Hysterical, Historical Day

Yesterday was not just any ordinary Friday. Well personally, aside from the fact that it was my beloved Nanay’s birthday, I have been waiting for the Supreme Court’s decision and whether Gloria Arroyo would (be allowed to) leave the country or not.

But it turned out to be a series of unfortunate events – for our former President.

It started in the morning when the COMELEC en banc filed Electoral Sabotage charges against Arroyo. I knew then that Gloria Arroyo’s days of freedom are numbered.

But with the Supreme Court’s decision denying the motion for reconsideration seeking to lift the TRO on Arroyo’s hold departure order, I thought that it’s over. She can (and would) leave the country.

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I have been glued on Twitter and on news websites all day, waiting for the developments of the Arroyo Saga. But it turned out to be faster than expected.

All of a sudden, the case was filed at the Pasay RTC and the warrant of arrest was immediately released. Next thing we knew, Gloria Arroyo is being arrested. And with that arrest warrant from the RTC, which is independent from the Supreme Court, her wish to go abroad, even with Supreme Court’s approval, went down to the drain.

In less than twenty-four (24) hours, a case was filed, a warrant of arrest was release, and a former President, arrested.

That was fast.

Of course, the critics of the Aquino administration and the defenders of Gloria Arroyo said that the case was railroaded, even calling it a “moro-moro”.

But in my opinion, what transpired in the past days up to the climax yesterday was a damn if you do, damn if you don’t situation for the Aquino Administration. If they didn’t file a case against Gloria, critics would say that the government is slow on doing their jobs. And if they filed a case against Arroyo, as what happened yesterday, they would say that it was railroaded and it did not undergo a due process.

We (or most of us) have all been seeking answers and justice from the numerous controversies of the previous administration. And yesterday’s event proved that justice is working in our country.

It’s just sad to know that most of our Kababayans who are equally seeking for justice are left with a slow and painful turn of the wheels of justice.

Is Gloria Arroyo guilty of the crime? Let’s just leave that to the courts. And let’s hope that truth and justice will prevail.

I have been always fascinated with front pages and covers of broadsheets, magazines, tabloids, and other publications. I consider it as an exceptional art and as a part of history as well.

I am posting this front page of the Philippine Daily Inquirer in commemoration of yesterday’s hysterical and historical series of events. And because we may not be able to see Gloria Arroyo’s mugshot. As of writing, Attorney Ferdinand Topacio requested the media not to release Gloria Arroyo’s mugshot because she is, er, a woman.

Gloria Arroyo is now under arrest. Let the truth come out and justice, served.Viva Filipinas! Padayon!

Elsewhere:

• Gloria Arroyo now under arrest – Sa wakas!
• Timeline: Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s arrest – the sequence of events of the dramatic and tension-filled day that led to Gloria Arroyo’s arrest.
• Rushed – Professor Winnie Monsod’s take on yesterday’s events.
• Fingerprints, mugshot of Arroyo to be taken today (PNP) – I wonder how her mugshot would look like with her Minerva vest on.

The Great Switch

This may appear to be too good to be true. Or too perfect a crime to happen on the Philippines wherein most of the heist shown on our movies and teleseryes are too far from the standard of Hollywood syndicates. This is not anItalian Job nor an Ocean’s 11.

This incident happened on the Philippines.

In an expose today on the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Police Senior Supt. Rafael Santiago and his “boys” have come forward to reveal that they stole original election Returns (ERs) then kept at the Batasang Pambansa building (where the canvassing of votes happened) and replaced it with fake ones to make sure that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would still emerge the winner of 2004 elections in case of a recount.

Santiago told the Inquirer and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima that he acted on the orders of then PNP Director General Hermogenes Ebdane, now a Governor of the province of Zambales, and a close ally of then-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Santiago said that the election returns were mostly from Mindanao where the election results are disputed.

After reading the whole article, I proceed to the comment box and read the reactions of some of the readers. Some are critical. Others are stupid. Most of them believe that this is a fact. While others argued that exposing this on the media will lead to a sensationalized item and that this expose must be verified first before releasing it on print.

Why not expose this on court and why choose the media instead? In today’s Philippine setting where justice is slow, people opt to expose things on the media for an instant exposure and attention of the people. Let us admit it. The mass media is a powerful tool. Though sometimes, this powerful tool leads to a mass destruction, division, and sensationalism.

Is Gloria Arroyo guilty of this crime? Is she behind this heist to save her neck and keep her on power? Will this add up to the numerous cases filed against her? As much as I trust the mass media on delivering information to the people, I will not instantly believe this expose unless it is proven on court. I will let the court decide whether this is a fact or just another made-up story to divert the attention of the people.

And speaking of the Moled One, she is set to be operated on her cervical spine tomorrow at 7:00AM. this is a dangerous operation but the Doctors from St. Luke’s told the mediamen that there were no mortality on this operation since 1996. Let’s just hope that Gloria Arroyo will not be the first one.

I pray for her safety tomorrowand speedy recovery. Would you?

I hope for truth and justice to be finally out. I wish for history to be corrected.And I pray that those who are gulity be persecuted and incarcerated.

Viva Filipinas! Padayon!

Read more: We switched ERs for Gloria Arroyo

The Curious Case of Lintang Bedol

HE’S LOOKING AT YOU. Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) official Lintang Bedol glances at Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes as he answers questions during a press conference Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at the Comelec office. Bedol, who was allegedly linked to massive election fraud during the 2004 presidential election, surrendered to the authorities on Tuesday. AP

It has come to this. Days after he had an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN Correspondent Anthony “Tonying” Taberna, Lintong Bedol has finally surrendered to authorities and is now, according to him, ready to face the charges against him and to divulge the truth on the rigged 2007 election results.

Now that Attorney Bedol has come out, will the truth be finally out? Will justice be served? Will those who seek the truth be finally able to find it? Will those who betrayed the people, manipulated the results, and blatantly disrespected the electoral process be persecuted and incarcerated? And will history once and for all be corrected?

Four years ago, Lintang Bedol went into hiding after snubbing the Comelec’s summonses over allegations of poll fraud. He is now facing a six-month jail term after the poll body convicted him of contempt.

Four years ago, he is perceived by the public as a “fugitive criminal”. But with these turn of events, will he be considered a hero? Will the government consider him to be a state witness against irregularities of the 2007 elections and possibly, pointing out the (Moled) One behind this mess?

Is he a Sinner or a Saint? Okay. That sounds like a GMA-7 afternoon teleserye but I knew you got my point.

Most of us would ask Lintang Bedol, why only now? And what are your motives on resurfacing and turning your back against the former administration? And why is it very timely with Zaldy “Kim Idol” Ampatuan’s retraction and other expose against the Arroyo administration?

If you have noticed, during the past Senate investigations and other exposes, most of the irregularities and mess of the past government agencies and institutions and the men and women behind it are pointing out, in a way, to our beloved former President, Gloria Arroyo.

But personally, my question is, who is behind all these sudden turn of events? Who is manipulating these numerous exposes, betrayals, and shedding of the light of truth? Or, as impossible as it may appear, is it destiny? Is this the proper time for the truth about the stench of the past administration to finally come out of the open?

I am looking for a Darth Sidious here. I think it is possible that, just like in Star Wars, there is someone responsible on manipulating these events for personal gain of power.

Going back, is Lintang Bedol a messiah of this administration? Or just a part of a whole, complicated game plan of someone? I don’t know. Let’s just wait and see.

And as for other whatnots and a little comic relief:

• Lintang Bedol, clad in a bulletproof vest, was presented to the media yesterday morning but he did not speak nor tell a word to the mediamen except for his “Hello, kamusta kayo lahat” (How are you all?). Seriously, he reminds me of Kris Aquino’s mini-me, her son Bimby. HELLO THERE?!
• DOJ Secretary Leila De Lima asks: why come out only now? She should sing Bakit ngayon ka lang, dumating sa puso ko.. in the videoke. Yahoo!
• I wonder why use “Lintang” as a name. That sounds like a leech or linta. Bagay naman siguro dahil sa mata ng ilan, para siyang linta na nakakapit sa makapangyarihang tao. Pero dahil wala nang masisipsisip, hayun, bumitaw na. Katulad ng isang linta. Bow. (But seriously, especially my friends and readers from Mindanao, please educate me about the meaning of Lintang. Thank you)
• Hello Garci? Nasaan na you? I have this gut feeling that you are next. Or better yet, save this country and speak out whatever you know.

It seems like we have more to watch out on this curious case of Lintang Bedol. Let’s just wait and see. And I hope that the truth and justice will finally be out in the Land of Juan.

There’s still hope for this country. Viva Filipinas! Padayon!

Read more here: 1. Bedol tags 2 Comelec execs in allleged 2007 poll frauds 2. Lintang Bedol Stirs Suspicions