No-el in 2007 is immoral and unacceptable!

Politically, there is no question that the year 2005 was one of the most dramatic years in Philippine political history. After all the coup and impeachment attempts brought to bear by Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) she has survived even the darkest moments of her Presidency, notably the "Hello Garci" scandal.

But as the President expressed herself in the Star's front-page news, she's looking forward to another "exciting" year. I hope it won't be as exciting as the year 2005 because this nation can't always go on a roller-coaster ride as far as the Presidency is concerned.

For the year 2006 the political battlefield will focus on Charter Changes (cha-cha) where the biggest question on the table is the so-called "No-el" or No Elections for 2007. While many Consultative Commissioners (ConCom) members already explained their side why there should be no elections until 2010, just like what Dr. Jose "Pepe" Abueva said, that it would do away with the political divisiveness and that this move was a "transition" to the planned shift to a Parliamentary form of government by the year 2010, it is unfortunate that no one is buying this story!

Strangely, even Pres. Arroyo has kept her thoughts on this close to her chest. I would like to believe that she owed it to those Filipinos who supported her in her darkest hour to express what she thinks about this plan. Supporting it makes her just like the rest of them an ugly and greedy politician!

At this point, I believe that the views presented by former Leyte Congressman Sergio Apostol (now also enunciated by Dr. Abueva in the Philippine Star headline) that the "No-el" factor was proposed in order to "buy out" political support for cha-cha. Because that statement came from a former congressman, you can see that he was still polite to his former colleagues. The truth of the matter is that the "No-el" factor is nothing but pure bribery by the ConCom, which I'm sure that many last term Congressmen or Senators are now deep in thought as it would mean the extension of their legal terms to three full years at no cost! That means staying in power without spending money! What a great dream come true!

Let's put ourselves in the shoes of a last termer Senator or Congressman whose options would be to run for another term or office in the year 2007. That means they would have to start piling up their "political war chest" by next year. If they vote for cha-cha, then they are assured of another three years in power and certainly it would give those elective officials more than enough time to prepare for the coming Parliamentary elections.

Here's a story sent by my friends who requested anonymity about this scenario now unfolding in Congress.

This friend of mine texted me a week ago that he was meeting their Congressman to discuss issues pertaining to cha-cha because he heard on their local television and radio network this Congressman announcing that Federalism is good for the region and that he too is pro-federalism. Like my friend, a lot of people from Mindanao are staunchly pro-federalism because they know that once Imperial Manila's iron-clad grip on the rest of the country loosens up, Mindanao's economy would grow rapidly and so with the rest of the Philippines.

When my friend finally met their Congressman privately, he surprised when he was given a 30-minute lecture that Federalism was not possible because we cannot afford it! It turned out that the Congressman was only interested in scrapping the 2007 elections and favoring even a 10-year transition period for the shift to a Parliamentary government. That is why "No-election" for 2007 will surely be supported in Congress and the Senate! It is like what the Mafia mobsters used to say, "An offer that you cannot refuse!" Not because politicians are being pressured into supporting cha-cha by the mob, but rather this issue strikes deep into the heart of their political greed!

Unfortunately we have idealistic people like Dr. Abueva who mistakenly thought that no elections would stop political divisions. On the contrary, I have always believed that if there is one incumbent public official sitting in office today, there are three others or even more waiting in line to replace the incumbent.

Just look at how many Presidential candidates wanted to replace Pres. Arroyo in Malacañang. From Sen. Ping Lacson, Raul Roco, Bro. Eddie Villanueva and of course, the late Fernando Poe Jr.

I dare say that we should have elections in the year 2007. Many of us find it totally immoral that our barangay captains are now enjoying an extension of their terms. I submit that elections are always divisive, but then having no election at all is even worse!

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