Far From Neutral Notions - Philippine politics, culture and stuff

And if Miriam is to be believed, it’s not mine

First the facts: my favorite loony-toon of a Senator, Miram Defensor-Santiago, recently unveiled a plot to oust GMA by former president Corazon Aquino and Senate President Franklin Drilon. The plan supposedly has provisions to assasinate GMA as a last resort. This just in: Defense Minister Enrile barely survived an ambush today when several men armed with AK-47’s perforated his vehicle while he was on his way to a cabinet meeting.

Now, far be it for me to say something like this about a fellow Ilonggo, but Miriam is just wacko, and GMA moreso, if they expect me to buy that. Now another wacko Ilonggo, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales, ordered NBI director Wycoco to “immediately conduct an investigation into the reported plot to assassinate/physically remove President Macapagal-Arroyo by Oct. 15, 2005 or soon thereafter based on the allegations of … Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.”

I can feel it in these bones of mine that some form of rule that will let GMA stay in power is in the offing… but can’t they at least be original about this? I know we Filipinos have a bad racial memory, but Marcos was just 30+ years ago. Back then, Ferdie accused the the Osmeñas and Lopezes of plotting to assasinate him - which may actually have been true on Osmeñas part, I don’t know. Now, the sibmolologist in me forces me to note that Kris Aquino, daughter of Cory, works for ABS-CBN, the Lopezes’ media arm. And ABS-CBN is in a ratings war with GMA7 (the broadcasting firm, not the president). Damn, Robert Langdon must be hella proud.

This must be the same logic Miriam is using.

Or she could just be flat out lying

This is a Senator, after all, who used the media frenzy over her son’s suicide to gain sympathy votes. This is a Senator who was once had the moniker “Brenda”, in the typical Filipino penchance for dry wit, meaning “Brenda-meged” (brain damaged). This is a Senator gunning for the Senate presidency, a post held conveniently enough, by Senator Franklin Drilon, whom she is accusing. The politics of Philippine democracy is such that the politicians often get away with lies and deceit, no matter how blatant. Hell, one Senator even got elected even after allegations that he massacered a group of kidnappers who were under his payroll, just so they couldn’t squeal.

Miriam’s allegations are laughable, to say the least. Her source? She says the information came from Drilon’s own relative. Nevermind the sheer absurdity of sharing such sensitive and damning secrets like assasination plots to a cousin, a brother, or even a wife. Nevermind that need-to-know is the standard operating procedure. Nevermind that one of the accused happens to be Cory Aquino, the widow of the assasinated Ninoy Aquino and poster doll for EDSA and People Power.

So what is she thinking? What is GMA thinking? Surely they don’t hold the Filipino people in such contempt as to believe us to be so utterly stupid? Why make such a patently stupid statement? And why is Raul Gonzales playing along?

It’s a red herring. A classic move to distract whomever’s paying attention. Distract from what? Whatever moves GMA makes to stay in power will only be highlighted further. The Venable, Northrail, Jueteng and Garci scandals are only underlined by such an accusation, precisely because it is so absurd. What does Miriam have to gain? On the surface, she only loses what credibiity she has left. Such a move can only backfire, because there is a precedent, and a very damning one: Marcos did it first.

Is this the last gasp of a has-been, desperately trying to get some attention? Miriam is crazy, but I wouldn’t call her stupid. Could it actually be true?

Nahhh.

But then…

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