PUBLIC OPINION
MANILA, JANUARY 15, 2012
(MANILA STANDARD) Is it true that Malacañang has already
amassed some P2 billion in lobby funds to ensure the conviction of Chief Justice
Renato Corona by the impeachment senators?
The talk in coffee shops, board rooms and golf clubs is that Malacañang was
able to raise this lobby fund from some of the taipans angling for a share of
the multi-billion Public-Private Partnership program bonanza when it goes into
full swing this year. It follows.
This lobby fund to ensure Corona's conviction is supposed to cover expenses
for some senators seeking re-election, and for other wannabes who need at least
P200 million to run a credible campaign in 2013; additional pork barrel for some
senators who are malleable; and funds for media to drum up public support for
Corona's conviction.
I'm not at all surprised about this lobby fund, considering the stakes
involved if Corona gets acquitted. It could well be the tipping point of the
Aquino administration since it does seem that the President himself is the one
orchestrating the Corona conviction. In this city where there are no secrets,
operation plans can never be kept in the closet for too long.
***
This P2 billion lobby fund I am talking about jibes with the fact that the
impeachment trial set to start this coming Monday is actually being fought in
two fronts —the impeachment trial proper by senators acting as judges, and
public opinion.
Malacañang and its lapdogs in Congress are relying heavily on public opinion
as shown by the strategy of the House prosecutors in demonizing Corona before
the bar of public opinion with his non-disclosure of his Statement of Assets and
Liabilities and Net Worth. They say this points to hidden and ill-gotten wealth.
For how could Corona afford to buy a Fort Bonifacio condominium for more than
P14 million on his salary alone, they say. Without proof or evidence, of course.
Malacañang itself has gone ballistic about that Global City condominium unit
of Corona, an open admission that the President is orchestrating the entire
event with his lapdogs, including media. Knowing that public approval and trust
in the President remains high, the administration does not hesitate to say that
the public wants Corona convicted.
That's the problem with an impeachment trial, which is mainly a political
exercise. Despite lack of preponderance of proof and evidence, senators who
themselves are politicians who are dependent on public sentiment will also rely
on public opinion for their own political survival.
As a lawyer myself, I may see outright the weaknesses of the eight Articles
of Impeachment filed against Corona. But I also admit that public opinion counts
a lot in the final analysis. An ally of Malacañang, Senator Antono Trillanes, a
non-lawyer, confessed that he would rely on public opinion in judging Corona.
This was a stupid remark coming from a senator, but it was readily endorsed by
Malacañang anyway.
Note that while 16 senators are needed to convict Corona, only nine are
needed to acquit him. The nine goes down if one or two of the senators are
absent or if they inhibit themselves. Santa Banana, speaking of inhibition,
Senator Ed Angara should, out of delicadeza, inhibit himself. His son is one of
the 20 House prosecutors. But, as I say, delicadeza is something very personal
to people. While others have it, some do not. Thus, if Angara inhibits, out of
the 23 senators, it would need only eight to acquit Corona.
That's why it is said that impeachment trials are sui generis, something by
themselves. While the rules of court and rules of evidence are needed to convict
an impeachable official, senators could decide otherwise.
That's why, Santa Banana, I'm not predicting anything in connection with the
trial of Corona. It could go either way. Certainly, that rumored P2 billion
could make a difference!
***
There are also talks that administration allies, including militants and
activists, will mount rallies and demonstrations to show the people's support
for Corona's conviction.
Since some of the senators are up for re-election and others from the
prosecution see the trial as an occasion for them to grandstand, they might
think that going with the mob could be a prescription to win a Senate seat.
That's an element in the Corona trial that could help the Aquino loyalists,
like Senators Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan, TG Guingona, Antonio
Trillanes, Ralph Recto and Serge Osmeña influence their still-undecided
colleagues to convict the Chief Justice.
Santa Banana, it's really more fun in the Philippines. Watch out for the
circus that begins on January 16!
***
Now come reports that only two of the 282 members of the House of
Representatives have opened their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth
to the public.
My gulay, and here we have 20 House prosecutors trying to convict Corona for
not making public his SALN, among other things, which Corona and other Supreme
Court justices had agreed for non-disclosure because of possible harassment and
intimidation. It simply means that when you go to court accusing people, you
must come with clean hands.
Obviously, members of the House are hiding something. How have they spent
their P70 million annual pork barrel? This is a sure prescription for graft and
corruption when we all know that members of Congress get as much as 40 percent
kickbacks.
If the President himself has deemed it necessary to make public his SALN, it
goes without saying that members of the House should also make public theirs.
Unless, of course, they are hiding something.
Like what the new Department of Tourism slogan says, it's more fun in the
Philippines. It's really a lot of fun finding politicians and members of
Congress running after a Chief Justice for not disclosing the contents of his
SALN when they themselves do not. My gulay, what hypocrisy!
***
Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino has done a lot
of good things for Metro Manila. Among these is the speed limit in busy
thoroughfares like Edsa, Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon and Diosdado Macapagal
Avenue in Pasay. This is to keep in check road accidents caused by bus drivers
racing to get passengers to meet their boundaries.
This is why their salary needs to be fixed.
Tolentino has also succeeded in issuing guidelines on those giant billboards
that dot Metro Manila thoroughfares, and become hazards during typhoons. My
gulay, before Tolentino, Metro Manila was a billboard jungle.
Now, Tolentino is planning what he calls a "skybridge" along Edsa. Just how
this will materialize is still a big question mark since it would need a lot of
funding. But, it can work to prevent frequent traffic gridlocks along Edsa. And
more recently, the MMDA chairman wants to put a special lane for motorcycles and
bikes on the sidewalks. That will also solve accidents involving motorbikes.
Tolentino has done a lot which simply requires common sense and a little
imagination.
In my talks with Tolentino, I have suggested a lot of things he is now doing
to make Metro Manila a better place to live in, among them the elimination of
those ugly urinals, which I said were former MMDA Bayani Fernando's folly. I
have also suggested that gasoline stations and fastfood chains along
thoroughfares should open their restrooms to the public.
***
The televised impeachment trial of Corona that starts this Monday is a
double-edged sword.
It's good for the public who have the right to know what is going on. But
it's also bad for the public since there'll be a lot of grandstanding by both
the prosecution and defense, especially by people from both comes who are
seeking elective posts.
***
Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is under detention for alleged
electoral sabotage at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, came out yesterday
with her own analysis of the economic situation.
I don't know what her analysis is—I have to meet my noon deadline, after
all—but for sure it will not sit well with President Aquino. The economy is
slowing down for many reasons, one of which is that lack of focus of Malacañang
on what is truly important for the country.
Malacañang and its economic managers have attributed the economic slowdown
not only on the lack of spending in infrastructure, declining exports and lack
of agricultural productivity. They also claim that the eurozone debt crisis,
United States economic troubles and Middle East and North Africa political
upheavals are are responsible.
But why are the economies of China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and
Malaysia in the upswing? Our officials have not yet answered this question.
Aquino and his allies have said many unflattering things about Mrs. Arroyo.
But at least, during her nine-year administration, and with her focus on the
economy, the country never went into recession even as our neighbors did.
More importantly, when the Aquino administration took over, our gross
domestic product was growing by 7.8 percent. Now, under Aquino, it is down to
3.2 percent.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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