command of both uniformed service. Both services respect civilian authority and trust that such authority is not used as a license to needlessly interfere in its internal affairs.

53. To minimize political interference in the military establishment, only the appointments of the CSAFP and those of 3-star rank shall be subjected to confirmation by proper authority.

54. AFP leadership shall be represented demographically and endowed with a superior mind and decisive character.

55. Military and police education and training shall include the understanding of the affairs of the State, its vision, ideology and values of the society and the environment in which it is operating, and is intended to turn out soldiers and leaders whose skills are of

value not only to the uniformed services but also to the civilian society.

56. National situation permitting, reorganize the present regular force into a small, highly mobile, well trained standing armed force supported by an organized ready reserve whose complements are rotated into the active service periodically.

57. Regional complements of the reserve and territorial citizen armed force of the  AFP and PNP shall be readily mobilizable and available on call to confront man-made emergencies and/or natural calamities within their area of responsibility.

58. Affiliated reserves in strategic public utilities, such as water, power, energy, communication, and transportation, shall be maintained and enhanced to widen the base of the reserve force and more importantly to develop discipline in the operation of

these utilities and reduce the incidence of work stoppages.

59. Maximize the role of the military and the police in nation building especially in the fields of engineering works, adult / informal education in remote areas of the country, and in agricultural extension works in order to reduce the financial burden of government in these non-military functions.

60. Prioritize and pursue the modernization of the AFP and the PNP. 

61. Intensify the self-reliance development program to cater to the needs of the AFP and the PNP especially in the production of ammunition, armaments and other materiel for AFP and PNP modernization, in particular and for the overall economic development of the country.

62. Improve the living standard of the soldier and policeman, active and retired, aside from increased emoluments, by:

• Better housing, better commissary service, better medical service, wider opportunities for education and training to give them and their dependents additional qualification for employment and better opportunities for additional income;

• Priority to qualified dependents and the retired for employment in the civilian components of the DND/AFP and the DILG/PNP;

• Priority to qualified veterans-operated enterprises in providing within their capability the logistics needs of the armed forces and their civilian components;

• Standardizing and improving veteran’s benefits;

• Regularly allocating retiree pension incremental increase as promotions of those in the active service are effected.

III. A proposal for authoritative governance

Concept of authoritative governance. Authoritative governance  is derived from the culture of the Filipino family that is traditionally paternalistic. It is a guided, disciplined, and responsible form of governance. The father-head relates with the members of the clan in a democratic way and executes with discipline and authority the family decisions.

Concept of change toward authoritative governance. The idea of structuring toward a parliamentary system of government is to level the playing field for national leadership by providing equitable participation of the autonomous regions in an oversight structure for national decision-making, and giving these regions the opportunity to provide the national leadership on a rotation basis. The design of this system of governance is to cure the ills of the past political practices and lay the basis for the establishment of a federal government in the future.

Autonomous regions. Autonomous regions may be constituted from among the 12 numbered regions, NCR as a special administrative region, the Cordillera, and ARMM.

Each Region shall, among others:

• Operate in accordance with the functions and responsibilities devolved to it by organic acts approved by Parliament.

• Coordinate and provide direction in the development of its territory;

• Be vested with the power to declare state of emergency and to call out complements of the AFP reserve and territorial forces to quell man-made emergencies, and provide assistance during natural calamities anywhere within their respective jurisdiction.

Metro Manila shall be the capital of the New Republic, with Quezon City as the center of Government, City of Manila as the center of commerce and trade, and Makati City as the financial center of the Republic.

The Presidency. The Presidency/Chief of State shall be rotated on a fixed term of three (3) years from among

each of seven (7) major regional clusters that may be constituted as follows:

• Northern Luzon (R1, R2, R3)

• Southern Luzon (R4, R5)

• The Visayas (R6, R7, R8)

• Mindanao (R9, R10, R11, R12)

• ARMM

• NCR

• The Cordillera

The rotation of the presidency is intended:

• To eliminate the expensive practice of directly electing the President;

• To minimize the temptation to commit graft and corruption;

• To give each Regional Cluster, especially the Muslims and other ethnic groups who may never have a chance in a direct election, the opportunity to provide a Chief of State on a fixed term. So, in a rotation cycle, we will have a Muslim, or an Igorot as President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Presidential power and the Council of State. The President is vested with oversight power to effect authoritative governance. He is not a figurehead or just a ceremonial person.

He is assisted by a Council of State composed of one (1) Counsellor from each Autonomous Region. The Council operates as a corporate body with the President/Chief of State as Chairman/Chief Executive Officer and the Prime Minister/Chief of Government as

Chief Operating Officer. It constitutes the authoritative leadership that sees to the unity of governance of the nation and harmony of government actions. It holds office and sits in Council to advise and assist the President by, among others:

• Initiating public policy as basis for legislative action;

• Reviewing legislations with an eye to improving them and seeing to their proper implementation;

• Seeing to the proper governance of the nation, the strict and equitable dispensation of the national justice system, the proper implementation of the responsibility of the military service and civil service in enhancing and protecting the sovereignty of the people and the security of the State;

• Seeing to it that the needs and welfare of the People and the State are served well; • Confirming the acts of government headed by the Prime Minister as Chief of Government. Oversight commissions. Oversight commissions may be created to assist the Council in monitoring and overseeing the governance of the nation. These commissions shall be non-partisan instrumentalities each headed by an Elder Statesman appointed by the President with the consent of the Council.

• Civil Service Commission – monitors and oversees continuity in the administrative management of government notwithstanding changes in the national and local political leadership.

• Military Service Commission – monitors and oversees the responsibility of the armed forces to protect the People and secure the State and the integrity of the national territory.

• Justice and Law Enforcement Commission – monitors and oversees the administration and management of law enforcement, and the judicious dispensation of the national justice system.

• Commission on Audit – monitors and oversees the operation and financial performance of the Government as well as the observance of the ethical standard of the public service.

• Strategic and International Relations Commission – monitors and oversees the operations of the Foreign Service especially in international crisis situations where Philippine diplomatic relations and the safety and security of Philippine nationals are affected.

• Socio-Economic and Development Commission – monitors and oversees national and regional development for the purpose of reducing the gap between progressive and depressed communities and insuring equitable development of the national community.

Distribution of government power. Government power is distributed as follows:

• Legislative – vested on the Speaker chosen from among members of a unicameral Parliament composed of elected representatives under a two-party system.

• Executive – vested on the Prime Minister, chosen from among the members of Parliament, and together with his Cabinet, responsible and accountable to the Parliament in the proper execution and implementation of the rule of law.

• Judicial – vested on the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

All the three (3) branches of government are collectively responsible and accountable to the President that has oversight power over the discharge of their functions and responsibilities. Focus of governance. Governance is focused on the civil service and the military and police service.

The civil service is the administrative and management fixture that assists the national and local government units in their daily operations, and expeditiously responds to the needs and welfare of the people and the State.

The military / police service is charged with the preservation and maintenance of internal stability and external security. All these services shall be committed unconditionally to the service of the people and the State. They shall establish and enforce standards of professional competence at all levels of their organizations. The military / police service shall enforce strictly and with discipline its standards as it is the only institution that has the legitimate monopoly and expertise to deploy force and manage it in the interest of the nation.

Conclusion. The lessons of the EDSAs are loud and clear, The EDSAs contemplated reform of our political institutions and renewal of the values of our people through the inculcation of discipline on both the governing and the governed but failed.  But whatever government is instituted, the ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life of the people and secure for them their safety and happiness, as well as protect the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. FUA 02/23/05.

August 15,2006

The Need for Revolutionary Transition

Last April 30, 2005, the Movement for National Salvation was launched with the objective of ousting GMA from the Presidency. This tipped and snowballed into several movements of various persuasions calling for GMA to step down.

Unfortunately, these movements have not rooted strongly into the ground to present a sturdy united front to effectively challenge the enormous powers of GMA’s presidency.

With no strong effort to unite, these movements are now clustered in various post-GMA takeover scenarios - “in the box” or constitutional solutions and “out of the box” solution of extra-constitutional or radical character of change.

“In the box” or constitutional scenarios come in the form of constitutional succession; snap or any form of election; impeachment; charter change by convention, constituent assembly, or appointed constitutional commission, all of which are intended to preserve the status quo..

“Out of the box” means unconstitutional mode of change that may come in the form of a coup by the military, police, any armed rebel group, or any segment thereof; or, extra-constitutional but not unconstitutional by people power alone or aided by the military in a constitutional rescue to change the incumbent dysfunctional government and provide for a transition that will lay down a new and reformed constitutional order.

In Ukraine and Georgia, pure people power toppled the incumbent leaderships. In Thailand, people power toppled the incumbent Prime Minister.

Here, there is a strong notion that civil society through people power alone will not succeed to remove the national leadership and change the system of governance without military support.

Edsa 1 influenced this thinking that without military support people power alone will not succeed.

What happened at that time was that the call for the people to protect the Enrile-Ramos rebellion sucked the whole military establishment to tip the balance against the Marcos regime. That event institutionalized the protector clause of the military in the 1987 Constitution, and that clause was used in Edsa 2 in support of the move of the sovereign people to withdraw its authority for President Estrada to farther govern the nation in accordance with Section 1, Article II of the Constitution.

But I, for one, still believe in a united, solid, peaceful mass movement of people bound by a common cause and unrestrained by organizational or personal persuasions – political, social, economic, ethnic, religious, ideological – moving and carrying only one flag, the Philippine Flag to show a real people movement to effectively confront and topple a misgoverning and corrupt national authority without the support of the military that is firmly holding on to its neutral position.

Opting for an “in the box” solution will only perpetuate the status quo or trapo system of governance that has been pushing this nation farther to the brink of national disaster.

The proposal for a Constituent Assembly to write a new Constitution, the most applauded during GMA’s SONA, invited strong repercussions in that it will only cater to the whims and political interests of the members of Congress, one of the institutions that need to be overhauled and revolutionized.

And this is the reason that some groups, using the Constitution’s sovereignty-of-the-people clause, are seeking “out of the box” mode of change to replace the present national leadership system with one that will uphold the interests of the people as a whole.

The most publicized “out of the box” method is to put up a caretaker government to provide for a revolutionary transition toward a new and reformed constitutional system of governance.

Why revolutionary transition? Because there is a need for a cleansing period of say 1 to 2 or 3 years to transit to a new system of governance.

Transition implies a timeline to undertake innovative

and revolutionary ways of cleaning the dirt of our

traditional politics and institutions, inculcating discipline in our way of thinking and behaving as a people, developing a firm and authoritative governance under a disciplined democracy.

Revolutionary transition is nationalist in character – meaning a non-onion-skinned virtue of country-first-before-oneself, absorbing into our culture and our way of life the good things from our neighbors and the world outside that will promote progress and prosperity for our country and people.

It is constitutional. It stands squarely and firmly on Section 1, Article II of the Constitution that defines the sovereignty of the people from whom emanate the authority of government to govern. Which implies that when the powers of government are used to the detriment of the interests of the people and the State, it is the right of the people to change that government and replace it with one that will effect the peoples’ safety and happiness and move the nation toward a progressive and prosperous national life.

In view of this, there is nothing more for GMA to discern but to step down.

The failure of the lower house of Congress to push the impeachment of the President has emboldened more people to raise their voices in outrage for her to step down from the Presidency.

The so-called representatives of the people in the lower house miserably failed to discern the moral value of the impeachment process. Using legal technicalities and “democratic” numbers, they blocked the people’s desire to know the truth about GMA’s presidential behavior.

Whether they succumbed to palace manipulation, as reported in the media, or not, is of no moment. They and the palace will have to share the explosive impact of the people’s anger.

The general outcry for GMA to step down has deafeningly reverberated across the land. This, despite the manifestations of local executives and of those who would want to maintain the status quo for their personal, business and political interests and who fear the loss of their well-paying jobs should she step down.

And the outrage of the people has doubly increased with GMA giving authority to her national security adviser to consummate the Venable LLP lobby contract inviting foreign interference in our internal affairs in violation of a highly respected and well accepted principle on international relations.

With the economy in shambles, more people wallowing in poverty, hunger and disease, joblessness at all-time high, and corruption stalking all sectors in government, there is nothing more for GMA to discern but to be morally courageous and patriotic enough to step down for the good of the country and people.

This is the implication of her call for unity and reconciliation for her to give way to a caretaker government that will clean the dirt of our traditional political system after which a new constitutional government will be set up where she can vie again for national leadership. I firmly believe that this is the best service that GMA can give to the people and fulfill her dream of being a good President. MGen FU Abat (Ret) 150905

August 15,2006

=================================================

Wake up, Generals and Justices!!!

What happened in last Friday’s 14 October prayer-rally should open the eyes of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Supreme Court to the unconstitutional abuse of power by the Arroyo government against legitimate expressions of the people’s rights and freedoms defined in Section 4, Article III of the Constitution.

Both these institutions should wake up and exercise their responsibility in the face of wanton violations of the constitutional rights of the people by an immoral, dictatorial, and graft-ridden government.

The Arroyo government’s citations of previous laws abridging the freedoms of speech, of expression, or the press, or the right of the people to peaceably assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances do not exonerate President Arroyo from culpable violations of the Constitution.

In the face of an unfolding revolutionary situation and an ever-increasing violence against the people’s rights, the Judicial Branch does not have to wait for cases to be filed before it acts. The separation of power of the branches of government should not prevent the Judiciary to take immediate remedial action to forestall what might impend as a civil war.

And so with the AFP, it should not wait for a call for it to act and caution the PNP from abusing its police power to the detriment of the people’s welfare. It should not be afraid of being castigated by a C-in-C that has lost its moral ascendancy to command because of violating the code of honor of the military profession.

This, we should remember – that GMA is the destabilizer of the country by her wanton violations of the Constitution and the rule of law, and that the people are fed up not with continuing their protests but with the immoral and abusive misgovernance of GMA... MGen. FU Abat (Ret) 18/10/05

August 15, 2006

=================================================

How the Crises in the Philippines and Thailand Differ

Common charges of corruption, cronyism, poor governance, and the propensity to use strong-armed methods to stay in power have triggered the crises in both Thailand and the Philippines.

What is different is that in Thailand the military and the police have talked out Prime Minister Thaksin from taking a hard line against anti-government militants and to consider voluntarily stepping down.

Here in the Philippines, the military and the police conspired with President Arroyo to take a hard line against anti-GMA militants in order for her to stay in power.

In Thailand, the military and the police uphold the sovereignty of the people. Here in the Philippines, the military and the police refuses to realize that the true Chain of Command starts not from a Commander-in-Chief but from the Sovereign People that created it.

In Thailand, the military and the police value honor more than any other in the exercise of their profession. Here in the Philippines, the military and the police value their profession as livelihood more than the honor of being in the profession of arms.

In Thailand, the top military and police leadership express their anti-Government sentiments openly without fear of being relieved and charged for inciting to sedition. Here in the Philippines, the top military and police leadership are muzzled by the fear of being relieved of their livelihood and charged for violation of the Articles of War.

In Thailand, protesters are not prevented from rallying around the Government House of Prime Minister Thaksin. Here in the Philippines, President Arroyo, because of her feeling of insecurity and paranoia, has fortified Malacañang and barricaded it to the extent of cracking down on peaceful protests in every nook and corner of MetroManila.

In Thailand, the King serves as the respected body that oversees governance and promotes harmony and unity of contending political forces in the country.

Here in the Philippines, the much vaunted democratic principle of separation of powers by the three independent branches of government has failed to unify and harmonize government action as they vie for primacy in national leadership.

August 14,2006

=================================================

The role of the AFP as protector of the People and the State was institutionalized in the 1987 Constitution as a result of the Enrile-Ramos rebellion against the dictatorial regime of Marcos that drew people to peaceably assemble along EDSA between Aguinaldo and Crame. AFP elements moved in to disperse the crowd but did not and instead protected the people from the use of force as recommended by CSAFP Ver to disperse the peaceful assembly.

As defined in Section 3, Article II, People is emphasized as first and foremost the object of protection by the AFP by reason of the sovereignty of the people from which government draws its authority

to govern as defined in Section 1, Article II.

This implies that when government uses its powers to the detriment of the welfare and interests of the people, when government is abusive and governance becomes immoral, dictatorial, and graft-ridden, it is but right for the people to change that government and replace it with one that will most likely effect their welfare and wellbeing under the protective mantle of the AFP.

As a government institution, the AFP, among others, is also constitutionally responsible for the maintenance of peace and order and the protection of life, liberty, property, and general welfare of the people in accordance with Section 5 of the same Article.

Under the present situation, CNS-CNU, as an alternative group, has called on the AFP to stay neutral and respect its chain of command in order that it will not be fragmented when the time comes for it to discern and exercise its constitutional responsibility to protect the people from abuses of government to abridge the rights of the people under Section 4, Article III of the Constitution, among which is the right to peaceably assemble and petition government for redress of grievances.

There should be no fear that the military will take advantage by grabbing power and taking over government. The military knows that this is not the essence of Section 3, Article II of the Constitution...MGen FU Abat (Ret) 171005.

August 14, 2006

=================================================

(A message to our Young Cavaliers)

I tried to figure out what words of advice to give our young Cavaliers who, suddenly in one convulsion of history, were thrust into the center of the political stage as implementers of the controversial Proclamation 1017.

Politics is not alien subject to military men. It is neither a focus of their training or discipline. But I can sense the confusion in the minds of our young soldiers how to read the unfolding political events and how they should react if drawn into any kind of involvement.

Proclamation 1017 is a serious, very serious matter. I wish it were not our Cavaliers, especially the young ones, who are called upon to implement unsavory provisions. The Proclamation impinges on fundamental rights of citizens, and who get it on the neck from the irate people who feel their rights were violated but the implementers of the Proclamation, the soldiery?

Being a non-lawyer, I will not venture an opinion about the constitutionality or unconstitutionality of 1017. But I voice here my fervent sentiment that those in power will not conveniently use our Cavaliers as instruments to commit acts that though arguably clothed with legality are patently immoral and unjust and which would earn for the soldier a public image more commonly associated with oppression.

The Bill of Rights is the most sacrosanct provision of the Constitution that can only be set aside under the gravest of circumstances. The rights of citizens to peacefully assemble, to express their thoughts in public fora or in print or electronic media, to worship their God in their own fashion and other privileges of free spirit in a democratic society are rights that should be guarded and guaranteed by government and not trampled upon through use of military might.

Unfortunate, indeed our Cavaliers, especially the young idealistic ones. They are today, I am sure, deeply bothered. The Constitution says they are the protector of the people but they are ordered to break up peaceful assemblies and in the process of so doing bash heads of the people they are suppose to protect.

They are bound by their oath to fight for the preservation of the State but are bothered by doubts.

Are they in reality risking their lives and limbs for the preservation of the State or for someone’s political survival and her questioned right to continue holding on to power?

And so like a father to his sons, let me impart some sobering thoughts to our young Cavaliers.

It will not do anyone any good – not our country, not the military institution – breaking the Chain-of-Command, So stay, make no move that would compromise the military organization’s unity, tarnish the values you acquired from years in the Academy, of loyalty, integrity, patriotism and honor, and put in jeopardy your safety and career.

It is fortunate that the civilian leadership has put you in the horns of a dilemma to disregard an order from higher authority, an option which is against your oath, or to carry out the order which you believe in your heart of hearts as anti-people and may even be violative of the Constitution. I advise you to stick to what is clear. Obey the Chain-of-Command as your oath says, and let the politicians sort out the problems which are of their own creation. But through proper channels and authorized procedures make known to the Chain-of-Command your personal and collective stand on gray-area matters of policies over which you have a struggle with your conscience.

As implementers of 1017 you now wield awesome power.

Ban street assemblies, effect warrant-less arrests, close down media outfits, take over utilities, and many other acts all under the guise of protecting and preserving the State. Do not be carried away by these array of fearsome power. Do not start sending lightning bolts like Gods of Mt. Olympus against persons whose faces you dislike, or against institutions whose politics do not agree with yours.

Remember, the legitimacy of these powers is being challenged and could be taken away from you as fast as they were given to you.

Lastly, act with prudence, humility and utmost courtesy in exercising the power 1017 has given you.

Act with benevolence, not like as if you’d have this power for the next 10 generations. Exercise the power in a manner that it will be recorded in history books future generations will read that once there walked in this land young men who acquired formidable power but used with honor and grace.

Remember, power is fleeting, honor is forever. God bless our country.

August 14, 2006

=================================================

A paid ad to abolish the Senate was published in two national papers some days ago. Why not abolish the House of Representatives also. For that matter the whole Congress, and just leave a core of the congressional staff to codify congressional performance and all the laws that have been passed according to subject matter, according to whether the laws have been implemented, partially implemented or not implemented at all, and the resultant effect on the welfare and well-being of our people especially the marginalized, the underprivileged, and the real poor and impoverished who live in socially-isolated and depressed areas in the country.

The same reasons (justifications) adverted to the Senate also apply to the House, and more, for the House constitutes the “strength in number” as members of an august and supposedly honorable body of legislators and national leaders.

Election time is just around the corner. And now we are hearing again the noise of the tradpols and the political dynasties, the same noise we used to hear more than five decades ago. The dynastic tradpols speak of the people’s welfare once again as they did many elections ago. But believe it or not, they think of the nation’s well-being and the people’s welfare as ideals to which they pay lip service only during election time. They spread money to inveigle the people to install them on the pedestal of power, after which promises to the people are again put in the backburner or in the dustbin of forgotten promises only to be resuscitated come next election.

It is unbelievable that service to the nation is the primary reason for those vying for national and local leadership positions to spend more than what they expect to receive when they get elected. It is an open secret that such spending is the root of graft and corrupt practices in the administration of government which is what we intend among other things to reform.

A word of caution to politicians: better shape up.

People, even what you call your constituents, are watching. Your armed forces are watching. We are all watching. We need deeds not too much talk.

We need a leader who is strong, decisive, disciplined and visionary, who can withstand the pressures of national leadership with resolute and unflinching courage, who has a word of honor, who can firmly and authoritatively implement the laws of the land equitably for all under a guided and disciplined democracy. FUA 031003.

August 14, 2006

=================================================

Yes. PGMA can go beyond the billion peso support for an all-out war even with all the military and police strength against the NPA but will fall short of resolving the insurgency problem.

It is very unfair to sacrifice the lives of the soldiers and the policemen to resolve the problem of insurgency that government has created and failed to resolve because of bad governance. The one billion fund will not suffice to support active counterinsurgency operations; more so, to take care of the families of the soldiers and policemen who will be killed or maimed, and the collateral damage on the properties and lives of the non-combatants.

FVR’s Social Reform Agenda, had it been implemented early enough during his term could have contributed strongly to the resolution of the nation’s socio-economic and political problems (poverty, injustice, corruption, inequitable development and poor delivery of basic services, etc.) that could have

reduced the intensity of insurgency.

FVR’s call for negotiations with the different insurgent groups was an effort to resolve the insurgency. Unfortunately, it was not followed with government sincerity to reform itself as well as institute the necessary reforms in the social, economic and political fields. Civic action by the military and the police are efforts to bring the government close to the people. But it remains a palliative for as long as government fails to meet the people’s basic needs.

The bibingka symbol will remain a symbol for as long as money and personality remain the most effective ingredient in the selection of leaders. I have lost hope in HOPE. Only a total overhaul of our system will create hope for our country to reach NICHOOD.

We have to go through a period of transition to clean the whole range of our system of governance before we can slide smoothly to a parliamentary system. Hurrying with a cha-cha will only perpetuate the status quo that we want to eliminate. A revolutionary change is necessary to build the proper edifice of our social regeneration. Apolinario Mabini adverted that this change should be bold and radical not only of our institutions but also in our manner of behaving and thinking. FUA 03/07/06.

August 14,2006

=================================================