We all saw it on nationwide television.

The government forces, chiefly the PNP, crushed the mutiny staged by senator-elect (11 million votes) and leader of failed Oakwood Uprising of July 2003 - PMA Class '95 - Lieutenant Antonio Trillanes IV.

Was he the proverbial moth attracted to the light of the lamp only to die -consumed by the heat of its fire? Was this decorated (27 medals and ribbons) PMA cum laude graduate and top notcher of the University of the Philippines Masters in Public Policy - consumed by hubris - and miscalculated his move?

Was he eaten up by so much anger - by issues of corruption (subject of his masteral thesis) and inability to sit as an elected senator - that can often lead to reckless actions like the Thursday Fiasco at a five-star Manila Peninsula hotel in the heart of the country's financial district in Makati?

Will this son of another PMAer Class '59 (Antonio Trillanes) and husband to PMA graduate Arlene Orejana (Class '97) and (Corps of Professor at the military academy) throw all his jeweled slots in one bet - and fade into the night?

Trillanes apparently was one step ahead of Government Intelligence who focused their attention on the November 30 National Heroes Day where a confluence of right-center-left was supposed to do something "dramatic" to force the Government down on its knees. He struck a day earlier - on a Thursday - catching all - allies (who were not informed for tactical reasons) and the military alike off guard.

AFP Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon, however, checkmated his move by acting swiftly with dispatch in solving the Makati crisis - even if the method was slightly a case of overkill. Through General Sonny Razon (PNP) chief, the Trillanes group was given all of two hours (up to 3 p.m.) to surrender or face a devastating assault. The rest is history.

The AFP did not want the two other "groups" sympathizing with Trillanes to lend outside firepower and the burgeoning Nov. 30 protesting crowd to prosper into a People Power - supported by the troika of politicians - financiers and backed by a military component of the Trillanes group. It had the markings of a potentially successful revolt.

The government did not give them the last important thing they needed - time.

Monday morning quarterbacks (analysts) said Trillanes had a demeanor of hatred and arrogance in him that turned off a lot of people and that people were confused as to why they should go to the Manila Peninsula and protect the group in order to achieve what purpose(?)

In the choice between secrecy and imposing an element of surprise, Trillanes apparently picked the wrong playing card. The other legs of support could not be assembled to form the chair, so to speak.

The Military took swift action while many others were contemplating their navels. Congress was busy with the Budget and who will run for 2010. Makati Mayor Jojo Binay was in a dilemma - if he showed up at the scene - was he there to support the assault or comfort a senator he had politically endorsed?

That is why perhaps the flamboyant mayor who was called "Rambotito" during the anti-coup years of the Cory Administration (toting an Uzi in the battlefronts) only became visible when the fire had subsided.

Now Senator Miriam Santiago is asking the Ethics committee to investigate the acts of a fellow senator like Trillanes and decide whether he should just be reprimanded, suspended or expelled as a senator. With the opposition in control of the Senate, the last option is not likely to happen.

In fairness to the Government, it had somehow been able to insulate economic fundamental indicators from political episodes like the Thursday Fiasco. As the market open tomorrow, it may look like business as usual in the Philippines. Or is it really?

By losing or yielding to Government Thursday, Trillanes and Lim and Company will be none the worse for wear, legally. Even in their previous charges, they had assumed they will be convicted on the basis of what they call a "kangaroo" Military court. So what is there more to lose than what they have already suffered? One conviction is the same as five convictions.

On their 'high side,' the Trillanes episode proved (according to them): (a) the repressive and over-violent reaction of government to dissent; (b) the casting of fear on the populace by momentarily handcuffing journalists and declaring a one night curfew, all hybrid - products of the hated Marcocian scare and repressive tactics; (c) cracks in the Military by the failure of intelligence and the apparent cooperation of the guards escorting the Trillanes Group - betraying the real sentiments of many men in uniform.

Randy David in his column, rightly said that Government should watch the relative "silence of the camps" during the Trillanes Episode and read between the lines whether every soldier's loyalty is skin deep or hardcore.

They should remember that Gringo Honasan also escaped from a maximum security detention ship by convincing his captors to join his cause.

Our pitch is that as long as there is widespread corruption in the Military and Government - there will always be a Honasan and a Trillanes to take the lead - maybe even violently - to enforce reforms.

When we hear of underpaid soldiers dying with inferior boots and helmets and their salary increases delayed while a Cash Buffet is distributed in a Palace financial orgy, we are sorry to state that we have not seen the end of the restiveness of soldiers, no matter how patriotic most of them are.

GMA will likely cross over to 2010 only by continuing the financial bachannalia to her favored government supporters but unless GENUINE reforms are started right away - she will just be too busy fire-fighting one crisis after another until her term ends.

Of course Bunye and Company will talk about inflation, stock market, peso value and GDP growth to justify that the Government ship is on course.

But the most important aspect of macro economics - investments - the one that create jobs for people and lift them from poverty will be on hold as long as we see these violent displays of dissent especially in the Wall Street of the country.

For example British ambassador to the Philippines (Peter Beckingham) who viewed the entire episode up in his office in Makati was dismayed (Britain is a top RP investor) while Australia swiftly released a travel advisory on the country.

Do you think any sound-minded investor would even dare come here for the long haul?

But if Government takes this Gringo, Trillanes episodes and the church call for moral revolution seriously and to heart, the Thursday Fiasco could be - to the idealistic Trillanes and his Believers - just a "tactical loss but a strategic victory."

We all know where the core of all the problems lie. What should we do about it?

"Dissent without action is consent" - seems like a good reminder for both people in and out of Government. What about you?

For Comments: email to bingo_dejaresco@boholchronicle.com Or editor@boholchronicle.com