The Smokescreen That is Martial Law in Maguindanao

Now, we have the martial rule.  As such, it covers from our sight the real happening on the ground.  As such, it deprives us from seeing how the political transactions between the Ampatuan’s and Arroyo proceed now that the former has over-reached.  This should be very significant insofar as seeing the development of their relationship Filipinos would for sure learn a lesson or two in political science.

Another element of the backdrop that one should not forget is the hubris of the President.  It was Rizal Day month(s) before the 2004 elections; she was in Baguio.  She made a pledge to the Filipino people that she would not contest the presidency.  But she did. It was elections of 2004, when she named commissioners of the COMELEC who had soiled reputations to ensure that she would win over a very popular actor.  She was even caught talking to one of her commissioners, giving him instruction to ensure that she beat her opponent at least by one million votes.  And, she got her wish.  She’s the president who was known for Proclamation No. 1017, giving her the power to issue warrant-less arrests and take over private institutions that run public utilities.  Very much unpopular, impeachment complaints were filed against here in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 – which she survived only because she controlled the Congress.  For 2010 elections, she filed her certificate of candidacy to represent the people of the second district of Pampanga – a move that other politician with class and quality (a rare breed among them) would consider demeaning.

After declaring martial law in Maguindanao, pundits are saying that she too can in other places in the Philippines or in the entire Philippines.  What do they mean?  Legal experts doubt the validity of Proclamation 1959.  They say in unison that the conditions that the Constitution requires are absent.  Forget about the Congress’ joint session, where matters of national importance are decided on not by substance and rationality but by sheer number.  Thus, such a brazen display of hubris is most likely to make her preempt the conduct of 2010 elections.  For, with Gloria, only one thing is certain: she’s addicted to power!

Hence, with martial law in effect, no one may see how she ensures her prolonged stay in Malacanan even before the expiration of her regime in 2010.  Filipinos will just wake up one day with President Gloria Arroyo as their eternal president.