What can you say about the endless PGMA bashing by critics and members of the opposition?

It’s all part of the territory

Rudy Tagimacruz, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon: Politically inspired or not, the endless PGMA bashing by critics and members of the opposition is part of the occupational hazards of the presidency.

Ruben Viray, Metro Manila: Criticism is part of governance. The head of state has the most powerful position in the land and whoever holds it, I suppose, is lucky and blessed. This is why people with vested interests would want to take it away.

Lucas Banzon Madamba II, Laguna: Critics and members of the opposition have the right to criticize PGMA. These are just constructive criticism, which are for her own good as well as for the benefit of the country.

J-Dub Wenceslao, Makati City: In all fairness, no President escapes something like this before his or her term ends. The tough ones come out of it unscathed.

Romeo Coloma, Ilocos Norte: I can say that it’s normal. If you hate criticism, whether destructive or constructive, below or above the belt, you definitely don’t have the right to enter politics.

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: It is their role to do that, so as to balance the information we receive everyday. Nevertheless, some of their issues and concerns are not worth reading about or pursuing further.

Ric Vergara, Calamba City: GMA’s woes today were Erap’s, FVR’s, and the other past Presidents’ problems during their time. ‘Yan ang Pinoy!  

PGMA only has herself to blame

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: She only has herself to blame for all the bashing. Had she exercised more prudence, made less judgmental lapses, used more common sense and listened less to her advisers, she would not have been in her present predicament. But it seems she couldn’t care less. She still plans to go globe-trotting. I wish she wouldn’t bring along dozens of solons and eat at posh restaurants next time. Best of luck to you, Madam President.

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: PGMA is suffering from endless bashing by critics and members of the opposition because anomalies involving her are also endless.

Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: The endless bashing is self-inflicted; the continuous controversies and scandals are products of the GMA administration’s wrongdoing.

Col. Ben Paguirigan Jr., Ret., Zamboanga City: Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. PGMA’s actions speak more than her words; hence, the endless bashing.

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: She has been involved in too many controversial and scandalous issues, so the endless criticism is expected. Besides, there seems to be a basis for their bashing. In fact, she’s the one causing all this brouhaha, so it just serves her right.

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: Criticism about expensive globetrotting and junkets are legit. PGMA seems callous and deaf despite the endless bashing.

Ed Ledesma, Iloilo City: Reading news about her actions in Phil. STAR helps explain the PGMA-bashing.

Cris Rivera, Rizal: It’s an indication that her past and present acts of exercising her presidential authority are uncommon for one who is the President of a nation with a limping economy.

Narciso Alano, Cabanatuan City: She rightfully deserves it for being insensitive and arrogant.

Elizabeth Oximer, Negros Occidental: Serves her right.

Medel Verzosa, Ilocos Sur: GMA’s leadership is tainted by grand spending, manipulation, and corruption. She deserves the endless bashing from all sectors of society.

Louella Brown, Baguio City: The endless bashing by critics and members of the opposition is an expression of exasperation at her moral decadence.

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: As long as PGMA doesn’t learn the virtue of humility in accepting her shortcomings and wrongdoings, the bashing will only accelerate.

Elpidio Que, Vigan: The endless bashing of GMA is but appropriate. She has never answered squarely the accusations of cheating, lying, and stealing in Congress, with the truth getting repeatedly murdered by her dogs of war. She’s asking for it, isn’t she?

That’s politics, Philippine-style

Jae delos Santos, Muntinlupa City: It’s a strong indication that the elections are near and that the crabs need it for pogi points.

Avelino Falcon, Saudi Arabia: This is to be expected because of the coming elections. Each one, specifically the wannabes, has to hit PGMA hard, sensationalizing even trivial issues just to earn pogi points for themselves.

Ishmael Q. Calata, Parañaque City: Pinagpipistahan na si PGMA. So many issues could be leveled against her, big and small. Some of these have been mentioned by columnists of Phil. STAR. Surely, those in the opposition are taking advantage of these by galloping like race horses towards the elections in 2010. Tama na, hoy, sa inyong lahat sa magkabilang bakod!

Edward Garcia, Pampanga: Just like in boxing, pick a fight with the current holder of the title belt of your weight class, make noise, and you just may get a shot at the title.

Noel Banias, Makati City: It’s but natural for critics and opposition members alike to criticize PGMA simply because that’s what they’re there for. If their criticism is constructive, then it’s good for the country and the people in general. Those bashing her for selfish ends should be given a closer look. Elections are just around the corner and, in all likelihood, those with the loudest voices are simply campaigning early. Beware.

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: The only way for them to get in the headlines is to hit the President, with or without basis. These are crab politicians.

Rod Villar, Iriga City: As I see it, it’s very evident that PGMA is the most abused and maligned President we’ve ever had. Since Day 1 of her presidency, the political opposition and traditional left-leaning organizations have relentlessly criticized her. With the election fever heating up, we can expect more baseless, malicious and fabricated issues against GMA from her critics, especially from trapos running for national office in 2010.

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: So, what else is new? Puro na lang banat kay PGMA. It’s nine months before the 2010 elections and still they can’t wait. What’s wrong with her critics?

G.M. Baliatan, Rizal: It will intensify as the election draws nearer, because the opposition and her critics think this will catapult them to higher positions in government.

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: Shades of Chiz and Alan Peter, who made criticizing GMA their platform for a Senate seat. Same goes for all those who want a crack at the presidency. We have only ourselves to blame if we elect legislators who are mere loudmouths.

Jose Parco, Kalibo, Aklan: It’s the result of our present system, where we have a minority president and a critical majority whose numbers are never exhausted. Filipinos enjoy tsismis, showbiz, criticizing. That is why politicians like Escudero and Cayetano have become sensations for their endless bashing of the First Couple. It cannot be denied that it resulted in their overwhelming election to the Senate. Bashing the President has become a political strategy.

Pat Cuilan, Benguet: The endless bashing of incumbent presidents by critics is the state of politics in the Philippines.

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: They are stuck with the notion that constantly battering GMA will entitle them to their dream elected post. Ginagaya si Escudero at Cayetano.

Merlino Quinsay, Ilocos Sur: Media mileage, pogi points, electoral edge, and some are prime motivations. Puro ngawa, wala namang nagagawa!

Check and balance

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: Bashing the President, whether one is from the opposition or not, is good to maintain checks and balances and keep the leadership from waywardness. However, if such bashing is just done to draw attention or to put down the President, they are actually obstructions to our development.

R.F. Layug, Metro Manila: The reasons are obvious; it’s election time. There was a time when critics and the opposition would either land in jail or in the cemetery if they did that. But now, they land in the Senate. Anyway, this is a testament that democracy is alive in this administration and we should all be thankful.

Jimmy Donton, Puerto Princesa City: It would be illogical for critics and opposition to praise and support the present administration. Their actions speak clearly for a democracy in action; however, they should consider national interest over personal and vested interests, which obviously isn’t the case right now.

She’s a minority President

Lolong Rejano, Marinduque: In a democratic country like ours, an elected President is supposed to have the majority as his or her followers. Arroyo, however, is a minority President. This is why the biggest challenge that the Arroyo administration faces is coping with her detractors and critics.

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: Well, PGMA herself said that she didn’t become President to become popular. Endless criticism has come her way because she has become so unpopular and hated by Filipinos.

PGMA has abused her power

Imee Aglibot, USA: It doesn’t matter to me and I don’t care much if GMA is endlessly criticized or bashed. With due respect to the people who do, I agree that this administration is laden with malpractice. There is just too much that it is difficult to ignore.

Rose Leobrera, Manila: She has abused her power as President. Yes, she has had many achievements, many of them bogus, but these are not enough compared to the corruption she and her minions have orchestrated. She dines in exclusive fine dining restaurants abroad, in the company of all her favorite congressmen. She just let go of and acted as if there was no reason to question Abalos and her loving FG in the ZTE deal. This is why the lambasting never ends. There are just too many sins that have been committed against the Filipino people, and she doesn’t care at all.

Ed Alawi, Davao City: At least it exposes PGMA’s anomalies and her intention of staying in power. Now, I know why Sir Max Soliven called PGMA the “Emperatriz”.

The opposition is behind this

Eddie Yap, Kabankalan City: It’s very obvious that the opposition is orchestrating the continuing hate and smear campaign against PGMA.

Rey Onate, Palayan City: Critics and members of the opposition who lambast PGMA endlessly are groups with vested interests. That’s how I see and shudder at the viciousness of their hate campaign that often endangers the stability of the country. Panahon na para matauhan ang mga oligarchs.

Erwin Espinosa, Pangasinan: PGMA is the thorn on the side of all ambitious presidentiables. That’s why their lackeys in the opposition and civil groups plus the anti-PGMA media bash her.

M. Sunico, Caloocan City: Political opposition is a tool to make the present administrators run the government well with the ends of serving the country and its people. Bashing is an action based on biases blind emotional reasoning rather than objective reasoning in order to negate the effects of whatever another person does. The opposition are plain and simple fault finders with the intent of grabbing attention for themselves that will benefit their vested interests. These bashers would rather insult the President even at the expense of the Filipino people. Our country is being brought down by bickerers, faultfinders, and opportunists deserving to be looked down upon with raised eyebrows by the whole world.

Look who’s talking

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Look who’s talking! They are all trapos with no other purpose than to promote their political ambition and gain media mileage at the expense of GMA.

Media encourages the bashing

Nony de Leon, Bulacan: The endless attacks on PGMA are due mainly to the numerous candidates for national offices who want to become popular at her expense. The best and most cost-effective way to enjoy media exposure is PGMA-bashing. Media is more than willing to accommodate these heat-seeking missiles.

L.C. Fiel, Quezon City: They are not called critics and members of the opposition for nothing. Being nice to PGMA isn’t part of their agenda. Inbox questions asking anything about PGMA have contributed to this bashing, too, because most texters react negatively to anything asked about her.

Norberto Robles, Taguig: Administration bashing is normal in democracies. Sadly, the opposition has crossed the line with disinformation and outright lies and media often serves as echo chambers, distorting pictures of public affairs.

Vir Lauzon, General Santos City: GMA-bashing means good sales and survey ratings!

She never faced accusations squarely

Sahlee Reyes, Las Piñas City: Ours is a democratic country and we have every right to question what PGMA does because as President of the land, she is answerable to the people. The administration’s nonchalance on massive corruption charges has splotched its record. If she isn’t guilty, why the silence?

Sticks and stones may hurt her bones

Fortunato Aguirre, Bulacan: It’s useless anyway as she’s not affected. Her hide is so thick that she does not have an iota of delicadeza. I think the word “shame” is alien to her.

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: Her critics are simply people with crab mentality. PGMA is doing the right thing by ignoring all those baseless bashing by her critics and the opposition.

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: GMA must be saying: “I am not bothered at all. Say what you have to say and say plenty. Nobody enjoys reading what you write, except perhaps yourself and, of course, your own kind. I wonder how the next president will take your scathing and acidic words when he takes office come 2010. I can only imagine him laughing as I am now.”

Juan Deveraturda, Zambales: Members of the opposition are envious, disappointed, and infuriated that PGMA has outsmarted them all as she has been able to stay in power and in control of the government for nine long years. To get even, they try to hit back by cooking up allegations of wrongdoing in the media. The more they hit her, the stronger she gets as head of state and political leader.

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: It’s an incessant agit-propaganda to sow hatred against PGMA. But instead of getting mad, I became more sympathetic towards her. Sobrang paninira eh.

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: If I were in PGMA’s shoes, I would be unfazed amidst the blizzard of malicious innuendoes and accusations by the opposition or presidential aspirants. I’d know for sure that people would easily divert their focus when entertainment news eclipses my lavish dinner and billion peso trip expenses. Presidential aspirants and opposition members must now change the old political gimmick of sensationalizing unsubstantiated accusations, backstabbing, singing, and dancing on stage. These are recycled political gimmicks that are no longer attractive to voters.

Grace under pressure

Felix Ramento, Manila: It is to PGMA’s credit that in spite of being endlessly maligned by her opponents, wala namang na-Dacer o na-Bentain pa sa kanila.

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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