We didn’t march to restore trapos - GOTCHA by Jarius Bondoc

Joseph Estrada seems to be forgetting something in his drunkeness to regain power. "Sovereignty resides in the people," the Constituion states, "and all government authority emanates from them."

Filipinos made their sovereign will known during People Power-2. At EDSA and elsewhere, even overseas through e-mail, they yelled, "Hatol ng bayan, guilty si Erap", "Erap resign" and "Never again". They were fed up with patronage politics that showed its worst in the Senate vote to quash the Truth, they wanted Erap out, they desired reforms that would shut out traditional politicians forever.

The Supreme Court and Congress recognized this. Thus, the Court’s snap vote to swear in Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as President under the principle of salus populi est suprema lex, the welfare of the people is the supreme law. Thus, too, the presence of the Senate President and House Speaker at the inaugural. More than three-fourths of the Cabinet had resigned, the AFP and PNP had withdrawn support from Erap, the people were marching to Malacanang to physically yank him out, if need be.

No antedated leave of absence can change that now.

GMA recognized the clamor, too, along with the fact that nine of ten protesters at EDSA were in the teens or twenties. Thus, her promise to pack her Cabinet with young and new faces.

Yet it was easier said than done. Since Friday night in her temporary headquarters at Linden Suites in Ortigas Center, old pols and the always-connected were crowding around her for choice positions. More so when she settled into the Office of the President on Monday.

To date, most of her Cabinet appointees have been politicians. But it’s a relief that they’re not of the traditional mold who use guns, goons and gold to win and retain power. Rene de Villa, Bobby Romulo, Joey Lina, Raul Roco, Nani Perez and Ed Ermita are known to cling to good old-fashioned values of hard work and delicadeza.

How GMA will continue to ward off the trapos is under close watch. She knows her strengths. "I don’t have those cronies whom I can’t say no to," she told reporters in her first Malacanang presscon, "I don’t have cronies around me." About Cabinet appointments, her chief of staff Rene Corona added: "We will not make the same mistakes ... she has to reach out to all sectors of society."

Still, there is an emerging fear that civil society – the multisectoral, nongovernment groups that put a semblance of organization into People Power-2 – is being boxed out of the appointments. Only two of them have made it so far to the Cabinet: Emy Boncodin to the Budget and Vicky Garchitorena to the Presidential Management Staff. A third, Dinky Soliman, is still considering seriously if she should stay in her NGO work or take on the Social Welfare portfolio.

It’s not the fault of the executive search committee of Pat Sto. Tomas and Chito Sobrepena, though. Praying for Erap’s removal after conviction in the impeachment trial, they had started scouting for Cabinet men as early as a month ago, when People Power-2 was but a dream. They presented GMA with their list right after her inaugural Saturday. It was a dream team, as far as she was concerned. But she wanted two sectors to have a look-see, the NGOs and the business community. It reflected two desires: one, to acknowledge the role played by civil society in the street protests that led to Erap’s impeachment and ultimate ouster by People Power; two, to find out if she can jump-start the economy with such team. The NGOs reviewed the list Sunday, the businessmen on Monday. If some will complain that there’s not enough of their own in the list, it’s partly because of their reluctance to serve in government.

Clearly absent from the list, though, are young and new faces who can represent Muslim Mindanao and the Left. Muslim Mindanaoans can probably be assuaged with GMA’s order to immediately reopen peace talks with Moro separatists. But the Left feels left out despite its participation in EDSA-Part 2, compared to its boycott of EDSA-Part 1.

Leftists are split in three factions: Bayan-Kilusang Mayo Uno, Sanlakas-Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, and Akbayan. They nonetheless contributed the warm bodies for some of the most crucial protest actions like the October prayer-rally at EDSA Shrine, the Jericho March around the Senate, and last Saturday’s final push to Malacanang. This, Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn acknowledged as one of few pals who were with the fallen leader in the last hours. What made Erap decide to leave the Palace, he said, was a report that 50,000 marchers had swelled to 200,000 by the time they climbed Mendiola Bridge.

Perhaps it’s only fortuitous that GMA forgot the Left. For they have decided to become the watchdog of her administration, the force that will analyze her every move and criticize her every misstep. They’ve made no balls about returning to the streets if reforms turn out few and far between. So GMA is put on notice. As the writer Joe Coellho said, "Lighning never strikes twice in the same place, but if it does, there is no reason it will not happen a third time."

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INTERACTION. Jim Paredes, Apo Hiking Society: I’ve been giving the subject of justice some thought (Gotcha, 22 Jan, 2001), in light of South Africa’s experience with a Truth Commission to get a full story of rights violations under apartheid and a need for closure for relatives of desapericidos. Instead of trying to catch all grafters (it’s impossible, there must be hundreds of thousands), why not; (1) set up a truth commission for graft that will investigate and take testimonies, evidence, confessions; (2) give the guilty one year to come clean and return stolen wealth to avail of amnesty; (3) full force of the law beyond the grace period.

Genevieve Mendoza, Toronto: I was in RP last Nov.-Dec., witnessed the start of Erap’s fall, then followed his trial back here. I cried when the 11 senators refused to open the damning envelope. But I realized there was no turning back; the people will make their voice heard. We should learn our lessons from People Power-2, so that never again will we have to go to the streets.

Freddie Cu, cadvision.com: Investigate ill-gotten wealth of Erap, cronies and smugglers, and the possible murder of Bubby Dacer. Let’s have rule of law.

Victor Bonus, aol.com: Freeze all assets and bank accounts of Erap et al.

B.P. Abello, i-next.net: The 11 senator-judges are disgusting (Gotcha, 20 Jan. 2000). Some went on TV trying to look sorry for their no vote. One even took out full-page ads to call for Erap’s resignation. They’re out to save their asses.

Gary Mirpuri, Orlando, Fla.: Your article was simple but true. Filipinos are a wonderful, loving people, as I learned from 27 years of stay in your beautiful country. They deserve more than Erap and his 11 senators. The world watched as they again proved with love, patience and unity that evil has no place. Twice is no fluke, it is character.

Thank you, Chesca Sumilang, V. Cruz, Pol Alfonso, Rodney Rafols, Wilfredo Casumba, Oscar Labrador, RZC333, Arnold Cordero, Gabriel Partas, Joey Legarda, Raquel Vivar, Rogel Nuguid, Pancho Umali, Mel Manahan Reyes, Epi Espaldon, Angel Sievert, Lino C. Eballe, Renato V. de Leon, Steve David, Joey Catama, Hanzel Leano, Mario Valderrama, Jerome Serina, Danny Urmaza, Bing Ramos, Vi Massart;

Dr. Eleanor O. Celiz, Bobby Litiatco, Santi Oliva Santander, Mark Llacuna, Teresita Ubiadas, Mary Kristine Santos, Dr. Anne Constantino, Kerwin Cheng, Gerry Javellana, Ron Bruer, George K. Tsui, Rev. Sanny Y. Sanedrin, Frenchy Samaniego, Froilan Romero, F.P. Palisoc, Antonio B. Lopez, Dr. Conrado Caraos, E.C. Ibazeta, Loreto R. Axalan, Jorge B.N., Peter Abe, J. Mercado, Angel S. Pedroche, Jose Labrador.

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