The Right to Remain Silent
Enteng Romano, Black and White Movement

I am glad that the military incident and the subsequent proclamation of PP 1017 two weeks ago emboldened those of you, who previously stayed on the sidelines, to share your convictions. There are 2 emails making the rounds – “Why we are not out in the streets” and “Galing sa isang Middle-Class Pinoy” that are quite interesting.

From a Much Angrier Unidentified Middle Class

You’ve all seen the open-letter from some middle class guy. Here’s a retort!

WHY GMA MUST GO
Yoly Ong

Like the rest of the ABC+ ECO classes, I figured we should just ignore GMA and go about our life. After all there’s no acceptable alternative on the horizon. Better the devil we know than the one we don’t, right?

Palace Initiative, not People’s Initiative
Gladstone Cuarteros

First they denied involvement but soon enough the tenants of Malacanang bared their true colors. As  the issues surrounding the so-called People’s Initiative unfold the smokescreen of Malacanang is quickly fading. It is crystal clear now that the GMA administration is orchestrating this most recent maneuver to amend the 1987 Constitution. In fact, without the formal petition yet with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) GMA has already endorsed the people’s initiative. She declared that the Cha- Cha train has already left the station and that  ‘it is time for old-time politicians to step back or get run over’ by the speeding Cha-cha Express.

Soldiers are People Too
Joel Rocamora

They fuck up like you and me. They make grand plans and do not make preparations to  match  the grandeur. Believe it or not, they do not like violence. They care deeply about the organizations they are part of. They want to help build a better government for our country. But not if they have to destroy the armed forces in the process.

The Real State of National Emergency
Aya Fabros

There’s been widespread uproar following GMA’s proclamation of State of National Emergency last Friday. Civil libertarians, media practitioners, lawyers groups and business associations have come forward to severely criticize Arroyo’s Proclamation 1017 and the accompanying General Order 5. Calling these unnecessary, illegal and unconstitutional, these groups have underscored that the environment created by these pronouncements—with the series of warrantless arrests and wanton charges of sedition and rebellion, the cancellation of ‘permits’ to rally and the violent dispersal of demonstrations in celebration of Edsa, as well as attempts to curtail freedom of expression, shut down critical outfits and control the media—is tantamount to martial law. Right now, there’s escalating clamor to push GMA to lift this state of emergency, as groups point out the irony of imposing this ‘creeping martial law’  during the commemoration of people power and decry this as the ultimate betrayal of the Edsa Spirit.

State of Emancipation kontra State of Emergency

Ang State of Emergency (SOE) at ang katuwang nitong implementing order na General Order No. 5 (GO 5) na dineklara ni Arroyo noong Peb. 24, 2006 ay kasalukuyang pinuputakti ng batikos mula sa iba’t ibang sektor.

Ang artikulong ito ay hindi magtutuon sa implikasyong legal at konstitusyunal ng SOE at ng GO 5.  Ang Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG),  Alternative Law Groups (ALG), UP College of Law, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), at iba pang lawyers’ organizations ay naglabas ng mga materyales at nangunguna sa mga forum para ipaliwanag ang kawalang batayan at ilegalidad ng SOE.

The Problem with “Black and White”
Melay V. Abao

This article is not about the “Black and White Movement”.   I agree, in fact, with the black and white movement’s standpoint that when it comes to acknowledging the electoral fraud committed by GMA,  there is no space for the “grey”.  What i want to comment on in this article is the idea or the tendency to look at the resolution to our political crisis in terms of “black and white”.    With several ouster attempts rendered unsuccessful (i.e calls for GMA’s resignation, impeachment, lack of people power, etc) and with coup rumors now abuzz, there seems to be a “message in the air” (for lack of a better term) that only a coup d’etat can bring about change -  that to condemn a coup attempt, in fact, is to defend GMA.  In other words,  there is that message that “there is no other alternative”. Black.  Or White.

The ULTRA Stampede — A Shameful Indictment
Louie Montalbo

“Please do something about the situation in ULTRA.   This is a disaster waiting to happen.”

I sent a text like this to someone from ABS CBN as early as 8 pm, Friday night. I live right across the gate of ULTRA and saw how the crowd grew. As early as Wednesday night, people were beginning to gather around the stadium. By Thursday, the line was already snaking around ULTRA, sometimes reaching as far as the entrance of St. Paul.

Coup de main or Coup d’ etat or Coup de the’atre
Patrick I. Patiño

The 8^th of July 2005 struck a fatal blow to President Arroyo’s reign in Malacanang.  Ten cabinet members and advisers of Mrs. Arroyo resigned en mass and called for her resignation for manipulating election results that won her the 2004 presidential race.  Close allies, Senate President Drilon, the Liberal Party and former President Aquino withdrew support from Arroyo.  A section of the elite business community joined the chorus for her resignation.

If Gloria is ‘Joan of Arc’
Is FVR Bishop of Ayala Alabang?
Joel Rocamora

I could have forgiven our elite politicians for rousing me from my lechon-induced holiday euphoria if they did something meaningful, useful, produced some political movement. Instead we’ve had two weeks of “what is FVR up to” headlines, all ‘sound (bytes) and fury, signifying nothing’. At the end of two weeks, we are back exactly where we were at the beginning.

@2003 Institute for Popular Democracy
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