GMA needs Joe de V

Tomorrow is a big day for GMA when she gives an accounting of her administration’s accomplishments over the past year at her State of the Nation Address. The 45-minute “rehearsal” she made early this week gave people a preview of what she will most likely talk about. No doubt she will cite economic success stories and future programs to encourage more investments, plus government’s continued efforts to eradicate corruption which is still a bane to businessmen. She will probably discuss the situation in Mindanao and steps to combat terrorism while extending the hand of peace to insurgents.

People will be watching for signs if GMA will cross the political divide so her last three years in office — what she calls her legacy phase — will be carried out without the threat of another impeachment hanging over her head. GMA has many allies in Congress, so she can use that as an opportunity to do what needs to be done without worrying about distractions like approval ratings. After all, she has already reached the lowest rating, so she should just focus on what is right without the usual political accommodation.

Which brings us to the infighting among her allies in Congress, with Cebu Rep. Pablo Garcia challenging Joe de Venecia for the Speakership. In the last few weeks, the race for the position has become nasty and quite personal. Joe de V, who is gunning for a fifth term, already made history when he won his second bid as Speaker, becoming the third one to hold the Speakership twice after Jose B. Laurel and Cornelio Villareal.

Garcia’s camp says the House needs a change of leadership but, let’s face it — the Cebu solon is 81, so it’s obvious younger legislators could not really relate to the older politician. On the other hand, this may be the last hurrah for JDV so he, too, certainly wants to leave a legacy. For sure, GMA will need someone like JDV who is extremely familiar with the halls of Congress. He has “been there, done that,” and is known for coming up with acceptable compromises. He is adept at — to use a less polite expression  — “horse trading” which is a necessary part of the game called politics. 

By the way, I invited Joe de V to be our guest for the Manila Overseas Press Club’s “Congress Night” this August 7 — whether or not he becomes Speaker  — where we can find out how he was able to maneuver, or how he was maneuvered out. Whichever way it goes, it should be an interesting forum.

JDV was undoubtedly instrumental in giving the upper hand to a plurality president like Fidel Ramos, uniting political factions to form Lakas-NUCD which became a dominant party. His creation of the “Rainbow Coalition” was also considered a master stroke. JDV was very effective during the time of FVR, passing bills that made a lot of economic impact. One thing for sure, Joe de V still wants to push for Charter Change believing that a shift to the parliamentary system is best for the country, but he vehemently denies he wants to be prime minister.

At the end of the day, Malacañang will play a major role on who will be Speaker. It’s GMA’s choice whether she will go with an 81-year-old man whose time has probably passed, or a time-tested Speaker like JDV who, like GMA, has strong political survival instincts.

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During our interview last Wednesday at the ANC program “Korina Today” hosted by Pia Hontiveros (Korina was out of the country), we discussed the pros and cons of the Human Security Act. Judging from other guests like Dean Jorge Bocobo and UP Prof. Carolina Hernandez, it seemed clear that the anti-terrorism bill is needed but not strong enough in its present form. So all this opposition coming from civil society, lawyers’ organizations and other groups is really perplexing considering that they are not even the target of this newly-implemented law.

What I failed to mention during the interview was that the HSA is more useful against foreign terrorists entering Philippine shores, or those that are already operating here. An example is Jemaah Islamiyah bomb maker Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi who escaped from prison. Rumors are he was salvaged in the end to ensure a George Bush visit to Manila October of 2003. We didn’t have an anti-terrorism bill at the time.

What particularly concerns countries like the US is the international network of terrorists especially with reports that al-Qaeda will intensify operations, and being an ally of the US, we are obviously included among the targets. The United States also has its own interests to protect with this anti-terrorism bill. As a matter of fact, the US is so concerned about the Philippines that they are making an example of Michael Ray Aquino to show that they will not allow any security breach especially after 9-11. If you take it at face value, the information passed on to Aquino by Leandro Aragoncillo had really no value. Most of them came from local newspaper accounts reported by a US Embassy official to the State Department. Being a Filipino-American citizen, Aragoncillo got 10 years, which for sure jeopardizes Filipino-Americans one way or another especially those working at the White House.

Anyway, going back to that ANC interview, towards the end, Dean Jorge Bocobo became emotional, enumerating the marines beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf — which people like you and me can relate to in so many ways. These soldiers sacrificed their lives for this country and their bodies were mutilated and desecrated by these barbarians — a clear example why this human security law is a necessary act to fight the evil enemies.

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