The
problem with despotic leadership is that someday it will meet its eventual match.
It will reap the whirlwind of its own mischief.
For
the truism remain that for every act of oppression or suppression of liberties
- exacts an opposite and equal force from the other side. Every move to stifle
freedoms only raises the level of consciousness of the oppression and incites
the soul to rebel even more.
Such
is the pedagogy of the oppressed - a science that is often lost on a government
stricken with false confidence on infallibility and indestructibility.
Ironically,
it took an influential American newspaper, the New York Times and its recent editorial
to open the eyes of people that the "Courts and Congress must rein in the
president's dictatorial tendencies."
In
rapid succession, the Supreme Court donned its finest robes when it largely declared
as "unconstitutional" E.O. 464 (disallowing executives and the military
to testify in Congressional hearings) and the so-called CPR (Calibrated Pre-emptive
Response) in dealing with anti-government rallies. The verdicts were rendered
with resounding finality that left no doubt in the minds that the Supreme Court
was no president's lapdog. The decisions were 14-0 and 13-0 respectively.
It
seems that the pro-human rights advocacy of Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban is
defining the culture of the current Supreme Court, God bless his soul. The Court
also ordered all LGUs to name "Freedom Parks" in every locality - an
assembly point of citizens that requires no permit.
And
the salivating Senate just took the cue and vowed to continue and compel witnesses
to testify on the "Garci Tapes," the Fertilizer Scam, the Northrail
Project - among many others. The Palace is sitting on needles and pins, though
it tries hard not to show on its face.
On
the other hand, there is still a segment of media that remains unafraid nor co-opted
by economic pressure and largesse from government - that has held the torch of
democracy and free speech regardless.
ABS-CBN
and its sister station ANC, despite being surrounded by the military during the
anti-GMA crisis, held its ground resolutely, steadfastly, admirably. If for nothing
else, this muzzling of media only emboldened the ABS staff to bond together as
if they were kindred spirits sewn by a relentless sense of purpose. Today, when
it comes to news and public affairs, the public turns to this station and subsidiaries
in radio and TV. "It had passed the test," as news lead person Maria
Ressa proudly asserts.
Its
print soul mate, the GMA-critical Philippine Daily Inquirer is the nation's top
broadsheet (read by 1.5 million) followed by the Manila Bulletin (1.2 million)
and the Philippine Star (less than a million) - reflecting how people become more
hungry for the truth whenever there are attempts to silence media. The Philippine
Daily Tribune has not changed its editorial policy and scathing attacks despite
the unleashing of pit bulls and libel suits against the paper.
But
political analyst Amando Dornonila is right. In battling media, GMA is fighting
the wrong enemy. It is a waste of national energy since media is not the source
of GMA's problems. The news bearer can't be the news itself.
Last
April 21, a lonely but loud voice of one Maria Theresa Pangilinan rocked the graduation
rites of the Cavite State University (where GMA was speaker) who asked for the
president's ouster and anti-Cha-Cha banners appeared at the gymnasium. The rightist
Justice Secretary Gonzales immediately ordered the NBI to investigate the comely
student - which partly proves why that Cabinet Secretary could be GMA's own worst
enemy. For every time Gonzales opens his mouth brick bats are thrown at Gloria.
The
administration be best beware that Maria Theresa's voice is not just one voice
- but a symbol of the unspoken anger seething underneath the 65% who question
GMA's legitimacy - which if further suppressed, will edit its own catharsis and
drown the oppressors in a massive sea of voices one day.
Even
the "Cha-Cha Train" may yet be derailed from the tracks - not because
charter change lacks merit - but because of the way the signatures were pulled.
To say the least - it was imperious and deceitful as there was virtual lack of
information on the whys and wherefores of the signatures.
Thus
a tidal wave of an anti-Cha-Cha Movement called STOP CHA CHA headed by former
president Cory Aquino, the Catholic bishops, the political opposition and business
was hatched at the historic Club Filipino recently. Bro. Mike Velarde asked his
5-million flock not to sign a Cha-Cha they do not understand while the bishop
of Samar and 53 priests read an anti-Cha-Cha letter in a pointed Pastoral Letter
read in all churches last Sunday.
And
finally, last May 1 Labor Day - militants succeeded in reclaiming the off-limits
Claro M. Recto Street, some 200 meters away from the highly symbolic Mendiola
Bridge which the Palace is protecting like a prized possession. It was easy to
control 7,000 rallyists - what if their numbers swelled to 50,000 the next time?
The
die is cast - the Great Divide is now shaping up. Unfortunately for government,
its draconian measures for "thought control" has instead created many
Frankensteins. And dissent will spread. | 
