As we prepare to celebrate an­other Christmas, we nurture the hope that something good will come to the Philippines in the coming years. Events in the country recently and in the past few months leave one to wonder what is going on. Are all these mere ‘palabas’ or a ‘zarzuela’ is going on? First, there was the abortive at­tempt of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her hus­band to leave the country and her eventual arrest and imprisonment in a government hospital while awaiting trial for alleged election fraud. The almost daily coverage of the beleaguered former president’s spin doctors attempt to make it appear that she was so sick and needed to go abroad to seek treat­ment was a clumsy if not pathetic maneuver to get the public’s sym­pathy. Her handlers lurched from por­traying her with neck braces to claiming that she was suffering from depression and was not eat­ing to hypertension, etc. If it were not for her record as the most corrupt President the country has ever had including the horrendous political killings com­mitted with impunity, the images of an ailing Arroyo would evoke perhaps a tinge of compassion.

And then just as we went to press, it was reported that im­peachment proceedings against the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has been implemented at the House of Representatives and is now going to the Senate for its ap­proval.

In the midst of all these, critics of the administration and political ob­servers have quickly labeled these moves as draconian measures by President Noy Aquino to cripple the judiciary – a move that provoked warnings of an eminent dictator­ship. Within one week alone, three sig­nificant events happened which on the surface were normal except that one is lead to speculate that it is all inter-related.

On Dec.12, a new Archbishop was installed in Manila to replace the retiring Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales. Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle of Imus, Cavite takes over as the titular head of the Philippine Church, admittedly a powerful player in Philip­pine politics.

Yet, President Aquino chooses to ‘snub’ the ceremonies opting in­stead to attend the Philippine Army’s change of command ceremonies, prompting a prominent bishop to launch an attack. It is well known that the admin­istration and the church is on a collision course about the pending Reproductive Health Bill which is ve­hemently opposed by the church for its allegedly pro-abortion provisions. At one point, there were rumours that Aquino would be excommuni­cated for his support of the bill.

Aquino’s conspicuous absence at the Archbishop’s installation could also be interpreted as a sign of obeisance to the Army, which could mean the difference between stay­ing in power in case of an uprising. A day after the installation, it was announced that Chief Justice Re­nato Corona would be impeached. Corona is widely associated with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who appointed him to the position amidst opposition by Aquino who charged that it was a ‘midnight ap­pointment’ and unconstitutional.

On Nov. 22, the Supreme Court decided to strip the Aquinos of Hacienda Luisita and directed the owners to distribute the land to their rightful owners – the farmers who tilled the land. The decision by the Court is seen as a defeat of the President’s family who have owned the Hacienda for years and fought to have it exempted from land re­form.

Maybe we will see the day when a former President will finally be convicted, albeit not for the killings committed with impunity during her term but for corruption. The dicta­tor Marcos was toppled by People Power and cheated prosecution by fleeing to Hawaii until his death. Estrada was toppled by another so-called People Power and eventually convicted of corruption.

This is the first time in history that a former President and a sit­ting Congresswoman is actually ar­rested and imprisoned. Let this be a lesson for future leaders that they can be held an­swerable for their misdeeds while in office. Just look at the European and Arab leaders who have capitu­lated.    - Ted Alcuitas

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