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Marching Back to the Highest Power

Since before the campaign period for the 2010 general elections, the many unsuccessful attempts at tickering with the Philippine Constitution to enable a parliamentary system of government to keep the current president in power made it logical for the oppositions to suspect that outgoing president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo plotted to reclaim the highest office of the land through the House of Representative. As a Speaker of the House, she would be in the position to ensure that Cha-Cha (charter change) happens and have herself elected as the new prime minister under the new system of government.

Well, this scenario may be existent or not. But to freedom-loving Filipinos who are fed up by politicians hungry for power for their own personal and political end, being watchful on the developments in high politics cannot be overemphasized.

What we can do is watch the moves of recently elected representative for the second district of Pampanga, and follow them where they may lead. So far these were the strategic steps taken and had been put in place.

Winning a seat in the House. Running to represent the second district of Pampanga intended of course to win a seat in the House of Representatives. Her son Mikee who still had another term as the district representative did not run for that same office. Instead he ran as representative of a party-list for tricycle drivers. GMA won the district seat; Mikee won the party-list representation to Congress [SunStar Manila 13 May 2010].

Appointment of the Supreme Court Chief Justice. While the Supreme Court decision allowing President GMA (PGMA) to appoint the Chief Justice, and not leave it to the next president, had not been expressly prohibited in the Philippine Constitution, neither the law of the land expressly allowed such an appointment. So it is obvious that the SC must make a ruling based on the spirit of the law. And considering "midnight appointments" of the outgoing president are expressly prohibited in the Constitution, it would be more consistent with the spirit of the law not to appoint the Chief Justice as opposed to allowing the outgoing president to appoint one. Two associate justices--SCAJ Antonio Carpio and SCAJ Conchita Carpio-Morales--stood their ground believing that Arroyo was barred by the Constitution from making such an appointment [Philippine Daily Inquirer 12 May 2010].That was the controversial point in the ruling of the Supreme Court that tended to cast doubt on the impartiality of such a decision. In addition to that, PGMA appointed someone who had close ties with her, and whose decisive vote in case of a tie can tip towards her favor in the future.

Reclaiming the Lakas-Kampi-CMD leadership. On 13 May 2010, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took back the chairmanshp of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD coalition from House Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa when administration presidential bet Gilberto Teodoro abandoned it to focus on his campaign [Business Mirror, 16 May 2010]. This move allows her to wield power in consolidating members who would be serving in the House after May 30. Partymates who attended the caucus were unanimous in pushing for an Arroyo speakership.

More updates to come.
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