Hontiveros hits admin’s grand scheme to
‘massage public opinion’
The sudden talks of term extension for elected
officials, including President Rodrigo Duterte, a no-election situation under
federalism, and proposals to absolve the Marcoses over their ill-gotten wealth
were all part of a grand political scheme to “massage public opinion.”
This was the assertion of Senator Risa Hontiveros, who
also believed that the Duterte administration is “testing the waters” for floating
all these scenarios.
“Together with its command of fake news, the Duterte
government is testing the waters, measuring public perception regarding the
acceptability of its twisted political projects and conditioning the people’s
mind to create false consent,” Hontiveros said in a statement on Friday.
“It is a classic feature of an authoritarian regime.
The government is keen on controlling public opinion knowing that it is
ultimately the basis of its power and legitimacy,” Hontiveros also said.
Congress leaders recently presented the idea of
possibly ditching the elections and extending the term of President Duterte and
lawmakers as the change in the form of government from presidential to
federalism could also affect the senatorial polls in 2019.
According to the opposition senator, the
administration was employing these schemes since its two political projects –
federalism and the compromise deal with Marcoses –would “determine the fate” of
Mr. Duterte’s government.
Recently, documents of the supposed draft compromise
agreement with the Marcos family surfaced on social media.
The agreement purportedly contains a provision to lift
the government’s control over Marcos assets, and in exchange, the family would
return parts of the wealth to the government.
The Marcos’ camp denied having a hand in the alleged
draft compromise agreement and distanced itself from the main proponent of the
document, lawyer Oliver Lozano, a known staunch supporter of the Marcos family.
“The Marcos compromise deal will fortify its political
alliance and federalism will extend the term limits of power-hungry public
officials. The public must not be hoodwinked,” Hontiveros said.
Hontiveros added that this was also the case when
President Duterte attempted to create fake public clamor for a revolutionary
government to persuade the military to support the idea but failed.
“Fortunately, the proposal was shelved in the meantime
because it failed to shore up support from the public and sway the military,”
she said.
Hontiveros then urged the public not to be swayed by
the government’s attempt to condition their minds into accepting these
political plans.
“If anything, this regime bows to strong public
opinion and pressure. Let our voices be heard. Let us show our strength in the
streets. The fear of public opinion by authoritarian leaders points to the
potential of our voices as a force of good. We must not be intimidated and
silenced,” Hontiveros said.
Former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.
"A shift to federalism is a lethal experiment, a fatal leap, a plunge to death, and a leap to hell..." the former chief justice said during the Senate's first public hearing on charter change.
"A massive majority of its provisions have not been implemented.
There are provisions that need laws to give life to them," Davide said.
The most important unimplemented provision in the Philippine Constitution, which the legislature has refused to enact into law over the past 30 years and counting, is to prohibit political dynasties. To wit, the
1987 Constitution of the Philippines states in Article II Section 26:
"The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law."
"The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law."
Today, there is still no Anti-Dynasty Law. Moreover, Digong and his cronies/masters (among them the Coalition of Plunderers, the crème de la crème of political dynasties in the Philippines and the ultimate argument against political dynasties in the country) have expressly declared their opposition to prohibiting political dynasties--as if they had the prerogative to disregard the Constitution.
Senate President Koko Pimentel attempts to assuage the Filipino by assuring us that he will give teeth to the anti-dynasty provisions in the Constitution in the context of the proposed Charter Change, including the shift to federalism.
Teka muna. Matagal na dapat binigyan niyo ng ngipin yung anti-dynasty provision na kasalukuyang nakasaad na sa ating Saligang Batas. Now you are holding this unimplemented provision hostage so Digong et al can mess-up the Constitution in favor of the Coalition of Plunderers and against the will of the people? Bago ang lahat, pass an ironclad Anti-Dynasty Law first under the current Constitution as a gesture of good faith, then we can discuss the possibility of Charter Change. Anything other than this sequence (i.e., ironclad Anti-Dynasty Law first, then let's talk about Charter Change) is blackmail and political terrorism.
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| The Coalition of Plunderers, also known as Magnanakaw Inc., the ultimate argument to pass an ironclad Anti-Dynasty Law to prohibit political family dynasties in the Philippines once and for all |
Both Davide and former Chief Justice Reynato Puno said any change to
the Constitution should be done through a constitutional convention.
" The argument that constitutional assembly is cheaper than the
constitutional convention is a cheap argument," Puno said.
Yet, on January 16, 2018, manifesting the height of arrogance and impunity, the House adopted a resolution to convene as a constituent assembly to amend the 1987 Constitution. Further, Speaker Alvarez, the lead stooge of Digong at the House, insisted that the constituent assembly should vote jointly (versus separately), essentially disregarding the vote of the Senate.
Brimming with confidence on Digong's control over the whores at the Supreme Court, Alvarez said that the Senate is free to run to the Supreme Court to resolve their differences. More recently, Alvarez not only declared that the House does not even have to wait for the Senate to convene as a constituent assembly or con-ass, he asserted further that there is no Con-Ass ("Sinabi ko na na walang Con-Ass") because the Constitution simply doesn't require it.
Talk about a cesspool of hogwash. This lackey is so drunk with power, he's run amok. When Digong is out of power, Alvarez should undoubtedly be next in line on the guillotine.
Another one for the guillotine is Congressman Farinas, who finally had the chance to put his former masters (the Marcos family) in their place when he caught Imee Marcos taking liberties on public funds (no surprise here). He's the same guy who can't be bothered with traffic violations and insists on having a special police force for legislators and their families.
The following is a glimpse into the convoluted mindset of Farinas:
Fariñas said that not even the presidential appointees under the
Con-Com have true leverage on what lawmakers, most of whom are Duterte allies,
will ultimately decide. (Thank you for making it infinitely clear that the lawmakers, who are mostly allies of Digong today, (not the people) will ultimately decide on Charter Change and the amendments thereof.)
"They cannot decide that. It’s us who will decide that. They can
only recommend. The constitutional commission has no power. It will only
study.... The commission, not even the people, can say, 'Don’t change it
(Constitution).' The people cannot vote on it directly," said Fariñas. (Thank you also for emphasizing that the people cannot vote directly on how to amend the Constitution.)
On the other hand, if you (Farinas) are sincere about the power that has been entrusted to lawmakers BY THE PEOPLE, then I highly recommend you consider the November 2014 survey on Charter Change in which 49 percent were against Charter Change, 29 percent were in favor of Charter Change and 24 percent were undecided.
Even the more recent July 2016 survey on Charter Change, in spite of the massive mind-conditioning of Digong's army of social media trolls, posted results as follows: 44% against Chacha, 37% in favor of Chacha, 19% undecided
Based on the foregoing, if lawmakers genuinely considered the power entrusted to them BY THE PEOPLE, then they shouldn't be wasting taxpayers' money dabbling on anything remotely associated with Charter Change . . . unless of course our lawmakers need a brief refresher on basic mathematics as in 49 is greater than 29 and 44 is greater than 37.
One of the most successful political swindlers of contemporary Philippine history, Joma Sison (founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines, who promised to alleviate the plight of the poor and ignorant Filipinos but whose so-called cause only worsened the same) declared, "Duterte and his cohorts are engaged in political swindling when they say that federalism is the cure to all the big problems of the Philippines."
Sison accused Mr. Duterte and his allies in Congress of paving the way to a “fascist dictatorship or one-man rule” by pushing for the amendment of the Constitution through a constituent assembly (comprised of political family dynasties and Marcos/Digong ass-lickers in the legislature) that would adopt federalism.
Digong et al cannot be trusted with Chacha
On Federalism: I used to be very open to it. But now my concern is, if you do that you have to change the Constitution. Now it boils down to the question, "do you trust the people who will handle this process?" Senator Bam Aquino
“We are still undertaking hearings, but offhand, given the current political uncertainty as to other charter change issues, such as the proposal to remove constitutional safeguards on the imposition of martial law, I believe it would be unwise to proceed with amendments,” Senator Francis Pangilinan
“These are not ideal circumstances. It's the worst time to tinker with our Constitution. It's too big a risk, especially given the kind of power-hungry, abusive, and morally bankrupt leaders calling the shots these days. I cannot trust a regime with authoritarian and oppressive tendencies and propensity to engage in outright lies and deceptions to initiate changes in our Constitution,” Senator Leila De Lima
