‘Grand agenda’

There are four “grand agenda” crafted/programmed to perpetuate for life President Duterte’s power: Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s impeachment, establishing a “revolutionary government,” continuity of martial law all over the land, and change of government from unitary system to federal.

Mr. Duterte has been harnessing the potential of inertia and mass movement existing under the control of his executive power as prologue to enjoy the unlimited term of the president or prime minister.

Without batting an eyelash, Mr. Duterte easily succeeded in commanding/dictating lackey Pavlovian dogs in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Impeachment of CJ Sereno. When Malacañang said it is hands off against Sereno’s impeachment, Mr. Duterte is not keeping his ace cards close to his chest; instead, he is showing them openly to his allies as well as to his political opponents.

After realizing that the House justice committee is engaged in a fishing expedition and seeing the weakness in arguments, facts and information presented by lawyer Larry Gadon, Malacañang has been distancing itself by announcing it has nothing to do with impeachment moves.

“RevGov.” Mr. Duterte opened one of his cards about a revolutionary government after thousands of anti- and pro-revolutionary groups staged protests or support on the attempt to establish a dictatorship.

But he blinked and disregarded RevGov after Armed Forces Chief Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero and Vice President Leni Robredo categorically withdrew their support.

If ever, Mr. Duterte’s RevGov would be a government with a ghost revolution. It won’t succeed simply because the international community will not honor his “de jure” government.

Always with the threat, he said he will crack down on “destabilizers” in the government and the Left, and will arrest all of them, aping former dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Continuity of martial law. Recent SWS survey results (conducted from Dec. 8-16, 2017) about the extension of martial law in Mindanao showed that 62 percent of Filipinos are against it. In addition, 66 percent of Filipinos believe that the Armed Forces of the Philippines can neutralize or handle the Maute group and the Abu Sayyaf without martial law.

Charter change to install federal form of government. Mr. Duterte, who campaigned for constitutional change, is focusing his agenda on federalism.

Now, his tone is more conciliatory and seeking for compromise with ABS-CBN to promote federalism in exchange for settlement of unpaid taxes and possible renewal of network franchise.

Netizens disagreed, with one likening it to the “Abu Sayyaf’s style,” holding and releasing a hostage only after getting a ransom.

Former Senate president Nene Pimentel, a strong proponent of federalism, is utilizing PDP-Laban in promoting federalism in the countryside. But people in the cities are still ignorant or confused about the concept of federalism that Mr. Duterte has been promoting. They failed to educate the people about the different types of federalism.

There should be a fair warning before we embrace a new form of government that should be reflective and responsive to our culture, norms, traditions, and history.

A thorough, in-depth and comprehensive public discussion and debate are essential in attaining a better constitution. I suggest several options should be offered to the citizenry. Perhaps, it is better to amend the 1987 Constitution eliminating nonperforming provisions and substitute them with more effective features.

The impeachment of Chief Justice Sereno, establishing a revolutionary government, extending martial law in Mindanao, and pushing for federalism are not the cure to higher prices, inflation, devaluation of the peso, capital flight, peace and order, and of the country’s other problems.

ISIDRO C. VALENCIA,
[email protected]